Sky Variety +HD vs Family bundle

Masterchief_2

Hi,

I have just realized that Sky have been charging me for the Variety pack and HD subscription when I could get the same benefits for £5 or so less with the Family pack.

I have now fixed this and moved to the family pack but am unhappy that I have been paying more than I needed to. I phoned them today and they can't go back and fix the overpricing - apparently it is up to me to constantly check their bundles to see if there is anything cheaper. I don't recall any letter or communication about the bundle changes and I don't have a crystal ball.

Anyone else with same experience? Anyone got a refund for the overcharging?

Thanks in advance

Tropez

They changed the way the bundles worked several years ago and they did send a letter out at the time.

I don't think you would have much luck pursuing a refund at this point, since you cannot prove you did not receive a letter but Sky would likely be able to prove that they had sent letters out.

They would not have automatically switched you to the Family Bundle because having the legacy HD subscription entitled you to Sky Sports F1 (which is not part of the Family Bundle) and Sky would argue that they couldn't be aware whether you would be unhappy to lose it.

Assuming you're not in a contract period, you could always phone Sky up and ask to cancel, citing your annoyance at overpaying. They may offer to waive the coming price rise for 12 months, or offer you a retention deal that over time would be equivalent to the amount you feel you lost but I seriously doubt they would work out how much you've "overpaid" and send you a cheque or apply a credit to your account for that amount.

brewerdave

Tropez wrote: »

Assuming you're not in a contract period, you could always phone Sky up and ask to cancel, citing your annoyance at overpaying. They may offer to waive the coming price rise for 12 months, or offer you a retention deal that over time would be equivalent to the amount you feel you lost but I seriously doubt they would work out how much you've "overpaid" and send you a cheque or apply a credit to your account for that amount.

...I suspect that switching to the Family bundle has triggered a new minimum contract period of 12 months:(
. In hindsight the OP should have threatened/carried out a cancellation of the service to get a good offer.

Masterchief_2

Thanks for your replies.
I will check my paperwork but I am sure they have no proof of posting so cannot prove they sent the letter.
I have no interest in F1 and never watched that channel so it is a pretty profitable way to trap customers in legacy contracts. No doubt there is a cooling off period on the new contact so I will try again

brewerdave

No cooling off periods on a follow up, only before a new service starts.

Tropez

Masterchief wrote: »

I will check my paperwork but I am sure they have no proof of posting so cannot prove they sent the letter.

What they will be able to prove though is that they sent out a mass communication to their customers. It will be listed on their expenditures for HMRC and their shareholders and they will have retained a copy of that mass communication. All major companies will log these expenditures as part of their operating costs.

It would then become necessary for you to somehow prove that you didn't receive the letter. It is possible that you didn't due to a hiccup with Royal Mail but Sky aren't to know that.