Hi
Sorry if this is OT.
I won a 12 month full package subscription to Sky, to which I am extremely
grateful. This runs out in two weeks and I don't wish to carry on with the
full package. I only found out by ringing Sky and asking when it was
finishing as I was sure we were coming to the end soon.
We only had entertainment pack before we won the full package.
When I was on the phone I was looking at the web site and realised that Sky
was taking out £50 by direct debit for the package. Can Sky do this without
asking if I wanted to carry on the package after the end date of the prize.
Regards
Pete

"Anthony R. Gold" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:01:54 -0000, "petetop" wrote:

Hi
Sorry if this is OT.
I won a 12 month full package subscription to Sky, to which I am
extremely
grateful. This runs out in two weeks and I don't wish to carry on with
the
full package. I only found out by ringing Sky and asking when it was
finishing as I was sure we were coming to the end soon.
We only had entertainment pack before we won the full package.
When I was on the phone I was looking at the web site and realised that
Sky
was taking out £50 by direct debit for the package. Can Sky do this
without
asking if I wanted to carry on the package after the end date of the
prize.

That will depends on whether the terms of the free subscription said you
must
cancel or become a paying subscriber at the end of the free period. And if
you never agreed to that, why would they ever have your bank details to
make
the Direct Debit?

Sky requires 30 days (or is it 31?) to cancel anything so if you do it now
you will only need to pay for around 16 days. And when you call to cancel
you
will receive a better offer than that £50.

They had my bank details because we took out multiroom and we were on a
basic package before we won the full package. I read the terms and
conditions and it states a standard package will be charged for if we do not
cancel after the 12 months.
The terms of a direct debit state they must notify you 10 days before
requesting more money. Sky say they do this through the interactive service
on the TV and not through writing to you. I never use the interactive
service.
I asked Sky to cancel when my free offer ends but Sky say if I want to
cancel when the competition prize runs out I must ring up on the last day in
which case they would still take the £50 so I have had to cancel today.
I wanted to subscribe to the 6 entertainment packs plus HD which would give
Sky £34.50 a month but they couldn't do this without taking the £50 and then
changing my package afterwards. Its £34.50 a month loss to them.
Regards

"petetop" wrote in message
...

"Anthony R. Gold" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:01:54 -0000, "petetop"
wrote:

Hi
Sorry if this is OT.
I won a 12 month full package subscription to Sky, to which
I am extremely
grateful. This runs out in two weeks and I don't wish to
carry on with the
full package. I only found out by ringing Sky and asking
when it was
finishing as I was sure we were coming to the end soon.
We only had entertainment pack before we won the full
package.
When I was on the phone I was looking at the web site and
realised that Sky
was taking out £50 by direct debit for the package. Can Sky
do this without
asking if I wanted to carry on the package after the end date
of the prize.

That will depends on whether the terms of the free
subscription said you must
cancel or become a paying subscriber at the end of the free
period. And if
you never agreed to that, why would they ever have your bank
details to make
the Direct Debit?

Sky requires 30 days (or is it 31?) to cancel anything so if
you do it now
you will only need to pay for around 16 days. And when you
call to cancel you
will receive a better offer than that £50.

They had my bank details because we took out multiroom and we
were on a basic package before we won the full package. I read
the terms and conditions and it states a standard package will
be charged for if we do not cancel after the 12 months.
The terms of a direct debit state they must notify you 10 days
before requesting more money. Sky say they do this through the
interactive service on the TV and not through writing to you. I
never use the interactive service.
I asked Sky to cancel when my free offer ends but Sky say if I
want to cancel when the competition prize runs out I must ring
up on the last day in which case they would still take the £50
so I have had to cancel today.
I wanted to subscribe to the 6 entertainment packs plus HD
which would give Sky £34.50 a month but they couldn't do this
without taking the £50 and then changing my package afterwards.
Its £34.50 a month loss to them.
Regards

You are bound by the terms of the Sky contract.

To prevent Sky from taking money from your bank account, you
should give verbal written instructions to your bank to cancel
the Direct Debit (and confirm your instructions in writing).
You should also notify Sky that you have cancelled the Direct
Debit.

If Sky have taken funds from your bank account in excess of their
legal entitlement, you can demand immediate reimbursement from
your bank under the Direct Debit guarantee. The full wording of
the guarantee is as follows:

"If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by Sky
Subscriber Services or by your bank or building society you are
entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from
your bank or building society.

If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it
back when Sky Subscriber Services asks you to.

You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting
your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be
required. Please also notify us."

However, this protection only applies to Direct Debits. It does
not apply, if you have signed a "continuing payment authority",
which allows Sky to claim funds against your credit card or debit
card.