Cancelling sky contract after 26 years

Topper

Topper

Amo Amas Amant Admin
Staff member
My Satellite Setup
Has gone to a good home elsewhere
My Location
Blackburn, Lancashire
Had BSB originally but then when formed was switched to Sky, I never thought it was value for money and definitely still do not, but it suited us and we could not be trekkies without it. The latest increase, only £2 for me takes my package up to £30 per month, for that we get no sports or movies so the wife and I have finally decided to cancel it. Have read a lot on-line and on here about nightmare scenarios trying to cancel and 90 minutes of persuasion to continue so was just wondering if anyone had any more recent thoughts before I do the deed. My gripe is that they look after new customer and forget the existing, I still do not have sky plus or HD, as they have never offered me a deal so that is it.
 
I have been a customer since the squarial myself. Again, it has been Sci-fi that has driven the subscription. Recently it has been very hard to justify increases in the light of the level of those increases. Virgin Media is not available in my area. The BT and Talk Talk alternatives are poor in comparison. I do prefer an HD picture do I am paying for that as well. I have never been so close to cancelling as this week. I have been contemplating being patient and just buying Sci-fi series box sets once the price comes down, second hand, or viewing on Amazon Prime. I was in a second hand store today and saw that I could get box sets quite cheaply. Probably like you it is nice to see series as soon as they are out but, it it worth it at current prices. Only you can decide. You never know, if you phone them, Sky may offer a deal to keep your custom that may keep you happy.
 
Following all the nightmare stories, from Sky customers, trying to cancel, they are supposed to have improved their operations, and make cancelling easier.
I have never bothered with Sky, as I had satellite before Sky started their British monopoly, and much preferred other options, when they left 19.2E, I rarely moved my dish to 28.2E, preferring 0.8W, 13E, and 19.2E, in the old days.
I did cancel my Sky broadband, as they changed the terms, of my contract, and I found that quite easy.
No doubt they will try to keep you, as a customer, with various deals, but they shouldn't be as pushy, as they once were, if you are determined to leave them, and of course, like the rest of us, you aren't exempt from junk mail, and their constant advertisements, in my case, radio advertisements.
 
Just tell them from the word go that you have switched to another provider so there is little point in having the same services twice. That usually stops it dead.

It worked for me when i switched to Virgin Media cable, although i only have their basic subscription as it suits my needs as i watch most stuff online through their Tivo service.
 
Put it in writing, then call them. As above, tell them you have already moved to another provider.
 
Of course, you could tell them you are retiring to Spain ..... ;)
 
Topper said:
Had BSB originally but then when formed was switched to Sky, I never thought it was value for money and definitely still do not, but it suited us and we could not be trekkies without it. The latest increase, only £2 for me takes my package up to £30 per month, for that we get no sports or movies so the wife and I have finally decided to cancel it. Have read a lot on-line and on here about nightmare scenarios trying to cancel and 90 minutes of persuasion to continue so was just wondering if anyone had any more recent thoughts before I do the deed. My gripe is that they look after new customer and forget the existing, I still do not have sky plus or HD, as they have never offered me a deal so that is it.
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I'm in the same position as you, although I started with Sky analogue in 1990. I've also now hit the £30 mark with this £2 increase and think it's time to go. Not interested in paying extra for HD so never have, although I do now have a cheap eBay Sky+HD box since they where now offering Sky+ recording at no extra cost (that was another thing I wasn't prepared to pay extra for).
 
I forgot to mention that we have Netflix and BT Youview with free sports channels since late last year so it really has now become superfluous.

Lazarus said:
Of course, you could tell them you are retiring to Spain ..... ;)
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I wish I was retiring to somewhere warm but it would not be Spain
 
Topper said:
I wish I was retiring to somewhere warm but it would not be Spain
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Well, France is warm (allegedly)........warm enough to have the Winter Fuel Allowance for ex pat pensioners withdrawn anyway...
 
I am like you Topper. Had the very first box an Amstrad from the local Dixons in 1989 a few days after Sky launched with the 4 Channels. If I remember.. Sky Movies , Sky One , Sky News and Eurosport.
Now it's just too much. Everything is going up. Multiroom included.
I haven't had a pay rise !!!!!!!
So discussing with the wife what's going to go... For sure some if not all. I was one of the first.
They are ....TOO GREEDY!!!!
 
Cancelling usually gets offers of up to 50% off after they have processed it but before services actually disappear - find them in My Sky on their website.
 
Topper said:
Had BSB originally but then when formed was switched to Sky, I never thought it was value for money and definitely still do not, but it suited us and we could not be trekkies without it. The latest increase, only £2 for me takes my package up to £30 per month, for that we get no sports or movies so the wife and I have finally decided to cancel it. Have read a lot on-line and on here about nightmare scenarios trying to cancel and 90 minutes of persuasion to continue so was just wondering if anyone had any more recent thoughts before I do the deed. My gripe is that they look after new customer and forget the existing, I still do not have sky plus or HD, as they have never offered me a deal so that is it.
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Sorry ..no advice or horror stories to tell ...
just one word ..
CONGRATULATIONS

in the words of M L K ...
Free at Last ..
 
You will feel cleaner when you've done the deed.
 
Manicscrewdriver said:
Just tell them from the word go that you have switched to another provider so there is little point in having the same services twice. That usually stops it dead.

It worked for me when i switched to Virgin Media cable, although i only have their basic subscription as it suits my needs as i watch most stuff online through their Tivo service.
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Almost the same here I told them I was switching to another provider about 9 years ago no problems even come back to Sky mail ceased after 2 years,
I also have the Virgin basic package as I watch most of my sports via other satellites + Tivo & catch up for general viewing,

A lot of people do not realise that BBC-1,ITV,Ch-4 SD & HD are free to air I have helped my family & friends by connecting up a Free to air satellite receiver to the spare outlets on the Quad Lnb where available within a couple of weeks they have cancelled sky & stayed with FreeSat.
 
You're not wrong about the state of people's awareness, William. Even now, several years after Freesat launched, a huge number of Sky Subscribers rarely watch anything they actually need the Sub for and are firmly entrenched in a state of inertia.
 
Lazarus said:
You're not wrong about the state of people's awareness, William. Even now, several years after Freesat launched, a huge number of Sky Subscribers rarely watch anything they actually need the Sub for and are firmly entrenched in a state of inertia.
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Quite so ..
I have had numerous discussions with customers in my shop about satellite reception..
They wrongly assume satellite is sky and vice versa ..
Rupie has done a fabulous job of mis-educating punters imo.
Joe public is totally unaware for the most part that there are -any- other satellite services other than sky.
They actually use the the word 'sky' when they actually mean 'satellite'..
it beggars belief
 
There was a post today on one of the Brittany expat forums I belong to, where the person (who is domiciled in the UK and has a second home in Brittany) decided to cancel his subs. Sky came back to him with a 50% reduction for a year. Needless to say he's considering changing his mind about cancelling.
 
I got a 50% reduction for 3 years, after that they only offered me 25% so i told them to stick it. BT also got their marching orders :-lmao

Been with VM ever since and cant say i've had any problems :D
 
Vipersan said:
Quite so ..
I have had numerous discussions with customers in my shop about satellite reception..
They wrongly assume satellite is sky and vice versa ..
Rupie has done a fabulous job of mis-educating punters imo.
Joe public is totally unaware for the most part that there are -any- other satellite services other than sky.
They actually use the the word 'sky' when they actually mean 'satellite'..
it beggars belief
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Is that also not down to the diabolically poor marketing by freesat. What was the last advert for freesat you saw?
 
davemurgtroyd said:
Is that also not down to the diabolically poor marketing by freesat. What was the last advert for freesat you saw?
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Possibly Dave ...but you have to take into consideration that Sky /BSB got there first and a long time ago back when it was analogue ...
Once an idea is established in the public consciousness it is difficult to change it ..
No disrespect intended ..but we humans are for the most part 'herd animals' imo
Take VHS and Betamax as an example...
rgds
 
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