Canceled sky TV but still being billed.

[susam]

I cancelled sky TV at the start of May. I paid the bill for May and everything was set to be switched off and done with on the 31st May. 

I have emails stating this, I have a pending order for the pre paid boxes for their equipment to be returned. But now they are saying we owe them £110.40 for June and £90 for July.

I stopped the direct debit in May. So now they have blocked me from contacting them. Leaving me two options, either pay up or have the bailiffs come round and destroy my credit score. 

Any advice on what to next would be much appreciated. 

Thanks

[Daniel0210]

@susam 

Restart a payment method, pay what Sky say you owe and then any overpayment will be reimbursed. As you've discovered, cancelling the payments too early causes issues like this. 

[susam]

Why can't I just speak to someone. Why are they being childish like this? I don't owe them this money so why should I pay it? If I do pay, I'm sure it won't be fun trying to get it back either. 

[Mark39]

@susam you're billed as normal right up to the date your services cease, so you'll have been billed, in advance during your notice period. Inevitably that means you pay beyond the date your services cease, and Sky will, of course, refund the overpayment from that date. However they will expect the bill to be paid upfront and will pursue you if it's not. I believe most providers work in the same way. 

So I agree with @Daniel0210 - pay what they say you owe and await the refund. 

When you return your Sky equipment, be sure to obtain and keep proof of posting! 

[GD1]

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@susam wrote:

Why can't I just speak to someone. Why are they being childish like this? I don't owe them this money so why should I pay it? If I do pay, I'm sure it won't be fun trying to get it back either. 

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It's because you cancelled your direct debit prematurely and billing continues until the last day of service, Sky won;t speak to you as you need to reinstate your payment method and pay what you need to pay.  They are not being childish they are simply following the T & C's you agreed to.

[Daniel0210]

@susam 

Sky aren't being childish. It's the normal policy that when in arrears any calls to Sky only send you to make the payment. They won't speak to you until you pay I'm afraid. 

[PandJ2020]

The problem is the automated billing system generates bills 14 days before payment date - this creates normal bills (including the month in advance) until your cessation date has passed.  The system expects the bill to be paid - trying to circumvent this isn't advised.  As already noted this means you do pay past your cessation date.  (And the following bill generates a prorata credit back to the date of cessation)

We can only advise how it is...  without an active DD any credit can only be returned via cheque and can take longer.

You may be able to call from a number they don't recognise or use the 141 prefix to withhold but they may not be able to override the billing system.

[eldiablo]

I attempted to cancel my Sky TV subscription by both telephone and then by email. Sky were putting hurdles in the way of my cancellation and attempting to entice me to stay, which I did not want.  I then cancelled in writing (Royal Mail) on 22nd October, advising Sky that I would pay my next months subscription on 26th Oct to take into account beyond the 30-day notice period, which I did and then cancelled my direct debit.  I have since received a bill for my December subscription plus £13.99 for something the bill refers to as 'It ends with us' dated the 24th October. No idea what that is but I think it indicates that my cancellation was received and acted upon. The previous contributors to this article advise that the bill should be paid beyond the cancellation date and get a refund from Sky. Why on earth should you have to do that? A contract is a 2 way street and if cancelled within the required period of notice and payment made for that period that is all that is required.  Sky is only one party to the contract, they are not entitled to demand payment beyond the contractual requirements. 

[caesarome]

@eldiablo 

If you account has now been cancelled do you now see a credit on it for any overpayment as it is this that can be refunded if you do and help can be arranged for here if you want ?

[PandJ2020]

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@eldiablo wrote:

The previous contributors to this article advise that the bill should be paid beyond the cancellation date and get a refund from Sky. Why on earth should you have to do that?

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If a bill is generated during your notice period then it needs paying - regardless

of whether it goes past your cessation date.  The bill is generated as normal even if your services stops the following day.

Whilst I get your argument, trying to circumvent this process is going to consume your time and could result in further actions.  It's standard practice for telecoms to be paid in advance.

Of course, you are welcome to ignore this advice and go into battle with them.