Has Anybody Had A Similar Experience With Sky?

[jd_1984]

Our sky package is set to run out next month. We have been with Sky a year and been very happy customers.

We currently have a decent discount applied to the account so I realised there was going to be a jump to renew for the next 12 months.

A JUMP....... I'd say so. We currently pay £31.50 per month and for exactly the same package they want £68 from next month. I don't understand the justification. Do they reel you in with a good price as a new customer and then when your appetite is wet with all the movies and sports, apply over 50% extra charges for the same package?

[Bertrum]

Yes you got it. Tell them you're not interested in renewing and you will get a better offer

[jd_1984]

Sure it is all above board and as per T&C's but, still, rather disappointing.

I tried the "we are leaving" tactic and the gentleman on the other end of the phone said he was only able to apply a 20% discount (on the £68) until Feb and then it would be fixed at £68 for 9 months.

I said, surely this isn't "The Best" you can do. He said Yes and wasn't able (or interested) in trying to do better.

[saintpeter48]

I've always found Sky customer service to be quite good, I've negotiated discounts over the past 4 years that i've been with them, I suppose it depends on who you get to talk too. I'm currently paying about £35 for basic Sky Tv, broadband and landline, its all up for renewal in a few weeks so i'll be back on the phone to them, you can only ask and they can only say yay or nay!!

[mikey4444]

jd....tell them to begger off ! £68 a month, just to be able to watch your TV is well over the top. If you stop paying them anything, the Skybox thingy will still work, though with less add-ons....all the ones that you probably never use.

I only pay £71 a month, for my Gas AND Electric !

[jd_1984]

The prospect of reverting back to digital TV frustrates me and this is, I assume, why people will continue to pay the likes of Sky.

I enjoy the movies, sport and box sets. If we cant reach an agreement its back to repeats of homes under the hammer and Deal Or No Deal - please spare me!!

[EDDIE51]

Look at which channels you actually watch , you may be surprised at how few they are. Then look for a deal that only includes the channels you really want.

[EDDIE51]

Switch to Virgin media you will get a cheaper deal and nearly all the channels you actually want.

[jd_1984]

Virgin can not guarantee service in our area, I have already had a look.

Its more the extra's we use such as live sport, downloading movies and we love the box sets which up until getting sky we would pay £20 plus per series on DVD. When you break it down we are quids in just on the amount of box sets we have watched.

I think I am just having a Vicotr Meldrew moment, shall compose myself and try them again now - see if a compromise is on the cards - surely they have targets to fulfil for new and repeat custom?

[mikey4444]

jd....if you really want the sports, movies and box sets, then you seem to have no choice but to line Sky's coffers with your gold !

But I still maintain nearly £70 a month is a bloody fortune to pay, just to watch TV.

[jd_1984]

mikey - I do feel like a sucker but it's the going rate.

I have even calculated it to how much per day to try and appease my principles. £2.33 a day approx. - it sounds better!!

On hold now, listening to a jolly tune and being thanked for my patience...

[jd_1984]

**Update

So, we have been offered same package with a 50% discount until February (£34) at which time the package will be full price and 9 months charged at £68.

It's madness how the offer can be chopped and changed seemingly at the leisure of whom ever picks the phone up (although they must have set limits of discount they can offer).

I feel that my enjoyment will be cut short knowing the discount is so temporary.

I am now on hold for the cancellation dept. I assume they will have a final stab at keeping my custom

[mikey4444]

Fingers crossed for you jd !....keep us up to date !

[Islay]

cancel it - you will get a call back before the months end with a decent price - failing that go through with the cancellation and take out a new contract in your partners name.

[chrissa1]

Have you tried cutting some of the package, down? Like, HD?

[sunny-dave]

The current 'going rate' for the full sports/movies/HD package seems to be £35.60 - two of my neighbours and I have all just done the 'give an actual notice of cancellation' routine & got the same offer. The only variable seems to be the number of months of 'full pain' at the end of the discount - I got mine down to two.

[jd_1984]

Sunny-dave - we were getting it for £31.50 with box sets also (non HD) perfectly happy.

Still on hold.....

[Gromit]

NowTV is owned by sky. They do different passes including weekend Sports passes. And they have live channels. You can control how much you want to spend monthly. You can pay a lot less than £68 for the same stuff.

http://www.nowtv.com/sports#ib-section-section-2

[jd_1984]

Cheers Gromit.
I am a mad football/cricket and F1 fan so would need the full package upgrade every month!!

[sunny-dave]

HD is the extra £4 or so, jd - I like the difference it makes.

My first year was about £32 including HD - the 10% rise didn't seem to horrible, although the couple of months at full price will sting a bit this time next year.

[Gromit]

You can buy a box with a 3 month entertainment pass that has loads of box sets/series for £20