Getting ready to renegotiate and my Sky Broke!

Bluefusion

We have Sky's TV package and over the years normally haggle around +/- a 50% rolling contract year on year.

We are now coming near the end of our discount and was getting ready to give my 30 days notice to renegotiate however - today we had a Powercut and when the power finally came back on the box appears to be fine but no picture, in the service menu under signal, it shows were getting no satellite signals?

I've done the usual checks and reboots of the box but nothing! So it looks like I'm going to need a sky engineer out - however the box is really old and well out of warranty. I'm not sure if the Powercut had anything to do with it, but it seems too much of a coincidence, to make matters worse, if the dish itself needs to be checked its on the roof chimney!

I know sky are going to want to charge me to get this fixed - so my question - do I call Sky and try and get the problem fixed even though they are going to charge me, or am I better simply cancelling my contract and then try and negotiate a new price and a engineer to fix it? Is it worth thinking about a new Sky Q box or would that not be an option?

[Deleted User]

If the box has definitely failed, just buy another one on E-Bay etc, no need to involve Sky at all.

Kerrywerrywoo71

Can't you call and say it's just stopped working and try abd getbit fixed/repkaced as faulty ? and ask when your contracts due for renewel....then act shocked that's it's due might be worth a try ?

mije1983

As said, Sky boxes are 2 a penny on eBay etc.

If you want to speak to Sky instead, there is no need to play games in this situation.

Call them, say the box isn't working. They will try and charge you £65 for the call out. Say it's too expensive and you want to cancel instead (after all, no point in paying for a subscription that you can't actually use). Magically the call out will now be free. It's a fairly simple and straightforward process.

iniltous

mije1983 wrote: »

As said, Sky boxes are 2 a penny on eBay etc.

If you want to speak to Sky instead, there is no need to play games in this situation.

Call them, say the box isn't working. They will try and charge you £65 for the call out. Say it's too expensive and you want to cancel instead (after all, no point in paying for a subscription that you can't actually use). Magically the call out will now be free. It's a fairly simple and straightforward process.

Although a few years ago, my Sky box went kaput , paying list price for family pack, no sport or movies, I called Sky and was initially told it would be £65 and any problem would be sorted, said no, I'll cancel , they said hold on, as you are a long standing customer how about £30 , again I said No, I will cancel, they then offered a new box ( they normally use refurbished stuff ) at no cost, but the quid pro qo was I had to agree to a new 12 month minimum term, so I suspect the OP may get a deal on the monthly price but have to pay for the 'repair' or get a free box but have to pay full price for a new minimum period, I doubt they will offer both, a new or refurbished box and a discount on the monthly fee

Bluefusion

thanks everyone, Sky came out and replaced a damage cable, all fixed.

macman

And no call out charge?

Bluefusion

First off was told £65 for engineer visit, then as a good will gesture £35, but on stating I would have to cancel, it was offered free.

[Deleted User]

Should have done the repair yourself and haggled for a reduction in your monthly subscription instead.

mije1983

iniltous wrote: »

Although a few years ago, my Sky box went kaput , paying list price for family pack, no sport or movies, I called Sky and was initially told it would be £65 and any problem would be sorted, said no, I'll cancel , they said hold on, as you are a long standing customer how about £30 , again I said No, I will cancel, they then offered a new box ( they normally use refurbished stuff ) at no cost, but the quid pro qo was I had to agree to a new 12 month minimum term, so I suspect the OP may get a deal on the monthly price but have to pay for the 'repair' or get a free box but have to pay full price for a new minimum period, I doubt they will offer both, a new or refurbished box and a discount on the monthly fee

You just need to stand your ground, like any communication with Sky! No need to accept any new deal or contract in this situation. It's as simple as 'Fix my box or I will cancel'. My Sky+ refurb box is still going strong nearly 3 years after it was replaced. That was replaced during a free call out and with no change to my 60% off rolling contract deal.

Now they are putting new customers on Q, I doubt there any (m)any new Sky+ boxes knocking about anyway.

Bluefusion

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Should have done the repair yourself and haggled for a reduction in your monthly subscription instead.

Couldn't have done the repair myself as it was a fault in the cable the engineer found after tracing it back. The engineer call out was free after saying I would have to cancel. So tomorrow I will call and start the negotiations of retaining my discount I'm about to come out of, if that fails I'll start my 31-days notice.