Thread: Is Sky contract legally binding? Ref Cancellations....

Hi guys hoping for some advice! :-|

So my sky contract is due to expire on the 10th May 2009, 12months after install etc.

Having moved out of my property I called Sky on the 06th April to cancel this as of the 10th May. The customer services agent advised this was not possible on that day and I must phone back AFTER the 10th April to arrange for this to be cancelled on the following month - No mention of a 30day notice period. Just said as the contract is in place until the 10th May nothing can be actioned on their system until 30days prior to that.

Having then called Sky back on the 27th April in the hope of cancelling on the 10th I was advised then by the cancellations advisor that 30days notice is required and my contract would therefore run until the 27th May.....obviously not to happy so requested I speak with a manager.

Manager busy told they would call back and surprise, surprise - NOTHING!

Called again yesterday and spoke to a manager who then informed me there's nothing she can do there even though there agents ill advised me on the 06th and had they taken my request on that date as requested they would have been given ample notice, far more than the required 30days. To top that off she also advised in actually fact the required notice is 31days?

First off obviously incredibly unhelpful that all the advisors give you contradicting information but my question is, if I have signed up to sky only for a 12month period, is it legally binding that they can then tie me in for a further 31days due to this notice period etc?

What does it say in their terms and conditions; they cannot vary it or impose anything that is unfair; if says 30 days notice then of course it can be more than that, but should be in writing or email; telephone no good!

They do state that cancellation requests over the phone can be actioned.

Obviously not happy they are now stating 30days notice is required when this was never mentioned during my conversation with them on the 6th April when I requested to cancel.

Not only that, but the manager then stated to me yesterday that in actual fact it's 31days?

Not sure where to go from here, they've suggested writing in to the customer care department but by the time that's actioned no doubt the 10th May will have past.

Cripes they don't make things easy these big companies!

Also, is it legally binding if I haven't signed anything? Is a verbal agreement sufficient? When speaking with the manager yesterday I requested she send me a "signed" copy of my contract where I've agreed to give 30days notice to cancel - She said we don't keep those?

Just write/email cancelling or confirming cancellation and stop DD. let them start chasing you for anything then, you will not get any money back from them.

Will give it a shot and keep you updated!

Thank you

Firstly - your contract doesn't 'end' after 12 months. Only the minimum period of service expires. The operators are well trained not to accept cancellations in advance of the minimum period, what you do here is WRITE to them, providing the required notice that you wish to terminate on the anniversary of your contract.

So, if your contract signing date was 10th May 2008, then you write before the 10th April 2009, giving them the required 30 days notice and the service ends on the anniversary (10th May).

The fact your contract wasn't signed is immaterial, and it isn't verbal - the T&Cs were agreed to by you when they took your 1st payment for the service. What you need to do now is establish that you have asked for cancellation - they may not even acknowledge this has taken place, so check this now.

If you cancel your DD and leave owing them money, you will be pursued and your credit file will be marked, so unless you have a real urge to shoot yourself in the foot, I'd play by the rules even though it was all their fault in the first place (sort of).