Loyal SKY customer finally had enough

eastie_2

Been with SKY for 14 years
Rang them up today because our Sky box is an old Sky+ box and asked for a new Sky+HD box that comes as standard these days that you can get catch up plus HD .
I was astonished to find they wanted £259 for a new sky+HD BOX.
I said to them is that how you treat all your LOYAL customers and he said he couldn't do anything.
Had enough now and question I am asking is can you get the variety pack or equivalent with Documentaries with any of the other providers with phones and unlimited Broadband
Many thanks

newbe123

I have just given up on sky myself,

I decide after the hassle of cancelling that I don't want to pay subscription any more, so have just ordered a free sat box and phone and broadband through plus net (I personally had a bad time with BT broadband so that one was out for me)

Captain89

eastie wrote: »

Been with SKY for 14 years
Rang them up today because our Sky box is an old Sky+ box and asked for a new Sky+HD box that comes as standard these days that you can get catch up plus HD .
I was astonished to find they wanted £259 for a new sky+HD BOX.
I said to them is that how you treat all your LOYAL customers and he said he couldn't do anything.
Had enough now and question I am asking is can you get the variety pack or equivalent with Documentaries with any of the other providers with phones and unlimited Broadband
Many thanks

If you upgrade to the hd/family pack and haven't had a new sky+hd box then u can get the 2TB box for £49. Its on the website so they have to give it to you if you meet the requirements. If you cancel they will likely offer you 50% off so I don't see any harm in doing that.

The virgin big kahuna bundle has most of the channel you're looking for and has a few decent offers on now. Remember to go through quidco or top for extra savings.

http://store.virginmedia.com/big-bundles/big-kahuna.html?buspart=googlesearch

Heinz

If you cancel Sky (31 days' notice necessary), they will call you within 2 months trying to get you back.

Then, you will have the opportunity to explain that your box packed up - which was why you had cancelled and, to get you back as a subscriber, they'll offer you a new Sky+HD box f.o.c.

talktalktobt

Try signing into 'MySky' and go to http://www.sky.com/shop/customer-shop/customer-offers/

If that fails you will be offered a box at a discounted rate if you go through cancellations. You can also have a look at Ebay - many second hand ones on there - you just need to call customer services to have them pair the box with the card after you get it. You could also cancel - I would recommend doing it in writing and calmly state that the reason you are leaving after such a long time is simply because your box has broken and you fee the cost is unjust after your loyal service. If you have never received a reduction - point this out too.

Sky works a bit like the BBC/ netflix/ blinkbox etc. does in terms of equipment - you have to buy/ own what you use to receive the broadcast. It just so happens that they usually give it to you free when you sign-up.

Virgin works differently. They own the equipment and just loan it to you. That is why they have to fix/ replace it when it breaks. Positives and negatives on both sides.

[Deleted User]

Heinz wrote: »

they'll offer you a new Sky+HD box f.o.c.

They'll more likely provide a re-conditioned box, not brand new, but it will be guaranteed for three months...

Moneymaker

Correct. Most "free" or very low cost Digiboxes from Sky are used and come with just a 90 day warranty. But they are so cheap on eBay that it really doesn't matter!

penrhyn

I you buy a Sky+HD Digibox on Ebay ensure its one that is internet enabled and will run catch up services, some of the early HD boxes cannot be upgraded.

macman

It's precisely because you've been a loyal customer for 14 years that they won't offer you very much. You pay the rate they ask for, you show no signs of leaving, so why would they throw money at you without some leverage?
Only when you ask to leave and get put through to retentions do you get the decent offers. The tier 1 call centre drones don't have the authority to dole out the decent freebies: only retentions can do that.

Tropez

I've been with Sky for a similar length of time.

In my experience, macman is correct. You need to say you want to cancel. When you say that they'll want to know why.

Recently I asked to cancel one of my multiscreen subscriptions. Reason being that the box was really old and didn't work properly. Sky offered me a discounted 2Tb box, free installation and when I umm'd about it they offered the box for free if I would enter into a 12 month contract again.

If you phone up to cancel and say it is because you cannot watch their service due to your crappy box and especially if you have Virgin in the area and say you're going to switch, they'll be forthcoming with an offer in most cases.

balletshoes

I agree with macman and Tropez - the people you speak to on the customer service line can't offer much, if anything, to existing SKY customers.

I was in a similar position to you last year OP, had been with SKY donkeys years, always paid my usual subscription for my TV/broadband/phone, but didn't have a skyplus box, never mind an HD version. I tried online chat, and onphone chat to customer services, they couldn't help.

So I called and said I wanted to cancel as I'd had a very good quote from Virgin (I had) and was considering moving to them. Retentions offered me, straightaway, a free SKYplus HD box and installation, free ondemand connector, if I stayed with them for another 12 months. I was happy with this. They also offered me free HD subscription for 6 months I think.

However, as my package with Sky is now about £66 per month, I'm considering leaving/downgrading my package, as its just getting a bit too expensive now.