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

eamonn321

Apologies if this has been asked before. If I change to Sky+ can I use my existing Sky box on a TV in another room? (Assuming I speak nicely to the installer about having a cable from the dish to that room).

Lady_K

Sky just rang me up a while ago out of the blue. The woman asked if I was happy with it at the moment as I'm on a family package with 20% off for 12 months it will run out soon though. I was really busy as I had someone here so I just said yes sort of happy apart from a lot of repeats. She said do I use it much and I said yes then she said ok thanx bye. I thought she was going to offer me something so did I say something wrong?

TOBRUK

Lardy_K, I believe you did it wrong -
When asked if you were happy you said yes, sort of apart from a lot of repeats. When asked if you used it a lot you said yes, to me you sound as if you are ok with it as it is.

You say that the 12month deal runs out soon, I think you should have said that as your contract was coming to an end, you didn't think it was worth the money, yes you do watch quite a bit of it but you were thinking of ending your subscription as you were going to freeview and if you wanted more channels you could get 'top up' for just £7.50 a month. Of course, you must be prepared to cancel when you are put through to cancellations.

If you are on a family package, the extra channels you get you may miss but with top up you can get extra.

I did this and I was prepared to cancel - I am on family package at £21.00 a month. I was offered 3 months at half price which I did take, but I do have a digital tv now and it is excellent but of course I do like having the extra channels. I am phoning them today or tomorrow to cancel again, to give them 1 month notice, and if they don't offer me a better deal I shall cancel.

From looking back through this thread, before the month is up they phone to try and keep you on.

Lady_K

Dont you need a digital aerial for freeview though? I really was thinking of looking into something else though like freeview because sky is expensive but I dont have an aerial at all. She just rang and caught me at the worst time coz I was thinking I am going to see what they come up with once this offer ends then if they don't offer me anything much I'll just go for freeview or something. I rang 1471 and it left a freephone number I might call back and ask when my package ends and see what I can get from that call

Thanx for your advice maybe its within the last 20% off month then if they have rang me

Lady_K

Blast that number doesnt take return calls. Anyone know what number to call apart from 0870? Let me know how you get on tomorrow TOBRUK if you can

I don't know anything about digital tv do I need one to have freeview?

outrageous_monkey

We dont have sky any more. We bought a tv with free view built in. Anway, Sky phone periodically just to see if they can tempt us back. Which they cant. Anyway, i have been chatting to this one guy a few times now and I've told him that unless I get the full package for £2 a month then I dont want any of the other offers they keep calling with. At the moment its a big no no (obviously!) but its coming down in price everytime they call. I just wondered what was/is the lowest that someone has paid for the full package?

The_Mortgage_Lady

My partner who is addicted to the TV pays over £60 a month to sky, he has the full package and pays for 2 multi-room subscriptions!

Anyway, he has just sold his house to come and live with me... He rang sky yesterday to cancel and explained his situation, they have dropped it to 75p per month while the sale goes through.

Apparently they offer this package to people who may be going to work away or such and rather than cancelling you pay 75p to keep your contract...

I've just accepted the offer of half price for 3 months on my full package but I will be sure to give this a try when it's up...

Hope this helps someone )

TOBRUK

Hi Lady_K, two pages back someone gave a number which worked for them, 0800 587 5707 don't know if it will work.

I have a digital tv which has freeview channels built into the tv - you do not need a digital tv to have freeview.

Freeview works from an ordinary aerial - do your analogue channels work ok on your tv - your basic four/five channels if you didn't have sky? You can tell from those what sort of picture, reception you have. If not, I'm not sure if you can get an indoor aerial to work a freeview box, although there are many different aerials to be had these days, including boosters. Perhaps someone else here knows if they are in the same situation as you. There are freeview boxes now which have the 'topup' slot built in. Also, check to see if you can get freeview in your area - do your neighbours have freeview?

TOBRUK

Lady_K
I have just been searching about freeview and indoor aerials - if you haven't an outdoor aerial available. It seems that the best reception is with an outdoor aerial but it is possible with an indoor aerial such as a 'Indoor TV Aerial with Signal Booster' there are also 'wideband indoor aerials with a booster suitable for freeview. With these they recommend that you put it near a window to get best reception. So it is possible to have freeview without an outdoor aerial! These aerials are sold in places like argos, different prices ranging from about £10 - £25, I suppose depending on the strength of it.

b814sn1

Hi all, my first posting on MSE.

I've been with Sky for 12 years or so, usually paying for the full package. For the last 2 years I've been on 3 month 1/2 price discounts after threats to cancel. I've more or less dicided that I'll never pay more that £20 or so ever again. I like the sports/news but it's not worth £40/50 per month.

A few months ago my digibox went wonky. I threateded to cancel again and they replaced it free of charge; I wouldn't have minded paying a small amount for this in fact.

The last couple of times I've threatened to cancel they haven't given me the deal straight away. So, I cancel with the month's notice- using the freephone number of course! :-) As the fateful cancellation day approaches either they offer me a deal or I phone Reconnections and there always seems to be a deal.

When I phoned last week they offered me 2 months 40% discount. I said no. Then they offered 12 months 30% discount. Again I said no- sticking to my principles of not paying more that £20-ish even though some may consider them good deals.

I wouldn't mind Sky+ for £49 as quoted above. I think the downside of this is that you won't get a discount on the basic monthly premium for 12months. I don't expect to get something for nothing, but everything has its price and Sky is just going over the top for what you get IMHO

As C5 seem to have decent cricket highlight coverage over the summer I may well see if I can live without Sky for the summer- 75p for a basic package sounds like something to think about too.

All interesting stuff

Thanks,

Steve


(Old Faithful- pah ...... Red Red Robin is far superior)
Only for Hull folks that one!!!!