Am very fed up with skys unfair pricing

[Max2thous10]

I recently contacted sky regarding the cost of my Sky package which works out at £36.50 a month. I was appalled that a new customer (a friend) had been given the Sky World package at half price and with a free sky+ box and free installation for one year at half price.

When I talked to sky about this they first denied anyone had this until it was passed to the disconnection team.

After discussing this matter at length I am still dissatisfied after talking to them as they seem to think that adding Sky phones to my account with free 12 months line rental is equivalent to the discount the new customers are getting. They have not factored into this the cost my Talktalk broadband will rise when I haven’t got the Talktalk phone service. They have not dealt with my original problem with my current service over pricing instead wanting another service from me when they have lied and mislead me about the one I have with them.

I cannot believe sky can offer one customer five mixes and 2 movie channels for £23.50 p.c.m for a year when they want £36.80 p.c.m for a year from me for the same service.

This means a new customer gets a years sky for £282.00 and I get a years sky for £441.60 .
In addition they told me that I could have 3 months for £25.00 pcm not 12 months

The lucky new sky customer gets a free sky + box and free installation and free box maintenance for a year something I was never offered as Ihad to buy my own box which is no longer maintained.

I think Sky must think its customers are idiots. And they will pay regardless.

I am not very happy that they are unable to resolve my problems with my sky account without adding a further service. I have nothing against the other services being placed with sky but to be honest I you are going to offer me something it should be cheaper that what I have already got and the advisor should be better informed on the broadband fees.

I am left with nothing but to cancel my subscription as obviously the two years I have spent paying sky for their service my box and installation are nothing to what they will offer there new customers.

I feel like the man in the bank advert only I didn’t get the juicy fat worm rate even at the beginning. Well as in the bank advert I am jumping out of the keep net and suggest others look at this and do the same.

:-(

[NewsreadeR]

Can see where you are coming from, however, when I signed up to Sky I got a free box, and whatever deal was on at the time. Which, I guess as Sky+ was not invented at that time, was an equivalent offer. So if I was to expect a free box now, I think my request would probably be declined, as I had had a discount initially.

Did you not get a free box or a discount on one when you originally signed up?

[Postman Pat]

I suppose sky will argue that when you were a new customer, you were offered the best deal available , whether you got that only you will know. Obviously Sky are looking to attract as many new customers as possible, and if they lose one or two in the process then thats part of business. Not saying that is the right policy though. Out of interest would you financially better off migrating your broadband to sky ?

[reddwarfcrew]

Unfortunately for every customer that leaves, god knows how many new customers join.

Until this swings the other way, Sky has no reason to change their pricing policy. sky is a business and a well run business no matter what anyone thinks. Sky is there to make a profit for the shareholder and whilst the churn levels stay as they are, Sky will continue with this pricing policy. Existing customers need to vote with their feet and change the churn levels to force a change in pricing policy from sky.

I'm afraid that's business.

[Max2thous10]

no i had to buy my sky+ box as i had a free sky box myself prior to upgrading. i do not think this pricing is fair and i belive the new costomers will feel the same way to when sky announces its next offers. I believe having sky broadband would cost me 17.00 pcm as my excchange in Battle east sussex does not support LCU.see my exchanges stats

Exchange Information
Exchange: Battle. BT Code: NDBAT
Location: North Trade Road, TN33 0EX
Distance:- Direct: 15.67 km
(appx)* By Road: 20.12 km
Status
ADSL enabled : July 31, 2003
DSL Max enabled: March 30, 2006
SDSL enabled : No info
21CN due : (PSTN) Phone No Required
21CN WBC (Broadband) Not available
Available ISPs Other Broadband Technology & LLU Providers

Although your exchange is BT owned, this does not limit you to just BT Broadband and a vast range of ISPs are able to supply you with adsl.
Available ISPs are too numerous to list, but some examples would be: Zen, Plusnet, IDNet, Enta, etc

The vast majority of UK ISPs use BTs exchange equipment to supply their broadband, for those ISPs you should use the information on the left.
The following is a list of providers offering an alternative service to BT Wholesale based broadband in your area.

LLU
AOL Not available
Be* Not available
C&W/Bulldog Not available
Edge Telecom Not available
Homechoice Not available
Lumison Not available
NewNet Not available
Node4 Not available
O2 Not available
Orange Not available
Pipex Not available
Smallworld Not available
Sky Not available
TalkTalk Not available
Tiscali Not available
UK Online Not available
WB Internet Not available
Zen Not available

Cable
Virgin Media Not available
Smallworld Media Not available

Wireless
LTT Broadband Not available
EMnet Not available
Kijoma Not available
Now Wireless Not available
OnLincolnshire Not available
UrbanWimax Not available



BT Line Speed Estimation

Fixed ADSL: 2048 kbps (2 Mb)
DSL Max : 8000 kbps (8 Mb)
21CN WBC : Not Available

Important: The above figures are obtained from the BTw database, which is often conservative.
DSLmax speeds are best guess based on the surrounding area and cannot take into effect individual line conditions which may effect the result such as the type of equipment you use or other issues which may affect the Signal to Noise Ratio.

If you already have adsl then you may be interested in Max dsl speed calculator which may give a better indication of your lines capability.
RAG Test Results

Fixed: 1Mbps and 2Mbps available
radsl: 512Kbps and 256Kbps available
MAX: ADSL Max is available
SDSL: Exchange Not Enabled
TPON: No info
Check: The check identified another service on your line which may prevent you from ordering a new ADSL connection. Examples are : Existing adsl connection, DACs, LLU, TPON etc


adsl 1 linecode : GGEC
dslmax linecode: GEGEGEC
sdsl linecode:

Explanation of RAG codes.
*Distance calculations are provided as a guide only, using information from google maps.
Postcodes cover a particular area and therefore should not be taken as "door to door" distance .

[NewsreadeR]

no i had to buy my sky+ box as i had a free sky box myself prior to upgrading.

Sky's argument would be that the standard box would have cost the same price at the original sign up, as new technology becomes available, the costs decrease on supply and demand.

I had to pay for my HD box when I wanted to upgrade. I think the only thing Sky have got wrong is the £60 install for existing customers. As for subscriptions, same in most walks of life, the new customer always gets the better deal.

[Max2thous10]

Have you not heard of skys HD offer to new customers SKY HD + from Tescos one years free subscription for £199.00 pick it up in your tescos today.

new customer always gets the better deal

hence why I want to disconnect in a year or too they may think the £400+ per year (oh I mean £282per year) might be worth sorting this out shame theyre not interesting in doing it today and saving themselves the reconnection engineers visit that they will have to pay again and the new free box they will eventually offer me with a new warranty if they get me back :-(.

[Postman Pat]

understand where your coming from, however in business terms the minute after you leave, dozens of people will sign up. Had an engineer here today who said he had never been busier with installations.

[Max2thous10]

I wonder how many millions sky pays out to its engineers to re-install sky in its old customers property. I guess its just another huge write off large companies dont worry about . Funny I thought Rupert Merdoc was a shrewd businesmen I guess hes not so hands on as R.Brandson?

I also see sky has just hiked up its broadband fees for existing customers too

[NewsreadeR]

Funny I thought Rupert Merdoc was a shrewd businesmen I guess hes not so hands on as R.Brandson?

Sky are a lot better off financially than VM are. Sir Dickie wasn't that smart to put his name to them though.