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

won1888

smcym wrote: »

Hi everyone

After reading about people getting big discounts on their TV packages, I decided to give it a go. In early November, I rang Sky (I just had my TV with them - Sky World, HD, multiroom + ESPN for £85/month). I told them I was looking for a discount on my bill, and I was looking for a half price offer for 6 months. The adviser I spoke to mentioned about 3 differents things they could offer me, which totalled about £10/month off my bill. I said that wasn't good enough. I then asked to cancel if that was the best they could do. They simply put that through their system. A couple of weeks later (after not hearing from Sky) I rang back, saying I was not happy with the 1st discussion and could they not offer a longstanding customer a more enticing offer to stay. After much discussion, I was was offered a deal for £58/month for 6 months. I again stated that this was not good enough, so the cancellation would still apply.
The day before my service was due to finish I contacted them a 3rd time. I had received an e-mail with a survey, but the link did not work. I wanted to complete the survey to make make my feelings known. I was sent a link via online chat and completed my details. Immediately I received an e-mail thanking me for showing an interest in coming back to Sky, and someone would be in touch soon. I explained that this was incorrect to the adviser, who denied this and abruptly finished the chat. A few days later, no contect from Sky so I e-mailed them, explaining that in 3 conversations with them, I was not happy after each one. I also explained that I had been a customer on the full package for a number of years (at least 8), and also I had not received any offers in that time, plus I was one of the early adopters of the HD box, so I paid for that, and did not receive it free. They responded saying they had offered me half price TV, which is a lie - half of £85 is £42.50.
Since cancelling I have had no contact from Sky - I was expecting them to contact me to try and get me back as a customer. How soon should it be before these offers arrive? I understand I was a high paying customer and they want to keep me as a high paying customer, but in all my contact with Sky I was clear that I would cancel if I did not receive a half price offer - was I too ambitious?
Finally, a number of people have stated they have received 50% or 75% off 'come back to Sky' offers - can these people state if that is a true 50% or 75% offer. What I mean by that is have they been offered x% off, not including multiroom, HD, ESPN etc?
Did I say finally? I mean it this time! Finally, were my tactics wrong - should I have just kept ringing Sky without cancelling until I struck lucky with a particular Sky adviser / time of day / day of week until I got the offer I wanted?

You'll need to wait till you've actually cancelled like you have done before you'll receive any 75% off offers and even then it's not 75% off the total bill as you'll need to pay full price for the HD pack and use your existing equipment. The best offers are for new customers or returning customers (not actually sure how long after you cancel before you'll receive any flyers).

Anon

won1888 wrote: »

You'll need to wait till you've actually cancelled like you have done before you'll receive any 75% off offers and even then it's not 75% off the total bill as you'll need to pay full price for the HD pack and use your existing equipment. The best offers are for new customers or returning customers (not actually sure how long after you cancel before you'll receive any flyers).

Last year we received the first mailing a few weeks after the cancellation had gone through.

I don't think phoning them up each time is a good tactic - it shows you are interested in staying with them which strengthens their negotiating position. Also, the best offers with Sky and Virgin are normally from their outbound retentions teams not the ones you can call yourself.

Anon

gallacat

Finally managed to get a 'deal' with Sky:j
I've managed to get multi room & line rental discounted for 12 months saving £15 a month or £180 for the year.
I was initially offered half price sports package saving £10.50 a month, but asked to be put through to 'cancellations'. This proved to be a complete waste of time. I know in Martin's advice, he says to state that you've been offered a deal by Virgin, but I have used that tactic twice now, & on both occasions, Sky argued that they were in fact cheaper, so they couldn't offer me a deal. The operator said on this occasion that it would be best if I rang through again, & I might get someone else who could offer me a deal - apparently he was on a different system, & was not allowed to offer me one based on his findings. I rang back immediately, spoke to someone else & got the deal mentioned above.
Advice is just to keep calling until you get someone who can do a deal. I wouldn't mention Virgin, simply that you need to cut back on costs & can they offer you something. I know my deal is by no means the best one out there, but £180 is not to be sniffed at! Good luck!:)

Io_Saturnalia

smcym wrote: »

......Since cancelling I have had no contact from Sky - I was expecting them to contact me to try and get me back as a customer. How soon should it be before these offers arrive? I understand I was a high paying customer and they want to keep me as a high paying customer, but in all my contact with Sky I was clear that I would cancel if I did not receive a half price offer - was I too ambitious?
Finally, a number of people have stated they have received 50% or 75% off 'come back to Sky' offers - can these people state if that is a true 50% or 75% offer. What I mean by that is have they been offered x% off, not including multiroom, HD, ESPN etc?
Did I say finally? I mean it this time! Finally, were my tactics wrong - should I have just kept ringing Sky without cancelling until I struck lucky with a particular Sky adviser / time of day / day of week until I got the offer I wanted?

I got 75% off any package + £50 credit 5 weeks after cancelling. Excludes HD and non-Sky pay channels.

50Twuncle

What can I do with my old plus box - after my HD ready box is fitted on Saturday ?
1. Break it down to retrieve the hard disk - format it and make use of it in my PC.
2. Use it as a 2nd box (how do I connect it up ?)
Any more suggestions ?

[Deleted User]

21Twinkle wrote: »

1. Break it down to retrieve the hard disk - format it and make use of it in my PC.

Are you serious? It'll likely be very knackered after use in a PVR! Not worth your time IMHO.

21Twinkle wrote: »

2. Use it as a 2nd box (how do I connect it up ?)

You can only connect it up if you have an extra lead from the satellite dish in addition to the ones to be connected to your new Sky+HD.
If Sky fit a new Quad LNB to the dish it is simply a matter of fitting another lead and plugging it into the rear of the box. Remember that it will no longer operate as a recording device.

Alternatively, you could put it for sale on E-Bay (which might make a few quid) or donate it to Freecycle etc.

andreweastell

I think I have just got a good deal with Sky?
I rang to come back to Sky just for Entertainment+ package for TV at £26.50 a month. They offered me Entertainment+ and Sky Sports for £23.75.
I was transferred to be connected but they couldn't get my old box to recognise my card. I was then offered a new HD+ box free with free installation for £5 a month extra.
So for £28.75 I have a Sky HD+ box, Entertainment+ and Sky Sports.
How does that sound to you more knowledgeable people?

clippy_girl

Hello all. Has anyone been successful in getting a good discount from sky for a second year?

Last jan I threatened to leave and got free line rental for a whole year :j this runs out at the end of the month so want to try again! I am only on the basic tv package and get the £7.50 broadband. Would like to try and get a reduction or at least free movies for a year (to save on love film). Virgin would cost waaaaay more I as love MTV and this is only available on the expensive tv packages (£48 month plus £14 line rental :eek:)

won1888

clippy_girl wrote: »

Hello all. Has anyone been successful in getting a good discount from sky for a second year?

Last jan I threatened to leave and got free line rental for a whole year :j this runs out at the end of the month so want to try again! I am only on the basic tv package and get the £7.50 broadband. Would like to try and get a reduction or at least free movies for a year (to save on love film). Virgin would cost waaaaay more I as love MTV and this is only available on the expensive tv packages (£48 month plus £14 line rental :eek:)

Where are you getting £48 plus £14 line rental from. XLTV is £24.50 and line rental is £14.99.

Fifer73

I am currently with virgin media, and have been for many years , I normally phone once i am near end of my contract, phoned today to try my luck but didnt get anywhere

Tv and broadband out of contract
Telephone runs out on 5th Jan 2013

I currently have
TV XL
ESPN ( free with XL ) ( other half has to have this )
Sky sports package ( other half has to have this)

Broadband 30mb
Talk weekends
My line rental is £13.29 ( which will go up in feb, looking at taking the line saver option )
I currently get an £8 discount

so pay a total of £73.15 ( with discount taken off )

phoned today but got nowhere best they could do was knock £2 a month off, told them i would leave this just now and think about it, and possibly look at the linesaver option after new year,

Do you think i should call back after new year, or is this really the best i can get ?