Sky threatening to 'switch off' Freesat signal?

virtualsphere

We're currently using Freesat with a smart TV, with the cable from an ancient Sky dish plugged directly into the back of the TV. Before we bought the smart TV last year, we used Freesat with our old Sky box - we haven't had a Sky subscription since 2004. We no longer use the box, so to my knowledge have no connection to Sky whatsoever aside from the dish itself.

This afternoon, my wife had a Sky salesman knock at the door to tell us that unless we subscribed to Sky again we would no longer be able to receive most channels through our satellite dish (apart from BBC) because Sky are switching off the signal. Apparently this is a "UK wide policy" and they have already started work on it.

This blatantly goes against what is publicised on the Freesat website: "If you already have a satellite dish, switching to Freesat is easy. Freesat uses the same dish and satellites as Sky, so if you've already got a dish all you need to do is connect a Freesat box or TV and away you go. You'll receive over 200 TV & radio channels, including 11 in HD, all subscription free."

Our Sky dish was already fitted to our house when we moved in back in 2003. We subscribed to Sky for a year from 2003 to 2004, but didn't have the dish installed as it was already there. It is currently working perfectly with our TV and we receive the advertised Freesat channels.

The salesman is supposed to be calling back tomorrow so I'd be really grateful if anyone can clarify if there is any truth at all in this? I'm particularly interested in:
1) Is there any distinction between a 'Sky' dish and other satellite dishes, so they can control the signal?
2) Is Sky received from the same satellite as Freesat?
3) Is there anything Sky can 'switch off' so that we no longer have our existing channels?
4) Do Sky have any right to do this, as we have not been a customer for 10 years?

If they can do this, could we just buy a different dish and plug it in to our TV?

Thanks very much!

[Deleted User]

Chase this blatant liar away.

MataNui

He is talking through his backside. I would get his name and phone sky to complain.

skivenov

Ask for that in writing, complain to ofcom.

[Deleted User]

skivenov wrote: »

Ask for that in writing,

I very much doubt he'll comply.

VisionMan

Heres an article about the lies Sky door-to-door sales people tell, and an explanation as to why. Poor s*ds -

Believe in better is the Sky message. However, perhaps you should not believe everything one of its salesman tells you if he knocks on your door.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/may/02/sky-sales-staff-say-cheat-subscriptions

virtualsphere

Thanks for all your replies. They didn't come back but I'll complain anyway as this is obviously lies - we've a "no door to door sales" sign on our door, and they knocked on the premise that they were "informing" us that our signal was due to be switched off!

Buzby

They may well be right, but there s FreeSat (nothing to do with Sky) and FreeSat from Sky which uses their encryption and card access. If you use a Sky box this may will cease working but a kosher FreeSat box will provide all the free to air channels with no requirement for a Sky card.

InsideInsurance

virtualsphere wrote: »

1) Is there any distinction between a 'Sky' dish and other satellite dishes, so they can control the signal?
2) Is Sky received from the same satellite as Freesat?
3) Is there anything Sky can 'switch off' so that we no longer have our existing channels?
4) Do Sky have any right to do this, as we have not been a customer for 10 years?

If they can do this, could we just buy a different dish and plug it in to our TV?

Sky cannot control the signal, they can control the validity of their own viewing cards.

There is Freesat and Freesat from Sky, the second one uses a Sky box + a viewing card. Its only the second one that they have any control of and the "worst" they can do is block the viewing card and even then you could still watch many of the freesat channels.

As you are using a TV's built in freesat capabilities then there is nothing that Sky can do to block your viewing despite what the sales chap said.

With sky you own the kit other than the card so its not even as if they could reclaim the dish/ receiver as legally its yours and taking/ disabling it would be theft/ criminal damage

virtualsphere

Thanks for your comments. We did originally have a FreeSat from Sky card which we were using in our old Sky box until we got the smart TV, so wonder if this is how they got our details. We've not used it in nearly a year though, and I'm sure they continued with the story even after my wife explained we were now using FreeSat directly via the TV.

I'm pretty sure they were talking about blocking / disconnecting the signal and not removing the dish. It's good to know they can do neither with our current setup. :T

john1

From Freesat from Sky Terms & Conditions

Your viewing card
You may only use your Viewing Card for private viewing purposes at your Address in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. For security reasons Viewing Cards may be inactivated from time to time. In this situation, if you wish to continue to receive all the encrypted Free to View channels, you will have to purchase a new viewing card at our then applicable standard charge. If possible, viewing card inactivation will be advertised on your television screen.