Best way to handle Sky's hand in my pocket.

barose

Back in '05 I canceled Sky, Going overseas for a period. They confirmed the cancellation by letter. On checking my bank account on return they had continued to dip into my bank account. Called them and got apologies, yes we will stop it and refund the £48. I left my bank account open to receive the money but low and behold they continued to dip into the account. Called again more apologies yes we will stop it and refund a further £45. They suggested I canceled my direct debit. Talked to the bank and did just that, also I told them what had happened and they refunded me £78 from Sky (their calculation). Now Sky are demanding £71, after almost 2 years. It is now with their collection agency. I write and write but no response. Any suggestions.

dinglebert

You seem to be saying that Sky took money they shouldn't have and when you queried it they repaid you £93 in total. You then contacted the bank and told them to cancel the Sky direct debit as they had been taking money incorrectly from you. As part of the direct debit guarantee the bank also refunded £78 to you.

If my reading of what happened is correct then you indeed do owe them the money they are asking for. The banks refund of the direct debit will have been direct from the bank who will then ask for the money back from Sky. Sky have no choice but to pay and are now coming after you. You could try pleading but as its been passed over to a debt agency they will be fruitless. I would suggest asking agency for proof that you owe the money. It may ben they don't have the paper trail to prove it. If they do then they will win.

Justicia

If I am reading it correctly...

Contract was cancelled with Sky and OP went overseas. On return, discovered that Sky had continued to take subscription regardless.

Made a few calls and each time, Sky promised to stop taking the cash and to refund the overpayments. This never happened and they still continued to debit the account.

OP spoke to bank and under the DD Guarantee, the bank calculated a refund to the OP's account and at the same time cancelled the DD.

The result being that Sky still think that the payments were set up correctly and they had every right to obtain the cash from the account and are therefore still pursuing the 'outstanding' amount(s)...

pinkshoes

Write to Sky, enclosing a COPY of the cancellation letter, and a COPY of the bank statement (blank out bank details) showing payments after the cancellation, and a copy of the bank's statement showing you were entitled to a refund, and see what they say. Hopefully this will be the end of it.

Send the letter by recorded delivery so they can't deny it.

reduceditem

when I left Ntl they continued sending me bills. I had stopped the DD at the bank as I always do when I finish with a company (after informing them). I phoned a few times to explain etc, etc...but they kept coming and in the end it was over £200. I got tired of informing them and just let them keep sending the bills...after about a year they stopped. Situations like this are easy for me cos I live and work abroad and I don't give a monkey's about credit files etc. But you do have my sympathies on this one. Good luck.

barose

Sorry for the slight confusion, though Justicia has it exactly correct. Sky never refunded any money. I have written to the collection agency with copies of the relevant papers and copied those letters to Sky. It has been quiet for a few days so here's hoping. Thank you for your helpful advise.

dinglebert

My apoligies I read it completely the wrong way.