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

tiya1990

I have Sky TV only at my current address - am moving to a new address in 3weeks. Called today to cancel at old address and ask whether they could offer me anything for TV + Phone + BB at the new address . What he offered was a paltry £5 per month discount for the whole package which would cost > £600 over the year. The MSE offer would be > £200 over the year.

When I quoted the MSE offer as technically it is by postcode rather than person ( correct me if I am wrong ) , he threatened me by saying that I shouldn't be trying any such codes as the system has now recorded my new address ( which he cunningly took right at the start of the call ) so they will regard me as a current customer , even if I use my husbands details at a new address .

Can he be right regarding my husbands details + new postcode and the MSE Codes?

Would be grateful if someone could throw some light on this ....

scoobs910

I have just been lucky enough to get the MSE Sky code. Used the Sky link as directed, spoke to 'Live Chat' who advised that if I spoke directly to Customer Service they would be able to get the discount! Just spoken to Customer Service and after 28 mins - was disconnected!!! Told the discount is NOT available. Not happy

KTF

Are you an existing or new customer?

cjj_2

Got a call 5 days after sky ended. Offered 50% off tv package which was still too much, so was offered free for 6 month no contract and full package. Very happy with that. Thankyou sky. Hth

money_saving_mummy_2

Ok, so I'm hacked off with sky right now. Have been meaning to ring for a while to try and haggle costs down (currently on talk anytime -£5 a month, line rental £14.50 a month and unltd broadband £7.50 a month (speed approx 12mb), entertainment extra £26.50 a month sports £21 a month and hd £10 a month - a massive £84.50) but only managed to do it today. In the past have done it and got 25% discount on tv (had free broadband then, use it more now :-( ) and all they could do was remove things to get costs down, or add movies which would allow us to get movies and sports half price for 3 months and then we could ditch them both. Fine as don't want movies anyway, and footie season will be over then, but what about when new season starts? Or they could reduce line rental - can't remember if it was by £5 or to £5 - either way it's not much discount.

Had rung Virgin before to see what they could offer and they offered me a "premium" package which would give me 60mb fibre optic broadband, XL tv (whatever that is) and sports, including ESPN, a TiVo box and additional HD recording box, free servicing repairs (sky try to charge you) all for £64.24 a month. Was initially only for 6 months but I haggled a bit and he got it to 12 months. It would then go up to £88.74 for remainder of contract (18 months) but he did say I could ring and re-evaluate the package and it wouldn't then extend the contract and that at the end of the 18 months I would obviously be free to leave, or try retentions to get deals as I would be eligible for them by then. He said to guarantee the package at that price I would have to place an order today, but that it could be cancelled if I didn't want to go ahead. I don't normally believe them, but thought what the heck this time as it will save us over £20 a month.

Any suggestions as would prefer to not have the hassle of switching, but am thoroughly fed up of sky!!

KTF

Dont haggle, cancel. You can always call up and change your mind the day before you are meant to be cut off so nothing lost.

money_saving_mummy_2

Thanks KTF called to cancel and got offered exactly the same as before. Politely gave my 31 days notice and surprise surprise, "Let me see what I can do..." came back with the line rental reduction of £5 a month for 12 months as well as the 3 months half price movies and sports. Did some quick sums and worked out total cost of virgin for 18 months and sky for 18 months (decided to ditch anytime calls with sky - would be the same with virgin anyway) and it works out about £44 more over the 18 months to stick with sky. When you look at it like that I think I'll stay with them for now at least. Won't have hassle of switching & learning how to use Virgin - lol! Can always threaten to leave again in 3 months when half price sports/movies ends. Will ditch sports at the very least when the footy season ends & see what they can do when it starts again.

Meant to say Hubby doesn't want to have a gap in service so would need to organise virgin to start as sky finished so wouldn't be able to hope to stop the cancellation - hope that makes sense!

HICKY55555

:beer:PHONED SKY Today and said I could get a better deal with Virgin but did not want to leave.
My package was reduced from £24 to £18 and free HD (£10.50)p/m for six months
Thats £123 saved:j

Microwavekoala

Hi all,

This is my first post on the forum, but after reading the messages I decided to phone Virgin Media and cancel my services which are TV, Broadband and Landline. I was paying £52 per month and was starting to feel a little hard done by, but after a lengthy phone call I managed to get a Tivo box and my monthly bill down to £40 per month, which I was happy with. I wasn't getting anywhere until I insisted I was going to cancel a second time then I got the worthwhile offers coming my way. She initially offered me a measly £5 off my bill, and stated that I would need to pay for the installation of the Tivo box which was quoted at £49.99. I instantly said that If that was the case I would still like to cancel my services, she then said hold on I will see what I can do, put me on hold for 2 minutes and stated she was going to have a word with a supervisor, she then told me that she could lower my bill for being a loyal customer and offer me the free install of the Tivo box. Which I was happy with, since I work shifts I miss some programs when at work. [I now can record them] She also then mentioned that She could lower my bill to £40 per month to keep my current services if I signed up for another 18 months, which I didn't mind doing. So all in all I am happy with what I got, Tivo is awesome!

Thanks MSE, for spurring me on!

Regards.

fredfat

Last month i did channel audit and realised I watched less than 25% of what I pay for, very rarely use the phone having plenty of minutes on my mobile, and as for broadband did I re need 60 megs to browse the money saving forums ?

It was time for me to call customer service and down grade
from; TV:XL Phone:XL BB:MB £65.00
to; TV:m+ Phone:m BB:MB £41.99

Great I had saved £23.00 and was very pleased with myself!

That was until I checked and realised that new customers are getting the same package plus a Tivo (I have v+ box) for only £40.99! now it may only be £1 cheaper, but I felt a little miffed that I was being charged more for being a loyal Customer (too many years to remember)

So It was time to phone customer retentions/relations and see if they could knock the £1 of my bill and provide me with a Tivo Box? I spoke to the most pleasant and helpful man and after a very short chat he reduced my bill to £30.09
for 18mths plus a new Tivo box :j.