Sky - have ripped us off for nearly £100

Tropez

Backbiter wrote: »

That's interesting. My policy has a huge SKY logo on it, with the words "The only repair plan recommended by Sky". It says "if you have a breakdown, then telephone Sky on 08702 404040". I don't remember if I rang that number - just the one that comes up on the TV screen.

In paragraph 6, it defines YOU as the customer, and WE/ US as Domestic and General!!!!

So D & G tell you to call Sky, which we did, but they are not Sky themselves. This is great.

Let me remind Sky/ D&G of what their policy states at the top. NO FUSS, NO PROBLEM.

What a farce.

To be honest, most of these Sky repair services are a swizz.

Sky Protect certainly shouldn't be telling you to call Sky's number because it says on their own website that once you're out of warranty you should call Sky Protect directly. The numer they give out on their website is 08444 810 444.

And as somebody has pointed out above, if your box does breakdown then you just phone up to cancel saying that you can no longer access the service that you're paying for, Sky will send someone out to fix this for free (after they try and get you to pay) because losing £100 from callouts is better than losing, say, £500 a year from subscriptions.

spike7451

The rip off 'repair plan' & even those not under the plan DOES cover the engineers call out charge & any equipment replaced comes with a 90 day guarantee.I used to get asked this all the time when I was a Sky Engineer.

As to these 'repair plans',they are a complete waste of money.I've had Sky Digital in my home since it came out,I've had a box replaced once in all that time.(Which was free as I worked for Sky at the time)
Now if I did have to pay it would've been £65.You pay £9(ish) a month in case it goes wrong,so in the twelve months alone,you've paid £47 more than I paid for that one call out.That's £47 to spend on a night out,or a new outfit,put towards a holiday....
These repair plans are a big goldmine for these companies.Huge income for very little outlay.

fadetogrey

spike7451 wrote: »

The rip off 'repair plan' & even those not under the plan DOES cover the engineers call out charge & any equipment replaced comes with a 90 day guarantee.I used to get asked this all the time when I was a Sky Engineer.

As to these 'repair plans',they are a complete waste of money.I've had Sky Digital in my home since it came out,I've had a box replaced once in all that time.(Which was free as I worked for Sky at the time)
Now if I did have to pay it would've been £65.You pay £9(ish) a month in case it goes wrong,so in the twelve months alone,you've paid £47 more than I paid for that one call out.That's £47 to spend on a night out,or a new outfit,put towards a holiday....
These repair plans are a big goldmine for these companies.Huge income for very little outlay.

When I signed up for sky+ I think about 2 years back within 3 months the box gave problems and good enough the engineer came out,never even bothered looking at it just replaced it with a new one.(how cheap can sky get them if they can do that?) anyway bout 8 months past,again problems with the box,out he came and replaced it again but whilst talking with him he told me as it was 8 months since the box was fitted there was only 4 months warranty with the new one as the 12 months warranty does NOT restart with a new box being fitted which I thought very strange as most things you have to replace get a 12 months warranty on the new item.

spike7451

fadetogrey wrote: »

When I signed up for sky+ I think about 2 years back within 3 months the box gave problems and good enough the engineer came out,never even bothered looking at it just replaced it with a new one.(how cheap can sky get them if they can do that?) anyway bout 8 months past,again problems with the box,out he came and replaced it again but whilst talking with him he told me as it was 8 months since the box was fitted there was only 4 months warranty with the new one as the 12 months warranty does NOT restart with a new box being fitted which I thought very strange as most things you have to replace get a 12 months warranty on the new item.

It would have been a second hand refurbished box,recovered off another fault & repaired I'm afraid.Sky very rarely give out brand new boxes on service calls.
Installer was correct at the time you were in your initial contract period,after the 12 months,it's as I stated above.
I went to a call once when the HD first came out,customer had already had his month old HD box replaced & wasn't too happy when I told him the boxes were reco's,especially as he'd paid £400 for it!! (or whatever Sky charged at the time)

absoluteutopia

Just phone them and tell them youve had enough just cancel your account, they will refund everything and give to a discount as well just to keep you

Kite2010

fadetogrey wrote: »

When I signed up for sky+ I think about 2 years back within 3 months the box gave problems and good enough the engineer came out,never even bothered looking at it just replaced it with a new one.(how cheap can sky get them if they can do that?) anyway bout 8 months past,again problems with the box,out he came and replaced it again but whilst talking with him he told me as it was 8 months since the box was fitted there was only 4 months warranty with the new one as the 12 months warranty does NOT restart with a new box being fitted which I thought very strange as most things you have to replace get a 12 months warranty on the new item.

Did the engineer take back the 1st box which broke?

spike7451

Kite2010 wrote: »

Did the engineer take back the 1st box which broke?

They have to as if they don't have a box to hand in the next day,they get billed for the box that's been supplied to replace the faulty one.
When they book the job off using the PDA thing to a particular job,they input the old box serial number so that the two can be swapped on the customers account & the replacement box removed from the engineers stores inventory.

qetu1357

Tropez wrote: »

To be honest, most of these Sky repair services are a swizz.

Sky Protect certainly shouldn't be telling you to call Sky's number because it says on their own website that once you're out of warranty you should call Sky Protect directly. The numer they give out on their website is 08444 810 444.

And as somebody has pointed out above, if your box does breakdown then you just phone up to cancel saying that you can no longer access the service that you're paying for, Sky will send someone out to fix this for free (after they try and get you to pay) because losing £100 from callouts is better than losing, say, £500 a year from subscriptions.

Top advice.

Never pay Sky for repairing your kit.

Say you will cancel and they will do it for free.

vax2002

Sky TV is the pinnacle of Luxuries.
Are you sure you should be funded such luxurious lavishes if you have so little spare cash ?
No disrespect intended but ALL debt is started by living beyond ones means.

steveE2

most things you have to replace get a 12 months warranty on the new item.

This is not the norm in my experience,most guarantees/warranties include "Any replaced/repaired product will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period" or similar.