Sky won’t allow cancellation

pbartlett

more like an act of nature getting back at the human race for all the awful things we are doing to it and saying stop it, enough is enough...

niktheguru

Sky won't allow cancellation but you can try and downgrade your tv package to the lowest package. (though some are 12 or 18 month min terms), usually you will have to continue signature and sports, but movies, kids, etc are on 1 month rolling contracts so can be removed/downgraded.....this should hopefully save some money. (Obviously it depends on the contract you originally signed up to!)

Neil_Jones

niktheguru said:

Sky won't allow cancellation but you can try and downgrade your tv package to the lowest package. (though some are 12 or 18 month min terms), usually you will have to continue signature and sports, but movies, kids, etc are on 1 month rolling contracts so can be removed/downgraded.....this should hopefully save some money. (Obviously it depends on the contract you originally signed up to!)

Movies is almost certainly on an 18 month deal, particularly if you had it on a £9/£10/£11 month deals that are used on the adverts for new/recontracting customers as opposed to the regular £19 a month for out of contract (but see below) or you've had it for a while.  But the one month rolling contract for kids and boxsets and whatever else that assumes you're on the Entertainment or Signatures packages, as the previous Basic/Variety/Family/Boxset packages don't use these as they're included in them.

However it looks like for new customers Sky have moved the goalposts again for new customers for the "Sky Signature TV, Sky Cinema and Sky Sports Complete for £46 a month for 18 months" deal: "New separate 18-month minimum terms for Sky Signature (£21 per month (pm) and Sky Sports Complete (£18pm). New 31 day rolling contract for Sky Cinema (£7pm). 31 days’ notice to cancel. All offer pricing valid for first 18 months. You must keep all Packs for 18 months to continue getting this offer. If you remove one Pack, you will pay standard in-contract price for all Packs (£25pm for Sky Signature; £11pm for Sky Cinema; £25 for Sky Sports Complete. Standard out of contract pricing applies after 18 months to Sky Signature (£30pm), Sky Sports Complete (£30pm) and Sky Cinema (£19pm.)."

bignred05

jasonwatkins said:

I'm surprised Sky can get away with this as they are essentially keeping you locked into a contract against your will.   I've been told multiple times over the past week that I can't cancel early which is hugely frustrating, although I'm making preparations to just cancel the Direct Debit though and let that procedure play out so I can pay up the remaining balance when it's closed.

I would strongly advise against cancelling any direct debits.

what happens is Sky will attempt to take your direct debit on the usual date, as you have cancelled it. they will then mark your credit file with a late/missed payment. and this will show up (and screw you up) on future credit checks.
I know this as it happened to me with O2 after of all things they actually owed me money, however after trying to take a payment etc and failing they went ahead and marked my credit file unbeknown to me at the time.

I got this resolved quite swiftly after a strongly worded letter to the CEO's office
despite this I have had O2 customer advisors still advising me to cancel direct debits, shocking advice

niktheguru

While I sympathise with those who have taken up sky and had their circumstances change and wish to cancel, what everyone else says is true. Its very clear in the terms and conditions that you cannot cancel your tv contract early. Similarly it is a pointless suggestion to say "pay up the contract now", what is the point in that, they might as well just continue the direct debits and watch the tv!!

I have less sympathy with those who are existing sky customers and have RECONTRACTED (most likely to get a cheaper deal than paying standard prices) and then a few months in say they want to cancel. They knew what they were signing up for. You cant have "deals" and then decide to leave when you feel like it, thats just not how it works. Its unfortunate but its just now the way it is.