Sky TV and broadband complaints
02-September-2010
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Sky TV and broadband complaints

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Here at The Weekly Gripe we receive a lot of email from people who have had problems with Sky, either the equipment, the service or sometimes the customer complaints department.  Occasionally visitors mistakenly believe this website is a means to get in contact with Sky or help resolve issues.  Whilst we can't put you in touch with Sky or actually help solve these issues, The Weekly Gripe is always there to help you vent your frustration.  These are just a few of the Sky gripes submitted recently.

My gripe is with Sky! I have been trying since the end of November to get a response from their customer services department.  No luck so far.  They have taken an extra £30 on my direct debit because I changed the date of the direct debit.  At no point was I advised by the phone operator that this would happen.  When I called them to complain the supervisor I spoke to told me that I needed to e-mail the details in so that they verify.  I have been doing this constantly since 27th November and not once have I had a response.  I have been to many forums and located many different e-mail addresses gof which I have e-mailed and none of which have ever responded.

Does anyone know any e-mail address or snail mail address that I can get a response from?  Has anyone had an similar issues?  Any advice or response would greatly be appreciated....
Most annoyed with Sky, AKA Gemma

Sky TV set-top boxes - They tell us all to be more green by turning your set-top box on to standby and that it could save enough power to run a city the size of Birmingham.  As a so called self confessed 'carbon neutral' company, did it ever occur to them to put an OFF button on this set-top box?  We could run the rest of the country for free if they had done this.  Personally, turn set-top box off at the socket every time I'm not using it, as a device on standby can still use up to 50% of the electricity it would when powered on.
Harry Martin

Oh dear, silly me.  I thought I could just phone the Sky number on the leaflet and get some information regarding the "Introduce a friend to Sky" thing.  I did get through, only to be told to phone another number which I did.  After navigating another maze of options, I was eventually put on hold with the most irritating music playing until I gave up and went to the website instead.  I came across The Weekly Gripe only to find others with complaints about Sky.

I have finally convinced my elderly mother that she would love SKY, as she is a big tennis fan and would get to watch all the live matches.  Having promised to get it organised for her, I now feel committed to pursue this horrible journey through their crap, inefficient and time-wasting 'service' just when I have a million other things I should be doing.  Couldn't they try to be more efficient and make the process easier?
Maggie

Credit crunch, downturn, Recession... call it what you like.  Most of us are having to tighten our belts and being disabled for the last 11 years this certainly applies to me.  So I thought I would contact Sky to ask a question via their website.  The automated thingamajig was useless so I typed in my question which was, "Will they send me a Freesat card?  If so, can I put into my Sky box and receive Freesat channels so that I can reduce my subscription cost because I can no longer afford £47 per month.  Alternatively would they simply change the cost to that advertised on television for new subscribers a week on."

Have I had a phone call from Sky?  No, of course not.  Have I had a courteous email response?  Nope, haven't heard a thing from Sky!  Can anyone tell me, if I simply stop paying, will I still get BBC, ITV, 4&5?  I'm out of contract having had the equipment for 10 years, can they just switch me off - is that what they do?  I don't trust them to tell me the truth!
NOGS

I'm disabled, and getting online to do my banking, contact friends and buy groceries etc. are essential parts of my life.  I changed from Virgin to Sky and now wish I had never heard of them.  It takes on average 19 minutes to get into my bank account and getting my e-mail is equally bad.  Contacting Sky, I am told that I must be using the system when there is a particularly heavy usage, or that I am accessing a particularly popular site.  RUBBISH.  How is my e-mail a popular site, and why is my bank so busy at 11.30 P.M. that I can fall asleep waiting for a statement?  Are all the other poor souls who can't get through any other time trying to stay awake in case there's a slot?  This is a slow, useless service, and the only reason I am stuck with wasting my money on it is that I cant afford to pay the rest of the subscription for the year should I leave.
Beredeza

I Have cancelled my Sky account Feb 2007.  Direct debit kept being taken out of my account.  After 3 phone calls I finally got my money back.  Since then I have had 2 bills saying that I owe £250+ After speaking to customer care on a couple of occasions, they said that there was a problem with the computer and that it had been sorted meaning that my balance was now zero.  Since then I have been contacted by Wescot recovery services stating that I owe £250.94.  I rang Sky again and was told that they were sorry and that they will let Wescot know.  I rang Wescot today to check if they had received a call from Sky in which they replied that they had not.  I have to ring Sky again today or I am sure that I will have bailiffs at my door soon when I owe them nothing.  THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE WORSE SERVICE THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED.
Gary Binns

I have been with Sky broadband for under two months and I can say a Sinclair ZX spectrum was more reliable.  After at least two weeks trying to log on for the first time, I subsequently find it does not like to log on very often on weekends.  As the equipment works when I actually manage to get online, I can only assume the problem is down to a particularly bad Internet service provider who have over subscribed and their system cannot cope.  A byproduct of the failings of this company has shown an almost non-existent complaints system!
Mickey C


Other Related Gripes

Moving Sky to my new home was a nightmare
Introduce a friend to Sky TV offer
Sky existing customers treated poorly
Sky Freesat wasn't exactly free
TV on-screen logos are annoying
TV complaints, if you don't like it turn it off
An hour wasted on the phone to Sky
Playstation taken by Sky Installers
Sky insurance nightmare for Mum
Great all round service from BT and Sky
Wasting money on Sky and Sky Plus
Why would you want to cancel Sky?
Trouble getting Sky Broadband
Sky problems driving me mad
Sky Movies a waste of money
Sky Movies PIN number annoying
Sky - No Satellite Signal Received
Sky plus recording problems
Problems with Sky HD
Broadband problems with Sky Plus
Sky customer service a joke





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every time I try to write comments on a news subject I cant get access.WHY?after all I pay sky for my phone, computer and t.v.and so does my family.Please amend this or I will switch to another company.
*annie  28-Aug-2010 14:25

 
How is it legal for Sky to switch off parts of your machine i.e. hard drive on Sky+ box when you own the box? I know this may sound paranoid and could well be, but if sky can turn parts of your machine off via a sat signal(box was not connected to phone line) then what is to stop them in making the box go wrong if you do not subscribe to their extended warranty. I have had three of the old type amstrad boxes stop working within three months of the warranty expire, costing me £60 each time for a reconditioned, not new, box. Its things such as this that start conspiracy theories.I would be interested in any comments as to the legality of stopping parts of something you OWN from working. I know it would be legal IF THEY still had ownership of the box such as is with the Virginmedia contract
*spetrep  13-Aug-2010 11:36

 
Sky tv... sky broadband... what a load of crap. simple
*Georg  09-Aug-2010 15:54

 
Sky Broadband are AWFUL!!! They recently introduced a £7.50 maxi price.. but do existing customers get it?? B**locks do they!! Had to dial a 118 number a while ago, to ATTEMPT to find the landline number for broadband support. The BT (118-500) guys didn't have it registered, which mean dialling the 0844 number.. to my expense! And all they did... they're going to send me new "points" because they thought mine were worn.. Bunch of asswipes... I'm ditching Sky, its TV and its broadband... absolute disgrace
*Tiesto  05-Aug-2010 23:31

 
As an existing SKY tv customer I completed an online upgrade for multiroom. I was logged in with my sky id at the time and was offered a HD box for free and free installation on the condition of committing to a 12 month contract. It was also decided that we also wanted the movies and sports packs added as we were better off financially. Being happy with this I proceeded with the order. I received confirmation emails of my order and then an email to say I needed to call sky. On calling sky I was informed that my order was being processed manually even though I received an email confirming my order was accepted. I was told a sky rep will contact me within 24/48 hours. No call 3 days later so I called again to find out what was going on. I was informed that I had to pay £199 for the HD box as I was a previous HD customer. I did try to explain that I have never received a subsidised box since joining sky over 10 years ago and have paid full price for all the boxes I have had from the first standard box, sky plus and HD. The sky rep did not want to know and insisted that the cost of the box will be £199. I did ask if sky would honour the offer I was originally offered via the website (Free HD Box when subscribing to multiroom) I was basically told no way as this was a website error. After all this I have now asked to cancel my sky contract and will be moving over to Virgin who offer free multiroom and will replace faulty boxes should they develope a fault. Sky boxes belong to the customer and it is the customers responsability to repair or replace a faulty box.
*Andy. S  05-Aug-2010 00:23

 
I have had variable reception ever since going to sky, maybe not helped by trees on adjoining property but initially I got an independent guy to fix the poor sky installation. Since then, I get period of good reception but mainly poor or only some channels. Sometimes it is obviously extreme weather that causes problems but other times not. I have complained on numerous occasions and once or twice it has been miraculously fixed. My point is that surely you should only pay for what you receive? Sky owe me at least about £24 x 24 months........ consumer rights?
*pete g  28-Jul-2010 21:36

 
one of your sales staff called at my mother age 89 who has alziemers and got her to sign up for a tv package she took her debit card and got her to sign up mum thought she wasone of her carers she somehow got mums phone number I dont know how as she cant remember it .i am trying to get a newspaper to take up the story all so watchdog.a very un happy daughter
*sandra  09-Jul-2010 14:37

 
I have had the exact same problem as Jim Coulson (5/20/2010)
They keep selling this so called debt on to other recovery companies....
I have tried ringing ,emailing,being calmed,getting mad....sometimes I get replies saying they will not continue with it,and other times I have had threats from the bailiffs.The lastlot seem particularly aggressive and say that if I do not make a payment over the phone or ring SKY to sort it then to expect a visit from the bailiffs.
I was very angry and ended up putting the phone down.It seems the only language they understand is money and I will not ring SKY again because they are just so thick and cannot deal with the simplest request.I have rung them enough times over the years anyway (to no avail) and it has probably cost more than the so called debt is worth.
I suffer from high blood pressure and now am having palpitations with the stress of the phone call.
I feeling like suing them!!!!!!
does anyone know my rights?
I'd like to think they will leave me alone ,but am on pins now thinking they are going to knock on the door.If I thought I owed them,I would pay it.They OWE ME!!!! CHARGED ME £50 for a SKY plus box I never received.
would love some help on this so I can be armed with some knowledge when they do call.
I will NEVER pay this money
oh...and I still get letters from SKY saying they miss my custom and would I come back to them....the cheek of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*verymadmum  05-Jul-2010 15:50

 
I have had the exact same problem as Jim Coulson (5/20/2010)
They keep selling this so called debt on to other recovery companies....
I have tried ringing ,emailing,being calmed,getting mad....sometimes I get replies saying they will not continue with it,and other times I have had threats from the bailiffs.The lastlot seem particularly aggressive and say that if I do not make a payment over the phone or ring SKY to sort it then to expect a visit from the bailiffs.
I was very angry and ended up putting the phone down.It seems the only language they understand is money and I will not ring SKY again because they are just so thick and cannot deal with the simplest request.I have rung them enough times over the years anyway (to no avail) and it has probably cost more than the so called debt is worth.
I suffer from high blood pressure and now am having palpitations with the stress of the phone call.
I feeling like suing them!!!!!!
does anyone know my rights?
I'd like to think they will leave me alone ,but am on pins now thinking they are going to knock on the door.If I thought I owed them,I would pay it.They OWE ME!!!! CHARGED ME £50 for a SKY plus box I never received.
would love some help on this so I can be armed with some knowledge when they do call.
I will NEVER pay this money
oh...and I still get letters from SKY saying they miss my custom and would I come back to them....the cheek of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*verymadmum  05-Jul-2010 14:50

 
I ordered SKY TV on 10/06/2010, customer service is told me that the engineer will come and install SKY HD box on 27/06/2010 however it didn't happen the engineer is simply left message that on my land line telephone saying that he is sick, SKY is mess up my weekend day out so I called SKY on 28/06/2010 to reschedule my installation they told me the time is available on 8 July 2010 only, I called the installer about this however they told me that their available ASAP but SKY wouldn’t let them to install and I will not able to see "Football" on SKYHD. This is the customer promise from SKKKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYY.
Pure on customer promise
*umaselvan kulan  28-Jun-2010 22:03

 
I changed from Sky to BT for Broadband and calls in early march and in spite of loads of calls and letters to their customer relations department (pause for hollow laugh) they are STILL charging me and taking direct debits from my account. I've been unable to cancel them because they are set up on my Visa card.

Is this theft?
*steamin  27-Jun-2010 23:25

 
this is meant to be skys year of the customer,i got hd at xmas and received 160gb hd box and not new one as launched then,my package must have a movie pack at minimum of 96 quid a year,supertelly doesnt have such tie ie,they also changed downgrades to 31 days notice moving goalposts in their favour not mine
*mick40  16-Jun-2010 16:46


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