Cancelling a SKY TV subscription

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Discussion

Derek Smith

Original Poster:

45,653 posts

248 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Has anyone else mad problems cancelling a Sky TV subscription?

I've sent an email as they requested but reckon that they can't cancel it without speaking to me. So why the email?

I've been told they will phone me but it is not very reassuring:

We’ll attempt to call you over the next few days so we can verify the required details with you, however if we’re unable to speak with you we won't be able to cancel your account. The only exception to this is if you're cancelling within 31 days cooling off period.

They provide an 033 number, which I assume is not covered by my free BT calls during the day but it would appear that it is not manned, not during the dozen or so calls I've made. Either that or they are inundated with people trying to cancel.

Anyone had similar problems or can offer advice?

SHutchinson

2,040 posts

184 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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I can't offer any advice but it seems that we have both begun this process at almost exactly the same time. I suspect that no phone call will be made from Sky.

toon10

6,175 posts

157 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Upgrading is an easy click away on their web site. Downgrading or cancelling all together requires you to call them. (I'd not wait for them to get in touch with you.) Be prepared for the hard sell, free offers and deals speach before you actually manage to cancel. They have trained retention staff who will go through a list of things to ask why you're leaving and try to convince you to stay.

anonymous-user

54 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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toon10 said:
Upgrading is an easy click away on their web site. Downgrading or cancelling all together requires you to call them. (I'd not wait for them to get in touch with you.) Be prepared for the hard sell, free offers and deals speach before you actually manage to cancel. They have trained retention staff who will go through a list of things to ask why you're leaving and try to convince you to stay.
Just tell them that you're moving abroad, that pretty much ends the 'Retention' conversation in my experience.

Ali2202

3,815 posts

204 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Tell them you're dying/emigrating?

Koofler

616 posts

166 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
Symbolica said:
toon10 said:
Upgrading is an easy click away on their web site. Downgrading or cancelling all together requires you to call them. (I'd not wait for them to get in touch with you.) Be prepared for the hard sell, free offers and deals speach before you actually manage to cancel. They have trained retention staff who will go through a list of things to ask why you're leaving and try to convince you to stay.
Just tell them that you're moving abroad, that pretty much ends the 'Retention' conversation in my experience.
Tell them you're going down for a 10 stretch for ABH.

Morningside

24,110 posts

229 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
Symbolica said:
toon10 said:
Upgrading is an easy click away on their web site. Downgrading or cancelling all together requires you to call them. (I'd not wait for them to get in touch with you.) Be prepared for the hard sell, free offers and deals speach before you actually manage to cancel. They have trained retention staff who will go through a list of things to ask why you're leaving and try to convince you to stay.
Just tell them that you're moving abroad, that pretty much ends the 'Retention' conversation in my experience.
Not for much longer.
http://news.sky.com/story/1307204/bskyb-unveils-pl...

They are a nightmare to get rid. Even when I was unemployed they knocked the payment right down rather than cancel.


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Watchman

6,391 posts

245 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
I just phoned them and cancelled there and then. They tried to offer me a good deal to stay but I declined and that was that.

Is the problem that you don't want to incur call charges when you call them?

Derek Smith

Original Poster:

45,653 posts

248 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
I've checked: I've phoned them 10 times in a little over an hour and each time I get the recorded message to say they are engaged. I assume that this means I've incurred a charge.

My main problem is that I can't sit on the phone for hours. I'm working.

They don't phone evidently.

I've got two of my children marrying next year within 6 months of one-another so have to cut back to an extent. The only things I watch on TV are ruby - free BT sport - and F1. A neighbour has an open door policy on GP day so that's settled when it's only on Sky. I'm told there is a £25 charge for Freeview. I'll give that a run.

I've just sorted through my DVD collection. We've got around 900 with over nearly 70 that we haven't yet seen, so that's the next four months occupied.

It'd be nice if they answered the phone though.

Watchman

6,391 posts

245 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
In fairness, my company provides me with a VOIP phone from my laptop so I don't worry about charges but they did answer when I called. If they're not now, then they are probably in contravention of some law or other.

Can't recall where I got the number from but you'll need a bill or original agreement to talk with them just so you can get at the info they demand, and there's a phone number on that.

I was paying something like £35 for the basic package with Sky plus. I don't watch enough TV these days - or can get at programmes before Sky broadcasts them from other services - so I was adamant I wanted to cancel, however they offered me the same deal for a shade over £20. I still cancelled.

I have my broadband from Virgin (don't like all my eggs in one basket) and when they recently advised me they were hiking the price up again by another £2 I called to explore options and got an 18 month agreement for about half the price they had previously suggested.

The problem with the Virgin deal is that I'll be moving house inside that timeframe and I'm not sure what my options or obligations are.

Beati Dogu

8,887 posts

139 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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It's a bit like Hotel California - You can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave!

Mutley

3,178 posts

259 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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I cancelled years ago, and you have to go through hoops to get them to acknowledge you, eventually I rang their upgrade service and told them to put me through to cancellations. I also cancelled the Direct Debit telling the bank I had cancelled and it was not to be honoured

outnumbered

4,084 posts

234 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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I think they're probably extra busy with "retentions" as a result of upcoming price rise.

I'm certainly going to be ringing them and pointing out that I can get exactly what I need from BT Youview at £10 a month, rather than the £35 or whatever it's going to end up at on Sky. So if they can't get close to that, I'll be switching.

I need to get the Mrs to watch some of the stuff she's recorded first though, she won't be happy if she loses her 2 month backlog of Holby...


XRS

143 posts

190 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Watchman said:
I just phoned them and cancelled there and then. They tried to offer me a good deal to stay but I declined and that was that.

Is the problem that you don't want to incur call charges when you call them?
They'll be back, you can bet on it.

Derek Smith

Original Poster:

45,653 posts

248 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
I've managed to cancel. I went via live chat.

I expected an offer as I've got the full package, less HD and I've been with them for over 15 years. But the best the guy gave me was exactly what was offered on their site: £28. That said, I was unlikely to go for anything under 1/3rd off.

So as I say, a bit miffed. I expected some concession.

31 days notice.

I was on the live chat for 84 minutes. The poor guy on the other end just wouldn't let me go.

MissChief

7,103 posts

168 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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You'll probably be contacted before the cancellation takes effect, usually with a 50% offer.

Nom de ploom

4,890 posts

174 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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we got three months for a quid last time we threatened but they've been ok with us.

BT infinity boradband is another matter!


whoami

13,151 posts

240 months

Friday 1st August 2014
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Derek Smith said:
I've managed to cancel. I went via live chat.
Interesting.

I tried to cancel that way (as well as via email).

I was told that it wasn't possible.

Derek Smith

Original Poster:

45,653 posts

248 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
whoami said:
Interesting.

I tried to cancel that way (as well as via email).

I was told that it wasn't possible.
That's what it said on the website but I thought I'd give it a go. I've just had the 'official' email. I await the 50% offer.

MiniMan64

16,917 posts

190 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
It's not just Sky that are a nightmare for this!

The wife and I are trying to cancel our AA at the moment an it's bloody impossible! Selecting the "thinking of leaving us" option results in a indefinite hold message however choosing any other option to do with membership an you magically get through straight away.