How to negotiate a better Sky TV deal (inc phone number).

Hi Frugallers,

Rather than plead for help, I'm going to share my little experience of negotiating a better Sky TV deal. I've heard of a few people struggling to cancel their TV packages and most were offered a better deal, so in times of austerity, I figured it would be stupid not to. All conversations and pricing below is approximate.

I had to dig out a bank statement to see how much I was paying to Rupert Murdoch (don't think we get paper statements any more). Now, I like sky, the HD channels and particularly Sky+, but I found it's a whopping £72 every single month .

This is £52 for channels (sports, Movies etc),
£10 for Mulitiroom (so can watch another sky box upstairs)
£10 for HD (Madness we have to pay extra for this imo)

I didn't really want to get rid of it, but thought I'd chance my arm:

So I rang the usual sky customer services number:
08442 411 653

0818 719 819

Went through the usual hassle of getting to speak to someone. Finally got hold of a Human in the cancellations (retentions) department.

Me: Hi, I'd like to cancel my sky tv subscription.

Sky customer services: Ok, no problem, can you tell me why?

Me: It's just that we're looking at all finances, tightening our belts and really can't justify the expense of premium TV any more. We're probably going to get Free Sat or Free view boxes.

Sky customer services: Can I have a look at what you're currently receiving and see where we can save some money?

Me: To be honest, the sports channels and occasional movie is the reason I've got sky so if I was to keep it I wouldn't want to lose channels & I know I can't just have those premium channels without subscribing to other stuff, so I really need to cancel. (This could equally apply to whatever you're paying for).

Sky customer services: Ok sir, I understand. I've looked at your account and can offer you 1/2 price channels for the next 6 months, how does that sound?

Me: So that's 1/2 the £52 per month for 6 months?

Sky customer services: That's correct. Then you can call us and let us know how you would like to proceed.

Me: Ok, I'll give that a go. Thanks

I still have to pay the £20 for multiroom and HD, but the 5 min call still saved £26 x 6= £156

You've just got to remember, they may as well take £46 than nothing, so the power really should be with you. I still keep all my channels and pay less for them. As long as Tech and competition hopefully improves from other providers hopefully they won't get away with charging extra for things like multiroom and HD anyway.

So any sky subscribers out there, GIVE IT A GO!

Let us know how you get on.

I did exactly the same thing in December,so i am currently 4 months into my 6 months half price deal,so i shall be calling again June/July to see what they can do next.I have been a sky subscriber for many years and have found that threatening to leave nearly always brings results.On a number of occassions,i have had faulty sky boxes,lnbs etc and i have never paid for a repair or for replacement equipment,ever.I always start by asking for the cancellations department,as they have the power to give the best deals and say i wish to give notice to leave.When asked why,i reply by saying my equipment is faulty and i can't afford to have it repaired so i need to cancel my service,to which they have always immediately offered to send an engineer to repair my equipment if possible and then replace if can't be fixed.Don't be gullible and pay for expensive insurance for your equipment as they will always prefer to keep you viewing and have you paying that monthly amount than not at all.

BTW,to really get stuck into them,don't even let them get anything from you in way of phone charges,call them on freephone 0800 0466434,courtesy of http://www.saynoto0870.com/companysearch.php