Beware of bogus Sky TV warranty letters/telephone calls.

[Simon]

Please take note of the following warning!!

A company named 'Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd' is currently targeting consumers with the following statement either by telephone or by mail.

"URGENT NOTICE - Your Sky Digital Satellite System Warranty Is Due To Expire - Call 0871 423 7974 without delay"

If you receive a letter from this company or any other company stating this or words to similar effect, either ignore it and dispose of it or forward it to your local trading standards office for them to investigate.

It's also possible they may call you prior to sending you this letter from a Merseyside telephone number 01515 475250. If you happen to receive a call from this number or any company purporting to be offering Sky Satellite System warranties decline their offer and hang up, your better off ringing Sky if you need such a warranty.

A copy of such a letter looks like this -

[NewsreadeR]

There is some further information here:

Phone Spam from Satellite Direct UK - boakes.org

[Lazarus]

A little bit more interesting information about "Satellite Direct UK" seems Sky have taken them to court before.

British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc & others v Satellite Direct UK Limited & others [2006] HC05C01651

Full text here:

Herbert Smith IP newsflash

Seems they have never actually said they were from sky but:

"The Judge concluded that Satellite Direct intended, through the marketing strategy put in place, to suggest a connection with Sky and intimate a current relationship with the customer to create a bond of trust. It set out deliberately to exploit "grey areas" for economic gain. Here was a strategy designed to gain the trust of the intended customer by hinting at a pre-existing relationship, necessitating an assumption that they were speaking to Sky. It was a culture in which this assumption was believed to be good for business and where it was not thought to be wrong to take advantage of it, or even encourage it, just short of making a direct assertion that they were from Sky."

[GPKing]

Haven't been on here for ages - a Google regarding Satellite Warranties brought me back

The situation is that for some time now we have been recieving the very same urgent notice regarding the renewal of our Sky Satellite Warranty. We have figured that this is a scam and have (up until now) binned the offending junk mail. Not any more though - from now I will simply remove my name address details from the form and send it back in the supplied pre-paid envelope.

Furthermore, today we got a call from a lady claiming to be from Sky regarding our warranty which is supposedly due to expire. I asked her to confirm that she was from Sky - which she did. I then asked her to call back when it would be more convenient for me (in about an hour). I then called Sky adn they confirmed my suspicions (sp?) that the person who had called me was nothing to do with Sky.

Surely whoever the company is that called me is trying to obtain my custom through deception which is totally illegal. Surely something can be done about these rogue companies?

Now, let's see if Ms Sky calls back as arranged

[galvin2]

Bought my new HD Box 18 days ago from a Sky Installer (set up myself, calling India etc.).
This am. a japanese or chinese girl (that far now!) phoned me, claiming to represent "System Guard Ltd" and wanting to sell me some form of warranty for my new box. As I told her that I don't buy warranties and didn't want one, she put the phone down: charming little female! "Callers number withheld", no obvious Google trace.

This lovely company can only have got my phone number from Sky.

[dazzuk]

This is a scam I have had about 10 calls in the last week from a company called Sat Support Ltd.

The only people Sky deal with are Domestic and General and can be contacted on 0870 2404142.

[jakewc2]

Oh dear, I am on the old sky digital box, and came to the end of the year, a year ago, last november. I got a phonecall from somebody saying that sky no longer insure my box, and I need to get the insured just in case it goes wrong. I aggreed and they are taking £5.99 out of my account each month. I just looked in online banking, and found this months payment went out and it says 'Direct Debit - SATCOV08716 641400'. Should I be worried? Do sky stop repairs after a year of havbing the box? Do you need extra insurance? I've been paying this over a year now.

[jakewc2]

Okay, just called Sky, and even though they dont recognise them, they will cover me. So I am covered for repairs. That's a relief.

[philash]

I recieved the same letter today! will be ignoring it
anybody any idea how they are getting our details

[Undecided Adrian]

Just to let people know, this company has now changed it look, this morning I got a brown enelope with a new letter in it with IMMEDIATE ACTION and FINAL DEMAND in big red letters over it.

Of course it was these guys again trying it on.

I'll try and get a picture of it uploaded this afternoon when I get back from shopping.