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

Cksolent

Hi
I've got the basic sky tv package (just the entertainment and lifestyle channels) sky talk and sky broadband everyday lite. My contract is up mid march but I'm starting to find that I'm getting too close to the download limit on the broadband.

I was thinking about upgrading to the unlimited broadband but when I checked I was told I would have to sign up to a 12 month contract to do this. I dont mind doing this but was hoping to try and re negotiate the cost for the whole lot before doing that. I tried the I was thinking of leaving and just getting a broadband and phone package and using freeview (virgin TV isnt available in my area) but didnt get anywhere, the guy on the phone wouldnt even put me through to the cancellation department. So my question is did i just pick the wrong option on the phone by not going straight for cancellation or do you think i need to wait until its nearer to or after the end of the contract? seeing as you have to give 31 days notice to cancel I thought it would be ok to try now but would welcome other peoples opinions. Also has anyone else found that they get a better response during the week as whenever I have tried at a weekend they seem to be much less helpful than when I've tried during the week. Thanks

AbbieCadabra

GlamGirlie wrote: »

However, my partner, who has Sky TV, line rental, Sky Talk, and the top spec broadband, has tried calling twice and got nowhere, the operator was totally disinterested and not going to offer a penny in discount.

How can it be so random?

i don't think it's random, in my experience it's all down to what your other options are, i.e. are you in a cabled/virgin area. if you are, you've got much more chance of a discount/deal. we're not in a cabled area so zilch discount available when i asked recently.

i'm guessing that a lot of recent posters that have got a discount have got a viable option apart from sky.

stuzhunter

Just upgraded my package with Virgin Media:

Got:
TV M+
V HD box
10 MB broad band ( I was told Bolt will upgrade to 20Mb for free over the next few months)
Line Rental
Phone M but with Talk Anywhere 200 (£9.20)

Price is £33 for 3 months & then £40 per month..12 months contract apply..no charges for HD box delivery and no charges per month for HD TV. Price guaranteed not to increase next April.

Is this a good deal? I've been with Virgin Media for about 7 years

Stuz

V1NNY

I'm currently paying £48 per month to Virgin for the following:

Broadband - LARGE
Phone - MEDIUM
Tv - XL

2 x V+ Boxes
1 x Standard box

Next month the price will increase by £8.50 to £56.50 per month and then the folloing month when Virgin roll out their price increases the price will go up by a further £2.50, thus making it £59 per month.

What can I realistically expect if I were to call in saying I'm leaving?

miss_trust_2

bazzab wrote: »

Just offered a cracking deal by a dear old Scottish woman in retentions:

Out of contract and was paying £31/month for:

Full Entertainment Package
Sky Sports 1

I gave 31 days notice to cancel 2 weeks ago, and have since completed the online leaving questionnaire. I was due to leave on 13th Feb but received a call tonight...

Now, I basically have the following for the next 12 months:

Full Entertainment Package
Full Sky Sports Package
Sky HD Subscription
Multiroom Subscription
2x New HD boxes

I have been given multiroom for £2.50/month, and then the whole package has been given 50% discount for 12 months. Now paying £33.78/month :j

Now I just need to work out how I'm going to get the multiroom box plugged into my telephone line (Through the living room/dining room/past kitchen/through patio doors into conservatory). Is there no such thing as a telephone extender like the ethernet extenders

Well done you! There is a way of getting a dect wireless telephone extension |(think that's what it is called) which turns an electric socket into a phone extension, costs about £49 or so in maplins but am sure you can get it cheaper - may be worth having a look around

miss_trust_2

GlamGirlie wrote: »

Hi. I've got Sky TV, line rental, sky Talk and the (free) broadband package. With odd calls it generally comes to £38/m.

I rang last week and managed to get £12.25/m off for 12 months - effectively free line rental.

I appreciate it's not as much as others have got on here but it was better than nothing.

However, my partner, who has Sky TV, line rental, Sky Talk, and the top spec broadband, has tried calling twice and got nowhere, the operator was totally disinterested and not going to offer a penny in discount.

How can it be so random?

Sky have a pilot within retentions where some advisors have absolutely no offers on the system, it's luck of the draw whether you are put through to them - the "no offers team" can't give you anything - what you could do is say I will have to think about it (and try again later saying you have done your figures and it is getting too expensive)

AbbieCadabra

miss_trust wrote: »

Sky have a pilot within retentions where some advisors have absolutely no offers on the system, it's luck of the draw whether you are put through to them - the "no offers team" can't give you anything - what you could do is say I will have to think about it (and try again later saying you have done your figures and it is getting too expensive)

i'll try one more time next week, fingers crossed for 3rd time lucky!

itsrainingmen_2

My mum and dad have Sky and are finding it expensive. I told them about the successes of forum members but when they rang Sky they weren't able to get ay discount. Sky made no effort to keep them. I'll get them to try again. Thanks for the info.

Lifes_Grand_Plan

Its been said a million times before, but worth saying again... if you ring up and ask for a discount, you are much less likely to get anything than if you ring up and tell them you want to cancel.

miss_trust_2

totally agree with the last post, Sky are actively trying to stop the "offer hunters" so if you ask for an offer, pretty sure you will get nothing, if you threaten to cancel on financial grounds, saving money, not value for money etc etc there is a better chance of getting an offer -
a if there is offers available on your account, offers can only be made if it shows on the system
if there is nothing there the only option would be to downgrade, they cannot make offers that
are not showing on your account, nor can their managers
b you are not in contract - if you are in contract you can't cancel so no offer!
c you end up speaking to someone in the "no offers team" (see earlier post about this) who
have no offers on their system so won't offer you any deal just try and talk you into staying