Mid Term Price Increase

[GyFU]

My broadband cost increased by 28% on 3 August. Spoke to Sky on phone but they were unwilling to negotiate, presumably thinking a 28+% increase is reasonable or more likely they know it's within the contract terms and I can't do anything about it. If I chose to cancel the broadband I could arrange for an  alternative supplier to pay the Sky early contract . cancellation charge. But that means you lose all the discounts on any other Sky products you have so an alternative supplier is not an option. None of this was mentioned by the Sky employees I spoke to. As a Sky customer for more than 4 years I am not happy. My Sky contracts finish on 3 February next year and you can be sure as eggs are eggs I'll be leaving.

[Chrisee]

@GyFU Sky apply their annual price increase in April any change in orice for your service is likely to be due to a discount ending. These offers do have expiry dates which while given in the correspondence when you bought the product do get forgotten. Given normally broadband and TV servicesxare on separate contracts  are you sure thst cancelling one would remove discounts on the others? It is possible you boughtva bundled deal but these are quite rare.

Sky like many other companies offer attractive prices to attract new customers which expire and are not then available so the customer is moved onto a higer price point. Nothing wrong with that if you are unwilling to pay the hugher price  shop around but be aware all companies are in business to make money so dont expect cheap prices lasting forever. With Sky you have to wait 18 months before you become a "new" customer again.

[Daniel0210]

@GyFU 
The usual reason for a bill increase (apart from the inevitable annual price rise each April), is that your discounts have ended. Perhaps compare the latest bill with previous ones to see where it differs.

If your discounted minimum term has ended or its ending soon the best new discounts are still normally acquired by contacting Sky and negotiating or potentially amending your package which will require a new 24 month minimum term contract.

’Significant’ discounts seem harder to come by these days so if you’re offered something acceptable be prepared to agree to it there and then because if you decide to think about it the offer is unlikely to be available when you call back. Also remember you’re not a new Sky customer so don’t expect anything on a par to a new customer deal.

See this link…
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/change-your-package-2-t2#downgrade

If you decide it’s no longer value for money and you’re thinking of changing providers remember that at the end of their minimum term you'll be in the same position with that company at which point you'll be able to return to Sky and benefit from the new customer discounts available at that particular time.

[PandJ2020]

You should be able to leave without ETC if the increase is a result of an increase (and not discounts expiring)

Either way you won't lose your discounts on non-broadband products.

[MarkGoldsmith]

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@PandJ2020 wrote:

You should be able to leave without ETC if the increase is a result of an increase (and not discounts expiring)

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I thought that only applied to within 30 days of being informed of the price increase, rather than within 30 days of the price increase taking effect, so its possible that window has closed.

[PandJ2020]

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@MarkGoldsmith wrote:

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@PandJ2020 wrote:

You should be able to leave without ETC if the increase is a result of an increase (and not discounts expiring)

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I thought that only applied to within 30 days of being informed of the price increase, rather than within 30 days of the price increase taking effect, so its possible that window has closed.

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OP says increase on 3 August?

[Me134]

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@GyFU wrote:

My broadband cost increased by 28% on 3 August. Spoke to Sky on phone but they were unwilling to negotiate, presumably thinking a 28+% increase is reasonable or more likely they know it's within the contract terms and I can't do anything about it. If I chose to cancel the broadband I could arrange for an  alternative supplier to pay the Sky early contract . cancellation charge. But that means you lose all the discounts on any other Sky products you have so an alternative supplier is not an option. None of this was mentioned by the Sky employees I spoke to. As a Sky customer for more than 4 years I am not happy. My Sky contracts finish on 3 February next year and you can be sure as eggs are eggs I'll be leaving.

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Even if you calculated the annual price increase percentage on your discounted price (Sky calculate on full price) you wouldn't get near 28% so I'm going to guess that your broadband is now out of minimum term. It's extremely unusual to see a bundled price for BB & TV (although not impossible), go into your Sky account and check the contract end dates, if BB is on a rolling monthly deal you're welcome to try and negotiate or of course switch.

[GyFU]

Thank you all for your input. It was remiss of me not to notice till it was too late to take any action on the broadband increase. Although currently I'm a Sky customer for nearly 4 years I've previously had spells with them over more than 30 years usually changing to cheaper deals elsewhere when it suits; so I think I know how to play the game! I will retain my Sky contract/s until 4 Feb next year. If I were to leave right now I could get broadband, Sky sports and Freely for £50 a month and that will meet my needs. Hopefully similar deals will still be available next year.