Virgin Media announces new broadband and TV price rises: what are your options?

Virgin Media has announced that its TV and broadband prices are set to rise, with customers paying an additional £56 a year on average.

While the majority of Virgin Media's broadband, TV and home phone customers will be affected by the price hikes, the telecoms giant has said they will not affect those who are considered vulnerable - such as customers on its 'Essential' broadband package for people receiving Universal Credit and 'Talk Protected' landline customers.

The price rises will apply from March 1, 2022.

See how real customers rate Virgin Media vs competitors like BT, Sky and TalkTalk in our survey of more than 4,000 broadband customers.

How are Virgin Media's prices changing?

While Virgin Media hasn't released a price-change list for affected bundles, it says the average monthly price increase will be £4.70 - or £56.40 a year. It is currently writing to all affected customers.

Customers who are not on a fixed contract (i.e. those on a rolling monthly deal) will see their deal increase in price on March 1. Those who are on a fixed-price promotion will see their deal increase in price when the promotional period ends.

Unlike some other providers, Virgin Media doesn't bake above-inflation price increases into its contracts, however it raised prices by an average 4% in March 2021.

What are my options when my provider raises its prices?

If you're affected by the Virgin Media price increases, there are two options for you: switch to a new provider or haggle on your current deal. If you are affected by the price rises, you can leave your contract without penalty.

Finding a new provider is simple - use Which? Switch Broadband to compare new broadband and TV deals that are available in your area.

If you find it tricky choosing between different deals, our broadband provider reviews reveal how satisfied customers of each provider are with different aspects of its service, including value for money, broadband speeds and the quality/variety of TV content.

Luckily, the process of switching broadband is a simple one - learn more in our guide on how to switch broadband provider.

How to haggle with Virgin Media

If you're happy with the deal you're getting from Virgin Media - but not your new price - it's worth getting in touch to ask them to give you a better deal.

If you try this, you're likely to be offered the opportunity to sign up to a new contract with a fixed monthly tariff. We've found that customers who haggle usually end up paying less and many also get an upgraded deal, too.

It might sound daunting, but the process is simple. To get started, follow our tips on how to haggle for the best broadband deal.