Advice on faulty Sky box

sjcjd

Hi all, Can any one advise/help me regarding the above please?

(If this is in the wrong place please would a moderator move to where it needs to be; I looked in techie stuff but I couldnt find anything similar)

I have had this sky box for 5+ years; we have the full package and as far as I know I am not in any binding contract anymore.

Since Saturday morning there has been a fault with the box which gradually got worse; it switches itself off completely (no red light even) an makes an awful clicking sound which you have to unplug it to make stop; it is as if it is trying to restart but cant, it makes the tv picture flicker. Tonight it has now packed up altogether. :eek:

Approximately two years ago the PSU went on the unit and I got it fixed by an independant electronics engineer for a fraction of the price sky wanted.

I was wondering if I can approch sky and ask them for a new box with being with them for so long and at the full price of the full package? Or do I have to get it fixed again at the independant?

Any advice would be appreciated - even if its not what I want to hear!!

Thanks,

Sarah

Ronn1e_2

A friend was in a similar position. She phoned Sky and told them she wanted to cancel her subscription because her digi box was broken. Sky sent her a free Sky+ digi box and put her on a reduced subscription for 6 months.

Try them.......you have nothing to lose.

silvercar

two options:

1) phone sky and get put through to their disconnections dept. Tell them your box has packed in and you can't afford to replace it and keep up your subscription so your moving to cable/ freeview/ disconnecting. chances are they will offer to send an engineer round and replace the box free. (remeber if they don't say you want more time to consider and leave it at that.)

2) phone sky, say you need a repair, your not sure what's wrong. They'll charge you £65 for a call out and replace the box, probably with a refurbished one. give you a 3 month warranty as well.

sjcjd

O thanks very much for that advice.

Will be ringing sky tomorrow; even if I end up with a reconditioned unit, its better than what I have now which is nothing and paying the full monty for the privilege. (Would rather like the Sky+ box and half price line rental).

If push comes to shove and I dont get anywhere with sky I can always move back to cable; had a few problems with them in the past hence why I moved back to sky but hopefully they are better now times have moved on.

Thanks again, like you said Ronn1e I dont have anything to lose now.

Will let you know how I get on.

Sarah

chrisw

If that doesn't work, try getting a 2nd hand one off ebay or the local paper. I got one free that someone was giving away through the local Freecycle scheme.

http://www.freecycle.org/

You could always try a "wanted".

Wig

Look on Ebay for a 2nd hand one

Wig

chrisw wrote:

http://www.freecycle.org/

You could always try a "wanted".

I still haven't worked out how that site works, is all based on yahoo groups?

chrisw

Wig wrote:

I still haven't worked out how that site works, is all based on yahoo groups?

Yes. Basically you sign up for the group in your particular area. If you have something to get rid off, you post a message, eg OFFERED: Dining Table, which gets e-mailed out to everyone in that group. If you want something that's offered you just reply to the email and arrange to collect it. If loads of people want it, it's names out of a hat. Likewise you can post WANTED: Dining Table.

A few people have been kicked off for subsequently flogging the stuff on ebay and there's always the odd chancer - WANTED: Laptop, must run XP and minimum 80Gb hard drive.

I've had some good stuff off there like the digibox, pc memory and computer bits, calor gas bottle and other bits and pieces. There's a load of Scalextric stuff just been offered which I'm trying to resist.

I've also got rid of some stuff which has saved a trip to the tip and gives you a nice warm glow inside.:A

sjcjd

I have been offered 3 options by sky as I have been with them for over 5 years on the full monty package (blar blar blar) I can choose between;

1. Sky+ £79 free installation but on my usual full package price.

2. Free replacement of a normal digital box and my usual package price.

3. Sky+ for £49 plus free installation plus a free normal digital box for the 2nd room for the usual price of £53 a month.

I have said I will ring them back in a couple of days and do some homework on cable packages.

Does this sound any good please?

I will sign up for the freecycle in my area (if they do one) as this sounds like a great idea! My friends and family do this if any of us is getting rid of anything already; but we have found you usually still end up going to the tip with stuff they dont want either.

Thanks for the advice about ebay too; never even thought of there and I get all the kids PS2 games on it.

Sarah

chrisw

There is a freecycle group for Southport and you can also join neighbouring ones such as Crosby or Liverpool if you don't mind travelling a bit.

sjcjd

Signed up by email to the Southport group. Dont mind travelling at all as long as still in the north west (not more than 25 miles away).