Spouse passed away, Sky won't cancel phone contract

[Olympus]

I bought my wife a Samsung Galaxy Flip 5 for Christmas, on my Sky Mobile Account. Sadly, she has passed away and Sky won't allow me to cancel the contract because it's in my name. I'm stuck paying £31 a month for a phone I don't want. Can they get away with this?

[SKY1992bf · Accepted solution]

@Olympus  sorry for your loss but unfortunately as the contract is in your name and not your wife's they can hold you to the contract I'm afraid 

[caesarome]

Sorry for your loss @Olympus 

Have you spoken to Sky about this so that the account can be changed to your name as per this:

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/deceased-sky-account-holder

[SKY1992bf]

@caesarome  The op is already the account holder, they wanted to cancel the phone but because it's not in the wife's name sky are refusing to allow cancellation which is within their rights to do so 

[Olympus]

Thanks for the replies. Certainly within their rights but as a Sky customer for 23 years, I'd have thought a bit of give and take would have been allowed.

[caesarome]

Yes I misread the OPs opening post.

Sky are within their rights to not let you cancel as who your purchased it for doesn't come into it I'm afraid.

[SKY1992bf]

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@Olympus wrote:

Thanks for the replies. Certainly within their rights but as a Sky customer for 23 years, I'd have thought a bit of give and take would have been allowed.

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They can use their discretion but aren't obligated to as you have unfortunately discovered 

[nataliemary]

Sorry to hear - shame on Sky if they don't cancel. 

[daveNOS]

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@nataliemary wrote:

Sorry to hear - shame on Sky if they don't cancel. 

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@nataliemary Sky have no reason to be ashamed at all, no provider would cancel a credit agreement in these circumstances, they would only do so if the agreement was in the name of the person who has sadly passed away.

[nataliemary]

Why would you go out of your way to say that? There has to be a reason why you would give up your time to say that?

[Daniel0210]

@nataliemary 

Unsympathetic as Skys response may sound under the circumstances I'm afraid it's correct. 

Edited to reflect my post is about Skys response not the post from @daveNOS 

[daveNOS]

@nataliemary i said what I said because it's the facts, it in no way helps the OP when you try to shame a company that isn't in the wrong.

You may consider my post unsympathetic if you want to but it's not intended to be that way, it's just stating facts.

And before you head down the road I fully expect you to, I probably understand more than most as to what the OP is going through(I lost my fiance and unborn child not to long ago) , and I wouldn't want people to get my hopes up over something that isn't going to happen at such a difficult time. 

[Daniel.a04]

Hi @Olympus ,

Unfortunately, as you signed the contract terms in your own name, Sky are within their rights to not cancel and waive early disconnection fees/further payments.

If you cancel your data plan before the end of your minimum term, early termination charges will apply.

If there’s still an amount left to pay for your device, you'll need to pay it off or your monthly repayments will carry on. Alternatively, if you don’t want to keep the device, you can return the device and Sky will give you an amount for it to go towards paying off what’s left.

You can find more information regarding how to cancel here: https://www.sky.com/help/articles/cancelling-sky-mobile .

Regards,

Daniel. 

[Olympus]

Thanks for all the responses. I get that I signed a contract but had no idea my wife would pass away. The bottom line is that I need £31 a month much more than Sky does.

[Daniel0210]

We understand what you're saying @Olympus but unfortunately Sky are well within their rights to do this.