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

memoman

We had to cancel Sky Sports back in May because we could no longer afford it every month. Now that the Football season has started, though, and after reading this thread, I wanted the Sports package back so I called Sky to see what they could do.

I was really impressed, I've reduced my bill by £5 a month and have got the whole Sky Sports package for 12 months! And I ccan cancel at any time.

Delighted. Thanks MSE!

shill100

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi all,

I just wanted to post some advice about Virgin Media, as I was on the phone to them yesterday negotiating my package.

The first thing is NOT to speak to customer services - they will only give you the advertised prices that you see on the website. You have to go directly to retentions as they give you the offers that the other departments can't.

Secondly, be aware that they can only offer discount on the services which they provide directly, i.e. Broadband, Phone and standard TV packages. As they have to pay Sky for the premium package (Sports and Movies), they can't offer discounts on these due to the prices they are being made to pay themselves in order to supply them. Therefore, if you have M Broadband, M TV and M Phone, but you also have Sports and Movies, then don't expect a substantial discount.

The final thing I would say is be patient! Unless you critically have to cancel your subscription, then don't accept or dismiss their first offer if you aren't happy. The first agent I spoke to only offered me 2 options, package A or package B. I politely told her that I believed I could get better with Sky (or if I was a new Virgin customer) and that I would call back shortly if I decided that I wanted to cancel my services. 2 hours later I did call back and I was lucky enough to speak to a fantastic agent - he went through each aspect of the package, asking about my phone/TV/broadband usage and checking all the different combinations of options and prices.

This agent was able to offer me much more for my money just by taking the time to assess exactly what I needed. I also had the Virgin and Sky websites open to reinforce any points I wanted to make, and I'm happy with what I was offered - a new 500GB TiVo box, as well as keeping the V+HD we currently have downstairs, an upgrade from 20MB to 30MB on our Broadband, Sky Sports and Sky Movies HD collection across both boxes, and a reduced £15 install for TiVo on a new wall point upstairs, as well as all the necessary cabling to get it connected to the Internet, all for an additional £30pm (should be at least £50).

As long as you don't get aggressive and demand a reduced rate, places will be more willing to accommodate your requests. If they don't, take your time and call back - some agents will do far more to help you than others and it's worth waiting until you find one of the good ones!

Hi newbie to this was interested in your post. Have been a VM customer for along time so thought I would ring to see what they would offer. They have offered me exlge tv, 30mb broadband, evening & wkend calls plus 250 mins per month free 0845 calls (£2 per month) with free installation on a TiVo box inc moving our existing hd box to another room & upgrading our modem to an all in one. This will cost £53.20 per month on a 12 month contract. Is this a good deal?

webawoo

I am not in contract - so if I cancel, I understand that regardless I will be kept on file as an existing SKY customer for 12 months.

But if next month my wife signs up instead, will she get the 'new customer' benefits, free box, M&S vouchers, etc

Or are SKY onto that little loophole?

DragonQ

Sometimes they'll figure it out, other times they won't. Up to you if it's worth the risk.

moggsymorg

Just wanted to share this:
I left Sky TV about 4 weeks ago. After originally being offered 25% off for 6 months, then 50% off for 12 months, i turned them down and left. I have since then received a call today with them offering me the following to re-join:

Free Sky + HD Box
Free Installation
75% off for 12 months
And £50 credit

Just goes to show the longer you hold your ground and leave, they soon come back with an even better offer!

tifo

webawoo wrote: »

I am not in contract - so if I cancel, I understand that regardless I will be kept on file as an existing SKY customer for 12 months.

But if next month my wife signs up instead, will she get the 'new customer' benefits, free box, M&S vouchers, etc

Or are SKY onto that little loophole?

Most of the time they don't care as long as someone's buying a package.

[Deleted User]

webawoo wrote: »

Or are SKY onto that little loophole?

It's hardly a loophole, you live at the same address!
You can certainly try, though I think it would be very obvious if you cancel one month and then someone with the same address and surname signs up the next month.

miker1_2

Just tried my sky 50% code and it is now saying;

"Unfortunately the offer associated with the code you've entered has expired."

I thought it was midnight on 24th?????

Who do i/we contact as the sky online help just says either try in a few hours OR it is an outside deal not theirs.......

webawoo

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

It's hardly a loophole, you live at the same address!
You can certainly try, though I think it would be very obvious if you cancel one month and then someone with the same address and surname signs up the next month.

But as far as they know we could be house sharers, divorced living in same house, brother and sister, and in effect live separate lives - will they ask or care? - as far as they will know we share the same surname and live at same address, we may not share costs/bills/decisions?

[Deleted User]

webawoo wrote: »

But as far as they know we could be house sharers, divorced living in same house, brother and sister, and in effect live separate lives - will they ask or care? - as far as they will know we share the same surname and live at same address, we may not share costs/bills/decisions?

You won't get any "new customer" deals or vouchers, I promise you.