Getting a free Sky HD box

MaggotAJ

i have been with Sky for over 2 years now and our Sky + box is starting to play up. It sometimes just wont power up and I have to unplug it 5 or 6 times before the power button will finally go green and the box powers up.

So I am planning on calling Sky on Saturday to try and get a free Sky HD box, but im not sure the best approach to take. As I am getting married in a few months I dont have the money to pay for the box at the moment. Should I threaten to cancel and move to Virgin if they dont give me a free box? As I know that they will offer me a free HD box. Or will they call my bluff?

Browntoa

just mention you want to leave as the box is faulty and as you are getting married you cannot afford to replace it, tell them you are going to freeview for a while

don't go down the "give me a box" route but wait to bargain later on if they offer things ie " I'd rather have the box free rather than free sports/movies for 3 months"

be prepared for them not to argue when you cancel but to get a call from retentions later

MaggotAJ

Do you think I need to mention the possibility of swapping to Virgin?

Having read a post further down they seem to be offering free HD boxes to long term customers. But I dont think that 2 years will make me a long term customer.

Browntoa

no , mention nothing at all, "I'm cancelling as the box is faulty and I cannot afford to replace it as I am getting married soon"

ball is then in their court , you have 30 days to change your mind before the notice period is over anyway

davemurgatroyd

MaggotAJ wrote: »

Do you think I need to mention the possibility of swapping to Virgin?

Having read a post further down they seem to be offering free HD boxes to long term customers. But I dont think that 2 years will make me a long term customer.

The free HD boxes they are offering on the present scheme are to replace old Thomson HD boxes that are incompatible with the latest HD box software and Sky will no longer be supporting the Thomson HD box either technically or with software upgrades.

However you stand a reasonable to good chance of getting at least a replacement (if not a new HD) box depending on your subscription level - those on highest subs stand an excellent chance whereas those on minimum subs may struggle to get anything more than a free service call and replacement box (usually refurbished) with the techniques posted above.

MaggotAJ

OK guys thanks for the advice. I will give it a shot on Saturday.

Eastcote

Sorry to go off on a slight tangent, but it was mentioned above that Virgin are giving away free HD boxes to some existing customers. Does anyone have more info or a link on this?

bengalknights

Try logging into your mysky account as sky are giving away hd boxes to existing customers with the onus being that hd sub be taken which can be cancelled a month later.

MaggotAJ

Eastcote wrote: »

Sorry to go off on a slight tangent, but it was mentioned above that Virgin are giving away free HD boxes to some existing customers. Does anyone have more info or a link on this?

Sorry I didnt mean Virgin - I meant that Sky were offering free HD boxes to long term customers. This appears to be only for customers that have boxes that arent HD ready.

I think that Virgin only offer them free to new customers at the moment. Sorry for the confusion.

MaggotAJ

bengalknights wrote: »

Try logging into your mysky account as sky are giving away hd boxes to existing customers with the onus being that hd sub be taken which can be cancelled a month later.

Really? Now that is interesting. I would have expected there to be a minimum subscription to HD for at least 6 months.

Do you know if you can receive a HD signal to free HD channels (such as BBC) if you arent paying sky the £10 for their HD service? Does the subscription provide HD for all channels - or only the Sky channels?

penrhyn

You continue to get the FTA HD channels if you cease subscribing to the HD pack.