Moving and ditching Sky quickly

mikepoole

After a recent thread posting (thanks all for your help) I'm going to ditch Sky and go either FreeSat or YouView in my new property

My question is: we may be moving quite quickly but I do not want to cancel Sky/start the process until we know we are going and roughly when. Once we know and are all working toward an agreed date in the chain, it could be two weeks or so to move

How do I cancel Sky quickly? Can I just say I do not wish to take Sky to my new property? Or is it a case of cancelling, paying the final month in full and not moving Sky with me?

Many thanks

Hope it makes sense. I'd imagine its a common scenario, just can't get my head around it

JJ_Egan

30 days notice is the usual if you are out of contract .
If still in contract then you pay the contract up .

Sky is at your current property its not moving with you unless you ask Sky to do so .
Fer instance you have six months left on your current contract , you move Sky will not be on tap in your new property and you will owe them the total of your contract left to run .

teddysmum

Your Sky programmes are switched off 30/31 days after giving notice, so if you move two weeks after notice, you will pay for two weeks' service you won't be using.


Alternatively, you could give notice now and make do with Freesat via your Sky dish or watch Freeview if you have a Freeview tv and an aerial.

mwarby

Sky make leaving very difficult, expect a long drawn out phonecall.

Some people have suggested telling sky your moving abroad and want to take subscription with you, they're quite keen to cancel then lol

mikepoole

@mwarby - I'm intending to do it all using their 'Live chat' - just cannot be arsed to listen to all the attempts to keep me.

pen1

Sky are amongst the companies being monitored by Ofcom, who say that Communications Providers are "systematically making it difficult for customers to exit their contract".

Pay-tv is included in the investigation.

Complainant: Ofcom own-initiative monitoring and enforcement programme
Investigation against: Communications Providers (CPs) offering fixed line telephony, mobile, broadband and PayTV services to consumers.
Case opened: 10 June 2015
Issue: Difficulties experienced by consumers trying to exit their communications service contract.
Relevant instrument: General Condition 9.3, 11 and 18 (and otherswhere appropriate) in addition to other relevant provisions such as the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations (‘UTCCRs’) and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (‘CPRs’).

Ofcom has commenced a monitoring and enforcement programme to assess the cancellation and termination arrangements of CPs, and the impact these have on consumers’ ability to exit their communications service contract quickly, conveniently and without error ........

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/enforcement/competition-bulletins/open-cases/all-open-cases/cw_01158/

I think it's worth reminding agents of this if cancellation is being delayed after making your wishes clear; and whilst it's not their remit to resolve individual cases, report any difficulties to Ofcom, as they are gathering evidence and have indicated that they will consider "separate investigations of named providers" and enforcement action, as part of their monitoring and enforcement programme.

Sharon87

I would do as others suggest, cancel now and if you don't move within 30 days then you can just watch the free channels on your Sky box.

You just need be firm with them over the phone, say you don't watch TV anymore and you won't miss it, as oppose to 'I can't afford it' to avoid their spiel.

Moneymaker

mikepoole wrote: »

@mwarby - I'm intending to do it all using their 'Live chat' - just cannot be arsed to listen to all the attempts to keep me.

You can make it short by saying that you are being posted to work abroad by your company.

matelodave

Is there a satellite dish on your new property or can you get one fitted? if so then just take the box with you and plug it in.


Alternatively is it much of a problem to cancel Sky giving the 30 days notice and then being without if for a couple of weeks.

mikepoole

Sent Sky an email and they tried phoning me a few times during the day on my home (maybe they think I don't work yet can still afford the £40 per month? :-) )

Eventually relented and phoned the 0333 number on their site - was done in 5 minutes. The key is just to say you are moving abroad - I didn't think it would work but blimey, the change of tone from the operator (who to be fair, was extremely helpful, cannot fault her) changed immediately. It's almost like she too her hovering finger away from the 'reconnections department' button!

Would recommend saying you are emigrating. Gets things done in 5 mins

The only small niggle is that I sent the cancellation email on 1st July but she said the 31 days cannot start until they speak to you, so that's 9 extra days. I can live with that. Some other might not.