Only got Sky Sports, Setanta & MUTV for the footie? Cancel for the summer to save ££s

sbb1979

We don't have Setanta, but phoned Sky to cancel Movies and Sports. They asked why and we said that we wanted to cut down on spending they then said that we could have the movies and sports for nothing for 3 months and then cancel if we wanted or it would go back up to normal price. Seems fair enough to me!

debzmar

pen1 wrote: »

The Mirror ran an article a few days ago regarding
peoples' experiences in trying to cancel Setanta:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/money/city/2008/05/24/setanta-angers-fans-trying-to-cancel-89520-20428005/

There's also an MSE thread here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=648941&page=11

I've sent them 2 recorded deliveries- the first received by them 7 weeks ago.
The only response from them so far has been 2 letters requesting that I re-instate a direct debit- one after they attempted to take a payment that wasn't due, and the bank correctly refused it.

Ive been trying to cancel for nearly 2 1/2 months, they dont respond to any form of contact, finally got thro by phone today only to be told I needed to write to yet a 3rd address to cancel - eh! wont be rejoining them next season, will go to pub to watch footie instead

debzmar

soccergoods wrote: »

to find the number of setanta go to saynoto0870 numbers website there are lot of numbers there for them.

thanks for the tip - got through today on an ordinarly phone number, still had to wait about 15 mins for a moron sorry person who was absolutely no use at all but at least I didnt have to pay for the call

BaileyB

Setanta are idiots have to write now to cancel aswell as charging me £9.99 last month instead of the £5 i was told it would be.

Also phoned Sky and knocked off sports and also got 1/2 price mulitroom for 6 months as told them i would be going to Virgin. (Saves £30)

Telephone Numbers are

SETANTA - 0191 501 3601
SKY - 01506 421702

Used both yesterday and they worked fine. Setanta took 6 mins to answer (in the day) and Sky took 1-2mins (also in the day)

mikey_uk

It's only 2 months.... Football starts again in August. Wouldn't cancelling both premium packages mean paying an extra tenner for the Sky+ function if you have it (which I do)? OK, so keep just the movies... I'm not convinced the saving is worth the time hanging on phone lines and then re-instating later. OK, guess I'm not that fanatical about saving a few ££s.:beer:

BargainQueen

I've just called Sky to remove my Sky Sports and they offered me what I think is a pretty good deal - £30 pm until the end of August and I can keep all my channels.

I'm well chuffed as I also get a credit on my next bill so my payment is only £12.58.

Thanks for the tip guys. :T

Bigcammy

mikey_uk wrote: »

It's only 2 months.... Football starts again in August. Wouldn't cancelling both premium packages mean paying an extra tenner for the Sky+ function if you have it (which I do)? OK, so keep just the movies... I'm not convinced the saving is worth the time hanging on phone lines and then re-instating later. OK, guess I'm not that fanatical about saving a few ££s.:beer:

The Sky+ function is free since around August last year, which is why I went for it.

Sammy_Girl

Am on the phone to Sky as we speak

We currently pay around £70 a month to Sky for phone, broadband, sports, movies, sky + and multiroom! I cancelled Setanta about a month ago and they're still offering me cheaper deals. But are the Premiership games definitely with them next season? My OH isn't sure about that!! The only other sports channel he watches is Sky Sports News!!

Just come off the phone and they have taken off the sports and the movies so my package is now £36.00 a month incl phone, broadband and multiroom. Definitely happy with that!!! :j

star_trek_fan

Thanks to this site, I phoned Sky this afternoon, told them I wanted to cancel as I only watch football and as the season's finished I'm not watching the sports channels. Also said that as I don't watch much telly there's no point in forking out £35pm for Sky, threatened to go over to Setanta once the season starts.
Ended up getting my package free for the next four months, after which time it will be cancelled unless I want it reinstated. Told my father-in-law who's also managed to get the same deal.

paulcunners

MSE_Natasha wrote: »

What's this about?

If you've subscribed to Sky Sports, Setanta Sports, MUTV or others via Virgin Media, Sky or BT Vision just to watch the football, by cancelling the channels/downgrading to a smaller package over the summer you can save £££s. Plus it's also a great opportunity to haggle for a better deal too.

You won't miss Euro '08

If you want to watch Euro '08 (though sadly none of the home nations are involved) don't panic; it'll be broadcast on terrestrial TV anyway so you won't miss out.

You will miss other sports

Of course, other sports like cricket, rugby and golf will still be shown on these premium channels, yet if you're not interested in those there's no point paying for them. If you're wavering, sit down and consider if you really actually watch enough of them to justify the cost (see the Demotivator for the real cost).

How much can you save?

This depends on your digital TV provider and the package you have.

For example:

• Someone with Virgin Media on the XL package paying for MUTV and Sky Sports on top will be forking out around £55 per month could downgrade and save £35 per month.

• Those with Sky can 'spin down' to it's basic package which excludes Sky Sports and Sky Movies for £21 per month (or £38 if you really want the movie channels) yet you must give 30 days notice for this.

• And BT Vision customers can knock between £4 and £12 off their monthly bill by requesting to opt out of the sports channels, although the request will only be effective from the following bill date.

What to do

Simply call your digital TV provider and tell it you'd like to cancel these channels. Virgin Media, Sky and BT have all confirmed, regardless of being in contract or not, you're able to drop channels or your package if and when you please.

Take advantage of this...

Chances are you'll either be offered a discount to keep the channels or will be able to haggle a better deal without them anyway, especially if you DON'T mention you're going to resubscribe at the end of August and are only doing it for the summer...

For full hints, tips and tricks to get more for your money, read the Digital TV Cost Cutting article.

PLEASE REPORT HOW YOU GET ON IN THE THREAD BELOW

[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]

I think that when you downgrade to the basic package with sky, you lose the sky+ recording facility including what you have already saved, unless you pay a £10 per month fee. Be careful and haggle!