Issues with SKY contract Termination,

kav_121

Hi All,

am not sure its the right place to post this issue, but would you all help me about, as Iam new to UK system,

I took 12 months sky contract during feb 2010, assuming I would be in UK for an year, but due to official reasons I had to move out of country, I called up sky in 1st of aug 2010 and informed him that I was leaving the country, told him to close the contract , requested for contract termination charges if applicable, as I was moving out of the country(and i was allowed to get disconnection charges from employer), sky advisor didn't accept my cancellation request saying He couldn't bill me minimal charges for the rest of the contract and they were kept on sending bills it seems,( although I left UK by 1st of september,) luckily I returned back to UK in feb 2011 with different assignment, then I rang sky to check any possibility of restoration of old account they denied for the same, rather i was informed that outstanding £145 due, unless I pay they wouldn't restore the a/c, so I had to ignore them because they were totally not fair towards me, although I was allowed to get disconnection charges when I was moving out of the country on my previous employment, sky didn't let me do it, upon my return I requested my wife to open other a/c on her name to go with sky, now debit collector is after me for that outstanding amount, I called to sky told them different ways, directly or indirectly yet I am sky customer now(as my wife is a dependent here), yet they want their money? advise me pls if any clue how to resolve?

macman

You are not a Sky customer (directly or indirectly)-your wife is. They will still chase a debt on the old account regardless of her opening a new account.
You should have been charged the full ETC when you requested an early closure of the account. It wouldn't be 'minimal' charges, it would be the full amount due until the end of the minimum term, approximately 5 month's subs. So is that amount approx what they are now chasing (£145)?

michael37

Sky as a matter of policy do not seem to offer early termination fees, simply requiring you to continue the contract until conclusion - unfortunately they are perfectly entitled to do this as you agreed to the minimum term when you entered into the contract.

Unfortunately they are now entitled to require that the unpaid charges are paid in accordance with the 12 month contract to which you agreed, and you remain bound by the terms of that contract until the outstanding debt is paid or Sky agree to release you. I'm afraid unless Sky agree to drop it as a goodwill gesture or decide it is not worth the effort of taking you to court you will probably have to pay up. Also bear in mind that they may be able to add on any reasonable costs they incur trying to enforce this debt.

You do not have to co-operate with the debt collectors or any bailiffs they send at this stage (most importantly do not allow ballifs into your home unless they have a order from a court), however the longer things go unresolved the more charges can mount up. If you do get court papers in due course (as is a distinct possibility) please do not ignore them as things can very quickly go from bad to worse (and get very costly) once a court judgement is issued against you.

I would recommend that you contact the Citizen's Advice Bureau as soon as possible for further personalised advice on your situation. With things like this seeking professional advice as soon as possible is the best way to minimise the cost and damage to your credit history.