Sky Verbal Contract

FeelinLuckyPUNK

Hello

My sister has taken out a SKY TV package which includes digital TV, a phone line and Internet access.

She took the package out in July and was under the impression that all of the services would be installed on her 'installation date'. SKY didn't actually install everything, they installed the TV package only and this is currently what she is being billed for.

Since July they have not installed any of her other packages, giving various excuses, and she is due to get her phone line put in this month and her internet in the next. Out of frustration, she contacted Virgin Media who were able to give her a better deal and install all of her services on a specific date.

My sister, not happy with the service she received from SKY, rang them to cancel. They told her that she could cancel the internet and phone package as it hadn't been installed but she would have to keep the Digital TV package installed as per her contract. As she was over the 30 day period she couldn't cancel her contract.

She told them she hadn't signed a contract and they said that they had a 'verbal' agreement and it still stands. What I don't understand is, at what point does a verbal agreement have legal standing?

Non-payment of the bill will affect her credit so surely a written, signed contract is needed?

Thanks, FeelinLuckyPUNK

jb66

How about getting broadband and calls from virgin, then jumping ship when her contract expires?

macman

Sky do not physically install phone or broadband services, all such work is done by BT Openreach upon whom Sky are ultimately dependent for scheduling. All Sky installers do is to fit a dish and a digibox to provide TV services. All the other work is contracted out to OR.
A verbal contract has exactly the same legal validity as a written contract, and by using the Sky TV service she has accepted the contract and the minimum term that goes with it.
As Sky say, since the phone and broadband service has been installed, she can cancel that component without penalty, but she's stuck with Sky TV for 12m.
I hope she is aware that VM telephony is the most expensive around, and that without a BT line she is now stuck with VM as her only provider?