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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think I shouldn't have to pay for my own bloody Sky remote - Sky should!

70 replies

ZeroMinusZero · 13/02/2012 18:45

I've been a loyal Sky customer for about three years. My remote has been dodgy for a while and has finally conked out. I have to buy my own replacement. What's with that? I pay for this service and have done for years. I didn't have to pay for the box or remote when I joined, yet I have to pay for replacements if they break of their own accord? I am furious and will be moving to Virgin forthwith.

Surely I'm not alone in this....?

OP posts:

ShellyBoobs · 13/02/2012 22:10

it was NOT a ploy...

squeakytoy · 13/02/2012 22:14

what sky do not tell people, is that you only have to get your subscription from them.. everything else, repairs, installations, equipment, can be supplied and fitted by independent engineers, and can often be much cheaper..

Panfriedstardust · 13/02/2012 22:16

ah that's a thought squeakytoy - need to trial Vision first.

lilbitneurotic · 13/02/2012 22:19

YABU - Technically you do not require a remote to watch the service, the box does have buttons on it.

Original poster

ZeroMinusZero · 14/02/2012 07:08

Surprising how many people think that it's perfectly fine for Sky to do whatever the hell they like to their customers and that no one should complain about it. Of course I agree that Sky should be allowed to do this if it wants to, but I do think it's quite bad business sense. Imagine if someone had a box break after just over a year, and then another, and then another. Sky would lose a potentially valuable customer through this policy.

While I agree that they shouldn't have to send new equipment to every tom, dick and harry who pours coffee over their stuff, it might serve them better in the long run to have a policy where loyal customers who have never had any new equipment before, can have one new box every x years - which is exactly what I expected they would do. But they're just creating bad will. As I said earlier, 3 have been so good to me whenever my phone has broken that they've kept me really satisfied, caused me to reccomend 3 to friends etc etc etc

OP posts:

Panfriedstardust · 14/02/2012 07:20

I don't think anyone is saying that Sky can do what the hell they want. Most posters are indicating that the handset is your responsibility, and you cannot expect it to last forever.

maddening · 14/02/2012 07:36

We've had full package for 5 years - I want a sky+ box which they give to all new customers but we would have to pay £150 for the box and £65 for installation according to sky and there is no way they can waiver it. Dp is even thinking of taking the.current HD offer which is an extra£10 a month but with free box and installation - I think we should look into virgin

SoupDragon · 14/02/2012 07:46

Phone and tell them you are thinking of leaving over it.

I phoned Virgin and told them I wanted a free wireless router because a) they were offering them free to new customers and b) I could get one free from Sky if I switched. They sent me one without a quibble.

squeakytoy · 14/02/2012 08:48

"I want a sky+ box which they give to all new customers but we would have to pay £150 for the box and £65 for installation according to sky and there is no way they can waiver it"

Buy a secondhand box, and get an independent to install it. It would be much cheaper. :)

Panfriedstardust · 14/02/2012 09:25

my skyplus box will be available shortly....

LizzieMo · 14/02/2012 09:37

Virgin are no better. Be careful before you throw in your lot with the bearded one.

Butkin · 14/02/2012 11:50

I upgraded my old Sky box for a Sky + HD box. I explained that we don't have an HD TV and therefore didn't want the HD part of the service. It took some negotiation on the phone (don't think they are used to speaking to people who don't have HD TVs!) but they did do me a good deal with free installation.

I love our Sky Service (so much better than my Mum's Virgin) and if I did wear our our remote (the previous one was immaculate after 8 years hard use) then I would buy a cheap one off Ebay.

MuddlingMackem · 14/02/2012 18:44

SardineQueen Mon 13-Feb-12 21:41:17

That's the difficulty isn't it, muddling.

SardineQueen · 14/02/2012 19:26

Muddling have you seen star wars uncut?

It is brilliant!

MuddlingMackem · 15/02/2012 19:54

Sardine. No, I hadn't, but apparently dh knows all about it. :-)

Will have to watch it at some point.

Currently working our way through 'Farscape' as we decided to introduce the kids to it, and we have the whole lot on DVD.

SardineQueen · 15/02/2012 20:48

Oooh farscape was great. Such a shame they cancelled it, I got such a shock at the end when it said "it'll be back in the new season" and then another voiceover said "oh no it won't!". At least they did that follow-up. It was great wasn't it. And the pilot chap was quite easy on the eye Was so funny when they went over to stargate - did you see the episode where they had all the farscape stuff on stargate? I love the way sci-fi progs reference each other or even give open homage

Watching buffy at the moment which never loses it's appeal, can't wait to watch it with the girls when they are bigger.

MuddlingMackem · 15/02/2012 20:59

Yes, they were great on Stargate, and the Farscape refs were a hoot.

Would love to rewatch Buffy, but the kids are too young. They're really still a bit young for Farscape (aged 8 and 5) but the unsuitable stuff on that will just go over their heads. Buffy is a bit more in your face, and the characters aren't all grown-ups which means it lacks a bit of distance, so it will have to wait a few more years.

About homages/refs: loved what sounded like a reference to Fox Mulder and the X-Files on a first series episode of Haven - recently watched the whole first series DVDs in two days.

zipzap · 15/02/2012 21:09

Have a look on moneysavingexpert.com - they reckon that sky are one of the best people that you can ring up who are willing to negotiate their rates rather than lose you as a customer.

Apparently if you ring up to leave the pass you their admin dept - aka customer retentions - and there is a script on there to maximise the likelihood of getting a good deal from them. Sorry on phone so can't do link sorry. But should be easy to find on there.

McHappyPants2012 · 15/02/2012 21:18

I wonder if my remote is playing up after reading this thread, it seems kind of slow.

Think I will buy a new one, but if sky replaced everyone's controls no doubt the prices would increase to cover it

fatlazymummy · 15/02/2012 23:10

It's quite simple really. With Sky you own all the equipment [although many customers actually get it free as part of their signing on package] and with virgin you rent the equipment. That is why you have to replace the sky remote yourself.

So yes YABU .

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