Virgin Media making it difficult for customer with Dementia.

[maroondevo52]

My mum was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia, she has been with Virgin Media since 2011 starting out on a 18 month contract.

 

Five months ago my mum came to live with me, I then went through the process of obtaining a Power of Attorney so I could deal with her housing arrangements ect.

 

A month ago I phoned Virgin Media to cancel her TV services, they said they would need to speak to her and she would have to give them her password.

 

After telling them I had Power of Attorney and my mum had Dementia and could not remember what she did a few hours ago let alone remember a password she was given 6 years ago they said they would have to send her the password.

 

Luckily enough I still have the keys to her old flat as Social Care will not let me surrender the tenancy until they assess her as if I did they would look on it as me making her intentionally homeless.(whilst she waste's £600 a month on rent ect)

 

Virgin Media said they would send a new password in a couple of days, after waiting a week I checked the flat and there was nothing from them.

 

I phoned again weeks ago, again was promised they would send out a password.

 

I was in the flat again last night and all there was from Virgin Media was a new bill for the coming month.

 

I have now cancelled the Direct Debit.

 

Who am I best to contact regarding this.

[Bazooka Boo]

Evening MD, sorry to hear of your Mums poor health,

 

Virgin Bledia are experts at failing to communicate coherently with their customers, some mean feat when you consider they're in the communication industry!

 

Phoning is futile, even emailing them is hit and miss, a letter is preferred, and to their head office, the removal of the DD will be good enough to get their archaic computers into overdrive, they'll communicate with you as soon as their profit stream is turned off!

 

Tom Mockridge is the current CEO...

[email protected]

 

https://www.ceoemail.com/s.php?id=ceo-9632

[maroondevo52]

Thanks for that BB, I had a feeling writing would be the way to go.

I did ask them to confirm they had sent the password after my first call to them but they quoted 'Data Protection' and could not tell me anything.

 

It's the same with Edinburgh Council and their social care telling me not to give up my mums flat when I know for a fact she could not cope even with help and support, they will do anything to keep from helping fund a Care Home place.

[Bazooka Boo]

they quoted 'Data Protection' and could not tell me anything.

Absolutely guarantee, they wouldn't know what section of the DPA they are attempting to use, simply because there is none! Worthy of a complaint in itself IMO.

 

As for the LA, you're right to think they only want what's best for them, however I'd be emailing the local MP regarding their lethargic attitude, you know what's best for mum not some pen pusher!

 

Makes my teeth itch, especially when it comes to close family and ruddy authorities.

[robmiller667]

Can you register to administer her account online? I've done this for an elderly relative for whom I have Power of Attorney, although not for Virgin. Usually all it takes info that you already know such as date of birth address, customer number etc.

 

once registered online, initiate the cancellation or use an online chat to cancel. You should be able to pass security checks.

 

now this is a bit of a sneaky method but as I'm sure you know , with dementia, even putting a relative on the phone is challenging for them to understand what the CS operator is asking.

 

Good luck.