Sky insurance nightmare for Mum
This week I have a gripe about Sky. At the start of 2008 Mum received a phone call out of the blue from Sky asking her if she wanted to take out the £69 yearly insurance on her Sky+ digibox. Mum hesitated but then relented because the nice lady at Sky said the cover was "immediate" which was handy as the said box had not been recording properly for quite some time.
The "nice" Sky lady, however, failed to tell my Mum that all repairs, etc are carried out by a sub-contractor, in this case System Guard. Upon ringing their expensive telephone number Mum got into a state about the "procedure" she had to do when she reports a fault, so she got on to me about it.
I then rang System Guard myself to receive more detailed instructions, then rang Mum up with them. Unfortunately, the switching on and off of the box, resetting it, blah-de-blah did not work...so she rang them again.
Promising to bring a box round, then not bothering
I won't bore you with the rest because it gets complicated. However, what has become clear in the past month or so is the fact that Sky have been naughty in "selling" Mum insurance she really was not sure about and System Guard seem to think Mum has taken out said insurance so she can get a new box. In fact, it was their own Engineer (on one of their rare visits, usually they fail to turn up) who said Mum needed a new box.
On three occasions since then my Dad has stayed in the house awaiting the Engineer who "promised" to come round with a new box. No sign. Then Mum gets stressed upon returning from work to find her shiny, new Sky+ box has not materialised! It is the ringing up "promising" to bring a box round, then not bothering that really gripes me. My poor Dad is a virtual recluse waiting for these people. It's just not on!
Over the years Sky has made a fortune from subscriptions that - quite frankly - are a rip-off. I reckon it is about time we got something back...like a new, shiny box that replaces the old, faulty one. And how come they think we are all technically-minded? It is so annoying! This is the reason Mum got a Sky+ box in the first place, because she hates Video Recorders! It's been a godsend!
I have emailed both Sky AND System Guard (even the name sounds "dodgy" to me) and I have threatened them with "if this is not resolved in the next week you may as well take the box out."
These big companies make me sooo angry! Quick to take our money but not that quick to sort a minor problem out! I hope my email works!
By: Jane
Comments from visitors
I have had great service from a company called Local Digital Support that are based in Hampshire. They phoned me over 9 months ago to ask about the warranty, straight away they said they were Local Digital Support and they were nothing to do with Sky, the lady was very helpful as I had already taken out two other covers and I felt so ashamed I allowed it to happen. But they understood and even helped explain how I could cancel the other ones down and get my money back. I did manage to get my money back from the other companies them being Sky Protect and Box Cover. Since being with Local Digital Support I have had to use them three times and they have done everything they said they would I had an engineer out everytime within 2 days and they have replaced my box once and new cables. Not sure what is a reasonable price for a cover but I am paid £65.00 for the year.
+11
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Sue - Mid Glamorgan - 23-Dec-10 00:19
I actually started working for one of the warranty companies over a few months ago and before that I believed that all of them were out to get what they can from people. Its only now I can say that there are still many companies out there telling customers they are calling from sky your warranty is expired etc etc. All warranty and insurance companies paid data from companies and this information is obtained from consumer lifestyle surveys so I can confirm Sky don't pass on details on their customers. Sky will never call about extending the warranty on your sky system, the best why to find out with a company is real and honest is to check the website "Company House" to see if they are listed, ask them to send information in the post as they will if they honest and real, they will put the phone down if they are not, also they should have their own website with their terms and conditions. So please don't get put off by the fact there are bad companies out there because there are some that will be honest with you and do what they say they will do.
-1
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WorthKnowing - 22-Dec-10 23:57
They provide an excellent service and have always been very fast when making a claim
+5
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I run Direct Sitters, a short term house sitting service, that wait in for people who have tradesman, repairmen, and engineers from people like Sky. Therefore saving you asking family members, taking time out of your annual leave, losing out on a days' pay or work, or rescheduling your diary. we try to decrease the cost and inconvenience which these situation cause.
We experience this situation a lot. Many of our customers are fustrated that they are paying for a service that they never recieve. they are missold policies, and never fullfil their end of the agreement.
Its a shame that you all are going through this situation with Sky, and their sub-contractors. I would really suggest that you try some of Don't Get Done...Get Dom! tricks and keep on calling and email both Sky and the Sub-contractor till get to the manager/boss of the company. Sky may not directly be responsible, but if you are a unhappy customers they may want to correct that.
We experience this situation a lot. Many of our customers are fustrated that they are paying for a service that they never recieve. they are missold policies, and never fullfil their end of the agreement.
Its a shame that you all are going through this situation with Sky, and their sub-contractors. I would really suggest that you try some of Don't Get Done...Get Dom! tricks and keep on calling and email both Sky and the Sub-contractor till get to the manager/boss of the company. Sky may not directly be responsible, but if you are a unhappy customers they may want to correct that.
+7
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Marcus - Direct Sitters - 2-Jun-10 14:18
I had a similar experience, turns out that Sky don't actually have any of their own engineers, Domestic and General pay to use their logo so Sky Protect are the only "official" repair plan but they're the same people you've been waiting to arrive under a different banner. Try Satellite Repair Services based in Bournemouth, i've been covered with them for about 6 months and they're not only one of the cheapest, but they've given me a fantastic cover and I had a brand new replacement box on the same day when mine went pop! Hope you get it all sorted!
+1
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<> Get a life and learn to spell before cussing me!
+10
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Little wonder they didn't understand you, cleary and simply? hmm
0
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Here is another one E D Services Service Line saying they work for Sky they rang me this morning like an idiot I fell for it and agreed to pay £22.50 PER QUARTER FOR 2 YRS AND GET 12MONTHS FOR FREE later today I rang Sky to change my package and asked the lady about both Boss Direct and Service Line this is when I found out this one is a scam as well, the young man that rang sounded so cosher I gave him my bank details full name address and dat eof birth.thankfully my bank runs a fraud alert service which will cost me £6.99 a month if anyone tries to get anything on credit in my name so it can be stopped. so please dont hand your bank details to anyone even if they do sound ok ask them to send you a direct debit mandate to sign. the lady at sky said the only repairers they use is Repair + 1 their phone number is 08444810222
+3
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another sucker - 2-Oct-09 21:36
please does anyone have a phone number for these people they have just taken 110 pound out of my account. thanks
-2
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as a sky worker please be aware of the cost of the insurance
how may times would you need to call them out
if you pay 10.00 for instace for the cost of a repair that equals 120.00 per year
its only 65.00 for a service call aand if they cant fix it it would be replaced
how may times would you need to call them out
if you pay 10.00 for instace for the cost of a repair that equals 120.00 per year
its only 65.00 for a service call aand if they cant fix it it would be replaced
+6
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I've worked for one of these companies as an outbound sales agent and I know how they work. The cold calls are based on an assumption with a statement stating that you have sky because the majority of households happen to have sky. The cover is legitimate in most cases and can be cost affective however dealing with call outs is where the problem begins (a side to which I have had to deal with recently for myself) and is still continuing to be a problem. I'm constantly having to chase this company my household is currently with. About three weeks ago now I made the call as, 'no signal is being recieved' began flashing up on more and more channels. Within a few days the repairman came round and had a look at the dish, the part as it happens is "rare" so he told me he had ordered it and would be round in the week. So I waited a week and no sign of any one. I called them and they said that the part was on order and they could book me in for Friday. With no real option I accepted that day for the system to be finally be fixed.
Friday came and there was no repairman. I rang them and they said that they rang Friday morning and there was no answer, so I told them that I had asked to be rang on my mobile as the house phone is not always audible and my mobile is always in my pocket. So they took my mobile number again and he booked it in for today (Tuesday). I just got off the phone to them and they told me no such callout was on their schedule list, to this I said well check the call records and that will show you that I'm not making it up. I gave them my mobile number....again and told him to listen to the call I made on Friday and call me back. I'm now booked in tomorrow but to be honest I'm at the end of my tether. What shall I do, is it worth reporting them? I know that I'll most likely cancel with them as I can’t be dealing with this again. I’m interested to find out if anyone else has had problems with the company Systemguard in past? Appreciate any feedback.
Friday came and there was no repairman. I rang them and they said that they rang Friday morning and there was no answer, so I told them that I had asked to be rang on my mobile as the house phone is not always audible and my mobile is always in my pocket. So they took my mobile number again and he booked it in for today (Tuesday). I just got off the phone to them and they told me no such callout was on their schedule list, to this I said well check the call records and that will show you that I'm not making it up. I gave them my mobile number....again and told him to listen to the call I made on Friday and call me back. I'm now booked in tomorrow but to be honest I'm at the end of my tether. What shall I do, is it worth reporting them? I know that I'll most likely cancel with them as I can’t be dealing with this again. I’m interested to find out if anyone else has had problems with the company Systemguard in past? Appreciate any feedback.
+7
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I'll bore you with these details:
Sky charge you £49 for a box and some vouchers to spend in Marks and Spencers and you all think it is wonderful.
Now read the small print
1. You get charged either £30 or £60 connection fee.
2. You pay £678 per year to watch HD Channels
3. You have to pay out for a TV capable of recveiving HD Channels.
Not good when your all being ripped off by the UK Government!
£800 per year to drink water
£1400 per year to your Councils
Subsidising Mr. Fred Goodwins Pension and contributing funds to MPs to do their homes up.
Paying out £888 per month in HP Charges to drive a 4x4 that does 12 miles to a gallon and paying out £2088 in fuel costs over a distance of 20 miles per day for a year.
Getting double glazed windows for £3300 and paying back £8600 ( I saw this on a TV Advert in very small print)
You need to look at all of this as this is why your all in debt.
Welcome to Rip off Britain where the Government walk all over you.
Take care my children
Sky charge you £49 for a box and some vouchers to spend in Marks and Spencers and you all think it is wonderful.
Now read the small print
1. You get charged either £30 or £60 connection fee.
2. You pay £678 per year to watch HD Channels
3. You have to pay out for a TV capable of recveiving HD Channels.
Not good when your all being ripped off by the UK Government!
£800 per year to drink water
£1400 per year to your Councils
Subsidising Mr. Fred Goodwins Pension and contributing funds to MPs to do their homes up.
Paying out £888 per month in HP Charges to drive a 4x4 that does 12 miles to a gallon and paying out £2088 in fuel costs over a distance of 20 miles per day for a year.
Getting double glazed windows for £3300 and paying back £8600 ( I saw this on a TV Advert in very small print)
You need to look at all of this as this is why your all in debt.
Welcome to Rip off Britain where the Government walk all over you.
Take care my children
-11
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Dear All,
I wouldn't bother with those insurance companies.
£95 per year is rediculous.
With all these HD Channels coming out, these types of boxes including Sky+ will become obsolete.
Between Sky TV and Santanta Sports it costs £678 per year to subscribe to watch sports channels.
£520 per year for Sky Sports. (Maybe higher for their HD Channels and set up charges)
£158 per year for Santanta Sports. (Plus a £20 connection Charge)
The UK allows this to happen because OFCOM are failing to aqddress these issues.
I wouldn't bother with those insurance companies.
£95 per year is rediculous.
With all these HD Channels coming out, these types of boxes including Sky+ will become obsolete.
Between Sky TV and Santanta Sports it costs £678 per year to subscribe to watch sports channels.
£520 per year for Sky Sports. (Maybe higher for their HD Channels and set up charges)
£158 per year for Santanta Sports. (Plus a £20 connection Charge)
The UK allows this to happen because OFCOM are failing to aqddress these issues.
+7
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We had a phone call from digital satellite telling us our sky+ box was due for insurance, one payment of £95.99p would cover us for a year. And that a policy would follow, we paid by switch on the 19/09/2008 and have still not recieved anything. Could you help,or give us a phone number to contact them thankyou.
-3
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I took out insurance for my Sky equipment through Sytemguard earlier this year. We now have a problem but I have been unable to get through to them on the phone. They only qoute one number and for the past 5 days it has had a recorded message saying they are busy, please try later. Then the phone cuts off!!!! There is no option to hold or leave a message.
I've had enough and am going to ask the Citezens Advice Beureau to look into this as I feel it is a complete scam.
I've had enough and am going to ask the Citezens Advice Beureau to look into this as I feel it is a complete scam.
-2
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service poor signal always lost in heavy rain unlike analogue
very annoying telesales for insurance claiming £300 for a call out
Isaid I would have to cancel if it went wrong then, they dropped yahoo email which was useful if my computer goes down I get at leasrt 4 magazines with inserts every month which I don't want and never asked for
bow they are losing some good sport tothat other company Des Lynam advertisesit won't be long before I 'll be saving my£50 per month byy cancelling
very annoying telesales for insurance claiming £300 for a call out
Isaid I would have to cancel if it went wrong then, they dropped yahoo email which was useful if my computer goes down I get at leasrt 4 magazines with inserts every month which I don't want and never asked for
bow they are losing some good sport tothat other company Des Lynam advertisesit won't be long before I 'll be saving my£50 per month byy cancelling
+12
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Hi Jane
Forget about Sky, it's all adverts and repeats and its way over-priced. Get a thompson TV DTR (Digital TV recorded) which is £99.99 one off payment, you can get all the freeview channels and record anything on them, you can also upgrade to Top up tv (www.topuptv.com) which sends programmes of your interest to your freeview box for get this...£9.99 per month, no contract to sign can cancel month by month etc.
I urge you to try this, you can also get sports on this (not my interest but you can) also movies to.
Forget about Sky, it's all adverts and repeats and its way over-priced. Get a thompson TV DTR (Digital TV recorded) which is £99.99 one off payment, you can get all the freeview channels and record anything on them, you can also upgrade to Top up tv (www.topuptv.com) which sends programmes of your interest to your freeview box for get this...£9.99 per month, no contract to sign can cancel month by month etc.
I urge you to try this, you can also get sports on this (not my interest but you can) also movies to.
+8
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Yet another update to my gripe. BskyB have emailed me (using yet another new address of mysky@bskyb.com if anyone is interested) regarding System Guard. They confirm that they do not have anything to do with Sky, however, they have reliably informed me that the ONLY insurance firm they recommend (also, unconnected with Sky, as are all the insurers) are Domestic & General. Apparently, what Mum has to do is ring yet another Sky number (not free) and speak to someone in the Sky Repair Plan Team and they will refer her. Shambolic or what!!
-2
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Update to my gripe...Sky have not got back to me and System Guard deny having anything to do with Sky and have cancelled Mum's insurance payment to prove it. She still hasn't had her Sky+ box mended or replaced though. Back to Square One it seems!
+14
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1st period English:
That should be - you're not your.
2nd period Maths
My birthday is on the 7th August.
3rd period IT.
Press Alt + 171 = ½ not 1/2
That should be - you're not your.
2nd period Maths
My birthday is on the 7th August.
3rd period IT.
Press Alt + 171 = ½ not 1/2
+6
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