Digital TV Cost Cutting Article - Discuss What You've Been Offered

mike_paterson · 9 November 2007 at 1:33PM

I just rang Sky on 00353 818719819 (Calls to Ireland are included in my TalkTalk phone package) and after giving my details and saying that I wanted to cancel because I now can get all the Freeview channels (which I can) , I spoke to the cancellations department and told them politely but firmly that I wanted to cancel. They asked why and I explained that as I now got Freeview, It wasn't worth paying £21 per month for the few channels I watch. She tried to get me to downgrade a couple of packages but as that would still cost £17 per month I said no. She then said that I could upgrade to the movie and sport pack for half price for 3 months. I told her that the sport I watch is on Eurosport rather than sky sports, and that if I want to see a movie, that I go to the cinema and see them when they are released.

She then suggested a brand new sky+ box (which they had previously offered me) for £49 fitted. They would also relocate my existing box free of charge but if I wanted the channels on it I would need to pay an extra £10 per month. She said that I could try the multi-room for a month and cancel it within 30 days if I didn't like it.

I thought about it and then said no, that I wanted to cancel.

She put me on hold and said she was going to check something. She then came back and said that as I had been a customer for more than 3 years (in fact I have been a customer for a lot longer) they would give me a brand new sky+ box for free.

It is being fitted on Tuesday morning ! It will need to be plugged into the phone line for 12 months.

So stick to your guns and you could get a free sky+ upgrade and a free move of your old box to another room.

FannyHill · 9 November 2007 at 1:47PM

The fact came across to her that you definately were going to cancel and weren't fibbing and that is how to get very good deals.If you are unsure whether to cancel it comes across when speaking to them.

And even if you did you could probably go back to them a few days later and say you've changed your mind.

pen1 · 9 November 2007 at 2:47PM

FannyHill wrote: »

....If you are unsure whether to cancel it comes across when speaking to them. ....

I think people often feel uncomfortable about seeking discounts, but if they were to consider the approach that Sky takes to their custom, they might feel more comfortable about being assertive to get the best discounts.

Sky have been emphasising this year, through advertising, commercials, interviews, company results announcements etc., that they were changing their marketing approach and that this would improve the transparency of how much customers paid for their products.

Recently, though, a print advertisement that said, "At Sky we think it's wrong to advertise attractive sounding prices that are often only available to new customers, not loyal ones" was found to have breached the Advertising Standards Authority's code on substantiation, truthfulness, prices and comparisons.
ASA Adjudication.

The evidence from several internet forums, suggests that whereas people were previously primarlily obtaining package discounts, there are now large disparities in the prices customers are paying on equipment, depending on the approach that they take, and that customer loyalty doesn't necessarily have any bearing on who gets the discounts. Atleast one of the limited offer promotions that Sky are currently offering- free Sky+ and installation for new customers- has such a wide margin as opposed to Sky's published price (£179 including installation), that people granted the vouchers to introduce a friend, have been selling them on Ebay.

In the knowledge of how Sky are managing equipment prices, I don't think that anybody should feel embarrassed about trying to do the best deal for themselves.

jo1977_2 · 9 November 2007 at 9:20PM

OGB03 wrote: »

As an existing Sky customer (8yrs+), I called the Sales Department to ask how much it would be to upgrade to Sky+. I was told that this would be £179 - £149 for the box and £30 for installation. :eek: After following the advice from someone on another forum, I emailed them querying why they offer customers who want to leave Sky the opportunity to upgrade for only £49!! Got the standard computer generated reply to my first email, so, emailed again. Then got a call from a CSA in the Cancellations Department.... who offered me the same thing. Got it installed yesterday, PVR3/Anytime, for £49, saving £130!!! I edited my emails and created 2 templates which I have PM'd to others on that forum and it seems to have worked a treat for them too. The advice I was given was to email and not call the Cancellations Department and I followed the steps given and it worked without me having to pick up the phone once.

I would say however, that if you have been on a discounted package with Sky in the last 6 months or so, or if you regularly call up threatening to leave and are then offered a discount to retain your custom, then it is highly likely they won't be so accommodating.

All in all, I'm over the moon. :j I've wanted Sky+ for ages and having had it for just over 24 hours now, I can honestly say I don't know how I lived without it.:rolleyes:

Another point to note is that of course after 12 months, you own the Sky+ box/equipment, but with Virgin, you don't own the equipment outright. This means of course that I've got a spanking new Thomson Sky box looking sadly at the gleaming Sky+ box wondering why it's been discarded for no reason. :rotfl:

I love saving money.

Hi
Could you please pm me the templates. I have been trying to get £49 sky + for 6 months and keep getting fobbed off by customer services.

Thanks

Makeendsmeet · 10 November 2007 at 11:48AM

Hi OGB03 could you pm me the templates aswell
I get no joy from sky customer services they are just take it or leave it
attitude

thanks :T

OGB03 · 10 November 2007 at 7:19PM

To all those who are thinking of sending an email, I think pen1 has made some extremely good points which, if edited would make the basis of a perfect letter to Sky.;)

Will PM my template to those who asked. Good luck.

pen1 wrote: »

I think people often feel uncomfortable about seeking discounts, but if they were to consider the approach that Sky takes to their custom, they might feel more comfortable about being assertive to get the best discounts.

Sky have been emphasising this year, through advertising, commercials, interviews, company results announcements etc., that they were changing their marketing approach and that this would improve the transparency of how much customers paid for their products.

Recently, though, a print advertisement that said, "At Sky we think it's wrong to advertise attractive sounding prices that are often only available to new customers, not loyal ones" was found to have breached the Advertising Standards Authority's code on substantiation, truthfulness, prices and comparisons.
ASA Adjudication.

The evidence from several internet forums, suggests that whereas people were previously primarlily obtaining package discounts, there are now large disparities in the prices customers are paying on equipment, depending on the approach that they take, and that customer loyalty doesn't necessarily have any bearing on who gets the discounts. Atleast one of the limited offer promotions that Sky are currently offering- free Sky+ and installation for new customers- has such a wide margin as opposed to Sky's published price (£179 including installation), that people granted the vouchers to introduce a friend, have been selling them on Ebay.

In the knowledge of how Sky are managing equipment prices, I don't think that anybody should feel embarrassed about trying to do the best deal for themselves.

OGB03 · 10 November 2007 at 7:37PM

Here's the ASA adjudication link again as the other one doesn't seem to be working. Definitely worth a read!:cool: (Good on the 5 people who complained :T)

Tut tut Sky!!:cool::rolleyes::rolleyes:

confused1 · 11 November 2007 at 11:36AM

OGB03 wrote: »

To all those who are thinking of sending an email, I think pen1 has made some extremely good points which, if edited would make the basis of a perfect letter to Sky.;)

Will PM my template to those who asked. Good luck.

We have subscribed to Sky for over 5 yrs, mainly for the Footie. For a package of 2+Sports, we are now paying an exorbitant £35.
Can you please PM your template to me?
Many thanks for your kindness.

billwill_2 · 11 November 2007 at 2:18PM

With thanks to people on this site I've found a website that shows every game worth watching live including Champions League. Last week I signed up to it and watched the early game Arsenal v Man U then I saw Pompey thrash Newcastle and then I watched the 5 .15 kick off, Blackburn v Liverpool all on my pc. Ok it's not HD quality but it's certainley watchable and very enjoyable when you say to yourself "all this for £7.95 a year". The site is called Netfootie.com and is UK based. I've just cancelled Sky Sports as they've lost the US PGA Tour golf and soccer was all I used to watch. I'm now on the basic package £16 + £5 for Sky Talk and free broadband, which is fine with me for now.

ka7e · 11 November 2007 at 3:32PM

Firefly wrote: »

...What I will miss is the Sky+ as it makes my TV viewing far more selective. Does a DVD recorder work in the same way? (not sure I can afford an outlay at the moment). I can't even work out what the cheapest Sky package would be so that I can keep the Sky+ facility, and am I right in thinking that currently you don't pay a monthly fee for that?...

The cheapest package you can downgrade to is £17 per month for 2 packs (Sky 1 is on the Entertainment pack), and you can have the 6 basic packs (not Films or Sport) for £21.
The cheapest alternative is not a DVD recorder, but a PVR. Thompson do the cheapest one that has all the Sky+ features - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=589278 - available from about £80.

Digital TV Cost Cutting Article - Discuss What You've Been Offered

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