Sky say I owe £119.50

Fred_Bear_2

I was with o2 broadband which was taken over by Sky.
Sky wrote to me on 6th March 2014 to inform me that I would be transferred to Sky broadband on 15th April. They wrote:
As a gesture of goodwill for any inconvenience, your first 3 months broadband subscription will be absolutely free, and after this you will be charged at our standard monthly prices (see overleaf). You won't be tied into a new 12 month contract, so you can cancel your service(s) at any time, without charge. (My bold)

I moved to BT broadband in May.

Today I received a letter from Sky asking me to pay an 'early termination charge' of £119.50.They wrote:We recently wrote to inform you that as you had cancelled your subscription within the minimum term, you needed to reactivate your service. As you have not reactivated your service, an early termination charge of £119.50 has been applied.
If you fail to [pay this], your debt will be referred to a collection agency...and ultimately result in legal action being brought against you.

Are they correct, or are they just trying to frighten me? If they are in the wrong I would be tempted to ask them to see me in court. What is the best way to respond?

macman

Did you take any other Sky services with the broadband?

Fred_Bear_2

No, I was just transferred automatically to Sky from o2.

Quentin

Did you cancel the sky service?

visidigi

Fred_Bear wrote: »

What is the best way to respond?

Ring Them...

duchy

Did you make any changes to who your landline is with ?


As broadband is only £7.50 pm with Sky -something else is on that bill apart from BB charges.


I'm not sure I understand your question though- Why would you post here before calling Sky to find out exactly what the charges are for ?

Quentin

Bb alone with no tie in is £15 month

Fred_Bear_2

duchy wrote: »

I'm not sure I understand your question though- Why would you post here before calling Sky to find out exactly what the charges are for ?

I know what the charge is for, it's an 'early termination charge'.
Without any previous warning Sky are threatening me with legal action, basically 'pay up or we will set the dogs on you.' For a start I object to being threatened.

I assume other former o2 customers who have left Sky will have received similar treatment.
Before I contact Sky I was hoping someone on this forum would tell me my legal position.

MataNui

Were you still in the minimum term with O2? While i am not sure if they can hold you to your O2 contract (I dont think they can) I know 100% that they cannot legally tie you into a new minimum term just because they took over your old provider.

Quentin

You say they are now "threatening legal action without warning".

But this is them giving you a warning about legal action that will follow.

Much better to save the hassle of legal action by contacting them and disputing the bill.

Although you weren't tied to them you were still in contract and needed to comply with the cancellation process.

Fred_Bear_2

I called Sky who immediately confirmed the letter had been sent in error. They will cancel this charge and they will send me a cheque for £26.50! I have no idea why why they would do this but I won't refuse. Total call time 22 minutes. Result.