Has anyone in Ireland received a "better box" letter from Sky ?

Dave_Dublin

I've read on other forums (including the Sky forum itself) that people in the UK who still have Thomson boxes are receiving a letter from Sky inviting them to upgrade to a new box for FREE with a free wireless connector...

Only those who receive the letter can access the "better box" website to register.

I have TWO Thomson boxes and haven't received anything from them & was just wondering whether anyone in Ireland has received this letter.

One post on the Sky forum states :

We recently wrote to our customers who still have a Thomson Sky+HD box as these box types will shortly be unable to receive the software required to receive HD channels, and offered a swap out free of charge due to the box being phased out.

AND then :

Only our customers who have received this correspondence from us will be able to process the swap out, as we have wrote to all who would have been affected by this planned update.

. . . They haven't written to "ALL" customers who'll be affected clearly as I haven't received this letter.

So we'll lose our HD channels soon according to the above quote !

swoofer

have you a sky sub on both boxes?

Dave_Dublin

GBCULLEN wrote: »

have you a sky sub on both boxes?

Yes - "Sky World HD" + multiroom

--- I paid €598 only a few years ago for these HD boxes.

They're the last Thomson ones -- NO component-out on the back

4E300E

Your not the only one, haven't had a letter and I have a Thomson too.

I've read that the new card updates will stop Thomson boxes receiving HD and premium channels when Sky make the switch so they had better hurry up with the offer for Irish customers or their shiny new call centre will be busy!

I have think the problem lies with delivery, in the UK they will send you the box direct to plug in yourself, in Ireland were too stupid for this and need an engineer visit, hence the cost increases.

On a side note I've heard that the new card pairing and ECM software has been burning out card readers and cards on some selected updated boxes so the whole process may have slowed down for now.

Dave_Dublin

Deleted User wrote: »

Your not the only one, haven't had a letter and I have a Thomson too.

I've had a response on the Sky help forum -- it says :

"You would have received a letter to confirm if you were eligible for the Sky box replacements... Thanks for contacting us..."

I replied stating that the 2 Thomsons I have are the ONLY boxes I own and asked why wouldn't I be eligible?!?

I later received a *private message* from one of the co-ordinators saying that I'm clearly not eligible as "ALL" customers with Thomson boxes have received a letter and only those with "Active Subscriptions" can get a new box.

I already stated in my previous post on that forum that I pay €119 per month for my subscriptions with phone + broadband.

I'm considering forwarding the private message on to higher up.

TheChizler

Oh dear this is the first I've heard of this, and our Thompson box has been with us since Sky first started broadcasting HD. Any idea when the changes come in to effect?

greendom

Dave_Dublin wrote: »

I've had a response on the Sky help forum -- it says :

"You would have received a letter to confirm if you were eligible for the Sky box replacements... Thanks for contacting us..."

I replied stating that the 2 Thomsons I have are the ONLY boxes I own and asked why wouldn't I be eligible?!?

I later received a *private message* from one of the co-ordinators saying that I'm clearly not eligible as "ALL" customers with Thomson boxes have received a letter and only those with "Active Subscriptions" can get a new box.

I already stated in my previous post on that forum that I pay €119 per month for my subscriptions with phone + broadband.

I'm considering forwarding the private message on to higher up.

You might consider calling and threatening to cancel - that often has the desired effect

Dave_Dublin

Dave_Dublin wrote: »

I've had a response on the Sky help forum -- it says :

"You would have received a letter to confirm if you were eligible for the Sky box replacements... Thanks for contacting us..."

I replied stating that the 2 Thomsons I have are the ONLY boxes I own and asked why wouldn't I be eligible?!?

I later received a *private message* from one of the co-ordinators saying that I'm clearly not eligible as "ALL" customers with Thomson boxes have received a letter and only those with "Active Subscriptions" can get a new box.

I already stated in my previous post on that forum that I pay €119 per month for my subscriptions with phone + broadband.

I'm considering forwarding the private message on to higher up.

It's the usual standard reply to all customers, remember Sky think one answer fits all.

I actually contacted sky earlier this in relationship to this because I got a leaflet through the post telling me about the latest on denand services available to me.

I contacted Sky in regards to my crappy Thomson box not being able to receive this, the cs rep didn't have a clue what I was talking about and told me there was nothing they could do. I then asked to cancel my contract . In cancelations they apologised and didn't know why I couldn't receive these new services( despite me telling them again!) . In order to keep me they offered me some discount.

As usual I think sky have forgotten about us in Ireland , can't wait for the big switch off! I can only imagine how the new Irish call centre is going to cope with this. Lets hope they aren't as clueless as the uk customer service when it comes to knowledge about the Thomson boxes.

TheChizler

TheChizler wrote: »

Oh dear this is the first I've heard of this, and our Thompson box has been with us since Sky first started broadcasting HD. Any idea when the changes come in to effect?

It's happening all ready, all Amstrad boxes have had the new updates pairing cards and boxes. They were due to roll out to all other HD boxes excluding Thomson over the next month. As I said earlier they have hit a snag at the moment as some of the Amstrads are having burnt out card readers and cards.

The only reason they are doing this is to combat card sharing. ( and if you don't know what that is you have to google it as its a strict no no to discuss this on this site!)

Providing they sort this issue out I'd imagine the switch to new ECMs which the Thomson can't read to happen by the end of may at the latest.

Nobody apart from SKY are sure what will happen but it's expected Thomson HD boxes will be unable to receive HD and premium channel content .

SD boxes are unaffected by these changes.

TheChizler

I foresee a flooded call centre in the near future so. Is there a list of the exact models affected? Come to think of it I might have got a reconditioned box at some stage that was even worse than the original.

Manc-Red

I wonder if you have a Thompson box will premium channels be effected even if you only have say SD Sky Sports & don't go for this "Free Upgrade"??

swedex

From reading other forums it seems Sky are also sending out the free upgrade letters to people with SD Thompson boxes. One would hope they are just sorting out the UK first, if they don't offer a similar upgrade here it's yet another indication of what they think of their Irish customers.

SPAWKER

Deleted User wrote: »

It's happening all ready, all Amstrad boxes have had the new updates pairing cards and boxes.

Not all Amstrad boxes have had the update yet only a small handfull have.It started on the 19th of last month and was put on hold over the easter holidays.

azzeretti

Got this letter today, giving me a new HD box. Not happy, for more than one reason. If it wasn't for the kids dependency on the Kids channels I'd be done with them.......feckers.

Tom Hanks

azzeretti wrote: »

Got this letter today, giving me a new HD box. Not happy, for more than one reason. If it wasn't for the kids dependency on the Kids channels I'd be done with them.......feckers.

What box are you currently on & are you hooked into a new 12 month contract if you avail of this?

azzeretti

Tom Hanks wrote: »

What box are you currently on & are you hooked into a new 12 month contract if you avail of this?

No mention of contract - mind you I never asked. I called and arranged for an engineer to do the install. Not sure why the engineer is needed to be honest but I did ask to just send the box, which they declined.

NIMAN

I think this is Sky's attempt to counteract the card sharing/Dreamboxes, isn't it?

I heard they need to get rid of all the Thomson boxes then they will be able to stop the Dreambox service.

azzeretti

That's what it is. I am annoyed as, although I never shared, I did use the Sky card in a Vu+ box which is far, far, far superior to anything Sky will produce. Now I will be forced back to the closed Sky box where I can't do half of what I could on the VU........

Wils110

It's nothing to do with card sharing..the boxes are faulty so there replacing them.
Simples..it has to do with the hard drive and some of the on-demand features

azzeretti

Wils110 wrote: »

It's nothing to do with card sharing..the boxes are faulty so there replacing them.
Simples..it has to do with the hard drive and some of the on-demand features

It has everything, absolutely to do with cardsharing - same happened in Oz and stopped the sharing completely. If it was the hdd they'd just place that, it's just a sata disk.

JDxtra

Cheaper to replace a box rather than go messing with screwdrivers and hard drives.

azzeretti

JDxtra wrote: »

Cheaper to replace a box rather than go messing with screwdrivers and hard drives.

Right. And the counter measure by Sky Australia to stop CS, which is similar to this is coincidence!?

NIMAN

Wils110 wrote: »

It's nothing to do with card sharing..the boxes are faulty so there replacing them.
Simples..it has to do with the hard drive and some of the on-demand features

If you read on the net its all to do with card sharing. Its Sky's final attempt to put the nail in the CS coffin.

Of course they will package it up as something that is a great deal for the user, which to be fair ir might be if you are getting a brand shiny new box for an older one, free of charge.

channelsurfer2

yes I have heard its all about stoping the dreamboxes as well. as others has said its packaged up as a free upgrade but really its just to stop cardsharing, which is having its effect.

Dave_Dublin

As the OP in this thread, I feel I should update what's happened.

I actually received a letter from Sky yesterday but I'm a little annoyed.

It states :

"We've being trying to contact you for some time in relation to your Sky+HD box"

Since this is the first & ONLY letter I've received regarding this matter, the opening line is a lie.

They manage to contact me no problem in relation to anything else... I'm a TV & Phone & broadband customer!

Anyway, I called the number and was left on hold for 7 mins - when the call was connected to an agent, he kept calling me "Dave".

Although "Dave" is my username on this forum, I absolutely HATE to be called that - - - especially by someone in a call centre who should be addressing me "Mr. /B]surname[B"

After taking my a/c number he put me on hold to "check" and then came back and said BOTH my boxes will be replaced -- I didn't mention both boxes but I was ready for an argument if he'd said only ONE would be replaced.

He then said there was a "system error" and he couldn't give me a date for the engineer visit - I asked could I just have a self-install & he told me only UK customers have that option. He then said he'd have to call me back.

FIVE HOURS LATER I got a call from a UK (+44) number and he said that there was no system error after all - the reason he couldn't give me a date for the engineer visit was because "a massive bunch" of those letters have been sent out and "there are NO DATES AVAILABLE" in the foreseeable future.

He'll call me back "when Sierra release more dates to them"

--- So, it could be weeks before I get the callback. Maybe that means I'll get two new wireless boxes!?!

Dave_Dublin

UPDATE :

Still no call back after 2 weeks so today I called them.

I was told that the HD channels will CEASE TO BE AVAILABLE on October 1 to all Thomson boxes.
I was then put on hold and then asked if they could call me back (again)

The agent called me back within 15 mins and said that I'll be getting 2× Sky+HD WiFi boxes --- her words.

They'll be installed on October 1 -- cutting it pretty fine don't you think?? . . . since that's the day the channels will stop working on both my boxes...

NIMAN

I wonder are they actually able to stop the HD channels working on a certsain brand of box though, or is it just a scare tactic to get people to hand their boxes over?

radiowaves

NIMAN wrote: »

I wonder are they actually able to stop the HD channels working on a certsain brand of box though, or is it just a scare tactic to get people to hand their boxes over?

A new card-pairing system will indeed knock out the HD channels on a Thompson box because, in simple terms, the Thompson boxes cannot be upgraded with the software to tie the card to the box and without that entitlement the channels won't open.

Of course the FTA HD channels will still work.

azzeretti

I got my replacement box yesterday and sure enough, once paired, the HD channels will no longer clear using any other CAM/box. The card is still read (not sure if entitlements update yet) and will clear non-premium channels but no HD anymore.

NIMAN

So is this the beginning of the end for the Dreamboxes?

smee again

NIMAN wrote: »

So is this the beginning of the end for the Dreamboxes?

No, it only stops HD. They would need to replace every single SD box with a new HD box to be fully effective

batistuta9

at the minute is all the HD channels on a dreambox/whatever coming via old thomson boxes?

smee again

batistuta9 wrote: »

at the minute is all the HD channels on a dreambox/whatever coming via old thomson boxes?

Eh, can't share from a Sky box, linux satboxes or PC's

batistuta9

smee again wrote: »

Eh, can't share from a Sky box, linux satboxes or PC's

what?

smee again

batistuta9 wrote: »

what?

Read what I said, we really can't discuss this as it's against the rules. I've said all I'm going to say

batistuta9

smee again wrote: »

Read what I said, we really can't discuss this as it's against the rules. I've said all I'm going to say

i read it, just a bit confused by it

how come you can still purchases these 'services' though?

they must be sharing something?

smee again

batistuta9 wrote: »

i read it, just a bit confused by it

how come you can still purchases these 'services' though?

they must be sharing something?

Yes, they put the card in a PC or linux sat box. I'm not going to explain to you how it works
<<
>>

batistuta9

smee again wrote: »

Yes, they put the card in a PC or linux sat box. I'm not going to explain to you how it works
<<
>>

yeah i know you won't, etc.

but maybe this: is what sky are doing pointless then?

smee again

batistuta9 wrote: »

yeah i know you won't, etc.

but maybe this: is what sky are doing pointless then?

At the moment yes, longer term no, it's what they need to do to counteract it.

But aside from that, there is huge changes to the whole environment, Sky's main rival has moved from dreamboxes to legit affordable on demand services offered by competitors

batistuta9

i'll leave it at that since it's a grey area

if you know any links to read up on it, feel free to PM me :pac: (you don't break the rules then)

HelpImAlive

Dave_Dublin wrote: »

As the OP in this thread, I feel I should update what's happened.

I actually received a letter from Sky yesterday but I'm a little annoyed.

It states :

"We've being trying to contact you for some time in relation to your Sky+HD box"

Since this is the first & ONLY letter I've received regarding this matter, the opening line is a lie.

They manage to contact me no problem in relation to anything else... I'm a TV & Phone & broadband customer!

Anyway, I called the number and was left on hold for 7 mins - when the call was connected to an agent, he kept calling me "Dave".

Although "Dave" is my username on this forum, I absolutely HATE to be called that - - - especially by someone in a call centre who should be addressing me "Mr. /B]surname[B"

After taking my a/c number he put me on hold to "check" and then came back and said BOTH my boxes will be replaced -- I didn't mention both boxes but I was ready for an argument if he'd said only ONE would be replaced.

He then said there was a "system error" and he couldn't give me a date for the engineer visit - I asked could I just have a self-install & he told me only UK customers have that option. He then said he'd have to call me back.

FIVE HOURS LATER I got a call from a UK (+44) number and he said that there was no system error after all - the reason he couldn't give me a date for the engineer visit was because "a massive bunch" of those letters have been sent out and "there are NO DATES AVAILABLE" in the foreseeable future.

He'll call me back "when Sierra release more dates to them"

--- So, it could be weeks before I get the callback. Maybe that means I'll get two new wireless boxes!?!

I don't see why someone in a call centre should be addressing you "Mr ____", do you address shop keepers and public service workers as "Ms/Mr/Mrs". Anyway, that's OT.

We're getting a new free SKY+HD box for the multiroom so happy enough with that.

Had a message on the sky box this morning! It's a Thomson

Call this number for a free sky hd box!

Must be getting desperate now! Lol

Tom Hanks

smee again wrote: »

No, it only stops HD. They would need to replace every single SD box with a new HD box to be fully effective

Does it stop SD premium though?

smee again

Tom Hanks wrote: »

Does it stop SD premium though?

Only if and when they've replaced every single SD box in Irl and UK with new HD box that takes their new software. This is unlikely at the moment but may happen in time as they invest in on demand services as this is what their competitors are cleaning up with