Sky Broadband and customer service

macca

New Member
Jan 29, 2009
2
0
0
I subscribed to sky broadband on their midi package @ £5/month. 2 months later I receive a letter and email indicating tehy will increase my subscription from March to £10 unless I take up their Sky Talk option. I would like to do this to save £5 but I am tied into a contract with BT on my line rental for a further 7 months, if I renege on this I will be penalised by £14 per month x 7

To say I am disappointed in Sky is an understatement. Add to the mix the experience of trying to navigate their telephone and email helpline systems. Firstly the chap I spoke to did not have a good command of the english language and I struggled to understand him. Secondly I was put inot a call loop with ioptions that did not fit with my query. Thirdly I got through to an advisor and explained my situation, he agreed to credit my account by £35 for the 7 months I would be out of pocket paying £10/month instead of £5. He left me on hold and never came back. I phoned back and got throught o another advisor who knew nothing of my stroy so had to retell for her to put me on hold and again fail to answer my query. And so it goes on, I finally got a terse email suggesting I'd have to pay the £10 and put up with it.

Anyone have any tips on how to get a positive reponse from their customer service dept.? Also ideas on where I can lobby against this behaviour.
 

Tony

What Consumer Founder
Apr 7, 2008
18,307
3
38
Bolton
Hi Macca,

You have lobbied here! You need to make a formal complaint in the first instance.

Complaints

If you should have cause to complain about Sky Broadband, please contact Sky Broadband Customer Services. Sky does not have a refund policy, but, if you feel the service you receive falls below that which you should reasonably expect from Sky, we will ensure that your complaint is dealt with appropriately.

Call us on 08442 410 515, 8:30am to 11pm.

Write to us at:

Sky Broadband
PO Box 43
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 7DD
This is the advice from Ofcom:

Problems with your internet service -
Internet service bill and contract issues

Internet Service Providers, in common with other companies dealing with consumers, must comply with rules about unfair terms in consumer contracts. If you feel that a particular term of your contract is unfair, you should first speak to your Internet Service Provider about your concerns.
Action:

Speak to your Internet Service Provider

If the problem relates to a particular term or condition that you feel is unfair, then you can complain to Ofcom and ask us to investigate whether the term complies with consumer protection law.

It is likely that the problems you are experiencing are complex. In cases such as these it is usually best to talk through what has happened with one of our specialist advisers. This will enable us to get as many details from you as possible and give you specific guidance on what you should do next.

Please can you call us on Monday-Friday between 09:00 and 17:00. Our phone number is 020 7981 3040 or 0300 123 3333. If you are deaf or speech-impaired, our textphone number is 020 7981 3043 or 0300 123 2024. Please note that these numbers only work with special equipment used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Our fax number is 020 7981 3334. Welsh speakers can call 020 7981 3042 or 0300 123 2023.
Action:

Call one of our specialist advisers
Home page | Ofcom
 

macca

New Member
Jan 29, 2009
2
0
0
Thanks Tony, very helpful. I'll try that. I'm appalled by these standards and to hear they are now in a position to recruit an extra 1000 staff to support their HD workload. No wonder if they can hike the costs up by 100% no questions asked! I only hope a significant number are employed within their customer service dept. I fear not.
 

Tony

What Consumer Founder
Apr 7, 2008
18,307
3
38
Bolton
I am glad I am not very keen on sport otherwise I wouldn't really have any choice. I am changing to freesat as soon as I can - HD for free.

Top tip: when you phone up for cancel they will give you your sky subscription for half price for six months - I have done this a couple of times. It obviously works as I am still with them... I wonder if they will offer me a free Sky HD box.

Tony
 

Witch consumer

Moderator
Sep 8, 2008
1,593
3
0
Debtors retreat
I am surprised at this because I have been with Sky since they first did the trials (must have been in the 80's) and all my family have sky subscriptions and we have never had a problem with them and always,like Tony, manage to get something reduced in price or upgraded.

I have had a letter about the increase but I have the telephone line rental, calls, TV an BB max so it doesn't effect me, but i did get half price Sports rental when i phoned to cancel that.

All you can do is follow Tony's advice and complain, hey may still be willing to help you out, especially if you advise them you will transfer your telephone when your BT contract ends.