Sky ripped off my 85yr old mum-in-law who has MS

suzypow

last year we discovered that my mother in law had signed upto FULL sky package - she already had a freesat box and an old tv and had never used a computer. We sent a strong letter by registered post, and although it was not acknowledged at all, the service strangely cancelled soon after.

Low and behold! Its happened again. In fact a degree more serious this time. So, she has a FREESAT box and an old TV, never used a computer in her life.

This is what the door knocker from SKY signed her up for:
FULL SKY HD which will not display HD on a non-HD TV
Broadband (!!????!!!) never used a computer in her life!
Telephone package

We are disgusted. Tried to cancel it for her today but they have said she must be present. We are reporting this to OFCOM, and informing Watchdog, but any other suggestions?

I am disgusted by it. The door knocker said that the TV would not work unless she had HD due to the switchover. They are exploiting the elderly.

Any help, ideas, etc welcomed, and please pass this on to your elderly relatives. We need to protect the elderly from being ripped off.

macman

It wouldn't have been Sky, more likely a freelance marketing agent selling for Sky-who of course will say anything to get their commission.
Can you not persuade your MIL never to sign up for anything at the door?

spike7451

It's a company called Topaz Promotions that do the door-to-door for Sky & they get paid £40 commision per sale. (no salary) I went for a job with them & spent a couple hours 'in the field' with one of their managers,he admitted to me he knows nothing about Sky or VM (who are the main competitors in the area we were in at the time) & it's in his interest to get the sales at all costs.
Your mom needs to call Sky & add you as the secondary account holder,it's the only way Sky will talk to you because of data protection.

RuthnJasper

I loathe and despise Sky - but I don't think they'd be directly involved in door-to-door stuff. Spike's right.

You could try reporting them to Trading Standards or the Office of Fair Trading. I'm sure there must be rules somewhere against vulnerable elderly people being subjected to high-pressure doorstep sales techniques. Here are a couple of links that might be of assistance:

Trading Standards:
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/index.cfm

About doorstep techniques for elderly/vulnerable folk: http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/reports/consumer_protection/oft716.pdf

In my view, people who exploit folk like the OP's mother are one of the worst kinds of scumbag. My late (great!) great-aunt had a neighbour who was scammed on her doorstep by a company selling home security. She lived in a tiny little bungalow and managed to get herself signed up for £45,000-worth of equipment before my great-aunt contacted the lady's son about it. It'd been going on for a while and the poor lady was too ashamed to admit to her son and his family that she'd been taken-in.

Just appalling.

Good luck sorting your mum's TV-thing out. I might be wrong, but I think the BBC can provide advice/assistance for older people on the digital switchover for free.

xx

hcb42

I wouldnt put your MIL through that.

A strong email to their MD/CEO outlining what you want doing (i.e. cancelling) should suffice.

that is truly disgusting. Until Sky take responsibility for their field sales people by paying a decent wage in the first place, it will still go on.

yrp01

Basically the person coming to the door is a disgraceful human being and shouldn't have done what they have done but in regards to the calling the sky i have to stand up and say theres nothing we can really do on the phone without your mother being present as cancellation in 90% of cases requires the account holder and these are ofcoms guidelines we have to follow.

Email jeremy.darroch@bskb.com Explain the situation to the CEO you will most likely get a call within 72hrs as this is very serious.