disconnecting the phone line

muffinhead

Has anyone disconnected the phone line for their Sky Digibox while still under the first 12 months of subscribing?

If so, did Sky freeze your subscription or contact you wanting to know why the phone line has been disconnected?

_sheep

its supposed to be plugged in ?

muffinhead

what is the reason for sky having to have their box plugged into your phone line?

Will it affect the sky digital service if you do disconnect the phone line?

skorn

never had my digibox connected to a phoneline, not since day 1.
been 1,5 years now, no consiquences.

byte

Well i've the box in for over 2 years but when I rang one day to downgrade my package, the fool on the other end told me i havent my box connected to phoneline and if i didnt connect it i would be chargeable! I think he said it would cost me €60 if i didn't connect it! I tried to explain that at the time my setup was installed, a phoneline was not obligitory, but i may as well talk to a brick wall! I was very close to telling him to just cancel my subscription totally coz of his arrogance but I would miss the music and docu channels! :rolleyes:

dmeehan

i never had the fone line connected, i just hooked it up when i wanted to order a box office movie, then disconnected it once the movie started

no moans from sky, and if the they start now they can sh@g off as my 1 yr contract has expired.


PS. why dont sky offer "upgrades" like the mobile companies in exchange for another years contract?

LFCFan

I need to sort out the phone line from the Socket to the box 'cause they're far apart and the cable was all over the place. Haven't had it plugged in because of this yet, but no word from Sky even though I had to ring them up once to get my service switched back on after an admin error. I plug it in when I need it.

DMC

Originally posted by dmeehan
PS. why dont sky offer "upgrades" like the mobile companies in exchange for another years contract?

Excellent point. They'd make a mint. Although, one of the reasons phone companies upgrade phones is that batteries wear out, and people would like a shiney new phone for less, rather than pay the large sum for a replacement battery.

watty

Originally the pay on phone charge Interactive stuff was not in Ireland so no "connect" to phone condition like in UK. It only applies to first year and only applies to NEW customers in Ireland recently since offical launce of Interactive services.

Even if you on a "keep it connected" it is wise to unplug it, LNB cable and power while away, and also unplug phone during "electrical" storms.

As long as the box phones home successfully mostly when it wants Sky is happy. They send a Satellite signal to tell it to Phone Home. If line busy or disconnected it trys later.

It also of course connects on ordering Sky Box office or Pay to Play games.

muffinhead

Originally posted by DMC
As long as the box phones home successfully mostly when it wants Sky is happy. They send a Satellite signal to tell it to Phone Home. If line busy or disconnected it trys later.

What do you mean by phoning home?

How often does Sky want it to phone home before they realise you don't have the box connected to the phoneline?

DMC

The Online light on the front of the box is what to watch. When that lights up, it means a signal has been recieved from Sky for the box to connect back to Sky via the phone line.

One way maybe around this is enter the occasional competition on Sky Rewards.

BrianD

One of the reasons that Sky like you to have the phone line connected is our favourite Red Dot. Sky have a target of Stg£50 per subscriber for interactive services. The revenue from interactive services is generated via the use of premium rate telephone numbers. In fact, all channels now build in telephony revenues as a part of their business plans whether it is earned through the "Red Dot" or via premium SMS/IVR numbers. Look at the music channels and how they drive the use of premium rate SMS and IVR).

Would be interesting to know what numbers the Sky boxes dial for signing up for Sky services e.g. signing up for a movie, box office and what numbers premium interactive services terminate on (are they in the UK or Ireland).

DMC

Well, you wouldnt be able to dial UK premium rate numbers, thats for sure. They'd have to be Irish.

One way of finding that out is via an itemised phone bill.

LFCFan

is there anyone who has checked their itemised phone bill to find out what numbers are called by the box? It's seems a bit daft that it's not common knowledge as it makes sense that a customer would know what phone numbers they are going to be calling.

BrianD

Look at how many adult premium lines terminate overseas. Interestingly, both RegTel (though as Sky operate outside of the State they wouldn't be bothered with our laws) and Oftel state that all premium rate services must clearly state the cost of the call and the service provider. Anybody every seen a price of a call mentioned on Sky services?

dmeehan

any active services that ive seen (eg games) always ask for confirmation and giving a price in sterling and euro before going online

byte

Yea it tells you the prices before you dial out. For instance Pay2Play games cost €1.26 per minute (and should last no longer than one minute)