Sky Charge Extra if NOT using "Direct Debit"

dubmick

I got a letter today from Sky telling me that they are charging me 75 cent a month for the privilege of paying by Credit Card Direct Debit


WTF: I have to pay to pay?

Also, nearly sure that it was the only way to pay when I signed up

joolsveer

I got a similar letter.

watty

you can pay by credit card OR Direct Debit.

They prefer Direct Debit. The Credit Card companies object and AFAIK it's against their T&C for the seller to charge extra for Credit Card.

Sky's problem is that the Credit card company takes a % on each transaction. This is one reason why Lidl & Aldi don't take CC at all, only Laser.

dubmick

I hope it's easy to change over to bank direct debit ..i.e. two minute phonecall

kbell

don't think so mate.
They'll post you out a mandate which you'll need to fill in and post back.
Then they'll most probably cut you off for a missed payment as the mandate gets lost or they say they haven't received it yet.

gtg60

They've a cheek, I'm so close to cancelling Sky right know with the way they over-charge us (compared to cost in the UK) that this may be the camel/ straw situation, I'll wait and see if I get the letter...

TheBigEvil

dubmick wrote: »

I got a letter today from Sky telling me that they are charging me 75 cent a month for the privilege of paying by Credit Card Direct Debit


WTF: I have to pay to pay?

Also, nearly sure that it was the only way to pay when I signed up

Yea just got one too. Have to say im really p!ssed at this. Its expensive enough as it is...seriously considering cancelling at this stage.....its a joke. An extra 9 bucks a year just to pay by CC.

Geemac

Got the same here in the North. I changed to Direct Debit using the Sky Active button - only took a couple of minutes. Not sure if you can do it in the South. You do need your telephone line connected to the box though.

von Smallhausen

dubmick wrote: »

I hope it's easy to change over to bank direct debit ..i.e. two minute phonecall

kbell wrote: »

don't think so mate.
They'll post you out a mandate which you'll need to fill in and post back.
Then they'll most probably cut you off for a missed payment as the mandate gets lost or they say they haven't received it yet.

Of course you can you have the option to do that over the phone providing you are the account holder

byte

Geemac wrote: »

Got the same here in the North. I changed to Direct Debit using the Sky Active button - only took a couple of minutes. Not sure if you can do it in the South. You do need your telephone line connected to the box though.

What was the charge in the North?

gtg60

byte wrote: »

What was the charge in the North?

I'll wager it's 50p, Sky seem to think the exchange rate is £1 to €1.50 :mad:

snaps

If at all possible never give out your credit card as a direct debit option. Its extremely hard to cancel a credit card direct debit then a normal bank direct debit!

You cant just ring up the credit card company and cancel the debit, with a bank you can!

watty

Other way round. Harder to cancel Bank DD than block CC payments.

There is no such thing as "Credit Card Direct Debit". Just repeated CC transactions.

The Cush

Much easier to cancel bank Direct Debit - letter to the bank to cancel. Credit card debit has to be cancelled by contacting Sky who should then stop the cc deductions.
I prefer the bank direct debit option.

Tabnabs

watty wrote: »

The Credit Card companies object and AFAIK it's against their T&C for the seller to charge extra for Credit Card.

Not against any CC companies T&C at all. We had this problem where I work. CC companies charge just under a 2% levy on all transactions so we took legal advice and found that we can pass on any charges and we can also refuse to accept CC as means of payment. But we generally take in thousands per transaction so it worked out at a big levy.

BTW, next time you book a flight with a booking charge or concert tickets, work out what 2% of the bill is and see how much they then charge for booking charge :mad:

snaps

watty wrote: »

Other way round. Harder to cancel Bank DD than block CC payments.

There is no such thing as "Credit Card Direct Debit". Just repeated CC transactions.

Any bank direct debits ive had to cancel, Ive gone online, gone into my account and cancelled the required DD.

I had 2 credit card debits set up once. one was to a dvd rental place, the other i cant remember what it was. When i cancelled my subscriptions to them i wasnt able to cancel the credit card debit. The company that was debiting the credit card could only stop the debit in place. In the end it took me 4 months to get the dvd rental one stopped, that was putting in a claim with the credit card company. Eventually the credit card company refunded my money (Not the dvd rental company).

bk

snaps wrote: »

Any bank direct debits ive had to cancel, Ive gone online, gone into my account and cancelled the required DD.

The problem with Direct Debits is that there is nothing to stop the company from reactivating the DD and then you are responsible for it. BT are notorious for doing this.

With Credit Cards you just ring your CC company and challenge the transaction, this way the company gets charged back and fined by the CC company.

This is why CC is better for customers then DD.

Personally I just pay all my bills by online banking where possible.

Onikage

+1 to bk

In theory DD should be easier to stop than CC. In theory.

DD is heavily weighted in the companies favour. It is like giving them direct access to your bank account, without the safety buffer of the credit company. Just ask Jeremy Clarkson.

Qprmeath

Got a letter this morning saying they are imposing a €0.75 per month charge on anyone who pays by debit or credit card. They state that in fairness to customers who use direct debit they are imposing this charge. Arent they very thoughtful?

Near90fm

complete nonsense, and other way for companies to rip off customers. I rang Sky and told them I was cancelling my contract,and was offered 1/2 price multi-room for 12 months, which i duly accepted as a goodwill gesture. It's more than NTL/UPC offered when I cancelled them due to their imposition of an extra charge for not paying by direct debit. And when that 12 months is up, I'll contact sky again and argue the toss. they guy on the phone was good, to be fair,and I had an idea in advance that they would want to keep and out of contract customer. But on principle, I refuse to be frog marched into direct debit.

fat-tony

thread already open on this http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055487780
I know that thread doesn't have an informative title - maybe mods would merge?

watty

Your wish etc ...

dubmick

maybe change it to "Bank Direct Debit"

Must ring about and change it to my bank account. Also, see what discount I can wrangle out of them for the next six month!

Saruman

snaps wrote: »

Any bank direct debits ive had to cancel, Ive gone online, gone into my account and cancelled the required DD.

Like snaps said. I wanted to cancel some DD such as one i paid to concern every month. I simple went online and cancelled it on the ulster bank system and it was done.

gtg60

dubmick wrote: »

Also, see what discount I can wrangle out of them for the next six month!

I rang and cancelled my Sky today, citing some issues I had with them last year over HD subs, the unbelievable Sterling to Euro exchange rate they use for subs and this ridiculous credit card charge (BTW 75 cent for us, 50p for the UK), the very nice guy (but they always are in the cancellation department :rolleyes:) offered me 20% off my sub for the next 12 months or half price for the next 3 months.

He said that this would go towards the bad exchange rate, I told him it was a pity I had to ring and cancel to get offered it though (very civilly, I know he's only doing his job).

Tarabuses

What annoyed me most about the letter (other than being charged an extra 75c of course) is that it doesn't actually offer the choice of changing to direct debit. It just tells me I will be charged 75c extra and I then have to go off and find out how to change the payment method. Couldn't they have enclosed a direct debit form with the letter if they really wanted me to change?

It also refers to introducing this charge for customers who choose to pay by credit card. I didn't choose, they insisted on it when I signed up.:mad:

bobbbb

gtg60 wrote: »

I rang and cancelled my Sky today, citing some issues I had with them last year over HD subs, the unbelievable Sterling to Euro exchange rate they use for subs and this ridiculous credit card charge (BTW 75 cent for us, 50p for the UK), the very nice guy (but they always are in the cancellation department :rolleyes:) offered me 20% off my sub for the next 12 months or half price for the next 3 months.

He said that this would go towards the bad exchange rate, I told him it was a pity I had to ring and cancel to get offered it though (very civilly, I know he's only doing his job).

I called them too and told them i would rather cancel than go through the hassle of changing to DD. After a bit if him himming and hawing about it he told me that they would waive the CC charge and give me half price subs for 3 months, so i decided to stay. I was just looking for an excuse to cancel and go freeview really but now ill stay for a while.

So now ive got my €26 package for €13.

Our man in Havana

bk wrote: »

The problem with Direct Debits is that there is nothing to stop the company from reactivating the DD and then you are responsible for it. BT are notorious for doing this.

BT and most companies now use a thing called DD plus also known as originator plus. This allows them to set up DD payments without a signed mandate. If you cancel a DD plus payment, the originator can set up a new mandate without your signature. BT are well known for this type of thing. The new DD will have a different reference from the one you cancelled so your cancellation will have no effect.

Beware of this.

Tarabuses

Bond-007 wrote: »

BT and most companies now use a thing called DD plus also known as originator plus. This allows them to set up DD payments without a signed mandate. If you cancel a DD plus payment, the originator can set up a new mandate without your signature. BT are well known for this type of thing. The new DD will have a different reference from the one you cancelled so your cancellation will have no effect.

Beware of this.

I think your bank would be on a sticky wicket if they released funds from your account without authorisation.

Our man in Havana

Tarabuses wrote: »

I think your bank would be on a sticky wicket if they released funds from your account without authorisation.

Sadly no. They will claim to have acted in good faith. As Sky etc are members of DD plus they are trusted that they have the authorisation. So it is basically down to Sky. You will have to pursue Sky if they debit in this manner.

loyatemu

my DD payment this month was 27.77 for some reason rather than 28.50 (5 packages)

Anyone know why this might be?

Our man in Havana

VAT reduction in the UK. Now 15% as opposed to 17.5%.

jackbauer

mr.bond is dead right. had it happen to myself. Avoid direct debit like the plague.

Tarabuses

Bond-007 wrote: »

Sadly no. They will claim to have acted in good faith. As Sky etc are members of DD plus they are trusted that they have the authorisation. So it is basically down to Sky. You will have to pursue Sky if they debit in this manner.

Have you experience of this? The bank is holding your money and can only act on your instructions. They cannot act in good faith by handing out your money to anyone no matter how much they might trust them. Banks have the power to recall DDs where paid in error or without authorisation.

Meanwhile I contacted Sky about the new charge and was offered a reduced rate for 6 months even if I transfer to a bank DD. From what they said they have had numerous complaints about the letter and 75p surcharge and appear to have decided to offer incentives to anyone who threatens to cancel due to it.

bk

Tarabuses wrote: »

Have you experience of this? The bank is holding your money and can only act on your instructions. They cannot act in good faith by handing out your money to anyone no matter how much they might trust them. Banks have the power to recall DDs where paid in error or without authorisation.

Nope, you are wrong, go over to the broadband forum, they are many stories about BT reactivating cancelled DD's over and over again and the bank not being able to do anything about it. In the end the people were left with no choice but to close their bank account to stop the DD's.

The whole DD system in Ireland is completely broken and it badly needs to be fixed with legislation to make this sort of thing illegal.

Tarabuses

How can BT reactivate cancelled DDs without authorisation? That is theft.

jackbauer

If you or I do it its theft. If a big company does it its a "system error".

kc66

I cancelled, they offered me a 20% discount for the next year.

Tarabuses

bk wrote: »

Nope, you are wrong, go over to the broadband forum, they are many stories about BT reactivating cancelled DD's over and over again and the bank not being able to do anything about it. In the end the people were left with no choice but to close their bank account to stop the DD's.

The whole DD system in Ireland is completely broken and it badly needs to be fixed with legislation to make this sort of thing illegal.

If you haven't experienced this problem yourself then you cannot be sure that the system has failed. AIB Terms and Conditions, for example, for current accounts state:

5.11 You may cancel a direct debit by giving written
instructions to your branch. You should send a copy
of this instruction to the company/organisation
debiting your Account. The cancellation will only
be effective when received by your branch.

I have no evidence that this is not still the case.

Kenno90

dubmick wrote: »

I got a letter today from Sky telling me that they are charging me 75 cent a month for the privilege of paying by Credit Card Direct Debit


WTF: I have to pay to pay?

Also, nearly sure that it was the only way to pay when I signed up

i think thats because they get charged to get the money from the CC companies ,while it's free to get it from DD

Our man in Havana

But a DD plus originator can simply initiate a new mandate without a signature.

I have had enough experience of BT to know that banks do not follow these rules.

bk

Tarabuses wrote: »

How can BT reactivate cancelled DDs without authorisation? That is theft.

They don't actually reactivate the cancelled DD, they just create a new one. Once they have your bank details and your initial authorisation they can create all the DD's they like.

You see what happens is that they billing system is a complete mess, they think you owe them when you don't, they therefore automatically create a new DD to take the money that they think you owe them, but you don't.

As for theft, yes, they stole a few hundred euros from my parents (elderly retired) who signed up to their BB + Phone packages and charged them over €300 on their first bill when it should have been only €80.

After weeks of long calls on the phone, they eventually only agreed that their had been a "billing error" after my sister managed to get in contact with their CEO (she was having much the same problems at the same time). But they wouldn't refund the money, only credit instead.

So buyer beware.

Tarabuses

Having read the last two messages I can only say that you are much to easy on your bankers. The rules apply as much to them as to the customer. If they tried this with me I would be down on them like a ton of bricks.

I won't mention the Financial Regulator in view of his recent inactivity.

Our man in Havana

I had to threaten the bank with the FR but the bank still say they are doing nothing wrong.

kleefarr

loyatemu wrote: »

my DD payment this month was 27.77 for some reason rather than 28.50 (5 packages)

Anyone know why this might be?

€28.50 for 5 packages!!! :eek:

How the hell do you get away with that?

I pay €60 for Sport package and the standard stuff. :mad:

lester76

Just had a quick read thru this thread,i have been thinking for awhile now to cancel, i have had the full package for yrs its 71euro i must be off my head:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: tell me is it free to ring them or will i on be on the phone forever an a day???

kleefarr

kleefarr wrote: »

€28.50 for 5 packages!!! :eek:

How the hell do you get away with that?

I pay €60 for Sport package and the standard stuff. :mad:

I obviously haven't kept up to speed with the changes at Sky since we got it.
I checked out the web site and see that the standard programme area has been divided into multiple sections. What a rip off. :mad:

Tarabuses

lester76 wrote: »

Just had a quick read thru this thread,i have been thinking for awhile now to cancel, i have had the full package for yrs its 71euro i must be off my head:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: tell me is it free to ring them or will i on be on the phone forever an a day???

No, it's not free to call them but they do answer very quickly.

Tarabuses

Bond-007 wrote: »

I had to threaten the bank with the FR but the bank still say they are doing nothing wrong.

And what did the FR say?

Just received a DD application from Sky today and on the back is The Direct Debit Guarantee. Two of the points mentioned are:

• If it is established that an unauthorised Direct Debit was charged to your account, you are guaranteed a prompt refund by your Bank of the amount so charged
• You can cancel the Direct Debit instruction in good time by writing to your Bank.

dubmick

Tarabuses wrote: »

No, it's not free to call them but they do answer very quickly.

I was on hold for 17 minutes last Thursday night

Our man in Havana

Tarabuses wrote: »

And what did the FR say?

Basically the bank did nothing wrong, take it up with the company.

Tarabuses wrote: »

Just received a DD application from Sky today and on the back is The Direct Debit Guarantee. Two of the points mentioned are:

• If it is established that an unauthorised Direct Debit was charged to your account, you are guaranteed a prompt refund by your Bank of the amount so charged
• You can cancel the Direct Debit instruction in good time by writing to your Bank.

That is fine for written DD mandates. It is where the only DD is oral there can be problems.