MSE News: How to beat Sky price hikes

meldrewreborn

So you didn't get any reduction in your sky subscription.? Do some research- see what other offers are out there- virgin, bt and talk talk all offer discount to new customers, use these in your negotiations. Don't be afraid to threaten to leave, even to actually put in a cancellation request. It takes 31 days to cancel and you can always go back at full price as a worst case scenario. But I got 35% off and a £50 credit as described above. try again -you have nothing to lose but you do need to have facts at your fingertips and really be prepared to leave. Good luck

Lu_Lu

I had a great live chat with someone at sky today and managed to get my bill from £55 a month to £39.90 for TV, sky talk and broadband. Could have got more if I cancelled maybe but broadband was out of synch so at least now it's all up for renewal together and I can properly negotiate next March!

brownsuga70

I have TV, broadband, multiroom and sky talk and pay £73 per month. Called sky on Monday said that i wasn't happy with the £3.50 rise letter i had received and i wanted to cancel the tv element of the account.. They reviewed my package to see if there was anything i could lose to bring the price down , there wasn't, they agreed to reduce my monthly payments by £7.00 per month as I've been a customer for 9 years, I said no thanks and asked for the notice period to be put on my account and i was given a final date.

Surprise surprise, I received a call from sky today to see why I was leaving and if there was anything they could do to change my mind, I said that the amount I'm paying is extortionate and i would rather spend my money on other things. I was aked if I would reconsider if they could get me cheaper deal. I said maybe.
I have been offered £20.50 off my package per month for the next 12 months plus a £50 credit on my sky account. I haven't been tied into another contract. I was asked if i wanted to switch my line rental over to them too, I refused this wasn't a problem. Very pleased with this outcome of a £296 saving:T:T:T

OldDIYer

40 minute call (glad it's an 03 number now - so it cost me nothing from BT line). Got £22.90 off for 8 months (bit miffed it's not 10 months like most others), but £183 is worth having. New 12 month contract. I used the comparison with BT - £10 package with 25 premium channels + Sky Sports 1/2 £22 + Netflix £5.99 + BT Sport £3 for HD = £41. Sky's broadband is no use to me as I want BT Sport - so I have to add £15 to Sky's price for valid comparison.

lexie55_2

I phoned to cancel our Sky TV last month as it was going up £4.50 to £70.50 month. Ridiculous, as it is only TV with sports/movies.
Today I live chatted with them to confirm cancellation was going through next week. Live chat seems to be based in India. They asked why I was leaving, told them far too expensive. They offered 50% discount for 12 months making it £35.25. Sorry, still too expensive. Then I was offered 60% discount for 12 months £28.20plus £50 credit. Saving £557.60 for the year.

hazyjo

Thanks, AnonySky


I rang Sky yesterday to see what they could offer (given up with Virgin). Got several deals (60% on TV deal and pretty much -50% on everything else. Very happy - especially after having to reluctantly leave them a year ago as they'd not do any deals at all and I couldn't afford to stay.


Be warned - I was on the phone for pretty much 2.5 hours! :eek:


Jx

hazyjo

I was on hold for most of that, but I called just before around 2.45pm, then he called me back (had around a 15 min break inbetween) and was on the phone until gone 5.15!


He was very helpful but did need to ask a lot. I think he did more for me because I was a returning customer (he and his manager were very shocked that I wasn't offered any deals). I've always been nice to everyone and am pretty easy going. Did go mental at Virgin cos they told me some porkies to get me to sign up for 18 months.


I must say, there must surely be a simpler 'game' to play than all this. Perhaps instead of the wasted hours, the stress, the offers or no offers, the battles, the changing from one service to another... would it not be simpler to have NO deals, and just fixed cheaper prices and everyone would know where they stood, and you'd probably never have to worry about these sorts of conversations, bargaining, deals, etc - and I doubt people would leave in the first place!


Jx

hazyjo

Yep can imagine there are lots of bargain-hunters (just look around here at MSE lol!). But if they couldn't get it cheaper elsewhere, they'd just stay... I'd MUCH rather that (but would be peed off to find anyone else was getting an elusive 'discount'!). I really can't stand this now acceptable ringing for a discount - even on your home/car insurance! Arghhh! I feel like I'm back in Tunisia lol.


Jx

robrymond

AnonySky wrote: »

See, that's something that's been floated around in the office before.
The problem is - there are people out there who just like the word "discount"
Even if our prices were reliably cheaper - for example, if our Family bundle was £28 a month instead of the £36 it is now - permanently - people still wouldn't want to pay full price for it. Even if it was always going to be £20 cheaper than elsewhere, people always like to hear they're getting a discount.
Then, if someone fell into financial hardship, even at the lower rate, we wouldn't be able to help with discounting the subscription - and would wind up losing even more customers. All in, the current business model works, although the system for discounting etc needs to be improved.
We're running a couple of trials at the moment to try to streamline the system - an area of retentions in one of our smaller contact centres is running an offer trial at the moment which makes the whole thing a bit less luck-based.
Watch this space, things are changing!

Good to hear some feedback on this. People love discount and I guess that is why we have to phone and 'haggle' these days. I mean I feel bad on the Sky person putting the offer on my account thinking it penelises them, but still I know it is what a lot of people do.

Some people hate asking for discount and will I guess pay full price for anything. Some people avoid sales in general because it is less hassle say in a shop.

As long as this model is becoming more streamlined but won't affect me phoning up yearly to arrange a discount, then I'm happy.

teddysmum

I received an emailed Sky survey to fill in yesterday (very similar to ones used on survey sites) using sliding scales to express the chances of being with Sky for tv or bb/phone in a year's time. it also asked for the probabilities of moving to named companies for the individual services.


I wonder whether this research is to help them decide customers' real intentions and so tailor a suitable offer under the new system.