Pissed off with Sky

[watervole]

I'm getting seriously pissed off with Sky.  I took out a Sky contract back in December, as TIVO was having big problems and I thought I'd give Sky+ a try.  I was after the Sky+ more than the extra channels, but was willing to pay for the channels in order to get something that I saw as useful.

As soon as I realise Sky+ was crap for recording radio, I wrote to Sky cancelled the contract (I was within the one month cooling off period). I then disconnected the Sky+ box, reconnected Tivo and went back to my previous mix of channels.

A couple of months later, I noticed that Sky were still billing my bank account.  Fortunately (call me cynical) I'd kept their letter confirming that they had cancelled the contract.

Phoned to complain (wrecked voice yet again in the process) and assumed they'd actually sorted it out.

Not in the least - in the last two days, I've had three letters. One confirms that they've cancelled my contract, one demands more money, and one says they can't cancel the contract until I pay them for the last month (I cancelled my direct debit manually as soon as I realised they were still taking money).

As far as I'm concerned, they owe me £53 for money they've taken from my bank account for a service I had cancelled in writing and have not used since.

I have no idea if my TV set is actually getting the Sky channels - I told Tivo it was getting Freesat, and that's all it looks for.  (which is why I didn't notice sooner that there was a problem with the cancellation)

I'm writing to ask them for my £53...  Let's see what happens.

Comments

[emmzzi.livejournal.com]

Have they taken your box back? That's usually a good sign they meant to cancel.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

No, they haven't. Which did surprise me a little. It's been boxed up waiting in the hall for several months now.

[emmzzi.livejournal.com]

Hmm might be worth hassling them to get it collected. Make them sign for it obv. But only by email, your poor voice!

[drplokta]

If it's a direct debit, and not a standing order, then your bank should refund the money to your account upon request. You don't need to speak to Sky.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I'll go talk to my bank about that.

[twinfair.livejournal.com]

Yes, but you still need to make sure Sky change their records or they will send in the debt collectors and put you on a credit black list. It can be a nightmare getting yourself off these even when you are totally in the right. Companies seem to be so bad at cancelling contracts these days. Virgin is renown for the same practice.

[hobnobs.livejournal.com]

(late reply I know, but just in case it comes in handy for anyone else reading this thread later on.)

Unlikely as it is in this particular situation, should Debt Collectors show up you just need to inform them that the debt is under dispute, and show them the letter Sky sent you (or preferebly a photocopy thereof, keeping the original safe) saying the contract has been cancelled. You may also have to inform them in writing of said dispute, and again I would suggest including a copy of the cancellation confirmation.

Just to mention the specific sections that cover collecting debts under dispute...

Section 2.8.k of the Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance maintains that 'not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt' is unfair practice and can be reported to the Office of Fair Trading.

If after advising the DC that the debt is under dispute they continue to pursue, it can be deemed harassment under Section 2.6.h 'ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts are settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment.' This can also be reported to the Office of Fair Trading.

If the DC keeps pursuing you after you have put it in writing that a debt is in dispute, apparently you can also report it to the police as harrassment.

Also, needless advice 101... Don't forget to document who you speak to, what date/time, and what was said. Just like rule one of Astronomers, "if you don't write it down it never happened."

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed. I phoned them yesterday and was told that my account had been marked as cancelled and £52 refunded to me for payments they'd collected after I cancelled.