Sky Tv

[buzz]

Hi All,

 

My son had Sky installed last year but due to him losing his job he couldnt pay it so they cut him off.

Now all he can get are the free channels.

 

He received a few letters from debt companies, but he didnt contact them.

 

However Sky have written to him to ask if he would like reconnecting.

They have said that they will write off 50% of the debt he owes, to a maximum of £100.

We are a bit unsure whether this is a con to get him to pay a chunk off the bill and then say they can't reconnect him.

 

Have any other users had similar happen to them?

 

If so, is it a genuine offer or is it a con.

 

All replies gratefully received.

 

Cheers,

Buzz.

[happy33]

hi buzz

we got into diffuculties with sky a few years ago, they then phoned us asking if we want to reconnect and that they would scrap the old debt, we done this and they have never asked for any money regarding old debt.

[buzz]

Hi Happy33,

 

Thanks for your reply.

Was just worried that it was a con.

 

Buzz

[nikkiandmidgets]

You should maybe push them to see if they will write all the debt off? If Happy33 got it all written off, maybe your son can too?! Maybe see if there s a default registered, and if so, if they would remove it?

[pcr1]

They run offer like this all the time. You'll only get it all written off if there is an "offer" available for this; just phone them and ask what's the best they can do - they're pretty good. Same happened to me and I got half the debt written off and half price subscription for six months, with no minimum term. Happy days!

[buzby]

However Sky have written to him to ask if he would like reconnecting.

They have said that they will write off 50% of the debt he owes, to a maximum of £100..

 

It's a standard mailing - there are 2 types, the non-debtor ex-customers get a 'come back to Sky' offer that includes a discounted package deal for X number of months worth around £50-70 in cash terms. The debtors mailing offers to clear the debt on the account (no discounted channels) HOWEVER, it will be a NEW contract, not reactivating your old one, so it will have new terms and conditions AND you'll be committing to a minimum terms of 12 months or more.

 

There is also the possibility they have already sold your debt to Lowell Financial. They WILL clear it, but Lowell may already have put a default on your credit record, and that will stay in place for 6 years. It's worth looking a bit deeper.

[pcr1]

It's a standard mailing - there are 2 types, the non-debtor ex-customers get a 'come back to Sky' offer that includes a discounted package deal for X number of months worth around £50-70 in cash terms. The debtors mailing offers to clear the debt on the account (no discounted channels) HOWEVER, it will be a NEW contract, not reactivating your old one, so it will have new terms and conditions AND you'll be committing to a minimum terms of 12 months or more.

 

Mine had gone to Intrum Justicia (or whatever they're called) and had been with them for 4 months. I got half off my debt, half price subscription for 6 months and the lady told me that I was not tied in, and could cancel any time.

 

So there is no new contract (it reactivates your old one) and you do get a subscription discount.

 

The other offer I got (earlier) was half off the debt OR half price for six months; a few weeks later I got offered both. This expired, I phoned them up six weeks later and asked if I could still have it, and got it.

[buzby]

As with their Correspondence Section - arse and elbow come to mind.....! What I'd really be interested to know is - in the light on an email I received from Sky saying they never pass your details to a CRA, whether they actually do this.

[andybhoy]

I owed around £160 to Sky, and got a phone call from them. After I asked them to confirm that they were in fact Sky, they asked my to pay £1 and they paid of the other £159.

 

I paid the £1, and guess what? The £159 dissapeared!

 

That was in November...

[buzby]

Ah - but did they squeal on you to a CRA...? They might have wiped £159, but shafted any chance of you getting credit for the next 6 years!

[andybhoy]

Oh, I didnt think to check that!

 

My credit file is as black as two in the morning anyway, so my chances of getting credit for the next 7 years is probably out the window!

 

I shall be sending away fro my credit files shortly anyway, when I move onto phase two of HBoS. I believe they have defaulted me (definetley sent me to a DCA, which then got returned after court action started) and I want that removed. Not amended or noted, removed, LOL. If I notice anything else untoward on there I shall be getting that fixed as well...

 

I wish there was a section of the forum dedicated to this stuff, as I have grasped the conecpt of the SAR's and the CCA, but the credit file thing is still grey in my mind!

[buzby]

It's worth doing - its only costs £6 (2 for each of the firms) and it is much cheaper than siging up for one firms so-called monitoring service, which only tells 33% of the story...!

[datxman]

Bloody Sky did not wipe my £88 debt off - now I am mad really mad indeed. They are nearly as bad as Crap one

[buzby]

Now why am I not surprised? In addition to writing to Sky, I've been (for a laugh) keeping up a dual-track with their online correspondence section, whilst I cannot fault their courteous manner, exery message they send me contradicts the one that precedes it....! What's even funnier, the thread of what they've said before is contained in the message - they only have to scroll down to read it - but they don't!

[Allyxia]

okonski - i knew I'd find your comments here, you and a Sky query go hand in hand!!!!

 

I rang up sky after being a loyal high subscription users for 6 years. told them I wanted to leave and got my packages reduced to haf price (bowt blinking time).

 

Sky never reward goods custoemrs do they?

 

I will keep my eye out for any other Sky money saving tips!!!

[buzby]

They'll probably have a faint hope you'll forget the good deal you had and happily revert to their high prices after the arrangement ends! Glad you got something out of them though.

[paddym]

any credit report ive had done my sky has never been included !

[buzby]

I suppose it depends if you've been a naughty boy or not - however as is made clear from the T&C's they do disclose to CRA's.

[Allyxia]

yeh but I write eveyrthing down bit anal like that. so I'll no when my time sup then wait for them to contact me in a coupla weeks!!

[Movingon]

I wish there was a section of the forum dedicated to this stuff, as I have grasped the conecpt of the S.A.R - (Subject Access Request)'s and the CCA, but the credit file thing is still grey in my mind!

 

You could try looking at the "Debt and Bailiffs Advice" area? Full of credit stuff, DCA's etc.

[rupi]

hi im having problems with sky and just needed advice.when i moved in2 my new home 2 years ago, i decided to cancel my sky subsciption as they were charging approx 100 to re-install at my new address. i rang up and disconnected my service. i then found i couldnt get telewest in my area so we rung up sky and did a new contract with them. i have had top package since then and very recently when checking my bank statements i realised im being charged twice. one for the cancelled acc and once for the live acc (my error was i didnt check my statements sooner or i would knw im being charged twice.) i wrote to sky and explained and apologised for not realising sooner so could they refund my money - over a thousand pounds. they replied NO as they 'apparently' had no confirmation of me cancelling and i have paid 4 past 2 yrs and they sent new subscription cards - which i never received. i sent a reply to say i hadnt had new cards and i did cancel the acc and i want my money. they replied today and again said no refund:mad: . can i take this further to get my hard earned money back?????????? pls help!!!!!!!!!

[nikkiandmidgets]

Can you not ask them for a copy of proof of receipt for the new cards for the original acct? They must surely have to prove you received them rather than you have to prove you didnt. And just stick to your guns that you cancelled acct - surely that then breaks d\d agreement?

[buzby]

This one is really quite easy to sort out - a box can only be enabled for one viewing card, once the card is paired to it, any other card cecomes unusable. The fact Sky are being anally retentive does not surprise me, but the level on intelligence as to how their system works is patchy at best.

 

IF what you are saying is you have had two cards, and were paying erroneously for two subscriptiions, then only one receiver could decode their programming, so a refund is due. If they say you could have passed the 'spare' card to a friend, ask them for the information to identify which set top box ID was being used for BOTH card. If this turns out (as I suspect) to be the same ID, then only the last card enabled would work - so you are clearly due a refund.

 

If you get nowhere, you need to contact Sky with £10 for a S.A.R - (Subject Access Request). You then get a printout of everything that happened on your account, not only when the card(s) were enabled, but what happened and the timeline for both your accounts. (When I got mine, it ran to 248 pages!).

 

Whilst nothing is a slam dunk, you really have such a good case, it would be no problem taking them to court. Do also point out in any negotiations that as the money paid needlessly is substantial, you will be charging them interest on it. Finally, I'm assuming you paid by DDM? Contact you bank also as this could be a speedier way to a resolution....!

[rupi]

thanks, i have checked my bank statements as i paid direct debit and i have been charged twice by them 4 two years. i argued the point with them like you said about the card working with only a particular box its registered 2 so the cards will not work with my new box but they are still not willing to refund my money:mad: . i did tell them in my last letter that i will take it further if no refund.what do you mean about charging interest on the money they owe?? i dont know what to do now, shall i bother writing another pointless letter which they will reply with the same crap or shall i pursue to the small claims court and see if that has any effect? pls help!!!! :confused:

[Movingon]

Rupi - send a "Letter Before Action"; pay up within 14 days or we go to court.

 

On the 15th day, if they have not paid, start a claim.

 

The interest you can charge is 8% per year, (ONCE YOUR CLAIM IS STARTED) on each individual charge, from the date it was levied until the date your claim is heard in court or until they settle. That is, 0.0022% per DAY. There is a spreadsheet (written by Vampiress) which will work this out for you.

 

Cheers