Parents ripped off - Satellite install!

_gav_

There is nothing more annoying than seeing your parents get ripped off! My parents, both pensioners, one with attention/vision difficulties due to numerous strokes, have been right royally stitched up by a local satellite installation company. They have Sky already, unfortunately the Sky box developed a fault. I told them to contact Sky who will send out an engineer on a fixed fee basis. Did they do this, nope, they contacted a local satellite company (Sky approved installer) who duley sent out an engineer for a £45 call out.

Engineer diagnosed a faulty Sky box. A replacement will cost them a £399 !! :mad: Or they could go for a Sky+ box for £299. After labour (yeah right to swap out a box) the grand sum of £464 was paid via credit card. :mad:

When I found out I couldn't believe it, they could have got Sky+ from Sky for £99 installed. Furious I phoned the satellite installation company to let them know what I thought of their practices. They haven't even replaced the LNB on the dish, nor the cable, the end result being you can't use the full Sky+ recording functionality.

The Satellite company are apparently investigating, although I don't hold out much hope of any payback, so my question is what comeback do my parents have. The only bonus is that they paid via credit card! I guess because they didn't fit an appropriate LNB and also replace the cable, it isn't fit for purpose and therefore I could claim a refund on that basis?

Any other views?

Thanks

jonathantvtv

Hi Gav,

I don't really have many answers but I wish you luck in getting your parent's cash back:(

Do you have a seven day cooling off period for purchases?

Also maybe give the credit card company a call to see what they can do.

Anyway now I've bumped this hopefully someone who knows more can help.

These practices are only a notch down from the person who cloned my debit card and spent £650 of my money last night.:mad:

Good luck

deanos

What a rip off Sky charge £65 and thats all you will pay even if it needs a new box

richt71

Have you spoken to your local trading standards regarding this? In most area's they take overcharging of the elderly seriously and may also contact this company. This may help your parents get at least some money back.
Of course if you get no satisfaction you could also contact your local newspaper and let them know what happened. I'm sure a newspaper would run with such a story!

mrsr

deanos wrote:

What a rip off Sky charge £65 and thats all you will pay even if it needs a new box

When my box went wrong I rang them up ,when they told me the charge I asked them to cancel as I did'nt think it was worth £65 they then sent a enginer and replaced the box free of charge

_gav_

Thanks for the pointers guys. So far this Satellite company have been absolutely useless, not returning any phone calls and being passed from pillar to post when I do get to speak with somebody.

I am going to contact trading standards & CAB to see what they can offer.

cheers

deanos

I would also contact the credit card and see if you can dispute the charge