Sky Thomson Box Upgrade Offer - warning

kittyscavern

I can't find if this has been posted about on this forum previously, apologies if it has. I just wanted to warn anyone signing up for the Sky Thomson free upgrade offer to be careful and read the small print. I was offered a new Sky HD box to replace my old Thomson one and I enquired before accepting whether it would involve taking out a new contract. I was reassured it didn't so I accepted the offer, I just assumed they needed to replace the Thomson boxes for some reason and hence the change. I just received the box and quite a confusing separate letter (sent a couple of days after the box) and it clearly states I would be on a new 12 month contract and there are also clauses if you don't set the new box up within so many days that they will automatically subscribe you to their entertainment extra package for an extra £31.50 per month. So I phoned them up and the sales person still tried to tell me there wasn't a new contract, but then he double checked and found there was in fact a new contract. So I am now returning this new box but I could so easily have been caught out if I did not read the small print. My son has been in hospital and I could have let the box sit there and not set it up within the 31 days. None of this was explained on the phone and I think it's very shonky practice from Sky. As I have a half price deal until August then I think they deliberately kept quiet about the details of the deal. I would have got to August and could have been in a real mess with no way to cancel. I do understand they can't give away boxes for free but I really assumed perhaps they were just replacing faulty or outdated equipment.

[Deleted User]

The only problem you have is that you are now still paying Sky but receiving your service through outdated equipment which cannot be updated to provide the new EPG or On Demand.
I think personally you have chosen a raw deal for yourself. Is it really such an imposition to have another minimum contract in exchange for the new decoder?

All "self set up" requires is for you to un plug the Thomson box from the mains and the satellite and to connect up the new box.

However, if you really can't afford a full price subscription after August then maybe it's for the best.

kittyscavern

I had no problem with any deal where it has been explained properly because then I have the opportunity to say no. I object to being misinformed and if they are offering such a great deal why did they feel the need to misrepresent it? It is a second box in my son's bedroom and if it goes wrong we don't need to replace it. Our main box is fine and up to date. I'm just warning people who may also have been misinformed about the contract.

[Deleted User]

kittyscavern wrote: »

It is a second box in my son's bedroom and if it goes wrong we don't need to replace it.

So no harm done then. Thanks for the heads up.

Buzby

You did not get a new contract, so it was not misleading - you asked the wrong question! Check, your contract number is the same.

The question you needed to ask was 'is there a new minimum term period'? The answer to that would have to be yes.

No misinformation - and in tandem with all services like this, new equipment invariably requires the user to have a fresh minimum term - NOT a contract.

[Deleted User]

Buzby wrote: »

in tandem with all services like this, new equipment invariably requires the user to have a fresh minimum term - NOT a contract.

I think the OP was just confusing those terms, but the result is the same- the OP would be tied into paying for another year's subscription.

kittyscavern

Yes I asked if I was tied in for another 12 months and they said no. They tried to tell me the same thing again yesterday, they said that the Thomson box deal did not tie you in to another 12 months but it's clear as day in the letter they sent after the box arrived. They double checked with another department at my insistence and admitted I was misinformed, they apologised for their error. I am just warning people to be careful, not only about the new minimum term but also to make sure they get it installed within the month or they will automatically incur additional expense. I'm not disputing that it's a good deal, I'm saying they were vague and gave me the wrong information about the deal. I did ask the right questions and sorry if my wording confused you. Just trying to help because not everyone reads the small print or thinks about the implications.

howardthecat

Hey there. I currently work for sky and there's has been an error in the system that has been sending these letters out to box swap customers. If you ask the agent you get through to to check either the info tab or the news section on iKnow they'll see the brief there confirming there is no minimum term for it.

howardthecat

In fact that seems to be about every 3rd or 4th call I get is someone asking about that.