Cancelling SKY, think I've shot myself in the foot?

Ghandee

Hello.

After reading numerous threads about cancelling SKY to get discounts, free movies etc. I caled SKY this morning, I got through to a lovely Cork lady and explained I would like to cancel, as I was currently paying them 40 odd euro a month, and for 55 I could get my TV phone and internet from NTL.

The lady put me on hold, and asked if their was anything she could do t keep me? I replied not really as it was just a money issue and I couldnt really afford it compared to NTL's offer.

She then came back and offered me a discount of 5euro amonth????

I said no, not interested and she then pressed a few buttons and told me that really was the best she could do. (bear in mind I have read here numerous times to ALWAYS refuse their first offer!

She then came back and said that was her best offer, I asked her how much notice I needed to give and she said 31 days, so I told her ok I'm giving 31 days notice, so after being put on hold she came back to say that ok my contract will terminate on the 5th of DEC!!!!!

Ihae been with them for 4 years never missed payments etc!!!

Nopw my dilemma is that I cant get NTL where I live (well cant get the phone and broadband anyway)

So....... now I need advice, should I call them back and say I have reconsidered,or should I sit back and see of they contct me and ask me to stay with a better discount etc?

Any help/stories of similar experiences greatly appreciated..

K

neil_purdy

Should have took the 5 euro!!

Well sky have prob copped on that people are ringing up to cancel just to get a payment reduction or more services!!
But wait a day or two if nothing happens then call and say you had a change of mind!!

Ghandee

In_tuition wrote: »

You made your bed so....:D

On a more serious note I thought about doing the same, my current monthly bill is over €80. I don't know why I continue to pay it, well I do cause I'd be lost without the sports channels but still €80 is a bit rich.

You'd probably have to pay a reconnection fee if you decided in a couple of months that you want to return so your best option is to call back and tell them you will accept the offer of €5 off. Better than nothing..

Is it possible to call them BEFORE 5th ofDec, and tell them I would like to become a NEW customer, but on their HD offer?

Currently new users get 49euro for Installation Us mugs who have been loyal for years have to pay 149!!!!

I really am sick to the gut that NTL only offer tv service in my area, as my work pays for my telephone and broadband in my home asI use it for work (Sales rep so need to fax and access work emails from home) Currently with BT and it costs 112 every two months, I could have got the completepackage from NTL and essentially got FREE tv broadband AND landline!!!!!!

Dam this having to live JUST outside Naas!!!!!

John mac

Gucky wrote: »

Currently new users get 49euro for Installation Us mugs who have been loyal for years have to pay 149!!!!

!!

Its free for new and existing customers (if you take the movies )

more info here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055727641

Ghandee

John mac wrote: »

Its free for new and existing customers (if you take the movies )

more info here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055727641

I dont see the point in taking movies from them, its WAY too expensive to be stuck with Marley and mefor 8 times a day, for 4 months or whatever their currently showing!

a fiver to Xtravision on a Fri or Sat night, for a movie I WANT to se is quite sufficient ha ha

Beeker

Gucky wrote: »

Is it possible to call them BEFORE 5th ofDec, and tell them I would like to become a NEW customer, but on their HD offer?

Currently new users get 49euro for Installation Us mugs who have been loyal for years have to pay 149!!!!

I really am sick to the gut that NTL only offer tv service in my area, as my work pays for my telephone and broadband in my home asI use it for work (Sales rep so need to fax and access work emails from home) Currently with BT and it costs 112 every two months, I could have got the completepackage from NTL and essentially got FREE tv broadband AND landline!!!!!!

Dam this having to live JUST outside Naas!!!!!

Phone them back and sign up as a new customer using a different name. Use your partners name or use your middle name, then a new account will be set up for you.
Thats what we did. No hassle!!

redout

Just have somebody else in your house/apt sign up with a different name and bank account and you will be fine. In fact I signed up just under a different name and gave them the exact same bank account and they never said anything!

fifth

I don't think these 'threatening to cancel' tactics work on Sky anymore.. they're wise to this trick now.

In fairness, you confirmed a few times you wanted to cancel, so she was only doing what you asked!

I was going to do this a while ago and I was made see sense by the friendly posters on boards.. In effect, if you don't want to use their service, don't pay for it.

Ghandee

funkyflea wrote: »

I don't think these 'threatening to cancel' tactics work on Sky anymore.. they're wise to this trick now.

In fairness, you confirmed a few times you wanted to cancel, so she was only doing what you asked!

I was going to do this a while ago and I was made see sense by the friendly posters on boards.. In effect, if you don't want to use their service, don't pay for it.

Ah, dont get me wrong, I DO want to use their service, but if it can be got cheaper then why not give it a try?
Cant see how NTL can offer it cheaper than them though, after all all SKY do is beam a signal to yer dish. NTL have an elaborate network of cables etc.

I wonder when I can call and order the HD as a new customer? I could give my middle name, and provide them with my savings bank account number? Wuld that work?

Nonoperational

Sorry man but come on. That is ridiculously tight and it serves you right. If you just phone them up and tell them you changed your mind I presume it'd be like you never called!

Ghandee

gpf101 wrote: »

Sorry man but come on. That is ridiculously tight and it serves you right. If you just phone them up and tell them you changed your mind I presume it'd be like you never called!

GPF101, sorry dude, but you know NOTHING about my situation.
I'm willing to bet money that you havent had to take a 30% pay cut in the last year?
And I am in a medium paid job!!!!!!!!!

Every euro has got to be a prisoner at the min! Were in the biggest financial crisis in over a century, and as its supposedly a buyers market why wouldnt I try to get the best deal going?

I have only got married a few months ago, and wife made redundant in August!

Just to clarify, being careful and trying to make 1700 amonth go as far as I can = true

Tight = not true

beer enigma

Gucky wrote: »

Hello.

After reading numerous threads about cancelling SKY to get discounts, free movies etc. I caled SKY this morning, I got through to a lovely Cork lady and explained I would like to cancel, as I was currently paying them 40 odd euro a month, and for 55 I could get my TV phone and internet from NTL.

The lady put me on hold, and asked if their was anything she could do t keep me? I replied not really as it was just a money issue and I couldnt really afford it compared to NTL's offer.

She then came back and offered me a discount of 5euro amonth????

I said no, not interested and she then pressed a few buttons and told me that really was the best she could do. (bear in mind I have read here numerous times to ALWAYS refuse their first offer!

She then came back and said that was her best offer, I asked her how much notice I needed to give and she said 31 days, so I told her ok I'm giving 31 days notice, so after being put on hold she came back to say that ok my contract will terminate on the 5th of DEC!!!!!

Ihae been with them for 4 years never missed payments etc!!!

Nopw my dilemma is that I cant get NTL where I live (well cant get the phone and broadband anyway)

So....... now I need advice, should I call them back and say I have reconsidered,or should I sit back and see of they contct me and ask me to stay with a better discount etc?

Any help/stories of similar experiences greatly appreciated..

K

Hi Gucky,

I've been through the same thing last month...............

I cancelled Sky as the UPC package was much better value & as I was on the Sky World package (€99 month) they offered to reduce to €80 if I'd stay. I declined & got UPC in.

Three weeks later - UPC had been such a nightmare, UPC themselves offered to cancel the contract & they gave me a full refund (a rarity I'm led to believe !! ).

I went back to Sky & tried for the €80 on the basis I'd changed my mind, but they weren't having it & said it was a one off offer......

I was within cancellation 31 days, so just business as usual & the cancellation didn't go ahead.

I was literally within 3 days of the 31 days period & nobody from Sky came near me to try to persuade me to stay.

A

Wizard007

Gucky, Sorry you're in such a situation, it must be tough. Buuuuut Sky is optional, it's not like you have to subscribe to it. You could have reduced your package to €21.50.

Bertie Bassett

You could go down the Freesat route. You already have the dish installed so you could use your Sky box or get a Freesat box, it's certaintly worth investigating.
I got it last February and never looked back - Its fine if you don't want the sports or films that Sky offer, also you would need to get an aerial for the Irish channels.
The best thing is no subscription fee so no more bills.:D

irishchris

i couldnt b elieve it when my father rang them to cancel it and used excuse that he lost his job. they offered to reduce from 42 to 26 euro - he said just could not afford it. they went away for few mins and offered it for 20 - he said no go and they after few mins asked could he afford 10 euro per month - obviously he went sound!!! then he struck them with the fact he has hd!! that alone costs 15 euro. they hummed and said they would be back in few mins. then they said they chatted to supervisor and no probs. so he got it for 6 months at that price but had to sign 12 month contract! then they passed him through to irish girl who went though details. it seems depends who you get on phone but try to ring back few times till you get a uk call person at sky!

swirlser

Hey Gucky, sorry to hear about your situation.

Just for the sake of info, Ill give you my story. I had sky last year and when I was moving (leased for 1 year) I rang Sky to say I was cancelling. Even after explaining that I was moving to an apartment which didnt allow dishes, they were still trying to offer me 15euro off to stay with them o.O It really does appear that its all about who you get thru to (and as it happens, this was an english person I was speaking with). Just before I rang them, I had googled about cancelling it online and recall coming across a site which explained that if you cancel ur sub to sky, u can still get the freeview chans via ur current sky dish/box (since things do change all the time, Id suggest you try turning off ur box and removing ur viewing card, turn it on and see what u get - but to be clear, you wont get movies/sports nor will u be able to record onto the sky box). Depending on ur money situation it may be worth thinking about.

And I couldnt let a posting in this forum go without adding on that when I moved to an apartment and got in ntl's digital+ service, it was the biggest load of ****e Ive ever had the horrific ordeal of using. Long story short : several dozen phone calls, 7 tech call outs, 5 boxes and 3 smart cards over a 3 month period and I now have Sky in my apartment!

bk

Gucky wrote: »

GPF101, sorry dude, but you know NOTHING about my situation.

Gucky, if things are tight, then I recommend cancelling Sky completely and just use the Freesat Free To Air channels on your existing Sky box. There are plenty of free channels on it.

You can check out what the experience will be like by using the following steps:

Make sure card correctly inserted.
Go Sky News 501
Press interactive
Wait for it to load
REMOVE CARD.
Press Backup till interactive is exited.

You'll now get the UK EPG with only the free channels viewable.

You'll need an aerial to get the 4 Irish channels.

slave1

I phoned sky about a year ago to cancel my HD sub, they offered it to me at half price for 6 months - which was the purpose of my call - so I took it, I then canceled my HD sub when it went back up to full price.
I phoned to cancel my remaining Sky sub a few months back and they offered me 20% off straight away, this time I wasn't looking for a reduced sub so I told the lady not to bother with any more offers and cancelled.
I got a freesat box and it's proving the same as sky to me, I'm only missing the RTE's and TV3 as I can't get aerial coverage in my area, however ITV covers most of TV3 and the RTE online player covers all the programs I used to watch. BBCHD is giving me plenty of stuff to watch and the remaining gap in programs is being filled by .mkv files.
The cost of my freesat setup is equivalent to about a years sub to sky, so even if I don't like my present scenario - and I do - I can go back to sky in a years time under the other half's name with a fresh installation and keep my freesat setup in parallel with a net cost of zero.

slave1

cancelling Sky completely and just use the Freesat channels on your existing Sky box

just to clarify, you cannot get Freesat via a sky box without a UK card, I think you are referring to free to air which are a slightly different line up of channels and do not afford recording functionality

If you have a relative or friend in the UK that you trust , get them to subscribe for you over there at the lower UK prices [the Euro being 90p atm] and bobs your uncle-20% or more discount and no phoneline as you are just getting the card from them and no box.

You might want to pay your friend or relative the 12 months up front and let them do the direct debit over there.

You'll still need an aerial for the irish channels and if analogue reception isn't great with you -try the mpeg4 digital tests.

IrishHomer

slave1 wrote: »

just to clarify, you cannot get Freesat via a sky box without a UK card, I think you are referring to free to air which are a slightly different line up of channels and do not afford recording functionality

He said the Freesat Channels and that is correct as i have the official english Freesat box and also a sky box without an active sub..

the UK Sky card you are referring to is the Freesat from Sky card that gives the US variations of Channel 5 and Sky 3.

mickdw

Sky will not come back with a better offer during the cancellation period but later they will post out 'great new offer' if you wish to resubscribe.

bk

IrishHomer wrote: »

He said the Freesat Channels and that is correct as i have the official english Freesat box and also a sky box without an active sub..

the UK Sky card you are referring to is the Freesat from Sky card that gives the US variations of Channel 5 and Sky 3.

Well strictly speaking we were both slightly wrong, it was just a slip by me as I know this well.

On a sky box without a sub, what you receive are the Free To Air channels.

Freesat on the other hand is a platform lead by the BBC and others, that includes almost exactly the same Free To Air channels as above, but has some additional nice features such as nice EPG and DVR ability.

slave1 is talking about "Freesat from Sky" which is a card available to people in the UK, which as you point out gives you Sky 3 and the US C5 channels.

johnneyboy

get a freesat hd box, bbc hd /itv hd and rte hd next year not sure when

recycler1

johnneyboy wrote: »

get a freesat hd box, bbc hd /itv hd and rte hd next year not sure when

I've taken a substantial cut myself, so I understand the cost cutting thingy.

The Humax HDR is excellent. It gives all the main UK channels and has full recording capability. However, I am not aware of any plans to have RTE or TV3 Free to Air on Freesat. You'll still need a Sky subscription or an external aerial to get these channels.

John mac

johnneyboy wrote: »

get a freesat hd box, bbc hd /itv hd and rte hd next year not sure when

NOT TRUE

RTE will not go onto Freesat..

Ghandee

Thanks everyone for all your helpand advice.

As I'm unwilling to lose tv services completely, I have decided to go down to the lowest package they have, and to cancel my multi room subscription.

However, after reading some previous posts where subscribers have said they went back to SKY and called customer services notifying them they had a change of heart and would now like to avail of whaterever packages/price cuts they had been offered only to be told basically hardluck from SKY as the offer then was a one off.

How does the following plan sound?

I may call SKY, and say that my account has been cancelled, and they will be cutting me off on 5th of Dec and that I am calling to enquire if the equipment is mine to keep (I know it is) hoping they may ask again why Ihave chosen to leave and maybe offer me an incentive to stay?>

Or, hold out and maybe call SKY on the 5th of Dec demanding to know why my account has been cut off and absolutely deny informing them to cancel it???

Any advice? Plan A or Plan B?

Wizard007

Try plan A, and if the conversation is not going the way you want it to go, ask her straight out what incintive they will offer you to stay.

If that doesn't work try plan B. On plan B they will turn you back on. Maybe if you have a rant over " the inconvenience" of being turned off you might even get a discount or credit.

Ghandee

Wizard007 wrote: »

Try plan A, and if the conversation is not going the way you want it to go, ask her straight out what incintive they will offer you to stay.

If that doesn't work try plan B. On plan B they will turn you back on. Maybe if you have a rant over " the inconvenience" of being turned off you might even get a discount or credit.

Ta Wizard.

Will give em a bell in the morning, heres hopingI get a person from the UK as they tend to be a bit more sympathetic according to some who have posted already!!!:D

Wizard007

No problem. Let us know how you get on. Best of luck

Ghandee

And so the saga continues!!!!

Good old SKY sent me a letter to say sorry to hear I was leaving.

That puts "Plan B" out of the question..............................

Unless I act dumb and say WHAT LETTER???