Dan Howdle | May 26th, 2023

How to cancel Virgin Media

If you’ve decided to part ways with Virgin Media and are wondering how to go about cancelling your service, we’re here to help. From dealing with cancellation fees to finding a new deal, our guide will talk you through the details.

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The most important thing to know first and foremost is whether you're still in your Virgin Media contract period or not. If you're not sure, don’t worry; there are some easy ways to find out which we will cover a bit further down. Before we get to the specific ins and outs, however, take a quick look at our checklist and be sure you have everything you need in order to get started.

Checklist

Before you call Virgin Media (and unfortunately you do need to call) or indeed decide whether cancelling your contract is really worth it, it's a good idea to make sure you have the following information to hand.

  • Check whether you're still in contract or out of contract – Sign in to your account on the Virgin Media website to check whether you're still under contract. You can also download the My Virgin Media mobile app and sign in to your account there to check your current contract. Alternatively, search your email to find the first emails sent to you by Virgin Media. This will usually denote the start of your contract and will also contain the details of your contract length. From there you should be able to figure out whether you're still in your contract period or not. You can also chat in or phone Virgin Media, but we wouldn't advise that until a bit further into the process
  • Make a note of the correct Virgin Media contact numbers – You can either dial 150 from your Virgin Media home phone or 0345 454 1111 from any other phone
  • Know which broadband provider you are switching to – It's a good idea to know where you're going before you take those final steps to leave Virgin Media. You can compare all of the best broadband deals available at your address right here on Cable.co.uk. You can also compare broadband deals by entering your postcode below

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Cancelling Virgin Media if you're still in contract

Virgin Media contract termination fees

If you still have time left until the end of your contracted period, Virgin Media is going to charge you what it calls an 'early disconnection fee'. Other providers sometimes call this a cancellation fee, or an early exit fee. Virgin Media would prefer you don't think of it as a punishment for leaving early, but instead as compensation paid to Virgin Media for having set you up with services you will not be using for the minimum period and, it would argue, therefore not allowing it to make a profit.

Virgin Media's terms and conditions differ depending on when your contractual minimum period began. More information on how the fees are calculated can be found here. Virgin Media’s terms state that Early Disconnection Fees vary between customers as the calculation of how much is charged depends on the services that you have, how much you pay for those services, and how much of your minimum period remains for each service. Virgin Media has a cap on the amount of the Early Disconnection Fee so that you will pay no more than £288 if you cancel your contract early.

Cancelling Virgin Media broadband and TV at the same time

If you have both Virgin Media broadband and TV in a bundle, it's double trouble. Cancelling your services means paying an 'early disconnection' fee of what remains on your contract including both services. Virgin Media will want any Virgin TV boxes, hubs, WiFi boosters or pods back, too, and you will have to go to the extra trouble of boxing it up and posting it. Same if you just want to cancel Virgin TV. For newer equipment, there are options to recycle your old equipment, and you can find local recycling facilities on the Virgin Media website.

When you can cancel Virgin Media broadband and/or TV for free

A contract works both ways. If you think Virgin Media is unfairly charging you for every month of your contract whether you end it or not, just remember that Virgin Media has a host of obligations to you too. If Virgin Media does not uphold its obligations to you, you may be able to cancel your services with them before the contract ends, and without any early disconnection fees.

Here are four example scenarios of cancelling mid-contract with no early disconnection fees:

  • During your free cancellation or 'cooling off' period – The law states that you have 14 days from and including the day your services are switched on to leave without any further charge. This is often referred to as a 'cooling off period'. The only thing you won't be compensated for will be any money you spent on pay-per-view TV. For example, you can't sign up, watch the latest Tyson Fury fight, then cancel. Virgin Media will still charge you for what you watched
  • When your service is faulty and Virgin Media cannot fix it – This rarely happens, but if your Virgin Media services develop a fault (ultra-slow broadband, outages, TV interruptions and so on) and you have given Virgin Media four weeks to fix it and it has failed to do so, you can leave without charge
  • When you are getting broadband at a fraction of the speeds promised – Virgin Media will tell you the average speed you should expect at your address when you sign up. If your speeds fall far below the promised level then you may have grounds to leave without charge, provided Virgin Media cannot remedy the situation. Do remember, though, that when measuring your speed you must do so with a device attached with an ethernet cable to the router. Wifi cannot deliver the full speeds available on the Virgin Media network and should not be used if you wish to see what speed you're officially getting
  • When Virgin Media raises the price of your package – If Virgin Media increases the price of your broadband during your contract period it has to write to you to inform you it is doing so. You can then cancel free of charge within 30 days of receiving that notification
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Cancelling Virgin Media if you're out of contract

If you've checked and you are out of contract, the world is your oyster. You can cancel and switch to another provider with very little fuss. But before you call 150 from your Virgin Media home phone or 0345 454 1111 from any other phone to tell Virgin Media you're leaving, we strongly recommend you keep the following in mind regarding retentions.

How to deal with Virgin Media's retentions team

Virgin Media don't want you to leave. No provider does. Sometimes that means it will attempt to sweet-talk you into staying, and sometimes even offer you a better deal than you’ve currently got. There are no hard and fast rules in terms of what it might offer you or not, but it's a good idea to get a few things clear in your head before you make that call.

  • Know which provider you are switching to and why – If you're simply unhappy with Virgin Media, it will want to know why to see if it can smooth things over. If on the other hand you just want to change or to take advantage of another provider's special offer, it's a good idea to know what's on offer as this will give Virgin Media a chance to match it. You can still walk, but having a game plan is always a good thing
  • Be assertive – If you're a pushover then let's face it, you're probably never leaving Virgin Media as it will talk you out of it every time. Be prepared to stand your ground if leaving is what you really want
  • Be prepared to take a better deal if one is offered – Every now and then Virgin Media will offer you the moon on a stick if you’re threatening to leave. It might knock a significant chunk off your monthly bill for example. Don't count on it offering this, though, as it doesn't always work

Cancelling Virgin Media if you're moving house

If you are still under contract with Virgin Media and need to move home, but Virgin Media is not available at your new property, it will still charge you an early exit fee. However unfair that may seem, Ofcom has looked into this and for a short while Virgin Media even changed its policy. However, it has now reverted back. If you are able to transfer your Virgin Media service to your new residence, there is a £20 movers fee charged by Virgin Media to transfer your services to your new address.

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Frequently asked questions

What happens to my Virgin Media router and set-top box?

When you sign up for broadband or TV services with Virgin Media, the router and TV box come as part of the service. You'll usually be expected to return them when you leave, and the company could charge you for them if you don't. Virgin will send you pre-paid packaging for posting your equipment or will arrange to collect it.

Can I keep my Virgin Media email address?

If you quit Virgin broadband, you'll get a grace period of 90 days, but you'll then lose your mail service. You'll need to make sure you save any contacts, emails and files you wish to keep before your account is closed.

What if Virgin Media owes me a refund?

In some cases, where you've paid for services in advance, you may be due a refund when you leave. In this case, you'll get a cheque sent out 35 days after your account is closed. And you could be waiting even longer, with Virgin Media claiming the cheque could then take another ten days to arrive.

What is Virgin Media's cancellation number?

To cancel your Virgin Media contract, dial 150 from your Virgin Media home phone or 0345 454 1111 from any other phone.

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