Forum Topic

Sky TV - Forget it !

Just a warning for anyone thiking of signing up with Sky TV.This past couple of months I have nothing but problems with this company after signing up after believing the promises during their promotion.So far I have encountered the following:Installation 7am Sunday morning. No call to arrange appointment.TV Channels promised in the package are NOT included - all at extra cost despite assurances to the contrary.Emails to Sky - they NEVER answer them.Phone calls to Sky at at a premium from my cable phone. They have you on the line for ages listening to rubbish.I cancelled after less then 2 weeks by email, phone call and letter.Again the guy turned up at 8am Sunday morning to collect the box, no phone call, no warning.Finally I receive an apology for the poor service and problems they caused. They send a refund of the money spent on installation. I thought that was the end of it.Surprise surprise, they started chasing me for the full years subscription. More phone calls, emails etc. all to no avail.Today I checked with my bank and they have taken all the money back which they had refunded to me - £182.71.Unbelievable!I amnow chasing them up to get my money back, all I get is apologies. Then they said I sould get an idemnity form from my bank and clain back the money. Of course I cannot do this as it was taken from my bank card!I rang them again and this time they said the computer is down.Oh and by the way, their customer services do not answer phone calls from customers apparently. They only deal by letter. How convenient!Beware of using bank cards, it gives these people authority to take money from yur account and the bank can't stop it!OK I know I shall get the money back but it is the most frustrating thing dealing with this company.You have been warned!

Robert Julian Fernandez ● 6264d9 Comments

Today I checked by bank and despite assurances from Sky they have not refunded my money.I have now had to ask the bank to chase them up so I shall have to sign an indemnity form before action can be taken.All this just goes to show you should not trust anyone when paying a deposit by bank card. It just gives these people freedom to take money from your bank even though the bank had been advised to close the account.I have had nothing but problems since signing up with Sky and after this experience I certainly would never recommend Sky to anyone ever again!

Robert Julian Fernandez ● 6258d

Colin wrote: >there is no PVR(like Sky+) facility

David Fox ● 6262d

I think you mean Freesat Peter. Really meant for filling in where Freview can't reach, and also to provide High Definition Programmes. At the moment Channel Four and Five are missing from it. But it does offer 80 channels, although there is no PVR(like Sky+) facility. Can't really see the advantage because Sky offer a similar service with the option that if you did want to join at some later date you could.

Colin Vaughan ● 6262d

So what about BBCHD freeview?http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbchd/Is it any good?

Peter Wright ● 6262d

I've had very few problems with Virgin/Telewest/Cable Corp over almost ten years, apart from the loss of Sky One because of their stupid row with aforesaid Dirty Digger. There is a lot of luck involved. Sometimes you just get the equivalent of a Monday-morning car (or is it Friday afternoon; I can never remember?)Financial institutions are the worst, I think; it's like they have a mission statement to drive me round the bend.

Susan Kelly ● 6264d

NTL now Virgin Media were far worse than Sky and I am no admirer of the Dirty Digger.

Graham Weeks ● 6264d

It's also bad for the heart and I've already had one by-pass operation!Anyway after ringing them about 10 times today, someone from Sky rang me this evening and has promised to refund the money to my bank!Actually when I was with them some years ago they were OK but sadly I think their customer service department has deteriorated drastically!I just hope the refund goes into my bank without any further problems, I can't take much more of it!Nowadays I really don't think we get the same quality of service from big companies at all. It seems that one department cannot liaise with another in the same building!

Robert Julian Fernandez ● 6264d

Very unlucky Robert, I have been with Sky for 15 years. I now have Sky+ having started with them when it was Analogue. Recently had a softwear problem that after two visits was resolved satisfactorily. Engineer on time, rang before arrival. Took his shoes off before entering the premises. Perfectly courteous, and knowledgable. Ok since.But there you are, sometimes you just get unlucky.

Colin Vaughan ● 6264d

I haven't dealt with Sky but it sounds like you were unlucky. I know what it's like trying to deal with other company's Customer 'Services' (do they even know the meaning of the word?).In the past, I have found it useful to get the national press involved: The Sunday Times or any other paper that has a money/consumer letters column. The company responds very quickly when confronted by a journalist and the problem miraculously gets sorted out, often with compensation.Try not to seethe too much. I know what it's like and it's bad for the teeth with all the grinding.

Susan Kelly ● 6264d