Sky payment incurred me bank charges!

Tony_Soprano

Im just after a little advice here please...

I recently upgraded my sky package, and as a result recieved a letter from Sky advising me that my next payment to be debited from my bank was going to be £54.

The payment was due to come out of my bank before I got paid, so I budgeted for this amount to be deducted.

On checking my statement, Sky had in fact deducted £76 instead. This unfortunately took me over my overdraft limit and thus caused me to incurr a £30 fee + charges.

Having queried the £76 with Sky, it appears that the amount is correct, but the fact that I wasnt notified has caused me this problem.

Has anybody had a similar experience, and can I claim these bank charges back from Sky?

Mark7799

Yes,

We upgraded to Sky+ recently and because we activated our phone line link as well (hadn't bothered previously) they slapped an extra £16 for PPV movies we'd watched over the last 16 months and claim they "forgot" to charge us for. Didn't dispute that charge - we'd watched the films after all and couldn't find any evidence they'd charged for them elsewhere and thankfully they SKY d/d comes out just after payday so no o/d or extra charges.

soolin

I've just upgraded my Sky package and they made it very very clear exactly what would be taken and when. I was also given the opportunity of paying the additional bit of the month by CC so that my first 'upgraded' payment wouldn't be higher than expected. Then they wrote to me twice to confirm that I understood what I was going to be charged.

The fact that they did all that rather suggests that in the past, and perhaps in the case of the OP, they had been less than clear and maybe they already have complaints about the way they bill on an upgrade? The way I was treated was certainly 'overkill' as though they were expecting problems.

Soo

mrbadexample

Try to find the name and address of the MD of Sky, or as high up the chain as you can go:




Dear Sir,

I am writing in the hope that you can assist me with the following matter:

I have been a Sky customer for XX years. Pleased with the service I have received thus far, I recently decided to upgrade my service. I was advised by letter dated 00/00/0000 (copy attached) that the next charge to be deducted from my account was £54.00. I duly arranged that sufficient funds be in my account to cover the charge. However, on 00/00/0000, the sum of £76.00 was deducted from my account. As a result of this, my account became overdrawn, incurring a £30.00 charge from my bank (copy charge letter attached).

I have queried the £76.00 charge, and am satisfied that it is the correct amount. Unfortunately, as a direct result of the incorrect charge information received from Sky, I have incurred the additional bank charge of £30.00.

I would be grateful if you would consider some form of compensation for the loss, not just of the £30.00, but also my long-standing reputation as a good customer with my bank. I would invite your comments on this matter, as I am sure you do not consider this to be representative of the good service I have received from Sky in the past.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Yours faithfully,

<insert name here>


I reckon that would do it. You might even get a free month's Sky or something. Then, of course, you should write to your bank, including copy of Sky's letter notifying you of the £54.00 charge. Explain that you had sufficient funds to cover that, but they debited more than expected. As it was not your fault, and you have had no previous problems (if that is the case) would they consider waiving the charge on this occasion? Kerching! :rotfl:

Let us know how you get on

Tony_Soprano

Thanks very much for that - I will keep you posted on how I get on.
Cheers

Bossyboots

If this was taken under a direct debit then they have broken the terms of the direct debit guarantee and you need to notify your bank. They will reclaim the full sum from Sky and you will then need to negotiate with them over the bank charges. Organisations can only take by direct debit, amounts of which you have had previous notification. As you have it in writing that it should be £54 then you should have no problems with your bank taking the money back.

mrbadexample

Tony_Soprano wrote:

Thanks very much for that - I will keep you posted on how I get on.
Cheers

No worries, just make sure you change "overdawn" to "overdrawn" :doh:

I've just edited...

MSE_ForumTeam1

Hi,

It is the policy of the site to save money primarily. The best advice would be to either write the letter to sky as suggested, or persue your bank for a refund, not both.

Kind Regards

Tony_Soprano

Ive gone for the letter to Sky option.

YorkshireBoy

Bossyboots wrote:

...your bank...will reclaim the full sum from Sky

I don't have Sky, so don't know if there's a credit agreement in place. If there is, isn't there a danger that Sky may mark the OP's credit file with a missed payment, thus creating another, perhaps more serious, problem for him?

Jay-Jay_4

Yarrgghhh!!!!!


Under the terms of the DD Guarantee scheme you are entitled to an IMMEDIATE refund from your bank. So if you go in to your bank or phone them tomorrow the money should be in your account withing 48 hours.

There are two types of Direct Debit refunds... a refund request and an indemnity. A refund request isn't guaranteed but and indemnity is. Your's is an indemnity as the amount they advised was different from the amount debited from your account.

The bank refund your money then THEY contact Sky under the Direct Debit Indemnity Scheme and claim back the full amount. They bank should NOT question this. They WILL also refund any charges incurred from you going overdrawn. These are your rights, don't be afraid to ask as the banks do these ALL the time.