Virgin could be brilliant for all I know, but I never got a chance to find out (reading the reviews here I feel I had a lucky escape).

I applied to be connected to their cable service, and they said "no problem - you are in a cable area". As I live in a protected residential avenue off the road I was sceptical, and assumed that cable must have already been laid somewhere that was not obvious. After all, I supplied Virgin with my postcode and exact address- they should know whether or not they can supply a postcode shouldn't they?

Well it turns out they don't as they contacted me 1 DAY before my service was due to be installed to tell me, "sorry, we are going to have to apply for permission to get the cable to your house". Predictably they were unable to get permission, which would have been fine if they had only let me know this in the first place instead of acting like it was definitely possible to supply me. This has now inconvenienced me as I will have to find an alternative ADSL provider and will be without internet for at least another week.

In addition, when they sent me the contract through the post to sign it listed "£35 manned installation fee" on the costs, despite the fact that their website told me they offer free installation. I called them and mentioned this, asking them to send another contract. I was passed around 3 different departments, and no-one bothered to introduce me or pass my details on, so I had to explain myself 3 times. No one wanted to send me an amended contract and assured me I would not have to pay the £35 charge. Not satisfied, I demanded to receive another contract. They sent one, but it was identical to the first! No one I spoke to wanted to send me an amended contract, which suggests to me that it's hassle for them and/or they just can't do it easily at all. Frankly appalling customer service on top of everything else!