Sky, Virgin & BT TV Haggle down prices and get serious discounts Article Discussion

davethedecorator

called Virgin today told them i was leaving in the hope of a discount and what did i get, well i got a disconection date, thats what i got lol, hopefully they will call me back with an offer before then if not will be making another call!

juzza

We have been with Sky for 12 years and recently got a new 3d tv. We wanted to upgrade but thought we pay way too much for tv & broadband already so I phoned up and went down the 'we want to cancel route' to see what we would be offered. We paid £52 for sky+ & £12.50 for broadband - and got offered 25% discount for 12 months on sky but pay £10.25 extra for HD+ with free installation and anytime+, and free line rental on phone line for 12 months and a £5 reduction in broadband per month - saving us over £240 a year for a 15 minute phone call. Yay!

Inflatable_Armadillo

lolly5648 wrote: »

Well done Jayu619 and Inflatable Armidillo. We have just come to the end of our 6 month discount and wonder what to ask for. We have a Sky+ box and an old sky box and pay

£44.75 Entertainment Extra + Sky Sports
£10.25 Multiroom
£ 7.50 Broadband
£ 5.00 Sky Talk

We would like a new Sky+ HD box, no, or half-price, HD subscription, free installation of existing sky+ box into other room to replace old sky box no multiroom payment and a discount on existing tv.

Where do you think I should start? Is it better to ring in the morning or evening? Help, pretty please

First question is, are you still in contract? You say that you have come to the end of your six months discount but are you still in contract for another 6 months? If you are still in contract, you will probably struggle to strike a new deal until the contract is due to expire!

If you are out of contract them you have nothing to lose. Call and say that you are coming to end of the discount and that you are either thinking of seriously downgrading your services or moving somewhere else.

I called in the afternoon, I didn't threaten to leave first call but had an open and honest chat about the BT alternative. He offered me some deals but not as good as I ended up getting. I then called the next day, the new call centre guy could see my notes (I think this is a good move and adds to the 'I really am taking my time and thinking about moving' angle) and then I said that the deal offered was not good enough and that a 'friend' had told me about his recent deal and unless I could get something similar I was going to BT.

The deal was done as posted and I am a happy camper!

Inflatable_Armadillo

biblejohn wrote: »

So I then phoned the Sky Cancellations and explained Virgin offer the whole package for 33quid a month atm, but as a loyal Sky customer for the last 8 years id like to stay with them.

I took a similar approach and I think it is a very valid one and one, now with experience as well, I would advocate.

I said that I was prepared to move (and was) but didn't really want to because I knew Sky had the best package overall but I was not prepared to pay such a large premium over and above BT's offer.

davethedecorator

davethedecorator wrote: »

called Virgin today told them i was leaving in the hope of a discount and what did i get, well i got a disconection date, thats what i got lol, hopefully they will call me back with an offer before then if not will be making another call!

Well, that didnt take them long, got a call this morning and agreed, free upgrade to TIVO box, free evening and weekend calls, reduced international calls (sister inlaw lives in germany) reduced rate for 0845 numbers (we make quite a few) and all for £36 a month however all free for 2 months. saving about £15 a month compared to our package now.

Part-Time_Samurai

Called Sky in late December to give notice of my cancellation after I had come to the end of my first 6 month 50% discount. Wasn't offered anything when giving my cancellation. I've called back a couple of times to say that my circumstances over the next 2-3 months have changed and that I may not need to cancel if Sky could do me another deal. No offers other than trying to bundle me phone and broadband which isn't of use. My contract is due to expire in 2 weeks. Ideally I'd like to stay but I think its a rip off. VM is not an option and BT Vision isn't of interest.

What would be the best bet of getting another discount from Sky?

bevhousehastings

My partner called Sky to try and re-negotiate as they just increased the amount of money we pay for our broadband (due to increase in use). The guy just said no, and if we had wanted a better deal we should have gone via their website and increased it ourselves before they did it.
Might try and ring myself and threaten cancellation, although not sure if I am named on the contract.
Very cross with them, and we can't get either decent freeview or virgin down here. Digital signal is due to be boosted in May though.

stephenliverpool1

stephenliverpool1 wrote: »

I have been with VM for many years.

Via Quidco, I attempted to order a few days ago Sky +, TV entertainment package, phone free evening & w/end calls (inc 0870 and 0845 nos), unlimited b/band, phone line rental, free WIFI router and free install for everything (apart from a new PSTN phone line install) with a 12 month contract. After I factor in the Quidco cashback, M&S voucher, £10 fee for phone line install, it would have effectively cost me approximatey £27-00 per month for all of the above.

However there was a problem with my order. After a few escalations and emails, a very helpful lady has now credited my account with the appropriate money to match the Quidco cashback offer and voucher offer so I will still pay the effective £27-00 per month cost.

As soon as my order has been completed, she has agreed to contact me again to discuss and agree a gesture of good will for my order problems. I will attempt to get Sky Sports thrown in for free. Probably won't get it but is worth a try; after all he who dares wins as they say.

I have got all of the above in writing as well.

For info, VM could not match or beat the above.

Really pleased and many thanks Sky.:money:

I spoke to soon. Just had a call from VM retentions team, who after applying credit to my account are now offering me :

- A free Tivio box and free installation (currently have a V+ box)
- TV M+ (currently on TV M)
- Phone L
- Bband L
- Phone line rental.

for £29 per month after I apply the credit they intend to add to my account.

I also mentioned the sky offer of a gesture of good will for my order problems, which I have yet to discuss or agree with Sky. The VM agent just said call him back as soon as I had confirmed the gesture with Sky and he would see whether VM could match of beat the gesture.

I do have one question though. The VM agent said that Sky will impose a 2GB download limit even with Bband unlimited. Was he scare-mongering or is he correct ?

I'm in a real quandy now as whether to stay with VM or move across to Sky. One of the attractions for me was looking to get Freesat at the end of 12 month period with a moving motorised idsh (NOTE : I know that I would have to pay extra to get the motor added) and also use the dish to get freeview in one of my bedrooms.

Lifes_Grand_Plan

Part-Time_Samurai wrote: »

What would be the best bet of getting another discount from Sky?

Answer: go through with the cancellation and within 2 months they will be begging you to come back for 50% off....

smackaine

stephenliverpool1 wrote: »

I do have one question though. The VM agent said that Sky will impose a 2GB download limit even with Bband unlimited. Was he scare-mongering or is he correct ?

Probably neither, just misinformed. BB Everday Lite has a 2Gb download limit, BB Unlimited pretty much is as named.