Oh FGS! Can't have sky tv because of neighbours tree!!

[schnapps]

The 'G' stand for goodness by the way.

I moved house a while ago and had sky tv straight away because not able to have terrestrial tv. Had problems for ages with blue screen saying no signal, technical fault with channel etc. Sky technician came round today to replace the box but told me that i will probably have long term problems with the signal because neighbours absolutely huge (tall) tree blocking the signal, he said that moving the sky dish won't work because anywhere it is put on the house, this blooming tree is still in the way. Very fed-up. What would you do? Please don't suggest a life without tv!!

we jsut had problems with our Sky - same as the OP - finally the last engineer said it was because is was next to the creepers on the wall and bugger me, since he moved it its been perfect!

Freeview's great - has the all important Cbeebies . A lot cheaper than Sky which is always going up in prices or it was when I was in Scotland. Second the opinion here though get an independent in - as it's satellite transmission can't see why a tree should effect it to be honest, normal terrestrial maybe - had that in Kilsyth, N Lanarks as we lived in a valley so it was Sky or nothing.

get an independent installer. Call around. There are lots and they are generally cheap if you shop around. I'm sure there is a way around it.

We had Sky installed the week we moved in and they sent and independant company out not their own engineers.

I'd try these options in this order
Ring Sky and explain the situation, tell them your not sure what the guy said is true and could they send out an independant person for a second opinion.

Have a word with the neighbour and see about having it installed via him like anthonywhatsit suggested (keep him sweet )

Or other than that explain your situation to him, that you can't have a good signal without it blah blah, and offer to pay for a tree surgeon to come out and trim the tree. This might cost from anything from £40+ but just so you know for future reference,

we were going to cancel Sky because of the cost and moving etc. When dh rang them up, they offered him a fee dish, free installation and 3 months half price

So what you spend on a tree surgeon you may save IYSWIM

Freeview is great. We can't get Sky for the same reason and don't have Cable in our area. We installed a Freeview box - mainly so we could get CBeebies for our DS. Since then E4's been added and ITV4 and from the 23rd we'll be getting FilmFour too. Don't think you need Sky - unless you're into Sports and especially Cricket which Sky now have all the rights to.

I've spoken to sky and been told that they can't do anything about it. I'm signed up for a 12 month subcription so can't even cancel it!! Will have try asking neighbour then, but feel very cheeky and what if he says not trimming the tree or me having my box on his house? Really don't want to be paying for sky if I can't blooimg watch it!!

That's bollocks - phone 'em up mention trading standards and "not fit for purpose" - they're fobbing you off.

Write a letter of complaint, too. Put it in writing.

We cancelled Sky when we moved from our old address to here, and I'm so glad we did.

They're a rip off.

Have Freeview now and love it.

i wish you would just go and ask your neighbour

Also contact Trading Standards who will be able to advise you further. I know when I had a problem with a large company they had regular meetings with them to raise any issues, so just put me on to the bod within trading standards who liased with that company.

Of course you should be able to bloody cancel! Check with trading standards but I'm guessing their advice will be to stop the Direct Debit and send Sky a letter saying that they are welcome to collect their equipment (box and dish) at any time.

I will ask my neighbour, think I might end up crying at him at the mo though. Feeling very sorry for myself and lots of little things are getting on top of me. Got the school hols off but can't afford to take dd away on hols, or for days out. Just moved to a new area so that dd can go to a half decent secondary school, but it's breaking the bank (rented, can't afford to buy) already got lots of debts, bought a pool as early bday pressie for dd in the hope that it would keep her occupied over the hols so she wouldn't mind us not going on holiday/for days out but after getting it out I reaise I would need to invest more money in buying a cover and some rubber matting (which I don't know where to buy) to put underneth it so it can go onto a slabbed area because after getting it half full with water realised my lawn has too much of a slope for it, so that was prob a waste of money (and water!). There's only so much time that can be spent at the park - been everyday since since friday. my friends are either on holidays abroad or are just really crap friends, feeling single and loney, and got a smear test this afternoon which I have managed to put off since my last one 9 years ago and feel like cancelling again. I keep losing my internet connection for no apparent reason, and so not having a tv is just the last straw!! I can't afford to pay for tree to be chopped, and assuming i need a normal terrestrial ariel for freeview, I can't afford for someone to come and sort that out for me. Patio door has come off its runner so wont close properly, so don't feel secure at night cos I'm worrying about someone getting in but would probably have to pay loads to get it fixed. Feel worn out and can't cope with arguing with sky about the fact that they're expecting me to pay for a service I am not receiving!! Just wish I had a partner/brother/uncle/anyone to help me sort these sorts of things out - but no, I have no one!!

So, it's not a good idea to try to talk to neighbour at the moment - I wil def cry!

Oh dear, that was a bit of an epic! Don't usually spill like that on here - just ignore me, absolutely nothing to do with sky tv!

maybe it IS a good time to go and see your neighbour - make friends, invite them round for a cup of tea?

I would protect the tree, at the end of the day a big tree in the neighbourhood could add far more value to your house than a ski dish outside your property... so... I wouldn't poison it.

Oh schnapps Sounds like you really needed to spill. I've always thought that one big thing is MUCH more easy to deal with than lost of little problems.

Shouldn't the landlord be paying for the repair to the patio door?

And obviously I crossposted!

Take one thing at a time Schnapps. Perhaps starting with canceling the sky service until you have dealt with the reception problems. Don't worry about not taking you child for a holiday, is not the end of the world, many don't go in holidays regularly and nothing happens. A big hug, and hope things fget better soon.

ok, sorry, I was obviously having a bad day yesterday - I'm fine now!

The pool has been sorted and dd and friends have had hours enjoying it. The smear that I had put off for years was absolutely fine (don't know what I was so worried about), the door has been fixed, and I've spoken to neighbour who said that he is planning to get the tree trimmed soon anyway!

Thanks for all the help and nice words yesterday

Things always happen all at once don't they?
FWIW you need a decent (ie rooftop) aerial to get more than a handful of channels on Freeview. We've got a loose connection to ours somewhere that renders it useless so a mini coathanger-type aeriel indoors and the only channels we can get are just not worth watching. Can't get Channel 5 with or without Freeview and sad as it is I really miss Home&Away

Glad today went a lot more smoothly, schnapps Hope the tree trimming has the desired effect...