Not sure what to do about downgrade and Plus to Q

[Nailz]

Long story but currently I have my own lounge and my elderly mother has her own lounge. I pay for the Sky subscription, I have a Sky+ HD box and my mum has a very old white Sky+ box using legacy multiroom. She loves how easy and basic it is, but it has started to make a horrible noise, I can't seem to open it as the screws are odd, I thought it might just be some dust, there are no videos on YouTube for the old white Plus boxes sadly in how to get in to it so I may not be able to fix it, meaning a change will be needed as it is far too loud to put up with.

I no longer watch Sky, but kept the sub going because I thought I might one day use it again, and I still pay for my mums usage. I also have Freesat on my Smart TV. I used to watch Sky a lot but the last few years I tend to spend almost all my viewing time on YouTube. I can also watch any Sky I want with my mother if I really needed to see a subscription channel.

I have been with Sky for 22 years. My current bill is £42, this is made up of £22 for Sky Signature, £5 for HD, and £15 for Sky Multiscreen. I am not told if I am still in a contract or if this is already discounted. I rang up around 18 months ago to get a cheaper price, but I don't know if that had run out or not.

Given the cost of living these days Sky is a luxury I don't really need but I do want to keep my mum with it as she watches it all the time.

So I have some options, before I ring Sky is anyone able to answer the below ? Thanks.

1. If I cancel the HD add-on (my mum doesn't care about HD) and multiscreen, and give my mum my Sky HD box (meaning I take £5+£15 off my bill), would I get Sky Signatue for £22 still or would that increase ? Would I be locked in to more of a contract ?

2. I hear they are giving free Sky Q boxes to people who have the old Sky+ boxes due to SD being turned off soon on FTA channels. Would I likely still get the free Sky Q box if I cancelled my multiscreen and HD sub ? As mentioned my sub is made up of Sky HD box and a white Sky+ box, so they might not give it free if once I kill multiscreen they know I still have a Sky HD box in the house.

3. Is Sky Q easy to use for someone in their 80s who is not too techy minded ? 

Thanks for your help !!

[Mark39]

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@Nailz wrote:

1. If I cancel the HD add-on (my mum doesn't care about HD) and multiscreen, and give my mum my Sky HD box (meaning I take £5+£15 off my bill), would I get Sky Signatue for £22 still or would that increase ? Would I be locked in to more of a contract ?

Assuming you're now 'out of contract' you would still be able to negotiate a discount on the Signature package with Sky.  All discounts involve a new contract as a 'quid pro quo'.

2. I hear they are giving free Sky Q boxes to people who have the old Sky+ boxes due to SD being turned off soon on FTA channels. Would I likely still get the free Sky Q box if I cancelled my multiscreen and HD sub ? As mentioned my sub is made up of Sky HD box and a white Sky+ box, so they might not give it free if once I kill multiscreen they know I still have a Sky HD box in the house.

Unlike Sky+ boxes, Sky Q boxes are loaned to you and never become your property. There's an activation fee which I believe Sky are currently waiving for customers switching from Sky+. Best to speak directly to Sky. Do be aware that Sky Q and Sky+ are not mutually compatible - once you switch, you won't be able to use a Sky+ box.

3. Is Sky Q easy to use for someone in their 80s who is not too techy minded ? 

I'm not (quite) in my 80s so can't answer that. Sky Q is certainly different and may take some getting used to.

Thanks for your help !!

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@Nailz answers above! 🙂

[TimmyBGood]

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@Nailz wrote:

2. I hear they are giving free Sky Q boxes to people who have the old Sky+ boxes due to SD being turned off soon on FTA channels. Would I likely still get the free Sky Q box if I cancelled my multiscreen and HD sub ? As mentioned my sub is made up of Sky HD box and a white Sky+ box, so they might not give it free if once I kill multiscreen they know I still have a Sky HD box in the house.

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https://www.sky.com/help/articles/bbcupgrade 

[Nailz]

Thanks both of you. Does anyone know though is £22 a month for Signature on a brand new Sky Q box is even possible (if I remove the HD and Multiroom element) ? I am just imagining they won't think it enough to cover the new Sky Q box. I will give them a ring but just curious in the meantime. 

[TimmyBGood]

@Nailz 

I suspect the reluctance will be to provide Signature for that while also not charging an up-front fee for the LNB replacement and hardware loan: typically the Sky model is to quote a significant amount to carry out the 'upgrade' and then reduce this if 'add-ons' are subscribed to.