Sky 24 month contract - Is it possible to cancel with no fee?

captainmainwaring

Hi all. Friend of mine signed a 24 month contract last August in her name. Sadly her partner passed away in November. She contacted Sky and explained the high monthly cost (She and her partner watched a lot of sport both, being retired) would be a financial burden. Sky did reduce the cost slightly by removing some channels but was not prepared to cancel the contract completely although she did say the monthly payments would eventually cause hardship as she is now on her own. My way of dealing with it would to just cancel the DD and see what happened but, that's me! I'm a stubborn so and so and wouldn't give a fig what they threatened to do! Any suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks in advance.

Neil_Jones

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6661744/sky-24-month-contract-is-it-possible-to-cancel-with-no-fee

Don't cancel the direct debit. It will cause more problems down the line than it appears to fix in the short term.

Has your friend spoken to Sky's bereavement team?
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/deceased-sky-account-holder

captainmainwaring

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81941449#Comment_81941449

Hi. Thanks for your message. Didn't know about the bereavement team at Sky. I'll pass this information on. Thanks again.

soolin

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6661744/sky-24-month-contract-is-it-possible-to-cancel-with-no-fee

As has been said definitely don’t advise just cancelling the DD. The DD is just a payment method, the contract would still be in force and I’m sure your friend wouldn’t want to add to her issues by being chased by debt collectors further down the line.

Boohoo

OP what type of Sky system does your friend have, Sky +, Sky Q or Sky glass/stream?

If the 1st they maybe able to cancel due to price rise but I am not sure about the broadband part.

Could they ring up again and state they want to leave because of the price rise?

JSmithy45AD

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81941523#Comment_81941523

BB probably as long as they've not agreed a new contract with the changes they've now made, but presumably they still need BB (and possibly the home phone).

The TV is actually a maybe, If it's a Glass TV they bought then no, even if they did manage to cancel the TV part they'd still have to pay off the TV itself and it would be turned into a dumb TV at that.

Stream, no, not affected by the price rises in terms of leaving.

Sky+ and Q possibly as long as no new terms agreed.

Regardless, the bereavement team given earlier is their best option, and just talk to them.

Boohoo

JSmithy45AD the bereavement team won't cancel the contract because the account is in the woman's name and her partner died so nothing to do with Sky.

There was a thread on here about a person living abroad had an account in their name and at their mother's home and the mother died but Sky would not cancel it because the dead woman was not the account holder

Ayr_Rage

I agree with @Boohoo , as the account holder has not passed away Sky will not cancel without penalty.

As the OP has only mentioned TV (some subscriptions removed) then unless it is one of the few packages where the annual price rise gives them a get out clause they will be subject to termination fees.

What type of contract was agreed at renewal last August will be relevant.

If the payment method is cancelled then after the first missed bill, Sky will attempt to take payment 10 days later, if that fails then services may be restricted.

Once restriction happens contacting Sky results in a request to pay the outstanding balance and reinstate the payment method and depending on the time involved a request to pay the next due bill before customer service will answer you.

That redirect happens in chat and if you call from your registered phone number, some say it can be circumvented by calling from another number, but I cannot confirm that will work.

From the Sky forums it appears that two missed payments the account can be cancelled by Sky and thereafter they will commence debt recovery for the outstanding amount.

JSmithy45AD

@Boohoo Perhaps, but only Sky can answer that question and they can be very understanding despite what people may claim here and elsewhere.

Boohoo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81941666#Comment_81941666

I still can't see Sky letting the person get out of a contract because the non account holder died.

If that was the case then loads of customers would try this to get out of their contracts.

If only there was a Sky rep allowed to be on MSE that could go along way in clarifying things for everyone one.

Markdavid1962

Just a thought does she receive any benefits and could she claim the social tariff for Broadband