Broken sky box question

cubix

The mate has a broken sky box,not sure which one but he has had sky for years. When he rang the girl she told him to try a couple of things which none of them worked so she confirmed its broken and will need a new one. Because its well out of warranty she quoted him €108 to get a replacement.I told him to cancel his sub and get another one in a different name but does not seem to crazy about that idea:rolleyes: .

So a couple of questions, is there anyone thing that goes wrong with sky boxes or is it not worth going down that route.

IF he buys a second hand one off the likes of here or ebay is it just a case of plugging it in and sticking your card in or is there more to it

Is there any other option I have over looked that would get you a free box(best option) or very well priced second hand one

Cheers Cubix

byte

The fault would depend on make and model of box, and a synopsis of the fault would help.

Usually though, if the box is years old, it's probably best getting a new(er) box. I currently would recommend the Pace 430N (aka Cobra) box.

If he bought a second hand one from eBay or Buy&Sell or whatever, it's a case of plugging it in, and assuming most channels are working (check first) then ring Sky to pair the viewing card to the new box. Pairing is needed for Premium channels (Sky Sports, Sky Movies, etc) to work, otherwise you'd get "This is the wrong card for this set top box" message onscreen.

I'm assuming the person he rang was a Sky CSR, and I'm surprised that she'd recommend him to cancel and resubscribe under a different name.

That said, that's a route for him to take, and he'll get a free box. Also get I think 3 months half price on any package currently as a "new subscriber".

cubix

Sorry for the confusion Byte it should have been "I told him", as you say if it had a been the sky csr that would have been a bit strange. I never done sky before but when you sign up for a new sub(as a new customer;) ) can you not just ring your local satellite provider who is a sky agent or do you have to go through sky themselves. ITs just his banging on about having it in before the Ryder cup.

Thanks cubix

byte

It shouldn't matter who you contact.

He will need to cancel his current subscription. That can be easier said than done!

He will also need to have the new box connected to a phoneline (do Sky know of his current phone number?), or else incur a €37.50 levy. Note if he uses the same phonenumber as on his previous contract, then the new contract will be immediately voided.

Then he can just make sure the box isn't there when the installer arrives.

cubix

Ok, if sky do have his number on the old contract surely the person who is just moved in will be using the same land line. I presume sky dont have the privliges to see whos name is on the bill do they?

Cubix

byte

Yeah, maybe. Worth a shot I guess.

cubix

One last question for anyone that might know. I see some of the FTA sat boxes online for €200-250 which would not normally include anything else ie dish/install etc. What do these boxes have to offer over a sky dish/box which if you went for the lower end of the package you could probally get all in for about €240

Cubix

Paul007

cubix wrote:

The mate has a broken sky box,not sure which one but he has had sky for years. When he rang the girl she told him to try a couple of things which none of them worked so she confirmed its broken and will need a new one. Because its well out of warranty she quoted him €108 to get a replacement.I told him to cancel his sub and get another one in a different name but does not seem to crazy about that idea:rolleyes: .

So a couple of questions, is there anyone thing that goes wrong with sky boxes or is it not worth going down that route.

IF he buys a second hand one off the likes of here or ebay is it just a case of plugging it in and sticking your card in or is there more to it

Is there any other option I have over looked that would get you a free box(best option) or very well priced second hand one

Cheers Cubix

Convince your mate to ring up Sky and threaten cancellation.
Sky hate losing customers and have been known to replace digiboxes free of charge. He might only get a refurbished box but it's better than shelling out €108. Worth a try

oleras

If he is with them years, just get him to call sky and tell them his box is broken,(keeps freezing) he has been a loyal customer for years and cant afford the €100 eng call out fee so he is going to cancel, trust me.... they will have a quick look at his account and offer him a complimentry call out, and then tell him, "no its still ok, all they do is give me a second hand box......ill just cancel and go with someone else"..... they wont loose a customer over this, they will offer you a new box and a free call out.....

Moanin

oleras wrote:

If he is with them years, just get him to call sky and tell them his box is broken,(keeps freezing) he has been a loyal customer for years and cant afford the €100 eng call out fee so he is going to cancel, trust me.... they will have a quick look at his account and offer him a complimentry call out, and then tell him, "no its still ok, all they do is give me a second hand box......ill just cancel and go with someone else"..... they wont loose a customer over this, they will offer you a new box and a free call out.....

I did this and it worked

cubix

Thanks alot lads, will do;)

Cubix

mfield

oleras wrote:

If he is with them years, just get him to call sky and tell them his box is broken,(keeps freezing) he has been a loyal customer for years and cant afford the €100 eng call out fee so he is going to cancel, trust me.... they will have a quick look at his account and offer him a complimentry call out, and then tell him, "no its still ok, all they do is give me a second hand box......ill just cancel and go with someone else"..... they wont loose a customer over this, they will offer you a new box and a free call out.....

I have been with Sky for several years now and want to get Sky plus, what's the number to ring to tell them I want to cancel as I rang a number earlier and was told my call would be answered in 127 minutes :eek:

oleras

mfield wrote:

I have been with Sky for several years now and want to get Sky plus, what's the number to ring to tell them I want to cancel as I rang a number earlier and was told my call would be answered in 127 minutes :eek:

0818 719 819 is the number i used, but be warned, they are wise to this, you will get a new sky box but they would not even give me the 100 euro call out credit against a sky+ box....... although its down to about 190 euro now, not too bad, and you can always sell on the new sky box for a few euro....:D

cubix

IF you are going for a genuine first sub for a house can you choose what decoder you get. Another words do different installers use different makes of decoders. Sad as it may seem tony has a lovely looking one but he does not do the free installs. I am right in saying if you are a first time customer sky will give you the box/install for free.Also will sky ever reduce their mutiroom view charge. Because at €15 a room I am sure it puts a lot of normal joes off sky as they dont want the hassle of buying a second box on the likes of ebay and just get the freeview channels. As crap as ntl digital is at least their €5 a room is more manageable
Cubix

http://www.satellite.ie/acatalog/Non_Subsidy_Sky_Digibox.html

Tony

As far as i know there is only one model available which is the thompson/amstrad model you mentioned on the link. I gave up doing free installs as sky were too slow to pay up and on occasion did not pay up at all which means I was down 200 + euro when this happened

cubix

Was thinking that,petty. Also just wondering if most of the UK channels can be got on FTV boxes why are people still buying FTA cards to use here,just for CH4?.

Cubix

Tony

cubix wrote:

Was thinking that,petty. Also just wondering if most of the UK channels can be got on FTV boxes why are people still buying FTA cards to use here,just for CH4?.

Cubix

Yes mainly for horse racing and of course some people are duped into buying these

mfield

Oh no! I just rang Sky to cancel my sub and I got some extremely ignorant Asian chap on the phone, I didn't have my card number to hand after him trying every other way of getting my details, so I rang home and got the mother to give it to me but what did she do.....gave me the number of my FTV card, which I gave to chap in Sky :eek: He went off to check it, so I hung up!

Is this gonna cause me hassle if I ring back with the right number?

watty

There is a demand for C4

mfield

Ok, I rang them back and told them I was under pressure with my Sky sub and wanted to cancel. I got offered 25% off for the next year! I then went and ordered a Sky+ box! If you don't ask you won't get!