Sky Q prices

[MR111]

I have a friend who has Sky Q, Ultra Sky HD, Sky HD and TNT sports. He has Sky Broadband, Landline and has been a customer of Sky since it began.

His bill will be going up to £149 per month and he is nearly 89 years old. He can't possibly afford that amount per month on a pension? He didn't even ask for Ultra HD. I called Sky on his behalf because I couldn't understand why it was so high. He asked me to cancel Ultra HD, TNT sports but it wouldn't change the bill until 31 days. Now they have removed Discovery channel and History channel. Can anyone help me and advise me about this situation please? 

[TimmyBGood]

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@MR111 wrote:

Now they have removed Discovery channel and History channel. Can anyone help me and advise me about this situation please? 

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Those channels aren't individually removable, but if they've taken the HD supplement off the subscription to reduce the bill then only the SD versions will work.

[MR111]

Surely those prices aren't right. Been a customer since Sky began. Also got told two different things by two Sky advisors. They are charging him so much. I have Sky Stream (puck) and pay £31 for Sky tv plus £19 for Sky broadband. I understand he has TNT sports but how can a pensioner afford that per month? 

[Chodley]

Depends how rich the pensioner is I guess.

It sounds about right to me. I pay £90ish and have no sports, no broadband, no landline.

You could try to negotiate a discount in exchange for 24 month lockin.

[MAL65]

Hi

I'm sorry to hear about your friends predicament, there was a time where Sky would have been far more approachable and willing to help, whilst also keeping the contract.

I'm in similar situation, (cost wise but not in a vulnerable situation like your friend) been with Sky for 24 years. My monthly bill is going up to over £150 per month. I've phoned twice now as it is due to change next month - ended the calls, albeit politely as the only 'change' or discount offered was to switch me to Sky Glass, which I do not want, then got pressured into taking a call back because I wouldn't  make the decision there and then. 

On a totally separate note - smart move that Sky bump us to the Sky Community, we can vent, help one another solve issues, but essentially it deflects from their really declining, poor service. I've got 24 years to evaluate and they have definitely declined, especially in customer handling, choice and how we get to actually speak to someone who knows what you are talking about. I've tried using the designated line to 'complain' and it takes me back to the call centre that has been handling my initial enquiries. As soon as possible I will be ending my contract with all things Sky. 

Good luck trying to alter the contract terms 😞

[Daniel0210]

@MAL65 
It’s apparent these days that significant discounts are harder to come by 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 customer so don’t expect anything close to a new customer deal which would be unrealistic.

As you're planning to move providers as soon as your discounted period finishes remember that in 18 months time 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 time.

[mappion]

No question that it has become much more difficult to get a decent deal these days on Sky Q.

Interestingly I recently went through this situation and here's what happened. My discount period was running out in 5 weeks and my bill was due to increase from just under £70 a month to over £90. I am not on Sky Broadband and do not subscribe to Kids, Sports or Multiroom but have everything else, e.g. HD/UHD Cinema and also Netflix Boost to Premium. Also been with Sky for over 25 years. A brand new customer by the way could currently get that package at a discount for £67.50 plus a £20 one off charge.

There was an online offer on my account at over £77 available. Anyway I phoned and the best they would offer was over £74. I said that in that case I would be phoning again in a week to cancel when I was at the 31 day termination notice date. Needless to say they also tried the hard sell to try to move me to Sky Stream and also take up Sky Broadband.

I phoned again a week later at the 31 day time (I was prepared to cancel by the way) and this time after looking at the previous call record they passed me over to a different team this time based in the UK (I assume 'retentions' although it's not called that) and spoke to a pleasant young lady who after looking at things offered me a price about £8 less that what I was currently paying. I therefore accepted this.

Needless to say it is very important to keep things friendly and very polite and be prepared if necessary to actually go through with a cancellation if you cannot get a suitable deal. I have heard that sometimes people are sometimes contacted during that 31 day period if you do cancel and offered a better deal but obviously that cannot be guaranteed.

All a sign of the times I'm afraid with every large company (insurance being a classic) tending to penalise existing long term customers and only offering deals to new customers.

[TimmyBGood]

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@mappion wrote:

All a sign of the times I'm afraid with every large company (insurance being a classic) tending to penalise existing long term customers and only offering deals to new customers.

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Actually car and house insurance is the one business sector where there's specific regulation against that practice, which is possible because the FCA has wide-ranging powers: Ofcom could not do the same for either subscription television or broadband.

https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-confirms-measures-protect-customers-loyalty-penalty-h...