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

jammin_2

BexTech wrote: »

..Remember Sky don't own any satellites, they only lease capacity, just the same as the BBC, ITV, Ch4 etc do, from either SES Astra or Eutelsat.

Sky just put together a subscription package and allows other broadcasters to be part of it..

Almost. But don't forget that they DO own and run some of the popular channels, like Sky Movies, Sports, and Sky 1,2,3 plus more. Then there are those that they don't own - National Geographic is one, off the top of my head. The fact is that, on satellite, there are many "premium" channels that you just can't watch on satellite without a Sky subscription.

BexTech

jammin wrote: »

Almost. But don't forget that they DO own and run some of the popular channels, like Sky Movies, Sports, and Sky 1,2,3 plus more. Then there are those that they don't own - National Geographic is one, off the top of my head. The fact is that, on satellite, there are many "premium" channels that you just can't watch on satellite without a Sky subscription.

http://www1.sky.com/ventures lists the channels Sky have a stake in.

True you can't watch the Sky Premium channels on satellite without a Sky subscription, but that's not surprising really.

You can watch Setanta channels without a Sky subscription.

lemontart

I have just read the asa finding and sky state sky = never been free yes it has it cost me 1p connection fee and nothing else a couple of years ago.

heho now a days they call me trying to get me to sign up to british gas or extra packages I do not want or need

OGB03

As promised.....

STEP ONE

Call Sky, ask them how much it would be to upgrade to Sky+.

STEP TWO

If unhappy with what you’ve been told, email a letter of complaint to Sky.

www.sky.com
>Customer Support
>Contact Us
>General Enquiries (form)

EMAIL 1 – (Edit as appropriate)

Dear…..

I would like to make a complaint, as I am unhappy with the way that Sky regularly seems to offer existing customers who threaten to cancel their contract, the offer of Sky+ for £49. It seems that these offers to retain customers are made without the need for any additional Sky products being subscribed to as a condition. I do not want or need Sky Multi-room, Talk or Broadband, nor do I wish to cancel my existing subscription.

I was told after calling your Sales Department, that as an existing customer, I would be charged £149.99 + £30 installation. There seems to be a rather large discrepancy between £179.99 and £49; £130 to be precise. It is common-sense to keep existing customers happy, rather than waiting until they are ready to cancel their subscription before making offers to retain their custom.

This has nothing to do with any ‘promotional offers’ that you may offer from time to time, but specifically relates to why you offer customers Sky+ for £49 simply to retain their custom, yet charge an existing customer like myself who would simply like to upgrade, the same thing for £130 more. My intention at this point is not to cancel my subscription, however, would the £49 offer be extended to me in the same way if I were to call and speak to your Cancellation Department? Please advise.

I look forward to receiving a response to this email specifically addressing my points within 48 hours.

Yours………

STEP THREE

Some customers have been lucky enough to receive a personal response to their first email, and have been offered an upgrade for £49 with no installation charge, or Sky+ for free, usually by a phone call by someone in the Cancellation Department. Many customers however, have received a standard computer generated response which does not specifically address any of the points raised in the original complaint. In this case, reply to the email directly with a follow up letter.

EMAIL 2 – (Edit as appropriate)

(Email Subject Heading: LETTER OF COMPLAINT, DD/MM/YY; CUSTOMER ACCOUNT NUMBER: 12345678)

Dear…..

Thank you for your response to my email of…... It was with great regret that I noted that you did not address any of the issues in my original correspondence to you, choosing instead to send me a computer generated reply.

For the purposes of clarity I will reproduce my original email, specifically regarding your offer to upgrade customers to Sky+ for £49 with no additional costs, simply to retain their custom because they had called to cancel Sky, and not as any kind of promotional offer that your email alluded to.

I reiterate this is not my intention, however, if I were to call your Cancellation Department saying that I wanted to terminate my subscription, would I also be made the offer of upgrading to Sky+ for £49 with no other costs attached simply to ensure that you retain my loyalty and custom?

I look forward to receiving a personal and respectful response to this email from you within the next 24 hours.

Many Thanks


COPY OF ORIGINAL: DD/MM/YY

<paste here>

STEP FOUR

At this point, a representative from Sky in the Cancellation Department will call you to discuss your complaint. The outcome (in my experience and that of all the people who have complained using this method) has been that Sky+ has been offered for £49 with no installation charge, or in some cases, completely free. If payment is required, this is usually taken immediately over the phone with a credit or debit card. An installation date is also arranged and you will usually be called either on the day before or the morning of the installation, by the engineer, to confirm you will be in.

STEP FIVE

Wait for installation day, sit back and enjoy.


GOOD LUCK!

ragjoy

hi guys,
i need some advice for my parents,i am no longer a sky person i use freeview with topfield PVR, so i no longer follow the deals on sky.
my parents have a non subscription sky service there pay channels have been off for about 2 years.
my mum has been diagnosed with an illness where she will need plenty of rest in bed for the foreseeable future.
they only have the TV downstairs,and do not particularly want many more channels ie:no films or footy.
they want tv available upstairs for my mum,but there area
will be one of the latter areas to get freeview so thats out.
should they get sky+ downstairs and have the existing box put upstairs with the free to air channels.
or i could give them my old digi box,they could have a twin lnb put onto there dish and go that way.
if we get the sky+(£49)fitted and they put the old box upstairs with no pay channels going to it would they still be charged £10 for the upstairs box,and what is the minimum charge or best package deal for them if they want to use the sky+ function downstairs.
any advice will be good thank you.

BexTech

Stick a quad LNB on the current dish and pop the box you have upstairs.

FannyHill

Right on the money Bex.

ragjoy

thanks bex,
thats the way i think id go,didnt even know there was quad lnb thou so this will be useful when mum has to move downstairs in the future.
any opinions on the sky+ route and what would be there best deal.
the reason i ask this is mum may at least be able to watch stuff recorded as she will sleep at unusual times.
the money is not really an issue but dad wont let me spend for the sake of it,to set in there ways.
just trying to make some things comfy for mum at this time.
thanks again........

robd831

:beer: I rang up on the weekend on behalf of my Dad and said he was old and got tried in the evenings and missed most of his programs. I said this was the reason he wanted to cancel.
After being transferred from India to Scotland we were offerred SKY+ for FREE and free install ! This was offerred as he had been a customer for years.
This was even cheaper than I was able to get it for at £49. He is well pleased.
It may be just the luck of the draw with the person on the other end.
One point ALWAYS BE FRIENDLY AND POLITE (it always works)

darthpaul

Slightly off topic but I am having sky+ installed today and just need to know if the install requires a 2nd feed coax off the dish to the sky box? I presume yes! If so I need to move some furniture quickly!