New SKY Scam

geoffarm

Just to warn all SKY subscribers of a potential Scam being initiated by SKY REPAIR SERVICES UK Ltd.

SKY REPAIR SERVICES UK Ltd.would appear to be a legitimate company who provide local repair services for SKY boxes. They are not approved by SKY and despite their name are in no way affiliated to SKY.

They also appear to have undergone a number of name changes over time
SKY REPAIR SERVICE LTD
SKY REPAIR SERVICES LTD
SKY REPAIR SERVICES UK LTD
SKY REPAIR SERVICE UK LTD
which could be an indicator towards having something to hide!!
Check this out at the Companies House web site.

The Scam is in how they illicit new business.

Bear in mind I DO NOT and NEVER have had any contract with them or any other repair service.

Here is the flow of the unsolicited phone call made at 14:00 a couple of days ago, my wife took the call. She has, I think learned a valuable lesson from this.

SRS = SKY REPAIR SERVICES
BA = my wife

SRS:"Hello" - (wait for a reply to determine the sex of the person on the other end of the call)
BA: "Hello"
SRS:"Is that Mrs. xxxxxxx"
SRS:"Your SKY repair contract has been revised and you are now paying too much every month and I want to check some details with you so we can reduce your payments"
SRS:"Do you have your bank card handy so you can verify some details"

SRS:"Can you confirm the long number across the front of the card"
BA:12345678
SRS:"Yes that's correct"
SRS:"Can you confirm the expiry date"
BA:mm-yy
SRS:"Yes that's correct"
SRS:"Is the issue number (pause)"
BA:1
SRS:"Yes that's correct"
SRS:"Now turn the card over and verify the number above the signature strip"
BA:1234 567
SRS:"Yes that's correct"

BINGO they now have sufficient information to set up a monthly payment admittedly for a bona fide service.

BUT not a service I want.

Just as she put the phone down some thing didn't feel right as the SKY is in my name not my wife's. So she immediately rang me and I contacted SKY who verified that they do not enter into any repair contracts but approve Domestic & General (the only approved repairer). They confirmed that they had definitely not rung my number.

I contacted my bank who put a stop on the card account and verified that no transactions had taken place. The bank confirmed that once the account had been stopped no Direct Debit could be set up.

The SKY REPAIR SERVICES operator was very professional and slick and appeared to have a well rehearsed script.

The fact that the first thing that was said was "you are paying too much - we can reduce your payments" led you into a false sense of security.

Whilst I cannot comment on the level of service that SKY REPAIR SERVICES UK Ltd offer I can comment on the method of gaining new business, under false pretenses and with false statements and suggestions (that we already had an account with them)

I hope this message will serve as an alert to others not to be taken in.

NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR BANK DETAILS to anyone you don't know. Common sense but very easy to be Scammed.

Sharon87

I think most people on here are aware of these scams and would never give out bank details anyway. I'm always wary of people who call me from companies.

triggerrabbit

I had a call off these lot recently. First off they asked to speak to mr smith, then when i said there was no one of that name at this address they said the call was in regard to the sky tv at my address. Obviously they were fishing for names and info. having had lots of calls from these jokers, the best thing i've found to do is either to tell them that you do not have sky tv or just play along with them. The last call i had from them the young lady told me to get a life but before she hung up i politely informed her that all calls to my home number were monitored by BT due to nuisance calls in the past, so her abuse was recorded along with her number. This was a few weeks ago and have not heard anything from them again. Play them at their own game they'll soon get bored when you waste their time:j

Crisp_£_note

Not only have I had telephone calls from these people I get letters as well telling me its almost time to renew / review my anual sky repair plan. I am aware when my plan is due and so I always call D&G myself around this time. The people who call I tell them I dont have my card handy and they try usualy to arrange a time to callback to get the details, I tell them I am in and out a lot due to my job so would be better if I rang them and ask them for a contact number and name. Majority of the time we get cut off conveiniently at this point and not bothered again for some months. The remainder of the time I report the details to Sky so they can deal with it, they are usually quite greatful.

amersall

i keep getting letters and calls from these as well, i ask how they got my number as i am on witness protection and i will have to report this to dci whose looking after me, lol they soon hang up!