Film 4 with SKY

donimmold

On 23rd November 2005, I, in my wisdom !! , phoned to try Film 4 as it was "FREE TO VIEW FOR ONE MONTH" I understood that if i didn't like it then i could ring and cancel but not to leave it until after 23rd December. This I took to mean that I could cancel at anytime BEFORE then. Not so "You cannot cancel before 23rd December " said the lady at Sky. This was at 10 am on the 22nd December. Now the number to ring to cancel is an 0870 number which aint cheap so the object of the game it seems is to keep the customer waiting by advertising all sorts of rubbish that he or she doesn't want for as long as it suits the vendor, and this is AFTER being directed to press any of which number from one to six umpteen times. then in my case to be told "Your call will be answered in t wo minutes" (The space in TWO is how it came over . ). After asking why the account couldn't be cancelled on the 22nd the operator tells me that if I was able to cancel before then the account would not be for a month. Since technically I do not have an account as the month would be free what bloody difference would it make?? There are millions of greater minds than mine , they appear to be working for Sky.. We are living in a strange new world.

pspinsight

Been there and done that!

Took up the 'free' month earlier this year, and when I called to cancel I was told that next month's bill would include an additional filmfour subscription, which would then be deducted from my standard subscription the month after!

So technically free, but a hassle to have 3 different bills over 3 months!

Have ignored all such offers since.

donimmold

like PSPINSIGHTfurther to my being ripped off by sky . as i type this i have been told that i must wait 37 minutes for a vacant member of staff !!!! this will cost me around £4.50 in calls to avoid having to pay the £6 which will be charged if i do not cancel today. now SKY will surely have a little back off the 9p a minute? like PSPINSIGHT i will not be suckered in to any further special offers. my intention is to get shot of SKY altogether as soon as there is proper competition to face the monopoly that exists at this moment . i am still waiting for the 37 minutes to be up. ??????????????

rrwfotr

It's a complete scam, I signed up for a free installation after weeks of signing up no sign of my installation date/time. And when I ring I'm told I have to wait 30 minutes at a time to get though. I wish I didn't sign up now and they have my direct debit details, not worth all the agro :mad:

wacko911

Does the freefone number 0800 44 1234 no longer work? It used to drop you in to a sky customer service rep and you could talk about anything they didnt know you came through the free fone number.

Noozan

donimmold wrote:

Now the number to ring to cancel is an 0870 number which aint cheap...

You can call Sky free on 0800 731 6965

donimmold

Deeply indebted to wacko911, and to noozan, i rang one of the 0800 numbers, got right to the man !! and lo my problem was resolved . alas not before having been ripped off to the tune of £8 (yes EIGHTPOUNDS) for calls to SKY'S 08702. I then within that 0800 numbers spoke to a very calm and lovely Scottish lady who explained that they were unable to reinburse me for the charges, but, as I understand it, from an email I sent to SKY this morning they had given me £10 back. Have not had chance to check this yet as my account is not due to go (Direct Debit) out until early next month. Whatever happens i did play merry hell to what end is a mystery , I still think the whole thing stinks. Thanks again to all for your assistance. What would we do without moneysavingexpert?

donimmold

I am still trying to recoup money which i feel Sky are robbing me of. Have sent umpteen emails and so far have retrieved £8 "as a goodwill gesture" from them for the charges for phoning to cancel film when it was impossible to get hold of them.. Blow me !! a day later on checking my Bank statement I discover that they have docked me £45.94 instead of my usual £36, on enquiring as to WHY they had taken this cash they replied that it was the charge for having a FREE film4 account !!!, which technically I never did have (And beside which they told me it would cost £6 not £7). So if the charge WAS £7 what was the extra £2.94 ? Are you still with me anyone reading this? That £2.94 was for "Outstanding Balance" . Please tell me I am not going nuts..

Let me just warn anyone thinking of trying some "FILM 4 FREE " on SKY DONT it is pure THEFT. But I have not given up yet it is my money and British Pounds belonging to me are my very best friends , watch this space.

donimmold

you may like to know that SKY have now righted my account and also reimbursed me for phone charges as mentioned above. But one wonders what would have happened to my lovely money had I not complained. No prizes for guessing the answer to that one. sincere thanks to the kind folk who suggested the telephone numbers to ring other than the 0870 type. Dont forget to give FREE FILM 4 A MISS at the earliest sign of rip off.

Heinz

I bet you'll be pleased to hear that Film Four is going FTA from July then.

donimmold

thanks for the info Heinz I had not actually heard this . So now i shall sit all night watching for FREE unless of course they mean "Free" as in the case of my complaints, Read above moans. Anyway i am really gratefull to those who replied and hope that my plight can in some way be of assistance to others.. Just hate the way we are all getting ripped off by some businesses lately.