Sky contract

jstvj

I am a Pensioner and have been with Sky for many years. Back in March I had to reduce my Sky TV package for financial reasons. Although it's all very confusing I recall that certain price offers were introduced. I am still having financial problems, but now Sky have told me that as I agreed to the new package in March, I am now bound by a new contract until March 2015. I am sure this was not explained to me at the time as I would never have agreed to it. I have cancer and am due to go into hospital to have a kidney removed. I may then have to go into a home, so agreeing to a new contract is out of the question. Frankly I suspect that Sky are pulling a fast one here. Can anyone tell if what they say is true please.

jstvj

I would like to add that in March I asked to cancel, but Sky talk me out of it by reducing my package and including certain offers.

visidigi

When Sky offered you a package to stay this introduces a new minimum term to your existing contract. Therefore yes, its highly likely that you would have a new term introduced. Did you receive any mail from Sky, electronic or paper outlining your new agreement?

jstvj

visidigi wrote: »

When Sky offered you a package to stay this introduces a new minimum term to your existing contract. Therefore yes, its highly likely that you would have a new term introduced. Did you receive any mail from Sky, electronic or paper outlining your new agreement?

No, I have never received anything in writing otherwise I would have queried it then

StuC75

Only you or any recording of the conversation would know what the conditions of the new deal were. Ive always made a point in the past of asking that they clarify whether any further tie in for the deal.

What was the new deal that you agreed and how long did that run for? i.e. if they gave a you reduced price for 12 months then it 'may' be reasonable to expect that to be a 12 month tie in, unless stated otherwise.. Sometimes it would also happen when new equipment is provided.

The reduction and other offers you received may have been with an implied and agreed 12 month tie in.. Not wanting to sound callous with your health situation but there would have been an outcry had they tried to use such a situation as reason not to give you services, and you seemed happy enough in march (last month) to agree to this change in service.

jstvj

StuC75 wrote: »

Only you or any recording of the conversation would know what the conditions of the new deal were. Ive always made a point in the past of asking that they clarify whether any further tie in for the deal.

What was the new deal that you agreed and how long did that run for? i.e. if they gave a you reduced price for 12 months then it 'may' be reasonable to expect that to be a 12 month tie in, unless stated otherwise.. Sometimes it would also happen when new equipment is provided.

The reduction and other offers you received may have been with an implied and agreed 12 month tie in.. Not wanting to sound callous with your health situation but there would have been an outcry had they tried to use such a situation as reason not to give you services, and you seemed happy enough in march (last month) to agree to this change in service.

I know I cancelled movies, entertainment plus, hd, 3d and multiroom. The representative then applied some special offer(s) which confused me. She said the offer(s) expire in December, when I was advised me to telephone them again to obtain their new offers.

jstvj

Sorry I want to add that on March I explained that I only watch sport on Sky. What I didn't know and it was not explained to me was that cancelling entertainment plus also lost me Eurosport. Therefore, after the football season finishes I haven't got any of my interests left ie cycling, motor cycling etc.

StuC75

I would push that they review the recording of that conversation to confirm if the tie in was explained.

The reason I say this is if you were tied in until March 2015, what possible interest or need would they have in December 2014 to offer you a better deal...[None being the answer, since you would still be tied in 'according' to them]..

I cancelled mine for the same reason of Sport being the main interest, but pay so much for the other 'stuff' that never watch..

jstvj

StuC75 wrote: »

I would push that they review the recording of that conversation to confirm if the tie in was explained.

The reason I say this is if you were tied in until March 2015, what possible interest or need would they have in December 2014 to offer you a better deal...[None being the answer, since you would still be tied in 'according' to them]..

I cancelled mine for the same reason of Sport being the main interest, but pay so much for the other 'stuff' that never watch..

Thank you for your advice. Sky are coming back to me and I assume they are checking their recording. I think an important aspect is also that something must be confirmed in writing, which again it was not. As you say their December date for re-negotiation would dispute their (now) claim that a new 12 month contract was agreed. My Father in Law has re-negotiated his Sky package many times with Sky never mentioning a new contract. Apart from cancelling parts of my package, all they did was to apply their current offers to help reduce the cost. I cannot recall what those offers were or to what package they applied, because it is all so confusing. The only thing I am sure of, is that there was no mention of a new contract, which I know I could not agree because of my circumstances.

macman

Sky is not a charity. If they offer you a reduced tariff on existing services (as opposed to just dropping certain services) then there is always a trade off-in this case a new minimum term.
However, given the ambiguity of their statements, you should definitely press for a review of what you were sold.

jstvj

Well, Sky have come back to me. Apparently it was February not March and it is alleged that their agent noted the fact that I could renegotiate in December and about mentioning a new contract. I again disputed this and pointed out that the dates are not consistent. Furthermore, they should have confirmed a new contract in writing. They are now checking the telephone recording, although they have admitted that only a few calls are recorded. This will take 5/6 weeks and when I pointed out that my notice will expire in 3o days, they said if they are wrong they will refund the difference and take my notice from the date of my email yesterday. Also, if I do have to go into a home they will not hold me to a contract whether one exists or not. Alternatively, if I incur the costs of regular travel for dialysis and find I can't afford Sky, they will hold me to a contract. At least, I managed to get confirmation of the fact that this latest call has been recorded. By the way, they admitted the package descriptions are confusing, particularly that Eurosport is not part of the Sport pack. Although I didn't know they changed the package names, they said because of confusion they are going back to the old names.