digital tv help for people on certain benefits

richard9991

i found this link which may help people on certain benefits or over 75
with the digital switch

http://www.helpscheme.co.uk/en/home

A_Nice_Englishman

Richard's link didn't work for me, but this one does

Old_Git

A_Nice_Englishman wrote: »

Richard's link didn't work for me, but this one does

its not available in my area .Maybe because the change over here will not happen until 2012 and by then all the over 75s will be dead .


:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

dougz_2

Not much hard info on that website. Does anyone know what exactly they might provide for the £40? i.e satellite or terrestrial, and brands of box? Do they give the customer any choice of system or equipment?

A_Nice_Englishman

I'm very interested to find this out too. I have relatives who will qualify for the help and am trying to encourage them to seek it to find out what is offered. They suspect it may used as an opportunity to sell them things they don't need.

Lakeuk

The information on the website is even more vague than the literature sent to those that qualify, if you're a tv licence holder is over 75 then they should automatically send the literature/forms upto 6 months before switch over, we got our forms in December (switch June) although we've only filled them in this week as it wasn't realised part of option 2 was available for free and we originally thought why pay £26 when you can get a box ourselves for £15 (no wonder there is a slow take up of these help schemes).

These are the options (December 2008 prices)

Option 1
FreeSat from Sky
Equipment, delivery and installation - Free

Option 2
Freeview digital box
Equipment and delivery - Free (you install it yourself)
OR
Equipment, delivery and installation - £26

If you decide you need help with install after you've been sent the free box then installation is increased to around £40
(Also note the form you need to fill in is misleading, implying you have to pay for options 2 - 6 where infact part of Option 2 is available for free)

Option 3
Freeview playback digital TV recorder
Equipment and delivery - £132
OR
Equipment, delivery and installation - £166

Option 4
Various digital TV's priced from £288 to £436
installation £34 extra

Option 5
Freesat digital box and satellite dish
Equipment, delivery and installation - £100
OR
HD Freesat digital box and satellite dish
Equipment, delivery and installation - £166

Option 6
Top Up TV digital TV recorder
Equipment and delivery - £46

Lakeuk

dougz wrote: »

Do they give the customer any choice of system or equipment?

No - best choice you get is on the TV where you have a choice on a Sony 20" / 26" / 32" or Panasonic 32" but if you look on amazon at how many 32" Sony models there are you'll realise you don't get a choice as there are good 32" and bad 32"s

dougz_2

Thanks for that useful info, does anyone know answers to these further questions:

Option 1
FreeSat from Sky
Equipment, delivery and installation - Free

This sounds like best value. Are there any ongoing costs involved i.e if the sky viewing card needs replacing every few years like their similar deals?
If you already have a sky dish in use, will they fit a new multiple output lnb and run an extra cable to it, or would that be extra cost?

Option 2
Freeview digital box
Equipment and delivery - Free (you install it yourself)
OR
Equipment, delivery and installation - £26

Does the free option include a new aerial as you presumably get fitted if choosing installation?

Option 5
Freesat digital box and satellite dish
Equipment, delivery and installation - £100

Why would anyone pay £100 for this when it sounds like you get the same thing under Option 1 for free?
If you already have a sky dish in use, will they fit a new lnb with extra outputs and run an extra cable to it, or would that be extra cost?

OR
HD Freesat digital box and satellite dish
Equipment, delivery and installation - £166

Anyone know what model of HD box you get?
Is there no provision of satellite kit with PVR functions (like Options 3 and 6 for terrestrial)?

Option 6
Top Up TV digital TV recorder
Equipment and delivery - £46

Is there no installation of a new aerial as with Option 2?

Lakeuk

Reply in red:-

dougz wrote: »

Thanks for that useful info, does anyone know answers to these further questions:

Option 1
FreeSat from Sky
Equipment, delivery and installation - Free

This sounds like best value. Are there any ongoing costs involved i.e if the sky viewing card needs replacing every few years like their similar deals?
If you already have a sky dish in use, will they fit a new multiple output lnb and run an extra cable to it, or would that be extra cost?

Expect you'll get the bare minimum, box, cable, dish, single lnb, installation to standard hieght (no card you don't need one for the free channels)

Option 2
Freeview digital box
Equipment and delivery - Free (you install it yourself)
OR
Equipment, delivery and installation - £26

Does the free option include a new aerial as you presumably get fitted if choosing installation?

No it doesn't but I think it mentions an aerial can be installed for around £76 extra

Option 5
Freesat digital box and satellite dish
Equipment, delivery and installation - £100

Why would anyone pay £100 for this when it sounds like you get the same thing under Option 1 for free?
If you already have a sky dish in use, will they fit a new lnb with extra outputs and run an extra cable to it, or would that be extra cost?

Sky are subsidising their box in Option 1 in the hope that the viewer will become a subscriber at some point in the future, I expect you'd get the bare minimum to have a working Freesat setup

OR
HD Freesat digital box and satellite dish
Equipment, delivery and installation - £166

Anyone know what model of HD box you get?
Is there no provision of satellite kit with PVR functions Not seen any (like Options 3 and 6 for terrestrial)?

No - you get what you're given - probable a cheap Alba or Bush box

Option 6
Top Up TV digital TV recorder
Equipment and delivery - £46

Is there no installation of a new aerial as with Option 2? No you're on your own with this option

dougz_2

My reply in blue

Option 1
FreeSat from Sky
Equipment, delivery and installation - Free

This sounds like best value. Are there any ongoing costs involved i.e if the sky viewing card needs replacing every few years like their similar deals?
If you already have a sky dish in use, will they fit a new multiple output lnb and run an extra cable to it, or would that be extra cost?

Expect you'll get the bare minimum, box, cable, dish, single lnb, installation to standard hieght (no card you don't need one for the free channels)

But surely they must provide a card so people get the correct regional programming?

Option 2
Freeview digital box
Equipment and delivery - Free (you install it yourself)
OR
Equipment, delivery and installation - £26

Does the free option include a new aerial as you presumably get fitted if choosing installation?

No it doesn't but I think it mentions an aerial can be installed for around £76 extra

So does the £26 installation not include an aerial if required either, which means for the extra 'installation' fee all you get is someone visiting to plug it in for you?

Lakeuk

dougz wrote: »

Option 1
FreeSat from Sky
But surely they must provide a card so people get the correct regional programming?


Option 2
Freeview digital box
So does the £26 installation not include an aerial if required either, which means for the extra 'installation' fee all you get is someone visiting to plug it in for you?

Ok you may get a card to save you hunting for the correct region, but when Sky replace the card which they are doing at the moment they won't guarentee to replace the freesat ones

You'll totally right you would be paying £26 for someone to plug the box in and let the automatic channel finder do it's job - easy money