Sky want me to pay £60 installation when I don't need it installing??!!

Zoetoes

Hi All

I already have Sky+ downstairs but wanted to order multiroom and get another sky+ box for the bedroom, the wire for it is already there (had multiroom in my ex partners name but he's left so I have my own account now), so I simply need to plug in the box & plug the aerial into the back but Sky want £60 off me and to send an engineer out!!!

I promptly rang the number to downgrade (I couldn't threaten to cancel as I've only had it 2 months) and explained that I wasn't getting the full use of the movies etc as it was the kids that watched them in bed and didn't need installing etc but he wasn't interested.

I get the tele, broadband and calls off them and was just about to take their line rental when I was ordering the multiroom. I'm really miffed about it!

How can I get round this??

Thanks in advance

Swinstie73

Hi Zoe,

I don't know how you get around this! I have just phoned Sky to upgrade to Sky+ and was told there was an installation fee of £60, plus the box at £99, it's a flipping rip-off! The worst thing, I could get it for £49 if I recommend a friend (all my friends have Sky) and sister who I have been trying to take it has taken V+! Argh! They get you everyway! Sorry can't be of more help, just needing to vent!

rev_henry

You could possibly try contacting a local independent sky installer, he might be able to supply you with just the box and multiroom subscription for less than £60. Sorry I'm not much help but might be worth a try. I know that independent installers are much more flexible than the sky ones, but you don't need any installation doing at all I know. Might be worth a try though.

Pokerlad

Do you have two wires coming in the bedroom as you will need 2 for Sky+ to work properly? Sky will not send a box out without an engineer, no way no how. So you really only have two choices, pay it or buy off ebay and order a card seperately from Sky (if you have the two wires already). You havnt said how much they are charging you for the box, but it may be cheaper to buy off ebay unless you need the extra feed put in.

elaina79

We called sky yesterday to report a fault with our box. It was replaced last august due to a fault with the old box. They said they would send out an engineer but it would cost £60 as the warrantee had run out on the box. They didn't have any note on their system for the replacement.
We threatended to cancel the account and guess what...they are sending out an engineer free of charge.
They are just trying to get more money out of customers as lots of people are downgrading now.

Mark64uk

They did this to me on a HD upgrade wanted £30 for a box swap they would not budge instead i got 25% off for the next 6 months which covers the cost of the box and install and I just put a tenner towards it.

Zoetoes

Thanks for the replies.

Yes I have the wires in already from when we had sky plus in my ex partners name which was on until Feb just gone so really don't need anything doing. I could have had the box off Sky for £49, I will probably pay that on Ebay, do Sky charge for just the viewing card if I order the multiroom? If so, how much? This might be the best option.

They didn't care that I downgraded as I can't cancel! They did send me a feedback request by text though which I replied to. Might phone them once more & see if they'll budge on it, but doubt it.

Thanks again.

norbet

elaina79 wrote: »

We called sky yesterday to report a fault with our box. It was replaced last august due to a fault with the old box. They said they would send out an engineer but it would cost £60 as the warrantee had run out on the box. They didn't have any note on their system for the replacement.
We threatended to cancel the account and guess what...they are sending out an engineer free of charge.
They are just trying to get more money out of customers as lots of people are downgrading now.

I think that's likely to be standard practice to try charge the £60 for all call outs - remember they have to replace your box on this call out so the £60 isn't all that to pay for a replacement. However they may just need to re-align your dish or change a cable - in which case the £60 is costly!
Anyway threatening to cancel usually makes you eligible for some sort of sweetener to stay and I guess they've just decided to waive the call out charge.

Pokerlad

norbet wrote: »

However they may just need to re-align your dish or change a cable - in which case the £60 is costly!

Really? I doubt an independant installer would do it for less, plus the Sky call out will renew the warrenty on all your Sky equipement for 3 months.

norbet

zoeleigh wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

Yes I have the wires in already from when we had sky plus in my ex partners name which was on until Feb just gone so really don't need anything doing. I could have had the box off Sky for £49, I will probably pay that on Ebay, do Sky charge for just the viewing card if I order the multiroom? If so, how much? This might be the best option.

They didn't care that I downgraded as I can't cancel! They did send me a feedback request by text though which I replied to. Might phone them once more & see if they'll budge on it, but doubt it.

Thanks again.

I see where you're coming from on this but as a "new customer" as you are in Sky's eyes they have to assume you need an install (regardless of whether you actually do or not). It's a bit like if you've moved into a new house that already had a dish - it would be a mistake for Sky to assume the dish/cable worked and didn't send an engineer out - plus if they didn't and the box didn't work- you'd be looking at an engineer call out anyway (around the £60 mark?)
Also if I remember rightly, multi-room is a bit more stringent around the being connected to a phone line rules - so again the engineer visit may be to ensure that it is connected and to make sure the box calls back home to Sky. As far as I know Sky do not simply send out boxes by post so an engineer would be the only way you'd get one delivered from Sky.

The ebay route may be slightly cheaper, but you'll lose any warranty on the equipment that you'd have by being supplied by Sky. There's an additional £10 (ish) charge for the Multi-room sub so I doubt they'd charge extra for sending the card out if you choose to source your own box.

norbet

Pokerlad wrote: »

Really? I doubt an independant installer would do it for less, plus the Sky call out will renew the warrenty on all your Sky equipement for 3 months.

Indeed yes - you're right. An independent would probably cost that much too for a call out and more if it required kit replacement.