There are two ways to obtain Virgin Media services: by cable or down your phone line. Some of Virgin Media's best services are delivered by cable, but you should contact Virgin Media to see which services are available in your area.

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If you are thinking of switching from satellite to Virgin Media the good news is that it is a straightforward process, and in just a few steps you'll soon be on your way to digital TV and super-fast broadband. There are also great deals available for mobile and home phones from Virgin Media.

How to get Virgin Media

Join Virgin Media: You can join Virgin Media online quickly and easily. Get started by using our handy postcode checker, which lets you know which services are available in your area. Then pick the package that suits you best and you're practically ready to go. You should have this information to hand to speed things up:

1) Your bank account details, to set up your Direct Debit account.
2) Your BT account details, if you have one - you can normally keep your current home phone number, if you'd like to.
3) Your email address, as everything will be confirmed by email.
4) Your diary, so you can pick a date that suits you best for the installation.

Cancel your satellite services: Send a letter to cancel your satellite TV, broadband or phone services. Normally, you need to give the old supplier 30 days' notice, but it will be on your contract. You have the right to switch if you're not tied in to a minimum term contract (for example, if you signed up for a minimum 12 or 18 month contract). But even then, it may be worth paying off the rest of your contract and switching now.

Start enjoying your new services: One of the Virgin team will visit your home to install your new cable services. Once you're up and running you can sit back and enjoy super-fast broadband, great digital TV and a great value phone and mobile service.

Other points to consider

Some of Virgin Media's best services are delivered by cable, but wherever you live you can still get great services and fantastic deals from Virgin Media. Contact Virgin Media to find out if you can get Virgin Media cable services and to see which services are available in your area.

You can usually keep your old phone number, and if you'd like to do this just fill in the 'keeping your own number' section of the online order form when you apply to Virgin Media.

It's worth noting that once you've signed up with a TV or Broadband provider you're free to leave at any time. A contract is normally for 12 or 18 months. After that, you can leave without any penalty. If you want to leave before that you can, but you will normally need to cover the payments for the rest of your minimum contract period.

If you're having Virgin Media cable services installed, engineers will run a pencil-thin cable from the Virgin Media network, underground to a small box which will be fixed to the side of your house. Then they'll connect whichever services you've chosen. Virgin Media undertake not to make a mess and to leave everything as they found it.

They also do everything they can to ensure that the wiring inside your home is as discreet as possible. The wires usually run around the edge of your skirting board to your TV, computer and phone points, but if you have any other suggestions they will take them into consideration.