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

red_devils_88

Kirri wrote: »

I've just cancelled Virgin - fed up with all the small price increases over the year and the final one coming up in April would have put my package up to £49.90. Found the guy rather overbearing on the phone trying to make out I am making stupid choices going elsewhere..

They could only yesterday and today only offer me a 'deal' to keep my package at the current amount, ie I wouldn't incur any April increase, but with the increases over the year I still feel it's too much.

Have been on
L Broadband
XL TV
M phone

for £46.40

As I really need the internet I don't know whether to just go ahead and order from somewhere else now so I don't have a gap or hold out to see if they phone me back to offer a better deal, what are the chances if they couldn't offer me a deal yesterday or today??

I cancelled VM too this week and had Sky installed yesterday. I was on a similar package to you apart from the TV size. My internet used to constantly disconnect and re-connect sometimes up to several times an hour. My phone line also constantly had a buzzing noise. Technicians would come round and didn't know what the fault was.

VM retentions team called me up about four times before my cut off date but couldn't offer anything. When I told him about my Sky offer, he said he couldn't match it.

If I were you, I would call up Sky and enquire with them. They also have offers every six months and a lot of cashback is available through cashback sites.

Kirri

red_devils_88 wrote: »

I cancelled VM too this week and had Sky installed yesterday. I was on a similar package to you apart from the TV size. My internet used to constantly disconnect and re-connect sometimes up to several times an hour. My phone line also constantly had a buzzing noise. Technicians would come round and didn't know what the fault was.

VM retentions team called me up about four times before my cut off date but couldn't offer anything. When I told him about my Sky offer, he said he couldn't match it.

If I were you, I would call up Sky and enquire with them. They also have offers every six months and a lot of cashback is available through cashback sites.

Interesting, how soon did VM call back the first time?

I was looking at either Sky or BT but need to see re prices for Sky as unfortunately I can't do the cashback with them as in flats and says must order over the phone in that case

How quick did Sky install from ordering date to completion?

Oh and I had a similar problem with the phone and disconnections, was water in the cable box in the pavement.. they have fixed that 3 times now!

asz

I rang wednesday I'm currently on
L TV
XL BB
V+HD
PHONE LINE
£39.91

Contract ends in april so lose my £9.99 recurring credit
+ with £3.50 april increase
= £53.40

They could only get it down by £2 to £51.40 !!
So put my cancellation notice in for free with the price increase.

Got a call of retensions just now, He couldn't get it any lower then £51.40 saying there not allowed to add recurring credits anymore.

So i managed to get standalone 10mb BB for £14 which increase to 30mb in a few months apparently with our super hub, (would only be a increase to 20mb without super hub)

Seems a good deal to me?
Just got to find a nice Freeview HD recordable box now, Job Done

Lancs_Lass

I'm thinking of contacting Sky as we like following Formula 1 and don't fancy just watching highlights on the Beeb. We currently have an original Sky+ box and an HD box. We cancelled the HD subscription last year but pay for 1 x multiroom. We don't have any sports or movies so pay £32.75 pm including the multiroom. Looking at the small print on the Sky ad in today's paper, we won't qualify for another free HD box if we upgrade back to the HD package as we already have an HD box. If we were to reinstall the HD subscription, would we get the F1 channel (although not in HD) on the original Sky+ box as we will still be paying for multiroom?

Any clues as to whether I might get any sort of discount on reinstalling the HD subscription?

red_devils_88

Kirri wrote: »

Interesting, how soon did VM call back the first time?

I was looking at either Sky or BT but need to see re prices for Sky as unfortunately I can't do the cashback with them as in flats and says must order over the phone in that case

How quick did Sky install from ordering date to completion?

Oh and I had a similar problem with the phone and disconnections, was water in the cable box in the pavement.. they have fixed that 3 times now!

VM called back within the first 7 days if I remember correctly. They didn't give up and kept calling. It got to a stage where I had to say to stop calling me as I was that fed up with their services.

Phone Sky up and say you are considering signing up with them but the fact that you can't sign up online is putting you off as you will lose your cashback.

I had to place by order by phone as I wanted to transfer my number. I mentioned that I would lose out o cashback and the chap gave me free line rental for a whole year. It is pot luck though who you speak to.

I know people on VM who have been offered 'unbelievable' deals considering what they offered me and others even though I've been with them since Telewest days...

Kirri

red_devils_88 wrote: »

VM called back within the first 7 days if I remember correctly. They didn't give up and kept calling. It got to a stage where I had to say to stop calling me as I was that fed up with their services.

Phone Sky up and say you are considering signing up with them but the fact that you can't sign up online is putting you off as you will lose your cashback.

I had to place by order by phone as I wanted to transfer my number. I mentioned that I would lose out o cashback and the chap gave me free line rental for a whole year. It is pot luck though who you speak to.

I know people on VM who have been offered 'unbelievable' deals considering what they offered me and others even though I've been with them since Telewest days...

I'll have to stay in by the phone then and wait...

I've been with them years too in Telewest days, back in the days when F1 was on Eurosport which was why I signed up yet as I mentioned to them today they don't seem to care about loyalty - after he told me they only offer HD boxes to new customers, nice eh!

I'll give Sky a call then I can think about both, then Sky might at least want to offer a deal if they think they can get me to sign up with loss of cashback - will make sure I have the exact figures written down of cost and cashback amount first though.

red_devils_88

Kirri wrote: »

I'll have to stay in by the phone then and wait...

I've been with them years too in Telewest days, back in the days when F1 was on Eurosport which was why I signed up yet as I mentioned to them today they don't seem to care about loyalty - after he told me they only offer HD boxes to new customers, nice eh!

I'll give Sky a call then I can think about both, then Sky might at least want to offer a deal if they think they can get me to sign up with loss of cashback - will make sure I have the exact figures written down of cost and cashback amount first though.

I missed a few calls but dialled 1471 and get an automated message saying they will contact you again but I rang them and told them to stop calling me. This was after I had a few calls before and he couldn't offer anything apart from £20 credit even though I've had broadband and phone issues for over a year!!

Yeah, I didn't even have a V+ box! They gave me a social hub just before I disconnected.

Regarding your previous post, I ordered Sky the same day I disconnected Virgin so that I wouldn't be without any services. However, you can choose when to get it installed. Only took max 2 hrs to install Sky.

Kirri

red_devils_88 wrote: »

I missed a few calls but dialled 1471 and get an automated message saying they will contact you again but I rang them and told them to stop calling me. This was after I had a few calls before and he couldn't offer anything apart from £20 credit even though I've had broadband and phone issues for over a year!!

Yeah, I didn't even have a V+ box! They gave me a social hub just before I disconnected.

Regarding your previous post, I ordered Sky the same day I disconnected Virgin so that I wouldn't be without any services. However, you can choose when to get it installed. Only took max 2 hrs to install Sky.

A few things I've read now on TCB say that it takes around 4 weeks to get the BB up and running - I need my BT line activated so now I've cancelled Virgin already if I go with Sky I will end up having a break in service probably..

Just looking at a similar deal to what I've had on Virgin and the Sky deal seems better anyway!

I could get:

Sky TV including the extra entertainment pack (so same ish as Virgin XL but I'd lose the free ESPN)
Sky+ box
Sky BB unlimited at estimated similar speed
Phone with eve and w/end calls (only get w/end at present)
Also get free caller display which I don't with Virgin
Only seems to be a 12 mth contract

All for £44.75 p/m - through TCB this would give a £100 M&S voucher and I think £116.15 cashback on top of that. Need to pay an extra £10 to get my BT landline activated.

Virgin's £46.40 offer with no cashback and no M&S voucher is poor!

The cashback/voucher though is a lot to lose if I rang them to order it... wondering whether to go ahead and book it online anyway as I know my flats are set up for Sky as the managing agents had that done. I did want to keep my phone number though too.
Tempting not to bother to wait for Virgin to call me!

red_devils_88

Kirri wrote: »

A few things I've read now on TCB say that it takes around 4 weeks to get the BB up and running - I need my BT line activated so now I've cancelled Virgin already if I go with Sky I will end up having a break in service probably..

Just looking at a similar deal to what I've had on Virgin and the Sky deal seems better anyway!

I could get:

Sky TV including the extra entertainment pack (so same ish as Virgin XL but I'd lose the free ESPN)
Sky+ box
Sky BB unlimited at estimated similar speed
Phone with eve and w/end calls (only get w/end at present)
Also get free caller display which I don't with Virgin
Only seems to be a 12 mth contract

All for £44.75 p/m - through TCB this would give a £100 M&S voucher and I think £116.15 cashback on top of that. Need to pay an extra £10 to get my BT landline activated.

Virgin's £46.40 offer with no cashback and no M&S voucher is poor!

The cashback/voucher though is a lot to lose if I rang them to order it... wondering whether to go ahead and book it online anyway as I know my flats are set up for Sky as the managing agents had that done. I did want to keep my phone number though too.
Tempting not to bother to wait for Virgin to call me!

Chat to those online advisers from Sky and ask if that is correct regarding the 4 weeks set up. I don't think it is correct as they offered much earlier dates but I chose to install after as I had to give VM 30 days notice.

You can place the order online and then call up saying that you want to keep your number. They can only do that over the phone so will compensate you accordingly (hopefully) when you mention you will lose your cashback through TCB. That's what I did...

Kirri

I went right through to almost placing the order stage and a box came up asking if I wanted to keep my same number so I put in yes, so looks like that would go through ok online.

The Sky estimated installation was 2 weeks but the reviews seem to suggest longer if you are waiting for BT to reactivate the line. Either way that isn't too bad, I nearly clicked 'order' but I will give Virgin a week to see what/if they offer. If they give me 3 months free I will stay but otherwise seems a no brainer to move to Sky for cheaper and better deal.