Partner left, need to take over Sky a/c without break

dillie

Hi

Found out tonight from Sky that I can't take over the Sky account from my ex-partner who's left (it was in his name) without a 14 day loss of phone broadband and TV.
Even my partner giving 30 days notice to Sky that he's no longer responsible for payment as he's left the premises and that I'm wishing to take over immediately doesn't stop them from leaving me high and dry without services.
Their only suggestion is that it remains in my ex-partners name and we just change the banking details......do I really want his name on the bill forever more? Not good practice and Sky need to up their game.
Anyone found a way of overcoming this silly situation ? I wondered about going to BT but no doubt I'll still be left without service.
Amazing in this so called age of instant technology that Sky can't do better for a potential new customer.

teddysmum

Is this based on conversation with one call centre person ? If so, I would enquire again, as there has to be something in place for situations such as the decease of one member of a couple, when the account was in that person's name.

spyhunter

As you are not the account holder the only option you have is set up a new account in your name.

This can be with SKY or any other provider of your choice but it will mean you will have to take out a new minimum term contract which will usually be 12 or 18 months, maybe more.
Some providers do 30 day contracts but they tend to be more expensive and have set up fees.

On the plus side you can use this to your advantage by signing up as a new customer and enjoying all the benefits such as cashback and vouchers.

Switching it all to your name will not involve any downtime other than a few hours during the switch.
Keeping the telephone number may be an issue though.

All you need to do is shop around, find a deal your happy with and sign up.

dillie

Thankyou teddysmum and spyhunter
I spoke to two Sky advisers, both said I'd definitely be left without service for two weeks while they change the account names over. Standard terms of service they said and no way round it. Most definite about it they were.
I said 'surely you come across this situation a lot?' They said they understood my annoyance and yes they do come across this a lot and yes they do understand my frustration but unless I keep my ex partner's name as the account holder there's nothing they can do about it. Take it or leave it really.....
As for going somewhere else, what happens with the Sky boxes and routers.....I've got multiroom I want to keep and the sky boxes. does going somewhere else mean buying new equipment or heavy initial charges?
Why oh why are Sky not able to do a straightforward change of name and bank details??
Absolutely stark staring bonkers and unprofessional.

spyhunter

It's not possible to just change the name on an account.
I agree it would be so much easier if you could but the payment history and credit is linked to the named account holder and this has implications with credit scores and credit checks etc.

From what you have said it seems you want to stay with SKY for TV. If thats correct then forget about what you already have. Just go online, Sign up as a new customer and pick the package you want.

Remember to use a cashback site, Quidco or Topcashback.

The only issue will be keeping the same telephone number if you stay with SKY.

If you are switching line and broadband then keeping the number won't be an issue.

If your switching TV to BT/Talk Talk/Virgin or freeview/Freesat. Remember to cancel SKY TV.

rusty_f

I would suggest signing up as a new customer, but choosing not to keep you number, if you apply online and use your address, without requesting a number port, you should be able to complete an order which ends up as a 'working line takeover'. This is a special order type which applies to people who are moving into an address and they don't own the current active service at that address - this would apply to you!

When you go online, sign up for a brand new Sky account, and don't enter your existing phone number. Say you don't have one. You will then be able to proceed and you will be able to have a service in your name within a couple of weeks or so, without any gap in actual service.

dillie

Many thanks spyhunter and rusty_f, I understand better now and will apply as a new customer, will let you know how it goes.

macman

If your ex can't be bothered to cancel, by all means just get him to change the banking details. You will then make the payments, but he will remain liable should you default, as the account is still his.
As others have stated, you can't just 'change the name', because a new subscriber requires a new account-this would apply to any provider.

Rev

I know the situation is different but when my mother passed away I called sky up. Let them know she had passed away and asked them to transfer the account to my name.

They did so without asking for any form of proof. The banking details were changed as was the name on the account and that was that.


So they must have something in place for it as I didn't have to close the account and sign up in my own name. I've since cancelled the account but all it took was one phone call for them to change the name on the account.

macman

When a bereavment is involved it's a different process, as obviously the 'outgoing' account holder is unable to consent to the transfer.

Rev

macman wrote: »

When a bereavment is involved it's a different process, as obviously the 'outgoing' account holder is unable to consent to the transfer.

Sorry I wasn't clear enough.


My point was that they did ask for any proof. Most other companies asked for proof before transferring to my name. Sky did not. For all they know could have made it up.


So it must be possible to simply transfer to a new name at the same address.


Surely the OP isn't the only person this has ever happened to so they must have some procedure in place for it.