Sky needing exactly 31 days notice to cancel

Rhi80

Hi I have just rung Sky to cancel as have been on half price offer for first year and don't want to pay the higher price. This was the second time I called as the first time they offered me various deals but still decided to cancel, so ring back today to be told I have to call up exactly 31 days before my contract ends.
Is this right, I thought giving at least 31 days notice would be fine and didn't think there would be a problem doing it earlier.
Also does anyone know an email address to send a cancellation letter to as well as calling them as have read that they are a nightmare to cancel with. Many thanks for any advice.

alleycat`

They, sky, changed their T's and C's such that you can only cancel via phone or their internet "chat" service.

As to the 31 days notice - just put it in a calendar with a reminder?

teddysmum

I had no problem with cancelling, last year. It took about 10 minutes, some of which were used by my attempt to get a decent offer. (I didn't get an acceptable offer at the time, but did a month later)

Mchambers

Or just send an em to their CEO jerermy.darroch@sky.com to cancel.

Rhi80

Thanks for replies. I had called and tried to give my cancellation notice but was 6 days too early according to their 31 day rule, just seemed silly that he could not put it down that I wanted to cancel and I would technically of given them 37 days notice! Oh well I will ring again on Monday and hope I don't have the problems I've read about previously with cancelling.

roxy28

Rhi80 wrote: »

Thanks for replies. I had called and tried to give my cancellation notice but was 6 days too early according to their 31 day rule, just seemed silly that he could not put it down that I wanted to cancel and I would technically of given them 37 days notice! Oh well I will ring again on Monday and hope I don't have the problems I've read about previously with cancelling.

Were you coming to the end of your contract, or were you out of contract.

Rhi80

My contract ends on the 25th June so told me I had to call up to cancel on Monday coming as that was 31 days exactly before my contract ended. That is what I found strange as I thought more than 31 days would be sufficient notice to cancel.

pen1

Rhi80 wrote: »

... I thought more than 31 days would be sufficient notice to cancel.

The t&c's state that you must give "at least" 31 days notice, so Sky shouldn't be rejecting cancellations made a little earlier.
http://www.sky.com/shop/__PDF/Sky_TV_Contract.pdf

A Sky agent tried to halt my cancellation for the same reason, when I tried to give a few extra days' notice. I suspected that he hoped that I'd "go away" and somebody else would have to do the cancellation; so I told him to proceed with 31 days as I was already out of the minimum term.

The agent then found he could do it on the date I'd requested!

In my experience a "can't do" attitude is more prevalent at Sky when it involves downgrading or cancelling services.

The Telegraph have been reporting about Sky cancellation complaints for several years, and reported last year being "swamped with letters from readers complaining that Sky won't let them close their accounts."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/money-saving-tips/jessicainvestigates/10595293/More-Sky-cancellation-complaints-flood-in.html

blisteringblue

Even if you miss a day or so and call after the 31 day deadline they will only bill you for any extra days, and not a full month.

Happened when we cancelled, they work out your final bill and I think we paid an extra fiver because we got the days slightly wrong.

There is no conspiracy on exact number of days to cancel.

Moneymaker

Rhi80 wrote: »

so ring back today to be told I have to call up exactly 31 days before my contract ends.

Wrong. It's "at least" 31 days. If it were otherwise it would come under the "unfair terms" category and would not be enforceable. This is simply a Sky operator misunderstanding or deliberately trying to scam you.

This is why it's always best to cancel by signed-for letter. Enclose your viewing card and state your contract number, full name and address, and enclose a photocopy of your passport photo page or similar (so they can't argue about proof of ID).

Keep a copy and the "signed for" slip. Look up the number on the royal mail web site and print out the proof of signature.

You now have done everything necessary to cancel and you have all the proof you need if it ever goes to court.