Almost scammed - angry with myself!

eyeinthesky

Had a phone call this morning, just as I was getting ready for work, from a guy who knew my name and address, and said he was from sky extended warranties. He asked if I still had the sky+ box, and said my warranty is due to expire, and he could renew it for me for £73 I think. Now, my daughter had a problem with her sky box, and as it was out of warranty, sky said she would have to pay a call out fee etc, or she could take out a warranty straight away and be covered. So I had this in mind, and I asked the guy if he was calling from sky, and he said that they were the official sky warranty provider, otherwise how would he know I had the sky+ box? I am normally quite wary about telesales calls, and quick to spot a scam, but I was in a rush to get ready for work, and gave him my debit card number along with the security code on the back. He tried to get me to agree to a 3 year deal, which would bring the price down to £63 a year, but I refused.

As soon as I hung up, I began to have doubts about what I had just agreed to. I contacted sky protect, and they said that they had not contacted me, and that it must have been a 3rd party provider. I told them that the caller had claimed to be the official warranty provider for sky, and they advised me to contact my bank, and also asked me to contact trading standards.

I contacted my bank, and after explaining what had happened, they said no money had been taken as yet, and none had been set aside, so they offered to cancel my card and send me a new one. They also advised me to keep checking my account online, and get back to them if there were any unknown transactions. Thank you Lloydstsb :T.

While I was at work, my wife had a call where the guy said they had spoken to me this morning. He said he was calling from Utility Care, but my wife didn't let him get any further, saying that the transaction had been cancelled, the card had been cancelled, and that he was a scammer. He became quite indignant at this, insisting that he was not a scammer, and said he would phone to speak to me later. My wife told him I would be home around 4.30, but he said the office closed at 3.30 today, and that he would phone Monday. I can hardly wait, lol.

I contacted consumer direct when I got in from work, and explained it all to them. They have advised me to write to the company, and send it recorded delivery, stating that I am exercising my right to cancel the verbal agreement, under the distance selling regs. Apparently, if I don't do this, they can come back later claiming I had a verbal agreement with them, and claiming I owe them money.

If you are still reading, thank you, and apologies for the long post, but I want to save others the hassle of dealing with these leeches.

arcon5

Is the number withheld?

McKneff

Its not actually a scam, they are legitimate companies, it's just that they get their business by giving the impression they are
from Sky, But they do what they say they do and come and mend the box if you have a problem.

there are at least half a dozen posts like yours a month.

MothballsWallet

As McKneff says, it's not really a scam, but these companies aren't working for Sky at all, they're just cold-calling in the hope people have Sky, so it's more annoying than anything.

However, I think someone else on an earlier thread suggested that perhaps (sometimes), a small number of the installers actually sell on customers' details to these firms...

eyeinthesky

Thanks for the replies, the number shows as private caller. I realise that the company probably does what it says, but they baldly stated that they were the official sky warranty provider, this was a lie. Sky protect also are cheaper. I found another thread where the poster has a problem with his sky box, and after being told they had no contract with the company, and proving otherwise, still cannot get them out to do any work. They say the will come but never show. The company mentioned here is a different one to the other thread.

arcon5

I would also question whether it was worth it at £73/year -- you can pickup quite cheap boxes on ebay.

TighterThanTwoCoatsOfPain

and sky only charge £60 for a guaranteed repair / replacement box so unless you're expecting more than 1 a year....

unholyangel

McKneff wrote: »

Its not actually a scam, they are legitimate companies, it's just that they get their business by giving the impression they are
from Sky, But they do what they say they do and come and mend the box if you have a problem.

there are at least half a dozen posts like yours a month.

Just to add they're not all legitimate companies. They were featured prominently on watchdog late last year. Some of them were selling warranties illegally (along with claiming to be sky when they werent).

Kite2010

Some of the warranties they offer are as much use as a chocolate tea-pot, with all the exclusions.

You can pick up a 2nd hand sky + box from ebay for ~ £30, so ask yourself is getting a warranty for £15 a month really worth it?

nearlyrich

I had a call from an Indian call centre claiming to be Sky. I cancelled my Sky contract in 2006, they phrase the questions in a way that you tell them stuff I told them nothing and they soon hung up.

Butterfly_Brain

This happened to us 3 years ago and when we realised we changed my bank account just in case - It turned out to be a legitimate company but it caused so much hastle to us with direct debits being paid late or not at all and even some default letters and it wasn't our fault it was the bank's (which is another story, but was sorted by a complaint to head office)
I wrote to the Director of the company and told him that he had commited fraud and that I was going to inform the OFT. Surprise I got a very apologetic letter from him and my money was refunded.

The lesson is : Never be fooled into buying anything from people who ring you or come to your door they are not to be trusted.

If I want anything now I shop around and get at least four quotes.