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

Careful_with_that_Axe

I've had the full package (except sports) for many years. Am looking to cost cut as income is much reduced so telephoned today and asked about price increase saying I was struggling to afford at the moment. I am disabled and, probably for the 1st time in my life, I played the disabled card and asked for any specific offers to cut cost for disabled customers and was offered 25% off for 12 months! Am chuffed to bits, as I was actually thinking I would have to cancel. No offer of HD box, but I didn't think I could push it after having been offered the equivalent of £120 saving over a year.

foxy219

I have just phoned Sky to see what they can do for me. I am looking possibly to upgrade to HD (self install) and the guy has said he will give me 20% discount til 01st February a saving of about £60 which would actually cover the cost of the HD package for 6 months too. This offer is only available to me if I take it out today, but he wants me to pay £30 delivery, whereas on the website it is free delivery but I would not get the reduction on my package. What should I do? He is phoning me back later today.

NellyNelson

I felt it was getting a bit pricey too so I called up last weekend to try and trim the price. Another fail story from me, I'm afraid.

I was paying £58.50 a month and said I couldnt afford that anymore. I asked them to remove all the premuim channels, unused mixes and HD mix and the CS representative was only too happy to do so and made no effort at all to suggest another course of action. While he was tapping away he did ask why I wanted to slim down my subscription but to be honest with you, I dont think he was listening to my response. He didnt ask any questions or say anything at all at the end.

So my bill is now down to a more manageable £18.50 a month but I now only have the variety mix. I also asked if I would be able to watch the free to air HD channels once the HD mix was removed. The guy said he wasnt sure so went to check with his supervisor. He came back and stated, 'Definitely not, you only get those with the HD mix'. Subsequent searching on the internet suggests that this is actually incorrect.

One of the differences here between those who have been offered good discounts and those who were taken at face value could be the method in which you set about the call. I think I made a mistake when I called and stated exactly what I wanted removing. Also, because I made no mention of leaving, I think I was processed by a standard CS person and not retentions who can offer better deals.

I think a better method than I used would be to ask them to look at how they can help you reduce your bill. If they dont come up with a deal that you find satisfactory, then you can escalate it by saying if they cant offer any better value then you will have to leave and try the same process with retentions. Another method on the same lines could be to say that you have a specific amount that you can afford each month and ask them what channels they can do for that price.

Either way, I think they suspect everyone of trying it on with them now so you probably need to be a little more canny about squeezing more value from your Sky package.

Iand1

Bit different for me than yourself.

Rang up, said that it was getting too expensive, not using sports and very few movies etc, so wanted to cancel all.

I ended up with cancelling the sports, movies and HD, but keeping all mixes, so £23. She then said 6 months at half price as well, so £11.50 (bit more once price increases)

the customer service girl couldn't be more helpful and the told me to ring up in six months to get the offer again!

So still got FTV HD channels and recording facility and all "normal" channels. Well happy.

Now to join a DVD rental club.......

agmould

I personally dont think Virgin do any deals!?

Im paying £113 a month for my package and have been for the past year. when i wanted them to give me 2 HD Premium subscriptions for free i threatened to cancel.

Cancelations offered me a £2 a month saving for 3 months if i took a new 12 month contract, so my bill after that would be £127!

Even as a new customer they dont want to know! Possibly £7 a month off for a couple of months.

Shocking! Let me know if anyone knows any different.

northwest1965

agmould wrote: »

I personally dont think Virgin do any deals!?

Im paying £113 a month for my package and have been for the past year. when i wanted them to give me 2 HD Premium subscriptions for free i threatened to cancel.

Cancelations offered me a £2 a month saving for 3 months if i took a new 12 month contract, so my bill after that would be £127!

Even as a new customer they dont want to know! Possibly £7 a month off for a couple of months.

Shocking! Let me know if anyone knows any different.

We were on L TV package. They upgraded us to XL, new HD box free and HD at no charge and no installation

carrasfe

Negotiated a new 12 month contract yesterday, we have broadband, phone and sky TV and will get 25% off the TV for all 12 months......sweet!

agmould

northwest1965 wrote: »

We were on L TV package. They upgraded us to XL, new HD box free and HD at no charge and no installation

Standard HD is free any way. Its premium HD they want the extra for.

jammin_2

agmould wrote: »

Standard HD is free any way.

Cable TV is never free in the UK.

Midzone

Just got off the phone to the lovely Shona - threatened to cancel the lot and was offered 25% off for 12 months - Happy Days!