Ending sky subscription

[abc123def]

I wonder if you can help me with regard to my rights to an ammended final bill from sky. I telephoned them to give the required notice to end my sky subscription and the date was set to end my services one month later on 12th August.

 

At that time I was changing banks and did not feel it worth the effort of setting up a new direct debit for sky for that final month and decided to wait for the final bill which I would settle online in one go.

 

However sky decided as I did not have a direct debit set up that they would (without notice) withdraw my sky services on July 25th so from that date could not use the TV and all programmes recorded on sky+ were not viewable etc. no internet either.

 

I then expected a bill to arrive for the dates from the previous bill (paid in full as had all bills before that each month) up to July 25th when my services ended but have since received bills for the whole month even though they had withdrawn the services and so I had not been able to use sky.

 

I do not feel I should have to pay sky for the dates when no services were provided by them so have asked for an ammended bill from 14th July (last bill date) to 25th July when they withdrew the services. Do I have the right to demand this or have they the right to withdraw services, not provide them but still bill for them?

 

Thanks.

[drop47]

Sky are very quick to withdraw service and i assume that the bill on 14th July was not paid? I would suggest that you therefore breached your contract. Having said that it may be worth a letter asking (not demanding) for a new bill. Explain all the circumstances and hope. They are i fear in the right.

[abc123def]

Just checked, I last paid 22nd June for the bill up to 14th july. Is it essential then to pay each month in advance? I just assumed for that final month I could pay at the end for what I'd used.

 

It's annoying as I reported a fault on my phone line to sky via email in December 2011 and they replied by email that they had tried to phone me about my complaint but found a fault on the line so please could I phone them to discuss it! I actually have a disability and can't use phones, it's my children that would use it. So I just left it and have paid the line rental each month and my children have made a handful of calls only this year as most of the time the line is permanently engaged due to fault. No one could call in either. So I feel I have paid sky more than they deserve already but I don't have the fight for it. I guess I will just have to pay this final bill despite not having even the TV working, after all I've been paying for a non working phone line for 9 months so what the heck.

[drop47]

I would still drop them a line or an email.

[locutus]

If it's the telecoms side of things, I would complain following the relevent gude here

[abc123def]

Thanks. I've emailed them, I will let you know what they say in response. If they don't concede I will just pay it though actually I am not sure if I am obliged to as I have been delcared bankrupt since signing the contract so not sure I am covered by it. I think I am only liable for services used now. Really not sure.

[IdaInFife]

Sky bill you in advance and if a payment is not met the services are blocked and under their terms and conditions you are still liable for this payment whether you have their service or not. Their t&c's do now stipulate you must pay by dd and have an active dd on your account.

 

Unless you have contacted sky about your skytalk fault there is not much they can do about it now.

 

I cannot see them amending the bill.

[IdaInFife]

Also regarding BK, did you notify sky that you were BK? cause i find it hard to believe they would allow your services to continue if you did so and if not did you notify your trustee? as they do not normally account for sky tv in any bk which can be there determined as breach of you Bk and can overturn it.

[abc123def]

I've never known anyone have their existing skyTV package turned down due to going BR if all paid up to date, the only thing I've heard about is some mobile contract providers end the contract but even then most don't. I have now switched to Virgin and passed their credit checks! I have paid all my rent/utility/service bills in full every month without fail. This Sky problem only occurred as I changed banks and didn't set up a DD for the last month thinking I would just pay it online rather than set up and then cancel for one month.

 

All my outgoings were listed on my SOA for my OR to see and they have 2 years worth of bank statements too so they are aware. IdaInFife, I'm unsure of the depth of your knowledge about BR?

 

Anyway, Sky replied to my email saying my contract says I must pay in advance and didn't so I will pay this final bill tomorrow.

[drop47]

Abc, maybe and its just a maybe the clue is in the name, idain FIFE. Aren't BR rules different in Scotland. However i do wonder the same as you.

[abc123def]

Thanks drop. I have now extensively read the reams of Sky's T&C's and it says nothing about BR and they'd cover Scotland too.

 

I was just confused by a Site team member querying something incorrectly as I always assme they know what they're talking about.

[drop47]

I hadn't realised she was site team but no one can know everything about everything. As your OR was happy all is good.

[IdaInFife]

Maybe not on BK but i have extensive knowledge on how sky operate

[IdaInFife]

But if your OR is happy for you to continue to have sky then you wouldn't need to contact sky.

 

Some OR's and trustee' see this is as non essential. If a customer sends a letter of confirmation from an OR or trustee to Sky then sky do normally close the account with immediate effect.

[abc123def]

I've only heard of one person not being allowed internet on piggybankrupt, generally if you have children or need it for work they allow it. Sky's package for basic TV/internet/phone was a good deal when I took it out and the OR generally allow deals as long as they are the basic TV package and not movies/sport etc on top. However money is tight, I don't use the phone anyway so I've switched to Virgin who do unlimited internet for £22 a month, no phone line needed and I'm not using their TV. It means all my children have access to the internet for their education and we are happy to use the sky+ box as a freeview box now. The only thing I miss is being able to pause a programme while I nip to the loo! I was surprised to pass the Virgin credit check I have to say.

[IdaInFife]

You would be surprised then that sky do have to cancel quite a lot of accounts due to BK and obviously this is only done if they are contacted to do so. I would assume as you say it is dependent on the circumstances as many cannot get basic digital tv without it.