Dish not allowed at new address and still in contract. What options please?

[pesda+cofi]

Hello everyone.

The community has been so helpful in the past so I'm back again on behalf of my 81 yo father in law. SkyQ customer; basic entertainment package (whatever its called these days) plus Sky Sports and also TNT sports all in contract till Aug 25

He has just moved to a flat in a retirement complex. Despite our nagging to check, he assumed that the management company would let him put his own dish up outside so he could continue to watch skyQ... they won't. There is a sat distribution system in the block but a single feed. It has been tested with SkyQ box  (not by me!) but no signal so assume at this point LNB for the distribution system is "Old Style" SkyHD. We will double-check with the management company that this is correct

He has contacted Sky to ask to cancel SkyQ contract because he can no longer get a service. Understandably, as he is in contract, Sky CS have said no but that he must call again in July next year to cancel. No other options were given. At least that is what he tells us. He's not great on the phone but won't let any of us contact Sky on his behalf.

Anyway, I have some thoughts/questions and would be grateful for views.

The blanket 'no. come back next year' seems a little lacking in CS experience. Should they not at least give a quote to pay the contract up in full now? Yes it would be a lump sum but avoids RPI+ price rise next spring and brings resolution now.

Is there no option to replace an in-contract SkyQ contact with a (new) Sky stream contract, or do they not do that sort of thing?

Finally, is there some escalation route that he (we) can utilise to try get the contract cancelled (or a better solution) rather than go through regular customer services? I fully understand that this is all his own doing but this is now causing distress to an elderly couple (mother in law particularly)

As said, I appreciate the liability is his but lack of alternatives apart from see you in 12 months seems to be poor CS experience.

Thanks all

PS, if he is stuck in contract we've mentioned he could still utilise sky go/sky go extra via tablet, laptop or games console but that doesn't appeal as "a faff" Thx

[GD1]

@pesda+cofi  Presumably they can get their own broadband line?  An option my be Sky stream instead, however it is very different to Sky Q in that all channels and on demand is streamed, and it uses playlists not recordings, Sky would or shoukld allow you to move to stream, but it may involve a new minimum term.

Minimum broadband speeds required are 25mbps for HD & 35mbps for UHD.

Sky are not obliged to let to buy out your existing contract I'm afraid.

[pesda+cofi]

thanks @GD1. Yes Broadband (EE) is already up and running. Will do a speedtest on my next visit.

Thanks also re sky stream. I really thought this would be offered as an alternative as no dish was possible and very surprised that CS didn't raise it as an option