Infuriated with Sky who wont cancel.

wagtail

The account was out of contract years ago. I decided with my daughter moving out it was a good time to cancel, the box had stopped recording & I was trying to cut my bills down.
I sent them an email via their site on the 1st March informing them I was giving a months notice of cancellation, as per their T&C`s, & I would be cancelling my DD as from 1st April. I stated that I would not be calling them about the matter as I find their call costs too high.
They sent a reply stating that I should give times when it was convenient for them to call to let me know what happens next (sell me their product again they mean). Well it wasn`t convenient for them to call, I work 13 hour shifts & in between I was helping my daughter decorate. I had given them notice and that should be all they need, I refuse to play their game and they obviously don`t like it.
So I constantly get letters & calls (which I don`t answer) from a debt collection co. I wrote to Sky Complaints dept on 19th June & made it clear they were to close the account & inform this company that there was no debt. No answer & still harassment from two separate companies.
I would like to know if Ofcom would deal with a complaint like this, does anyone know? Their website doesn`t seem to suggest they will.

Colin_London

Are you sure you account was paid in full up to the 1st April? Could there have been a part month payment accrued that wasn't collected because you cancelled the DD?
Maybe their calculation of notice took it to the 2nd April? When did you actually lose access to the subscription channels?

Did you give them enough info in the email? You do have to give them name, address, post code and customer number in that communication.

Their Ts & Cs do suggest that they will accept email cancellations (via the Contact Ss section of their website), but postings on their forum from moderators suggest they only accept phone calls from the account holder.

Ofcom won't help you here as it's purely a contractual issue between yourself and Sky. They obviously think you owe them something or they wouldn't have called in the debt collector. That might be a mistake on their part, but if you won't contact them to discuss the details the only place this can go is to court.

The fact you didn't take them up on their offer to call you at a time of your convenience probably wouldn't help your side IMHO (if you don't like retention attempts just keep repeating NO THANK YOU very firmly until they get the message, or make up something they can't argue against such as 'I'm not paying another penny to Rupert Murdoch on principal').

wagtail

Thanks for the reply.
The billing periods are always from the 1st of the month to the 30th or 31st of the month.
I cancelled using the contact section of the website so they have all the account details etc. when they receive that.
On principle I will not call their overpriced phone line and the fact that they do not respond to a letter sent to their complaints department tells me that they think they can do as they like. Your assumption that it will go to court, I am very sure, is incorrect.

Faith177

Just because you went through the website it doesn't mean they necessarly have your account details.

I know you didn't want to call them cause the calls are expensive but you didn't take up their offer to call you back. They may have needed to check details with you.

I think you need to talk them maybe ask for a call back. You stated that you wrote to the complaints team saying you wanted to cancel they may have not realised you were complaining and therefore passed it to the cancellation team.

I'm only guessing on this though plus you really shouldn't ignore the letters & calls from the debt collectors you may just be making things worst for yourself

Also just a passing thought I don't think the bills with Sky do run 1st -30th. I know when I wanted to move my dd from the 9th of the month to the end they said I would have to pay extra as I would be going over my billing period.

LiGhTfasT

Ive always called a 0800 number to cancel

Buzby

Your only hope is that you retain the email that states they have received your cancellation request. If you WROTE, this letter would be all you need to assert your rights, as this would take precedence over any 'call us' scenario. If you have, write NOW to Sky Customer Services, providing a copy of he email, and stating you cancelled by providing proper notice, and you are not responsible for any debt caused by their inability to cancel the account in good time.

Calls from any DCA should similarly be rejected by saying the account is in dispute, and you do not deal with third parties.

spike7451

Faith177 wrote: »

Also just a passing thought I don't think the bills with Sky do run 1st -30th. I know when I wanted to move my dd from the 9th of the month to the end they said I would have to pay extra as I would be going over my billing period.

Same happened to me when I changed my billing date from 27th to 14th of the month.