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

savagevixen

:j I just called freesat and explained that I had cancelled sky 8 months ago. He asked if I had a 'pace' box I said yes and he offered me any package for half price for 6 months (12 month contract) or 1/3off for 12 months. The latter worked out cheaper. As my Aspergers child is currently out of school and all I want is the documentaries etc. I opted for the 6 mix for £14 pcm for the year.
Really pleased. Did not take up the sky+ offer from sky as it is still too much I think!

overcharged

Hi everyone, I can't find a thread where else I might be able to post this. I'd really sincerely appreciate any suggestions you can offer. I will take any suggestions on board and contact NTL, then post my findings in this forum thread.

I'm being charged the following by NTL every month:

DIGITAL BASE PACK AND TELEPHONE £22.50
TALK UNLIMITED 24 £14.00
UNLIMITED 2MB £17.99
FULLY ITEMISED BILLING £1.00
TOTAL £55.49

The £55.49 total feels very excessive to me. I have been charged this for about 3 years now, having initially joined NTL on a 12 month minimum contract. I want to do something about it.

I am happy to scrap the 'fully itemised billing' and 'talk unlimited 24'.

I would like to retain basic "Free TV" channels and the UNLIMITED 2MB broadband. I have a feeling that the "DIGITAL BASE PACK" I'm being charged for is not actually the service I'm receiving. If you try to assemble a fresh quote via ntl.com you actually have a choice of the following:

No TV Service
Free TV
Select Pack £5.50
Base Pack £11.50
Family Pack £19.50

The NTL TV service I'm receiving is very basic with no movie or sports channels. I only receive the usual free channels like BBC1, BBC2, E4, MORE4, FILM 4 etc. I'm concerned that the "BASE PACK" on my bill might actually refer to the "Base Pack £11.50" which I don't want, and have not received. I only want, and have only ever received, the simple, basic free TV channels.

I want to downgrade my phone usage to "NTL TALK WEEKENDS", because I hardly ever use the phone! As such, I am concerned by the "DIGITAL BASE PACK AND TELEPHONE £22.50" charge. Do you think the mention of 'telephone' here suggests NTL are charging me for line rental, or are perhaps billing me for an actual telephone handset I know nothing about?!

Has anyone here approached NTL about any of the above types of charges? I'm really confused and anxious about how I might discuss these charges with NTL.

Once again, any suggestions really appreciated.

essbee_3

I've just came off the phone to NTL. They can offer me 10MB broadband and the basic TV channels so everything but sport and movies for £35. Can anyone better this? I do want highspeed broadband but still feel this is quite a lot?

heystu

I've been with Sky for a few years now, but end up having to tape all things I really want to watch as I'm at work when they're on (Lost, 24 etc). Really can't afford £160 on a Sky+ box so phoned them last night and said "I want a Sky+ box, but I don't want to pay you £160. You're going to get an extra £20 a month off me (Sky+ sub and Multiroom), so can't you just give me one for free?". They said no. I'm not very good at this haggling business am I?

Does anyone know if there's any truth in this 12th February claim that Sky will only be supplying Sky+ and they are dropping the £10/month sub?

If I phone up and cancel if they don't give me a good deal on a Sky+ box (i.e. £49 all in), and they accept my cancellation, can I phone back and say I was just kidding and I don't really want to cancel? I would happily go FTA/FTV if it weren't for Sky One having Lost and 24, and unfortunately being in the sticks means no cable providers to play off against Sky.

Any help greatly appreciated.

alanwjones

When you cancel, you give 30 days notice, you can change your mind anytime within the 30 days. Alan

heystu

alanwjones wrote:

When you cancel, you give 30 days notice, you can change your mind anytime within the 30 days. Alan

Thanks Alan, appreciated.

shanta

Interesting article here for those who cannot get discount from Sky when trying to cancel. Its seems that they are not bothered about losing "low spenders."
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2003098,00.html

LEE69_2

shanta wrote:

Interesting article here for those who cannot get discount from Sky when trying to cancel. Its seems that they are not bothered about losing "low spenders."
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2003098,00.html

I don't consider me spending the top package for 10+ years as a low spender.:rotfl:

FannyHill

I have a £20 Freesat card but am getting lots of Sky subscription channels for free.
I think this is a Sky freebee at the moment to let you see what the channels are like. They're hoping to hook you to a subscription. :T

Miroslav

tamarto wrote:

Where did you see the offer? i cant see anything on mine

On the back of 'The Sky Month' there will be a heading 'What's next?'

Offered me half price Sky Sports for 3 months on that.

08706 005 645 - for some reason that put me through to Prem Plus, so I hung up and phoned the main number and told them of the offer and they gave it to me