I have a contract with these guys until November. But I'm moving back in with my parents in August. Will I have to suck it up and buy out the contract or is there anything I can do?
Just make sure that you cancel any direct debit because Virgin, seemingly as standard practice, go back to your bank a couple of months after cancellation and try to start claiming it again. At which point you will get a letter saying you are in default for a month and they are setting their dogs on you.
I think all the companies do this, but Virgin do it every single time in my experience, so get names when you cancel, even if you think your contract has expired, they are all rollovers, and they will not give you a letter.
Tell them a month in advance, and use their email thing, and save the lot, not just on email but also on a text file, and cancel the direct debit yourself, and check it remains cancelled. It should do nowadays, and if it doesn't the bank is liable, which is the only reason nowadays why it normally is, but I guarantee these nice-sounding people on the phone, 2 months down the line, will head back to your bank, and if you have not closed it personally, they will start withdrawing the money again, and you will be none the wiser, and have no service for it.
Even if you buy it out they will keep charging you if they can. Essentially, do not trust them at all, and if you phone them, get names, numbers, and tell them you are recording the call. Always get a managers name. Also, make a note every time you are put on hold. Sometimes it's better to use a different phone, because they recognize your number if you are with them, and more often than not have no interest in speaking to you. An unrecognized number, however, could be a new customer, so they pick up.
You would be astounded to find out just how corrupt and bent these companies are.
Sorry for going on a bit but the type of games they hurt people with pisses me off immensely.
