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Original poster

Sky tv wont let me cancel! Can anyone help?

22 replies

PaleHousewifeOfCumbriaCounty · 27/08/2013 16:14

Hi everyone, i hope im posting this in the right place!

Ive had a sky tv contract for about six years, and having finally seen the iceberg (that its a bloody con!) and want to cancel. So i triedto email and they said they needed to speak to me. I duly rang and some lad faffed about for ages. Then they said as i got a newer box in feb i am tied into a new contract!

I didnt get my new box from sky, i got it from my brother. You can buy them on amazon etc. it sounds like absolutely poo to me, anyone any thoughts? I certainly havent signed or consented to a new contract.

OP posts:
Solo · 27/08/2013 16:18

They are a nightmare! I don't have Sky, but my Mum does and was almost in tears trying to cancel because she couldn't afford it any longer...I took over the phone call and got it for her at half price (internet/phone and TV). I doubt she'd have got all three for £31 pcm anywhere else.
I don't know what the answer is for you OP, but I hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction.

gamerchick · 27/08/2013 16:21

This is a really common problem. Google 'sky won't let me cancel' and you'll get a lot of info on experiences and what to do.

HalfSpamHalfBrisket · 27/08/2013 16:24

Ring them back, and make sure you get put through to cancellations (or retentions, as they call it).

Use www.saynoto0870.com/search.php to find a freephone number.

If you have been gifted a box (by someone on a different account I assume) I cannot see how that would affect a contract or lock you in.
With Sky often the best thing is to keep ringing until one of the staff finally does what you ask.
Just be very clear that you haven't had a new box and that you DO want to cancel rather than get a reduction.

And if that fails, head over to www.moneysavingexpert.com for people with more in-depth knowledge.

LadyMaryQuiteContrary · 27/08/2013 16:24

IIRC Sky give you the box and the dish for free but it means you have to pay to get it repaired. Then they try to sell you insurance for the repairs Hmm Check to see if it's a rolling contract, you should be able to give them a month's notice once you've been with them for (usually) a year. Tell them that your contract states that you're giving them x notice, and this is what you're doing. I'd threaten them with trading standards if you get no joy.

Original poster
PaleHousewifeOfCumbriaCounty · 27/08/2013 16:26

Oh dear! Just as i feared!

OP posts:
Luvvies · 27/08/2013 16:40

Can you just cancel your direct debit and when they query it ask them for the evidence that you have signed up to a contract?

LadyMaryQuiteContrary · 27/08/2013 16:46

I tried that, Luvvies. They did disconnect everything after a few weeks (yay!) but I have a crap credit rating and am being chased by debt collection companies (who want £70 for a service I couldn't use as it was disconnected Hmm). They are an absolute nightmare.

IDontBowlOnShabbos · 27/08/2013 17:01

We cancelled ours a couple of months ago no problem, or so we thought... Woman on the phone told us when our last payment would be and when it would be cut off. It's still here and we're still paying for it months later!

Problem is it's in DH's name and he's a notorious procrastinator, so fuck knows when we'll be free of it!

testedpatience · 27/08/2013 19:34

I cancelled mine with no problems and went to Talk Talk, within 3 weeks i got a 50% off offer from Sky and took it Blush

Be firm when you phone and if they leave you on hold for ages when they go through the so called disconnection process dont hang up as they will come back eventually to confirm its gone throughConfused

Ask for the recording of your conversation signing yourself into a new contract. I did that when they tried to charge me for a maintenance call that i had been assured would be free. They took 65.00 out of my account but refunded me when i asked for the call recording as i knew what had been said as i'm not stupid even though they was trying to convince me i am!

Original poster
PaleHousewifeOfCumbriaCounty · 27/08/2013 19:59

I phoned again to give dh permission to discuss account, and they cancelled without issue! Weirdest lot ever.

OP posts:
Sleepyhoglet · 31/08/2013 21:37

Watching wth interest as I want to do this. What are you getting as an alternative?

DownstairsMixUp · 31/08/2013 21:44

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster
PaleHousewifeOfCumbriaCounty · 31/08/2013 21:51

Nothing sleepy. We just got a smart tv, so between freeview, the various iplayers and netflix we are all entertained forna fraction of the cost. Sky was putting the price up yet again and we just thought bugger it. Tbh unless you watch sports, it all the same crap anyway.

Weve had a letter confirming cancellation now :)

OP posts:
Trigglesx · 02/09/2013 10:01

When we tried to cancel ages ago, my then DH was getting pretty angry at the woman on the phone who was demanding to know why we wanted to cancel - DH told her we were going to switch to a less expensive service and she told him "that's not good enough." Shock He handed the phone over to me and I had to tell her she needed to speak with me now as DH was currently using language that would make a sailor blush and I'd be by far the more pleasant person to speak to.... but I was by no means a pushover either. I finally had to demand a supervisor as she was getting quite rude. We'd ordered TWO pay per views (DH's wrestling pay per view stuff) over the course of six months, and when I told her we had decided the service was too expensive, she'd said "well, maybe you shouldn't be ordering PPVs then!" Angry

Finally got it sorted, but my god it was a nightmare. I will NEVER go back to Sky.

sidneypie · 02/09/2013 10:20

After years of problems with our sky box - constantly freezing etc. - the only advice we ever got was switch it off and on again. Finally they said they could send an engineer but that it would cost £70 for the call out plus whatever for repairs or £299 for a new box! When my DH queried this he was told that the box was in fact 'ours' and so we had to pay for repairs. "Right" says DH "If it's mine it's going in the bin" The operator said you can't do that - DH, whilst on the phone, unplugged the box took it outside and dumped it in the wheelie bin! The sky operative kept saying you can't do that. DH then told her he was cancelling the basic package with immediate effect, that he was cancelling the direct debit and hung up.
We now have freesat, never had any problems, and would never go back to sky - despite their constant calls to offer all sorts of crap.

Solo · 02/09/2013 10:41

Pale don't forget to also cancel your direct debit ~ just in case!!!

WeAreEternal · 02/09/2013 10:50

Are there any tricks to get a cheaper bill?

I don't want to cancel but have hear that if you threaten to do so in a specific way they will offer you discounts.

Does anyone have experience of this?

Solo · 02/09/2013 11:53

I just told them my Mum couldn't afford to pay the price anymore and I got the whole package for £31pcm.

Sleepyhoglet · 02/09/2013 17:03

Think I might go freesat. Though this thread has made me worried about cancelling.

Solo · 03/09/2013 10:05

They want to keep your custom through any means! which translates roughly to bullying tactics if necessary.

Original poster
PaleHousewifeOfCumbriaCounty · 04/09/2013 07:40

The junk calls have started :(

OP posts:
ep1977 · 17/09/2013 10:02

we have phone,broadband and tv with sky. We cant afford it either but hubby has rang loads complaining about the internet speed and has now got it for £7.50 pm for the broadband. we both have mobile phones so do we really need a land line?

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