MSE News: How to beat Sky price hikes

hazyjo

Had absolutely zero luck with Sky last year - until I'd actually left and signed with Virgin. Then they had deals coming out their ears. Was polite, said I was leaving, spoke to the cancellation dept, several other people, still zilch. No deals. Nada. Nothing at all. Zero. I couldn't believe what I was hearing as everyone kept banging on about deals, saying they'd not let us leave. Very frustrating, having to switch.

A year later, Virgin are trying to call me a liar and hike my bill up 100% (£60-odd to £120-odd). I am utterly furious with them as they told me it would be £80-odd for months 12-18 when I joined and that I'd be able to get a deal, no prob, then another deal at the end of the 18 months (again, no prob, and they'd not do what Sky did). Never did I think I'd have to pay £120-odd! THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ODD QUID! Over six more months! :O

They are talking about releasing us from the contract (at no charge), but there are no guarantees yet. I have wasted HOURS on the phone/emailing, etc and am actually putting off another email as it means I also have to find a replacement service first (still without knowing if they'll release us). Don't really want to go back to Sky, but it's looking like the only option. Friends have been talking about combining various 'boxes', netflix, etc but I've become a bit of a technophobe and would rather just have one thing which they're all under (with my phone, broadband, etc).

Really not a happy bunny.

Just a warning to those signing up - get it all in writing if they say you'll get a discounted rate at the end of whatever period, especially if you're still signed in.

Jx

gibby9

I nearly joined Virgin before sky offered a better deal. All the Virgin paperwork was very clear that the discounted rate was for the first 12 months only and would revert to normal rate after 12 months. Tie in was 18 months.

This was an internet sign up though so they may have been vlearer as all in writing. No sales people making promises.

hazyjo

I've got the amounts he quoted written down so definitely must have lied to me. They apparently only keep phone records for 3 months.


Very frustrating.


Jx

A_little_stressed!!

Would I get anywhere with this? Signed up to Sky for the first time ever, about 2day before this price increase? Would I get anywhere, or am I too new (now had it installed 2.5 weeks)

vora59

phoned sky re price increase
as I have the family bundle asked to
downgrade to variety as would still have channels
I watch
put through to rretntions dept after 20 mins
got a discount of £15 a month for ten months
and kept same bundle
its called the DTV 15GBP all it ment I had to sign up
for 12 months
give it a go nothing to loose

meldrewreborn

Rang to get my bill down. I have Variety, HD, sports & movies - bill £72. I found that for £49 I could get MOST(but certainly not all) of the important elements from BT and used that in the negotiations. Sky offered £12 off for 8 months, not quite good enough so I set in train the cancellation. Got an email from Sky saying that they were sorry I was leaving and told me I could phone them on a special number if I wanted to stay. Did nothing but waited for Sky to contact me again which after 5 days they did. The revised offer? 35% off for 10 months and £50 credit on my account on a non contract basis so I'm not tied in - can leave with only 31 days notice. Saving circa £300:T:money::T

DJSaver

I called Sky and told them that a 6% price increase was nowhere near in line with inflation, and that I was considering simply switching to a Freesat box + Netflix for movies and cancelling my subscription.


I was immediately passed to the retention team that gave me £15 a month off for 12 months as long as I signed up to a 12 month contract. They also told me to set a reminder to call back in April to negotiate another discount - actively encouraging me to do this...:j

jem16

DJSaver wrote: »

I was immediately passed to the retention team that gave me £15 a month off for 12 months as long as I signed up to a 12 month contract.

Best check that as discounts are all for 10 months at the moment.

hjp84

Just haggled a deal before the price rise! saving £220. discount on line rental from £16.64 to £9.99 10mths and TV bundle including sky sports package from £52.50 to £36 p/m for 8mths.
Originally paying £76 for tv/bband/phone now £52. Plus they gave me 50% discount on my next bill. :beer:

sandie3

We have been loyal customers of sky for over 15 years. Rang them as advised on here to request charges review after notification of price rise. Was told by their customer service advisor that the only way to reduce monthly charges was to cancel some services. He advised me to call again after we had reviewed them all and decided which ones we didnt want. The fact that we had been their customers for that long he said, didnt matter. Maybe theyre getting "wise" to people wanting price cuts?