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

daveboy

I just phoned them, 2pm on a Friday afternoon (not a good time believe me, a bit of a wait).

I was on the sports package that was £34, without the movies, and what they did for me was upgrade the package to the £36 one, and then give me 3 months at half price.

Had to wait until after 5th April as that was when my 12 months was up...once again MSE saves me money!

There are offers to be had....the reason I used was living on my own and the cost, so try that if you can't think of one!

mum26

our sky box has decided to pack up on us, my oh rang them up, tried everything suggested, no use, they said they could send an engineer out for £65! he asked about sky+ instead and they said £99 (with multiroom etc etc is it much hassle getting the other box relocated? we live in a three story townhouse so rooms are all over the place), £89 online, were not particuarly bothered about offering a good deal at all. I'm going to ask him to ring and cancel today as we can't watch it anyway, any tips as a last ditch attempt to get a cheap upgrade?

fox2319

Been on half price movies and entertainment stuff for 5 months in all, phoned up today and they offered a half price basic package for £7.50 for 6 months. Thought I'd take that for now as we never really watch the movies.

I am genuinely going to cancel when they stop offering discounts as the TV doesn't bother me _that_ much. Will just get a freeview HDD recorder and join screenselect or similar.

So, Sky have got us for another 6 months buit there is a reminder in the diary for 5 months time. Will have to wait and see how it goes...

Cheers

Jeff

parkside_stroller

Does anyone know if Sky offer discounts to people who have moved into a property which has the equipment in place (dish on the wall, cabling in place and someone gave me a working box with a card that is 2 or 3 years old)?

I've read through this board but didn't spot anything specifically about this.

I get the feeling that it might operate as a free to air box (depending on if the card still works) and I am going to try it this weekend but I really fancy getting SKY Sports through my TV (not interested in advice about internet feeds thanks).

I know there are a few deals out there for new customers and I should be eligible for these as I have never had SKY before but as I said maybe I don't really need the new equipment and installation they offer, although obviously the new stuff would carry a warranty.

Any advice on multi-room using the old box with a new set up or if they would stick a second dish up and can I use one dish for 2 different boxes such as on one freesat would be appreciated.

advice on potentially using one of the dishes (if SKY gave me a second dish) to pick up a different satellite eg for European broadcasts would also be appreciated.

Don't know how relevant this is to the last bit but it may be - I am in South East Scotland.

Anybody got any thoughts on tactics to take when phoning SKY about this lot.

Reluctant_spender

Well I have read this topic and thought I would give it a go.

I rang the number at the top of this page an hey presto I was speak to a real person in less than 4 mins. Explained that I wanted to cancel as I had been a loyal customer and had never been offered a deal, I was fed up at the cost and new customers were getting Sky + for peanuts.

First off he offered me a discount on any package that I wanted - this equated to a 25% reduction said not interested and pushed for SKY+ - again hey presto £65 paid and fiited Bank Holiday Monday.

I did try a push it a little further and sent him to speak with his manager for the package discount aswell but no luck. I did say what happens in two months when I get fed up paying the subscrition fees - he said ring back as they are desparate to keep subscribers. The worst they can do isa continue to charge you a tenner a month for the PVR 3.

Not a bad deal and good advice too

zorber

mum26 wrote:

our sky box has decided to pack up on us, my oh rang them up, tried everything suggested, no use, they said they could send an engineer out for £65! he asked about sky+ instead and they said £99 (with multiroom etc etc is it much hassle getting the other box relocated? we live in a three story townhouse so rooms are all over the place), £89 online, were not particuarly bothered about offering a good deal at all. I'm going to ask him to ring and cancel today as we can't watch it anyway, any tips as a last ditch attempt to get a cheap upgrade?

We had this problem. Reduce your package to the lowest rate possible and then cancel claim you are moving but give no details.
As i am not married my partner then took out a subscription in her name. So at the moment a new subscriber get half price for 3 months plus free instalation.
Keep a record of you old account ie the viewing card as after a year you should cancel again and use what ever mail shot they are offering your old account to come back at present it is 6 months half price you will need your old account number for this.

zorber

parkside_stroller wrote:

Does anyone know if Sky offer discounts to people who have moved into a property which has the equipment in place (dish on the wall, cabling in place and someone gave me a working box with a card that is 2 or 3 years old)?

I've read through this board but didn't spot anything specifically about this.

I get the feeling that it might operate as a free to air box (depending on if the card still works) and I am going to try it this weekend but I really fancy getting SKY Sports through my TV (not interested in advice about internet feeds thanks).

I know there are a few deals out there for new customers and I should be eligible for these as I have never had SKY before but as I said maybe I don't really need the new equipment and installation they offer, although obviously the new stuff would carry a warranty.

Any advice on multi-room using the old box with a new set up or if they would stick a second dish up and can I use one dish for 2 different boxes such as on one freesat would be appreciated.

advice on potentially using one of the dishes (if SKY gave me a second dish) to pick up a different satellite eg for European broadcasts would also be appreciated.

Don't know how relevant this is to the last bit but it may be - I am in South East Scotland.

Anybody got any thoughts on tactics to take when phoning SKY about this lot.

could try getting your wife to subscribe using the comeback code for 6 months half price (code = easter ). You are !!!!!!ed if they ask for the original name on the account though she can claim she has got married and that was her maiden name.

Otherwise come clean you have all the equipment and push them hard to see what discount you can get. Remind them if you were the orginal account holder you could get 6 month half price to comeback. try it.

whimsy_2

We were with Sky but I cancelled 6mths ago had a call last week to see if I wanted to go back. In the end I've been given a sky+ box for FREE, FREE installation and 6mths half price off the world package. He did say that if after 6mths I reduced my package I would have to pay a £10 recording fee (not sure what that is, but hey I got sky+ for free )

TheWheelMan

Apologies if this has been asked and answered before, but its a v. long thread. I have done a search but couldn't find an answer to this specific question:

I've just moved into a (rented) house where the previous occupiers (the landlords) were Sky subscribers. They've taken their receiver with them (or perhaps its gone back to Sky, dunno), but there's a dish and all the cabling still present.

I only want the free channels, can I just buy a secondhand receiver, plug it in and go? or do I need a card for the receiver ( i saw mention on this thread of a freesat card for £20)?

If I can just buy a box and plug it in, does anyone have any recommendations? Panasonic TU-DSB31 s semm to be quite prolific (and popular) on Ebay.

ps Can't get freeview here (or at least only a coupl;e of channels)

TIA

Bob

L.S.D.

[QUOTE=

I only want the free channels, can I just buy a secondhand receiver, plug it in and go? or do I need a card for the receiver ( i saw mention on this thread of a freesat card for £20)?

If I can just buy a box and plug it in, does anyone have any recommendations? Panasonic TU-DSB31 s semm to be quite prolific (and popular) on Ebay.

ps Can't get freeview here (or at least only a coupl;e of channels)

TIA

Bob[/QUOTE]

Panasonic is one of the best receivers. You will get a lot of freeview without a card. A Card wil give you more + Channel 4 & 5.