I honestly feel compelled to share my experience with Sky because I am absolutely appalled by the lack of compassion shown by customer service.
I recently contacted Sky to ask if I could cancel my Sky Stream subscription. I’m paying £50+ a month for a service that, quite honestly, none of us even use. My children don’t watch it and, at the moment, television is simply a luxury that we cannot justify.
I explained to the advisor that my circumstances have changed dramatically. I have had to leave my job to become a full-time carer for my terminally ill father. Our financial situation is completely different from when I originally took the contract out.
I wasn’t trying to avoid paying what I owe. I wasn’t asking for something for nothing. I was simply asking whether, given my circumstances, there was ANYTHING Sky could do to help me get out of a contract for a service that I can no longer afford.
I was told there was nothing they could do. I was reminded that I was in a contract and that if I wanted to leave, I would have to pay over £250.
£250 might not sound like a huge amount to some people, but when you are struggling financially and have had to give up your income to care for a terminally ill parent, it may as well be £2,500. I simply do not have that money.
I was in tears during the call.
And what upset me most wasn’t necessarily the fact that I was told I was in a contract. I understand what a contract is. It was the complete lack of compassion when I explained WHY I could no longer afford it.
Surely customer service should mean more than simply quoting the terms and conditions?
People’s circumstances change. People lose jobs. People become carers. People become ill. Families fall on hard times. Sometimes something that was affordable when a contract was taken out simply isn’t affordable anymore.
I appreciate that Sky cannot necessarily waive every contract whenever someone’s circumstances change. But I do believe there should be some level of discretion, compassion or support for genuine cases of financial hardship.
I left that phone call feeling absolutely awful. I was already struggling, and instead of feeling that someone had listened to me, I felt like I was just another contract number.
Sky, I genuinely hope someone reads this and thinks about whether this is really how customers in difficult circumstances should be treated.
