Virgin Media Introduce Speed Caps
Virgin Media are introducing speed capping measures that for users who download large amounts from the Net during peak hours. Peak hours have been defined as 4pm to midnight which is much longer than for most other ISPs, who consider 6pm to 10pm to be the peak.
Virgin claim that only 5% of downloaders will be affected, but looking at the bands I’m not too sure:
- M tier users who download over 350MB will have their speed capped at 1Mbps during peak
- L tier users who download over 750MB will have their speed restricted to 2Mbps during peak
- XL users who download over 3GB in peak hours will have their speed restricted to 5Mbps
Once a user hits the download limit for their tier then their speed will be capped for four hours. The bands look pretty low to me so I’m sure that it will affect more than 5% of users. Also, the way the scheme appears to be setup will extend the period of capping e.g. if a XL user hits the 3GB limit at 11pm, then their speed will be capped for four hours until 3am.
Personally, I’m quite disappointed by this as I regularly download more than 3GB during ‘peak’ and I wouldn’t even classify my usage as heavy. I’ve also been a big champion of Cable’s unlimited policy in the past and this feels like a big let-down.
The Virgin Media FAQ tries to make out that many users will benefit from the upcoming 20Mbps upgrade (although looking at the timetable it looks like the dates have slipped already), but most users don’t need more speed - they want unlimited downloads.
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Pingback by GigaOM » Disclosing the bandwidth caps on 9 May 2007:
[...] they should take a cue from UK-based cable-broadband Virgin Media, which has become the first broadband service provider that [...]
Comment by John on 12 May 2007:
So say you live in a area with just five people on and they aren’t using there connection to download anything or they go out, does that mean if your the only one using at the time and you download 3gb in a few hours you’ll be punished?
Also imo they are just restricting the service WE pay to have, I upgraded to the 10mb (soon to be 20) so i could download at those speeds and now they say i wont be-able to or i get my service restricted for a few hours…….. and considering i can easily get 3gb in a few hours i suspect i will be capped quite often lol,
I will not pay for a 20Mb line only to be restricted to 5Mb just because i am downloading at the speed they sell to me, it’s unjust and unfair!
Comment by Mr Nobody on 13 May 2007:
As you don’t get charged when you hit a certain limit or even cut off you can’t really call it capping John.
Comment by Everton on 13 May 2007:
@Mr Nobody
It most certainly is speed capping!
Comment by David on 14 May 2007:
I’ve signed the petition that was set up over the weekend at http://www.sn2ts.com which will hopefully make Burch reconsider these plans. If not, I’ll be getting ADSL installed.
Comment by Tom on 14 May 2007:
Im a long term telewest broudband user, and have been using the
service since the very begining. As a mobile computer engineer iv
allways prided myself in confidentley saying that Blueyonder (Virgin
media now) Is the best service out there because they dont cap your
downloads, download speed, reliability is allways top notch its the
most transparant honest internet service around.
Virgin Media, what your takeing away is the very reason why probably
60% have chosen cable.
Look at improving your service instead of cutting our service down.
PS, if this is implimented, please consider Bulldog internet business
package.
http://www.bulldogbroadband.com/business/small/
* >>
* >>
* Wireless router**
* 3 PC Security Suite licences included
* 1 static IP address included
* 4 email accounts with anti-spam and
anti-virus protection
All for £45 a month.
(im just down the road from the exchange
Comment by Tom on 14 May 2007:
forgot the important bit.. >>
Comment by Tom on 14 May 2007:
Unlimited downloads at up to 16 Mbp/s
Unlimited uploads at up to 1 Mbp/s
Pingback by BT The Number 1 Broadband Provider In The UK | Connected Internet on 17 May 2007:
[...] and I probably will stick with them for a while, as although Virgin Media recently announced Speed capping which hasn’t gone down very well, I don’t think the speed caps are being applied to [...]
Comment by TeX on 18 May 2007:
I’ve been with Blueyonder(Virgin Media) since they started in the UK around 15 years ago & been on there premium connection all the time(currently 20Mb 1-5Mb actual :S).But after all the problems I suffered since Virgin took over Blueyonder I’ve decieded to bin them they are a complete joke as an ISP now & this just caps it all(pardon the pun).I’m switching to https://www.bethere.co.uk/ who offer the following if your within 2km of a BT exchange(speeds drop outside 2km)I live less than 1 mile from the exchange. :-
Up to 24 meg download speed
Upload speed up to 0.4 meg
4 gigs usage included
(additional 5 gigs for £5)
£14 monthly
£24 connection fee
24/7 support hotline
or
Up to 24 meg ultra-fast broadband
Up to 1.3 meg upload speeds
Unlimited usage
£24 monthly
£24 connection fee
24/7 support hotline
or
Up to 24 meg ultra-fast broadband
Up to 2.5 meg upload speeds
24/7 unlimited usage
24/7 prioritised member support
£24 connection fee
£40 monthly (incl. VAT)
1 Static IP free, up to 16 available
You will all agree this beats the pants off Virgin Media both in down/up stream & more importantly price BYE BYE ! Virgin….
Comment by Capped on 22 May 2007:
Fully agree with the article….
Well said that man.
I’m being capped on my ‘XL’ connection as I type this!
When you add up all the individual bits going out AND coming in, the 3GB boundary is pretty easy to cross, just with a day of casual fiddling about and a few files here and there.
Putting up prices then capping users, whilst also losing TV channels and scores of customers spells bad times for Virgin Media, and for customers who are too lazy/apathetic to migrate elsewhere.
Be aware that the V.M. coffers are empty as a result of this stupid ‘merger’ (read: marketing exercise) so there will be no (desperately needed) investment in the tired cable infrastructure.
Cable in the UK is fully on course to become a pariah, until some kindly foreign investor steps in with a buyout offer….
I’ve certainly had enough.
It’s gotten so bad that i’ll be giving my future custom to British Telecom, who I hate!
Pingback by Virgin Media Caps Are Driving Me Crazy | Connected Internet on 23 May 2007:
[...] been playing close attention to my broadband speed every since Virgin Media introduced Speed Caps, and they are starting to drive me crazy. Although my newsgroup usage appears to be unaffected, [...]
Comment by Alan on 26 May 2007:
I think that everyone should write to watchdog and complain!
watchdog@bbc.co.uk
Comment by mr. kannan on 28 May 2007:
fuck you VM, ur the worse ISP,
Comment by Shaun Thomas on 1 June 2007:
Speed caps are nothing try having a 20mb line that only runs at 5mb 24/7, I’m so fed up with them I’ve even started my own website to show how they have treated us as customers
Comment by Terry Neal on 2 June 2007:
The first day I get my 20meg line and i’m capped within 30 mins. Does it actually state on their website and on the Acceptable Usage Policy that they will cap u if u download 3gb during their so called peak hours. Well i cant find it and i cant ever remember them sending me a letter stating this either. anyone else? downloading at full speed on a 20mb line… 3gb takes less than 30mins!!!! And they are charging me £37 quid for this line?
Comment by An angry customer on 2 June 2007:
I have just recently upgraded to the XL 20mb service. I am totally disgusted at VM with there recent policy of throttling broadband users. Everyone can use the following mediums to make their feelings heard…
Complaint Form to Virgin M£dia
http://help2.virginmedia.com/assets/html/customer_feedback/customer_feedback_querytype_1.html
WatchDog Complaint Form
http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/contact_index.shtml
Please please make your voice heard
Comment by R HOOD on 3 June 2007:
What an earth are you downloading that is more than 3Gb.
Comment by Everton on 3 June 2007:
I haven’t got my 20Mb upgrade yet - North London is nearly always last
Comment by Duffman on 6 June 2007:
Call me stupid but I’m little lost here. I’m not here to defend Virgin but I have to confess that I feel my service has improved since they have taken over from Ntl perhaps this will give a little balance? If not feel free to shot me down, I’ll be interested in your response.
Firstly I hear ppl moaning about losing TV channels. It’s been great for me, I was paying for the basic package now it’s free. Some channels have gone, but I don’t really care because television isn’t really my thing anyway. The only thing I do miss is the Simpson’s on Sky1. You can’t blame Virgin for that, that’s Murdocks fault. My point in this paragraph is that some people are more than happy about the change. It all depends what type of customer you are right?
On the broadband issue. I’m really lost. How can you download 3 gigs in an evening? What are you using it for? P2p? If this is the case can’t you just let it run in the night? Also how on earth do you get the time to watch, listen or play the stuff you’re hoping to download at such speed anyway? I mean, a healthy person shouldn’t be spending too much time on the computer anyway - you should be outside enjoying life right?
Well that’s my point made, my views on why you need to have such speeds may be based on ignorance? I’d like to be ‘put right’ and enlightened…..
Comment by marty on 9 June 2007:
i download 5 to 10 gigs a day somethings more 3 gigs is nothing
Comment by Will on 17 June 2007:
Well my Xbox 360 regularly downloads 1 gig files which are game demos. If I download a full game it’s 7GB. I need the speed and I’m also being affected by the cap. I only have 4 meg speed at the mo, and i find it almost constantly being downgraded to 2 meg. For the moment I think I’ll reschedule my download times, but long term I’ll be looking to changing my ISP (after 5 years of service).
I was considering upgrading to 20 meg, but lets face it, the only reason someone is going to upgrade to that sort of speed is because they want to download a lot of data (say 10GB) in a short space of time (ie, within a few hours). If we get capped after the first 3GB then it’s pretty pointless upgrading.
Comment by stew on 4 July 2007:
Duffman & R HOOD.. If people are running things like games servers. download Linux which is 3gb a go. or use the high end package for its intednted purpose.. for heavy downloading t hen you can rack up 3gb within an hour. i have lots of times because i have remote access to my machine, use Bittorrent to download linux and share the internet with other ppl in my household. why the hell should i pay £37 to be slowed down to dailup speeds. in the long run speed capping will be harmful to the envorment.. think of all those people will have to leave their computers on overnight to finish their big downloads.
Virgin is such an ironic name as its so screwed..
Comment by Cipher on 16 July 2007:
I’m a long time Ntl/VM customer and before that Diamond cable (nottingham) must be nearly 15 years now probably and up untill now i have no complaints with the service, bar a few technical glitches now and again. I use programs on my computer which regularly use files sizes well over 10 gig from various animation and cgi images. I work from home and share my work with colleagues using ftps and other methods. This capping has now made my job damn near impossible and we are losing clients rapidly because of the backlog. I pay a lot for this service and i was never asked or shown any form declaring these changes. I think its disgusting how we are treating like shit all for there profit. I’ve already lost sky one and i pretty much lost my internet. I’m sure like many others Virgin Media you can fuck off i’m switching and you can expect a letter from my lawyer very soon.
Comment by Everton on 16 July 2007:
@cipher
I hear your pain, but I don’t reckon much to your chances of getting Virgin to listen to you as their service is for residential use only, and they if you tell them about your work use, they will say you really should be using their business product!
Comment by Oh on 18 July 2007:
@cipher again. You can’t blame Virgin for Murdock’s decision to make sky1 exclusive to sky.
Pingback by Virgin Media Need To Change Their Speed Capping Policy | Connected Internet on 21 July 2007:
[...] every day that goes by I am getting more and more frustrated with Virgin Media’s new speed capping policy. After having an unlimited genuine 10MB service from Telewest for 1 year for £35 a month with no [...]
Pingback by Virgin Media Broadband Speed Caps at Weak on 26 July 2007:
[...] Virgin Media Introduce Speed Caps Virgin Media Caps Are Driving Me [...]
Comment by mat on 28 July 2007:
so they say they can offer you 24meg down an adsl line - i doubt it
Comment by mat on 28 July 2007:
so they say they can offer you 24meg down an ADSL line - i doubt that very much
oh and BTW - VirginMedia have in trial 50Meg and also 100Meg - these have been in trial since it was BlueYonder
And the fact your service has got “worse” since march has nothing to do with Virgin taking over. All they have done is replace the logo on the bill etc to a virgin one. quite literally only the name has changed, not the porducts/service
as for capping download limits, i agree it is a bit harsh, that has always been one of the best features having unlimited access
Comment by Everton on 28 July 2007:
@mat
true, ADSL has it’s faults but if you are lucky in the postcode lottery you can get a fast speed
As to VM’s 50Mbps and 100Mbps we won’t be seeing those speeds for a very long time as the technologies that they rely on (DOCSIS3) require both significant network upgrades and also cable modems to be replaced, which isn’t cheap.
Plus, I don’t think VM are really in a good enough shape at the moment to focus on rolling theses speeds out what with all the PE activity and poor results.
Comment by Cipher on 1 August 2007:
Use a proxy many are available search google for more info. It bypasses their capping.
Comment by Everton on 1 August 2007:
@cipher
How will using a proxy help? Aren’t they just looking at the raw transfer, regardless of where it’s going or how?
Comment by now a sky man on 24 August 2007:
Virgin Media couldnt give a monkies f_ck what you or anyone else thinks, they LIE to keep ppl with them, i complained about my download speed and told them that i was thinking of going to sky for the £26 pm package(tv, phone and broadband) i was told all sorts of shit about how sky would give me less quality channels ( VM get their channels from sky DOH) and i would only be able to recieve 3.5gig speed, i am 700 yrds as the crow flies from the BT exchange and my mate is a lot farther away from the exchange than i am and he has 8.0gig from Tiscali.
V Media 4.0gig broadband only £25 PM + £10 to download from usenet groups that Virgin Media blocked
Tiscali (example) 8.0gig £18 PM no blocking of usenet groups
Going by what Virgin (Robbing) Media charges, i would be paying £50 for 8.0gig + £10 usenet server per month = £60 PER MONTH against TISCALI £18 PER MONTH
NOW THAT IS A VIRGIN MEDIA RIPOFF BY ANYONE`S STANDARDS
Comment by Angry on 14 September 2007:
I just hit the limit 350Mb. Seems Virgin the TV provider has found a back door way to block cheaper online TV services.
This 1Mb restriction is a joke I have run 10 speed tests with Virgins own speed test & others and the Highest result was 22Kbs. Dialup is 56.6Kbs, I pay for 2Mb.
When I signed up it was for a Garanteed 2Mb - Unlimited service.
Virgin started these limits when they launched their 20Mb service obviously they are selling bandwith thay just don’t have!
Comment by Quincey on 16 September 2007:
Im sure this has to be illegal, this is a service that we have PAYED for, and they are not providing it.
If i was in a taxi and the driver tried to explain that becuase we took over an hour, hes going to drive at 1 mph for the next 10 miles, id jump out there and then without paying.
basicly they are saying you payed for this service but we dont want to give it to you, therefore we will be cutting you off (or close enough) BUT still charging you for this.
I havnt been capped yet. but i intend to download HUGE ammounts tonight just to experiment and if they cap me ill have them on the phone ALL day monday.
Comment by Jack on 3 October 2007:
sorry for my English, I`m Pole (not a plumber :))
this is what I got from them:
“…
User (17:12): WHAT IS MY WEEKLY DOWNLOAD LIMIT?!
Craig (17:13): It’s only during peak. You will find that late at night or early hours of the morning the connection will be fine
User (17:13): How may GB I can download per one week and not have my connection caped?
Craig (17:14): It’s hard to say. It really depends on how much other people are downloading. You are only capped if you are in the top 5%
User (17:15): I do not care about others - give me a figure.
User (17:16): You can say that 2GB is to much.
Craig (17:16): One moment please
Craig (17:22): Ok, I have just spoken to manager and he pretty much says what I have said. There isn’t a figure, it’s done as a percentage. You should find that once we hit the massive downloaders then your download limit should increase and your speed should improve
User (17:23): I do not get it, percentage of what?
Craig (17:24): The top 5% of downloaders
User (17:25): 5% of downloaders of how may gigs?
…”
They can ALWAYS say that you in this 5% of heavy downloaders. There is no any limit (”unlimited” - ###!), there is no any figure, there is only 5% of traffic. This means that depends on overall usage of their servers you can be qualified for capping for downloading 100mb, 1gb, 5gb … you will never know. My case: one week 6.45GB and for that next two weeks my 8mb broadband speed is something 0.3MB, yes! 300kbs! Not only during peak, It is always less then one meg, less then half meg. Tested many times in the middle of the night with thinkbroadband and speedtest. Only about 4:30AM to 6:30AM I have 1.5-1.8mb and it`s been like that for nearly two weeks. Recently they don`t even reply for my emails. Requested my MAC last Sunday, no response so far. I`ve experienced many cons in this country but this is one of the biggest.
Comment by Splats on 13 October 2007:
I have been with virgin media for arround 8 months now
i’m on a 8meg connection and hit speeds of 850k off deamonews (usenet)
I download arround 250+gig a month and have not (as yet) been capped
I moved from pipex to virgin as pipex basically sent me the Letter of change or F*+& Off so i did F*+£ Off
virgin media So Far So good
Comment by Harry on 5 November 2007:
use a proxy!! no capping!
Comment by Everton on 5 November 2007:
@Harry
Just any old proxy?
Comment by Gary L (Nottingham) on 6 November 2007:
I just got my Virgin Media switched on yesterday and while I am dissapointed to find out about this (obviously they did not tell me about it) I will just move my downloads to the early hours. So in the end I won’t be using any more or less bandwidth, then I would have been without this cap.
Comment by Splats on 8 November 2007:
They got me also now peps
they have capped me to 512k 1/2 a meg now i know this can’t be right and we should do as a few people have said and contact watchdog this has goto be against the law has to be
lookin into yet another broadband provider
Comment by Splats on 8 November 2007:
THEY GOT ME NOW ALSO
THEY HAVE CAPPED MY 8MEG LINE TO 512
THATS HALF A DAM MEG WTF IS GOIN ON THIS IS THE WORST CAPPIN I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED
CONTACTIN WATCHDOG AS SOON AS I FINISH THIS MESSAGE
Ps if you reconnect and connect a fair few times cappin is removed For some time yes it does come back but hey it takes a few hours for it to do it so if u need somethink then your be fine
Comment by qwertster on 17 November 2007:
I have the 20meg XL line and have been capped lots of times before i have downloaded the 3gig my cap suposibly requires. I know this because i had DU Meter running.
The cap is also supposed to only last 4 hours yet i was once capped between 8pm and 8:30pm and by 3am i was still capped. So i phoned virgin media.
When i contacted virgin media’s customer suport i then paid 25pence a minute to speak to a guy i could barely understand from india.
After speaking to his manager the guy said we can cap you when we want where we want and he wouldn’t give a time my cap would be removed. within 2 minute’s the cap had been removed.
I would also just like to say with this cap applied you will also see a massive increase in your ping which even though your cap maybe 5meg once it’s applied you will find brouseing/gameing ect like being on 56k.
In my area there is very little xdsl and the few providers there are would be just as bad as virgin media in there own ways. ( over the years i have subscribbed to them as a second line but none have lasted more then there minimum contract.
I see virgin media’s cap as a sneaky way to limit trafic on there network so they make/loose less money.
Comment by thesmo on 21 November 2007:
in the past everytime telewest upgraded giving us extra speed on existing accounts my speed seemed to get slower and i mostly browse, about 1 yr ago games got so laggy i gave that up, just the other day i installed a new wireless belkin router which was slower than my old 4 port mercury router? i forget why but i had contact virgin media who informed me that my cable modem is not compatible with the 20mb account that i have, only had this package since march 07 and only now they tell me its not compatible with my package and to that they now charge for support 10p connection then 25p per min, they have sent me a new modem which is a however faster.
when i ask virgin techy who did mention i can be can be capped between 4pm and midnight he also states my speed is up to 20mb.
my speed test on the down speed before midight was 1.01kbps after midnight was to 628.96kbps
does anyone know what speeds i should get?
my old modem was surfboard sb3100
can any one tell me how long this has been none compatible?
Bring back Telewest - richard make the trains go slower in rush hour & see what happens
Comment by John Parker on 2 December 2007:
20 MB im on and i cant even reach 1mb OMFG this is beyond the joke take a look at this for a speedtest then WTFFFFFF this is just gone stupid now its making me sick! i have a phone/tv/net package and cant leave the damn thing till the contract is over! its like hell i swear this is unreal!!!! Ive never come accross such a ripoff in all my life! Trust me to get sucked in aswell! Checkout my speedtest to a server 150 miles away from where i live getting a ping of 250! XL? PFFFFFT! U B*A*S*T*A*R*D*S
I used to get this……
http://www.speedtest.net/result/184535862.png
Now i get this garbage crap! somebody save me!
http://www.speedtest.net/result/79490687.png
Comment by luke on 12 December 2007:
i f***ing hate virgin media and want back my blueyonder service!
Comment by Angry Virgin media customer on 2 January 2008:
Really quite angry with Virgin media i figure and i could be wrong here but if your paying for something thats what you should get. Im only on a 2 meg cable line and i consider myself to be a fairly average internet user. With the standards of recent internet surfing you can easily reach your download limit what Virgin media are imposeing. The way i see it thats not really being unfair your just using your connection what you paid for so why the fair usage policy. I recently started checking my speeds and i am hitting 2 meg up untill the point where i hit the download limit. Than the connection is complete ( CRAP )might aswell be unuseable the pings in online games are rubbish and even trying to stream media is frustrating. They push there routers and everything that means you hit ya limit quicker if ya surfing with more than one rig how did they work that one out lol. What makes it worse you try and phone up and complain its like speaking to a robot they dont give a ( CRAP ) they dont seem to know whats goin on either. I dont phone them anymore they seem to think restarting your computer solves everything or they try and sell you more services. VERY VERY VERY poor by Virgin Media. Think its a new isp very soon Blueyonder was miles better than this rubbish. No wonder a certain high ranking individual has so much money ?
Comment by Angry Virgin Media Customer on 7 January 2008:
I have to say these speed caps are stupid. What is the point of having up to 20mb connections which are limited after you download 3gb?.
Let me give you an example now if you start say watching streaming video via the web and you actually do some legitimate downloading and say uploading you can hit that 3gb limit in next to no time typically say 2 to 3 hours. So in theory you are actually paying for a 5mb connection at the price of a 20mb connection for a majority of the time.
If you have a 20mb connection and you never hit this limit I’m afraid to say you don’t need the connection as you simply are not making sufficient use of it to warrent such high connection speeds and should opt for the the lower tier and save some money.
Virgin media should stop advertising their speeds as unlimited and clearly state on their advertising that speeds are capped and state what they are capped to; if they did that their services would no where near look as attractive.
To use the excuse that it is to stop those who abuse the service is laughable because Virgin media has actually lost more customers then it has gained since the merger and therefore cannot use the excuse they have to put these caps in place as the network is under no extra strain then it was before the merger took place. The caps are simply there so they save money while raking your cash in as bandwidth costs them.
Telewest was a better company before the merger and alot better then NTL interms of quality of service and customer service that has seriously gone down the pan.
I’ve been with ntl and telewest for 10 years and believe me there are ADSL providers out there who’s services are alot better.
Comment by Splats on 7 January 2008:
Well i was on the phone to them the other day and i got speaking to a semi retired block who told me striaght about these capping laws they got
in his words i could not give to f%*&ks if he gets sacked his totally fed up with all the crap the team leaders are tell them to say to us when we ring to complain about this problem .
Right now i’ve been capped to arround 92kbps = about 11.5k in real money( Speedtest done on the site that they tell you to go onto )
He also said its a way to make us so called heavy users leave without them kicking us off.
He strongly advised me to write a letter to head office tell them about whats goin on and also send the same letter to ofcom also to print off my screen when i go on there speedtest site. So thats what i’m goin to do i’ll kepp you all posted
FIGHT THE POWER
Comment by disgruntled on 21 January 2008:
20 Duffman
June 6th, 2007 01:40 GMT
there are many ppl from many walks of life. i myself am disabled so my life is the computer, talking to ppl on the internet is my connection to the outside world….also my son has agoraphobia which means he cannot leave the house and he plays games all day and most of the nite its his life his way of connecting to the outside world, we’re being capped and his games wont run, i watch movies over the internet and suddenly wham they freeze up and become unwatchable…..so yes we do have a right to complain…..just because you have a normal life with normal health doesnt mean the rest of the world is the same, wake up and accept thier are more ppl out there than yourself.
Comment by Tony on 23 January 2008:
I’v been on th 20meg line for sometime and I’ve never had more than 5mb from it …this is beyond a joke, I was getting faster speeds from my 6meg line with NTL and at half the cost. Virgin are liars and are surely in breach of advertising rules, they are also a ripoff and I am currently looking at other ISP’s - as soon as I find one i’m happy with, virgin can kiss my arse and my money bye bye
Pingback by VM Download Speed ??? - Techwatch: Satellite TV forums, FTA, Cable, Hardware, & Tech forums on 26 January 2008:
[...] Media are introducing speed capping measures that for users who download large amounts from the Net during peak hours. Peak hours have been defined as 4pm to midnight which [...]
Comment by VIRGIN ARE RUBBISH on 27 February 2008:
WTF upgraded from 2mb connection to a 20 mb connection now i get less, speed test on 2mb connection showed just under 2mb but speed test on 20 mb connection showing 976kb virgin media takin the piss there aren’t you and salesman said i would get a free upgrade around march 08 to 50mb when they announce 50mb connection available this is a joke i will be lucky if i get 500kb connection at this rate
Comment by Splats on 28 February 2008:
Dale (11:49): Hi, Welcome to Virgin Media Chat and Remote Assistance. My name is Dale. How may I help you?
Dale (11:49): Hi
User (11:49): hi dale i was wonderin if u could tell me if i’m on this list
User (11:50): cause my speeds yesterday where real crap
Dale (11:50): Ok i will check now….
User (11:50): thanks
User (11:51): also while your checkin that could u tell me what amount i have downloaded to get on the list ( if i’m on it )
Dale (11:51): Yes you are on the cap list for nearly 19 gig in one week.
User (11:52): ??????
User (11:52): what are the peak times then cause i’ve stopped downloadin in the peak times
Dale (11:53): Doesnt matter as it takes into account the whole days there fore we cap durring peak to stop the network being clogged by high users.
User (11:54): it does’nt matter ??? well i think it does i was told from 4pm till 12 pm is peak times if this is not tru then i have been told a lie
Dale (11:55): That is when you will be capped but it depends on the amount you download 24/7.
User (11:55): the rules virgin are puttin down are as clear as mud i try to stay inside the line but i can’t if i dont know what the rules are
User (11:56): but if its unlimited then surly in the offpeak times u should not me taken that into account surly
User (11:57): so what your sayin tome then is that 24/7 people are being monitered
Dale (12:00): The unlimted download policy is susspended at the moment( which is explain in the terms and condition on the web site) unfortunately yes it is monitored 24/7 and runs sunday to sunday.
User (12:01): so if its susspended then what am i payin 18 pound for??
User (12:01): how do i go about gettin my mac code
Dale (12:01): Youcan get a mac code from 0845 045 0709 option 4
User (12:02): ok thanks i think its best for me to move to another company one that gives clear details of what you get for your money
Dale (12:03): Ok thank you for using online support. Have a good day.
User (12:04): i well thanks bye
pipex buisness line here i come for 19quid u get unlimited and NO FAIR USE POLICY woooohooooooooo about time some company did this u watch everyone else follow
Comment by Angry on 11 May 2008:
ahahahaha
A single HD 30 minute video is 350mb. I can download 1 episode of 1 TV series and be capped to 20kb/s for four hours? Virgin just lost a customer.
Comment by andy on 15 May 2008:
Virgin are absolute crap, everything was fine until they took over im supposed to have unlimited downloads and im getting capped???, f virgin media, go o2 and bethere broadband!!!!!!! hope virgin go bankrupt and richard branson ends up living on the streets!!!
Comment by patrick john on 25 May 2008:
I know virgin media are a good company but their traffic management is horrible. One day I was downloading a 1GB file and when I finished I was wrongfully capped. Yet again I was uploading a film using torrents and again I was capped and I have proof. I started Utorrent at 4:00 sharp to tell if I was wrongfully capped…
Comment by Lee Abrahams on 28 May 2008:
Im glad to know im not alone. I pay for a rapidshare account as i download films etc and like to get high speeds. I would not condier myself that much of a high user i may download 1 or 2GB every other day but i certainly don’t download that everyday. When i spoke to virgin they didnt seem to care….it took 4 calls to have them explain that they are capping my speed. I was outraged i pay for 10MB and for a self employed 16 year old it is alot of money.
It seems that if you download alot you are punished and have your speed reduced. Yet people who use there computers for internet shopping and dont download and to be honest would not notice a drop in speed are rewarded.
Is this speed capping a new thing Virgin have introduced as i have been a member since they were ntl under the 2MB contract. I recently upgraded to the 10MB (formally the 4MB service) and during my time on the 2MB did not notice any drop in connection speed. I have been a member to ntl for 6 years orginally under 4Mb i then downgraded to 2MB for 6 months (cash shortage) but have not returned to the 10MB. Yet if at peak times when i want to download i am getting 2MBs what is the point. I will either be at sixthfrom or working and go on my computer in the evening to recive a 2Mb service.
If this is not sorted i will be sure to chane ISP.
Comment by Dissatisfied on 29 May 2008:
I am really p*ssed off with Virgin Media now - first Branson & Murdoch have a fall out & I as a customer lose out on my TV viewing choice (they stated that most were happy - NOT - I read the feedback on their website) - now they are restricting my download speed & I am expected to sit back & take it. (why not upgrade their systems to cope?) If my download speed is being halved I expect bill to be halved too! - If I had a BT line to my house I would cancel my agreement with them immediately -I think they are in breech of contract in both of these aspects.
Comment by AV on 10 June 2008:
i’m capped every day to 1mb… phone technical support (f**kin million pounds a minute) and they didnt no s**t.
Comment by xXx on 10 June 2008:
guess we cant watch steaming tv… even legit stuff lyk channel4… this is messed up…x