How to cancel Setanta Sports

Rodski

My mate took out a subscription so we could watch some Aussie rugby league. He told me what he had to go through to cancel and I was amazed. We won't bother next year. Robbin' bar stewards.

Buddy2008

If it helps anyone, the original contract terms I received from Setanta in December dealt with cancellation in paragraph 8, which had sub-paragraphs a to f. The end of paragraph 8a said "Unless otherwise agreed in your Option, you may end the Contract after the Minimum Term for any reason by giving us one month's notice."

On 14th June, the letter notifying me of the 30% increase in subscription (quietly at the bottom of a load of guff about how good they are) also included a revised T&C document. There was no indication anywhere on the letter or the document that any terms had changed, but in fact that sentence had disappeared from the end of 8a, and a new paragraph 8g had arrived giving the info posted by Martin at the top of the thread.

I've no intention of cancelling myself, I like the channels, but hopefully this info may be useful to anyone mounting a challenge. I'm sure it's at least good practice to flag up changes in terms & conditions rather than just quietly changing them.

peedee_2

No of course not be cause they are basically an unethical business.
They charge an outrageous amount to sign up and trying to cancel is very difficult. Never use a credit or debit card to make payments because that is very difficult to cancel unlike a Direct Debit.
Come on Martin, you do so much good work but could do better on this one. Use your media appearances to denounce this Company and help other folk avoid being ripped off by them.

debtmunchkin

Basically Customer Service lied to us many times. As I said about our case near the start of this thread, we were told on numerous occasions that the refund due to us had been processed and would appear in our bank account within 28 days. This never, never happened. On one of the occasions we called to ask why, we were told that they had no bank account details for us and could therefore not refund (massive porky!). This was after being told it had been credited TWICE. To help the poor souls along in their obviously difficult job, we gave them bank details again and surprise shock and horror we still never got the over £40 back from them that we are owed. It's now been over a year. We gave up! New and current customers beware, if you think 'it won't happen to me' it probably will!

Ivesy

Has anyone out there had same trouble I'm having cancelling my subscription to SETANTA?

The story so far...

I'm moving house next month so back in June I rang Setanta to ask what I had to do to cancel. The person said they needed 60 days notice and to send the letter to an address in London. Is sent the letter recorded delivery. As I write it still hasn't beedn received!

So on July the 22nd I sent another letter, this time to the address in Sunderland. I'd worked out that 60 days would be from when they got it the 23rd to September the 21st. Coincidentally my Direct Debit for August took me upto the 21st of September. So far so good....

Then I got an email from Setanta saying they would cancel on the 11th October?? Their explanation is that they received my request AFTER the July Direct Debit had gone so where taking the 60 days from the August payment!

This can't be right? I've cancelled my Broadband recently and was sent a bill for part of the month. So why is Setanta so different?

This has been a right nightmare on top of all the stress I'm having moving house. I've cut out loads of other stuff like the Direct Debit payment increasing without them telling me, their hopless web site and the fact I've had no Setanta for the last few days even though I've just paid this months direct debit!

I've sent them an email saying I'm still cancelling my Direct Debit as this months takes me upto the 21st September (60 days 23/07 - 21/09). Am I going mad or have I missed something here?

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

wsheena

My husband joined online some months ago on a MONTHLY contract with a 30 day notice period.
A few weeks ago, he recieved an email saying the t's & c's had changed, and on this he canceled his subscription.
This was done via email, letter and phone - here being told this was fine.
As he paid monthly in advance, and a payment had just gone through, he cancelled his direct debit.
All makes perfect and logical sense doesn't it?

Not to setanta it doesn't!
We have had umpteen letters and emails.
Each one has been replied to quoting their original 30 days notice and we have lost count of the number of snotty people we have talked to on the phone - at our cost.
Even asked to talk to the head of customer services, and was told 'he is too busy to talk to peope like you'.

We have had email replies saying 'that's fine' some saying 'call us', some saying 'you owe us', and 'how dare you cancel our direct debit'!!!!

The last lot of emails we sent them had attached to them ALL copies of the previous ones sent.
On these we also wrote of them harrassing us and using threatening language in their calls.
Apparently we owe just over £2, and the last time they called since we sent the last lot of emails, i told them to read their mail, they wouldn't be getting any more money, and to contact us via solicitors as any other contact we would class as threats and harrassment and WE'LL take legal action.

2 weeks of peace so far..............

Sick of them, and would do my best to stop them making any money.

BlueHaggis

I had no problems with Setanta until the Calzaghe fight, which I didn't receive on Freeview. I complained and was offered 3 months at £5.

The next month they took a connection fee, my regular £9.99 subscription AND £5!

I rang and complained and was told refunds could only be dealt with if I wrote to Newry! Unbelievable! Nevertheless, I wrote and complained, sending the letter Special Delivery, but at the same time used the direct debit guarantee through my bank. I would advise anyone to do the same...the money came back into my account from HSBC and they will claim it off Setanta.

However, I then noticed I wasn't receiving the channel. I phoned Setanta again and asked why...they'd switched me off! I was switched back on, and the operator offered me a further three months at £5 - taking me to October. I said 'that's a kind offer, but given the track record, I'm not sure I trust it'. In assured tones he said 'sir, I know what I'm doing'

Needless to say, they have taken an extra £5 that wasn't due, and my August direct debit was £10.99, the normal price. I can't be bothered complaining, the service is so bad. However, i want the channels, so I'll keep on paying. Heaven knows what will happen when I finally decide to jack them in. I still haven't had a reply to that letter that they received in May.

If anyone is considering getting into bed with Setanta think very carefully. You'll feel like James Caan to their Kathy Bates in 'Misery'!

Chrysalis

Martin thanks for exposing this.

I had hassles cancelling but seems not so bad as others, my mistake to use my credit card instead of direct debit. Capital one pretty much scratched setantas back saying I had to contact setanta to cancel, they refused to block the payments. I then told capital one I wont be paying the part of the balance that is for setanta sports, they then changed their attitude a bit saying they would mark is as under sispute meaning I wouldnt have to pay it on my statement.

Then someone posted a new number on this website which worked and I cancelled over the phone.

reduceditem

There is a way (actually more than one way;)) to get Setanta for ''free''(ish).

If you get the Thomson freeview digital recorder from Comet or Tesco's (It's the 160gb model) you'll get free Setanta until the end of May. You DO have to pay the connection fee. Simply phone up and cancel your (non CC) DD to avoid any 'confusion' in May and you're away.

The Thomsons recorders are 89.99 which is actually very cheap for what they do, but read some reviews before buying.

As I said, there is another way to get it for free but I don't want my post deleted;)

Can I just add....anyone wishing to cancel should just stop the DD after notifying them and complying with the [EMAIL="T@C's"]T@C's[/EMAIL] (assuming you did not use a CC). You will NOT be taken to court and your credit rating will NOT be affected. Another lesson from this is to always avoid giving your phone numbers and email address to any company unless totally unavoidable...thus avoidind the irritating phone calls/emails if you fall into dispute....let THEM do the writing.

Ivesy

I would NEVER subscribe again. I thought Sky used to bad for things like this but they are in a different league to this sham of an outfit.

I have NEVER received anything from them through the post notifying me of SMALLchanges in my subscription like the price increasing, the number of days notice to cancel and the best one, taking the 60 days notice from the last date paid regardless of when I wrote into cancel!

I wrote to them in JUNE to the address they gave me which was incorrect.
I then wrote in JULY (recorded delivery)

I've since sent dozens of emails to cancel. At the moment I have no SETANTA but I've paid upto 22 September and they want me to pay upto October! It beggars belief.

I have now cancelled my Direct Debit.:j