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Sky TV and broadband complaints from customers

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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

Sky - complaints from customers 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


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Olwen

Olwen

I used to get broadband via o2-VERY few problems, and if there were customer service were pleasant and helpful. Since Sky took over I have had episodes of the connection dropping out almost constantly, often for a couple of days at a time. Protracted phone calls (half an hour plus) have led to me being told that the problem is with my set up (extension cable from phone socket to study). Well, its been fine for about 13 years.. The last time it happened I rang back, got someone different who said 'Oh no-the whole of South Wales has been 'down' since last night'. This after 40minutes of being told it must be my equipment. Anyway, had problems again over the weekend. Rang this morning. Asked if there were Sky problems-no, all fine. The man I spoke to said he was not only 'Sky trained' but also a qualified engineer. Then the usual about how my system was breaking down, I must be using unsuitable extension cable, and my wireless box was sending messages to the exchange instead of the other way round. I should unplug and plug my box directly into the socket. This is not as easy as it sounds, as the phone socket is behind the front door, with a plant stand in front of it. Anyway, as I'd already done this, pointlessly, twice, I refused. The engineer got very cross and said he would have to make a note on my record that I had refused to cooperate (!!) and hung up on me. Since when the broadband has worked perfectly. Every one I speak to at Sky tells me that whoever I spoke to before shouldn't have said what they said. We are moving in a few months, at which point I shall change provider-very tempted to do it earlier. Feel better for getting that off my chest!
26/08/14 Olwen
0
i hate sky

i hate sky

yep they dont take any notice of complaints from anyone. there right ur wrong end of story.there customer care team are a bunch of idiots.that havent a clue wat there doing.they wont answer any of my questions as to why they have over charged me.
i know of 1 girl who used to work as a phone rep.she said that nearly everyone ignored the phones while they were ringing and continued to chat with each other.sky is a waste of space
30/05/12 i hate sky
-8
Ron Dell

Ron Dell

We are being taken for a ride by Sky, they do not take any notice of complaints,. I have been waiting for a invoice prior to the direct debit being taken. I have called 34 times, and the last time I was tald that it will cost £1, I agreed, and still have not recieved an invoice. It is important for pensioners like us to know what we are paying for and when. It seems that SKY do not care for customer complaits, today 14/03/2012. I tried again, spoke to a woman in customer services, but she left me hanging on for, after 15 minutes I hang up, as the line weht dead. Its about time they were taken to task.
20/03/12 Ron Dell
-8
Nastyblahb

Nastyblahb

I reside in the US. I have a holiday house in the UK. I come here for 2 months every year. Sky does not provide for a partial year service. I miss all that soccer that is not being shown on BBC1 Freesat but, Not going to pay for a year just to see soccer for 2 months. I'm sure that there are others that would like this opton.
27/11/11 Nastyblahb
-12
Graham1963

Graham1963

I Cancelled SKY direct debit before leaving to go abroad 2007, I used a new card to pay a months backdated they apparently asked for rather than allow a debit.
Later abroad I am looking at my bank online and noticed £29.00 going out each month but it said cash and not Sky as it used to so I didn't suspect them.

I had so many problems over 2 years with creditors for the Halifax as they were paying these £29.00 every month even when there was nothing in my bank as I transferred it before it could be withdrawn, Halifax would not talk to me as I was abroad and should not be using my online banking and suspended it.

2 Years later I returned to the UK and Westcot credit and Halifax were on my back for unpaid bank charges, even a meeting with a Halifax customer care agent could not tell me where this money was going every month, but they were asking if I had a court order for child maintenance or a fine from the courts or unpaid loan, she even cut my card up when I showed her it, told me the account was suspended.

Cut a long story short, it took a solicitor to find out that SKY used my card repeatedly to withdraw these amounts every month and that I gave them permission to use it over the phone. These debits went on for over 2 years and no one helped. It stopped in 2009 after the solicitor, the house was sold in 2007 and SKY still took the money, it still hasn't made SKY pay all the expenses for debiting my account unauthorised. I never use my card for one off payments and esp with companies cold calling or call centres. CROOKS
26/06/11 Graham1963
-12
Vik

Vik

Sky threatened to charge me full price for my second box as the telephone line was not connected. The problem is, that if I connect the boxes to the telephone line, our internet speed goes down to a tenth of what it is with the boxes unconnected. So I am paying for a service that I'm not actually receiving. I have written to Sky and spoken to them on the phone but of course have received no response to the fact that they are breaking their side of the contract.
17/05/11 Vik
-6
Brendon

Brendon

Do not even mention Sky to me. I am currently weighing up options with reference to a complaint I have raised. They are appaling and we are assessing whether we should take this to Watchdog or some governing body. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT USE THEM.
10/05/11 Brendon
-3
Believe in Better

Believe in Better

Are we believing in better? If you are then you know the only thing to do is to ditch Sky.
24/04/11 Believe in Better
-17
Gareth

Gareth

Would like to thank the sky engineer for banging and drilling in my next door neighbour's house on EASTER SUNDAY!! Have some respect!
24/04/11 Gareth
-18
Rosealone

Rosealone

I'm sick to the back teeth with Sky. My ex had an account with them whilst he was living here for 3 years. We have split up, he gave notice to Sky. I waited for the notice to finish expecting everything to be cancelled, a Mac code obtained and me merrily go to a new ISP. No chance! Sky have cancelled the cancellation "tagged" my phoneline apparently because he owes them money on his Sky account!

Noone can give me a straight answer, I was hoping my gaining ISP would be the ones to help but they seem helpless! and I'm fast drafting out a letter to Ofcom!!
08/04/11 Rosealone
-11
guide16

guide16

Sky tv was cancelled 14 months ago and they took the equipment away. They have now out of the blue put the debt collectors on to me for £230 for payments for the last 14 months. Talking to them is a waste of time. It is time the goverment took notice of this practise and changed consumer laws ie. if they do this they should be made to pay the consuner concerned say £10,000 compensation, they would quickly get their house in order
05/04/11 guide16
-15
NICE TO KNOW

NICE TO KNOW

Good to know I'm not alone since- dec 29th 2010 I have lost count of time on the phone writing letters and sending e-mails about canceling Sky TV. broadband and sky talk. They couldn't manage a simple change so I should have been with BT on 29/12 but sky didn't release the line - SLAMMING ?? from that date calls were free with BT. Sky are trying to charge for line rental and calls even when I have their letter giving cancelation date and another admitting they had a problem Letters have not been read, Account Dept. are still sending bills - now from debt agency. At least I stopped my direct debit WHAT ABOUT EVERYONE WITH A PROBLEM DOING THE SAME ??
02/04/11 NICE TO KNOW
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tommy verbretti

tommy verbretti

I have complete pleasure in reading everyones complaints here as for once I dont feel like im the only one!!!..i could write on a on and on about the problems iv had with sky with them illegally taking money from my account, set top boxes not working and viewing cards and the one and only CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!! absolutly GRADE A POO!!!!! oh and I quote "we will get back to you in the hour sir" this is skys biggest lie!!!!!..i am a 25 year old male who can look after myself on the telephone but I really really feel for all people who cant and sky rip off on a daily basis!!!RUPERT MURDOCH IF YOUR READING THIS I HOPE U ROT AND DIE IN HELL!!!!!! I would also very much like for anyone who would like to try to organise a petition or a strike against these BIGOTS of our society to reply to this meesage so we can start the ball rolling!!! we in england always sit back and let this happen on a daily basis!! LETS FIGHT BACK!!!!!
16/03/11 tommy verbretti
-3
tommy verbretti

tommy verbretti

I have complete pleasure in reading everyones complaints here as for once I dont feel like im the only one!!!..i could write on a on and on about the problems iv had with sky with them illegally taking money from my account, set top boxes not working and viewing cards and the one and only CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!! absolutly GRADE A POO!!!!! oh and I quote "we will get back to you in the hour sir" this is skys biggest lie!!!!!..i am a 25 year old male who can look after myself on the telephone but I really really feel for all people who cant and sky rip off on a daily basis!!!RUPERT MURDOCH IF YOUR READING THIS I HOPE U ROT AND DIE IN HELL!!!!!! I would also very much like for anyone who would like to try to organise a petition or a strike against these BIGOTS of our society to reply to this meesage so we can start the ball rolling!!! we in england always sit back and let this happen on a daily basis!! LETS FIGHT BACK!!!!!
15/03/11 tommy verbretti
-6
richi rich

richi rich

well having probs already after 4 days and if I do get more I will let you know how hard is it to be good at providing a service?broadband going off all the time worked first two days I will after a year change unless things improve customer service not the best!
25/02/11 richi rich
-9

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