This topic

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

Briggers88 — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 19:21:36 GMT

My mum's having the same issues. Charged £144 after switching to BT broadband last September. No communication from Sky, just a threatening debt collection notice

I was the account holder with Sky, acc no. ********* We cancelled the TV package etc. but switched the broadband to BT, which you were meant to take over and cancel with Sky, BT account is now in my mum's name, Christina , account GB******.

Can you advise please. I tried to get her to set up an account here but she couldn't figure out how to receive the verification email, so can you advise me or reach out to her, her username on here is becra1, email: ***

Regards,

Craig Brignall

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

imjolly — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 16:50:52 GMT

I moved your post to start own thread as previous thread was marked completed. Please delete personal account information for your security and also not permitted on forum

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

imjolly — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:06:00 GMT

If you were account holder with SKY but your mother is the new account holder with BT then that is probably what has caused the problem and confusion

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

Briggers88 — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 00:12:42 GMT

Thanks for the reply and for the forum advice.

Honestly, this case just highlights the inner workings of Sky and these sort of companies. My parents were loyal customers over 10+ years, left when they thought they were taking advantage with yearly price increases. We switched to BT for the broadband, the switch over was meant to be handle by BT. Then 8 months later we get a debt collection agency requesting £144 which sky never informed us about at all 🙂

My mum doesn't want me to get a bad financial record and would likely pay the fee if it wasn't for these sort of forums and the ability to highlight the very sketchy business practices of these huge companies.

If you're able to assist in any way would be great! Otherwise I'll just bad mouth Sky on other open forums out of principle until the matter is resolved.

Regards,

Craig

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

VeteranISPUser — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 08:34:30 GMT

Hi @Briggers88 How did you manage to switch and change the name at the same time?

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

Briggers88 — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 08:46:20 GMT

I'm not sure to be honest, I'll investigate. But assume we cancelled everything but the internet with the promise that BT would handle the switch their end. I'll see if we can find written confirmation.

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

Briggers88 — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 09:51:52 GMT

Thanks for the response!

We've done some more digging through old correspondence. With regards the name, I was the Sky account holder and was the one who had to cancel. We have an email dated 24/08/23 stating the Sky TV, Broadband & Talk service will all be terminated.

My mum took out the Broadband only contract with BT. They took over the line so nothing was disrupted. But I'm also confused regarding the switch as it went from my name, Craig Brignall, with Sky. To hers, Christina Brignall, with BT. We are both C.Brignall if that explains anything.

We just spoke to Sky and they're claiming that the fee is an early termination charge (switch credit) that BT have to sort.

We're stuck in the middle of the two companies, with Sky effectively making up a charge and sending us a debt collection letter 8 months later. If anyone can offer any further advice would be appreciated.

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

Anonymous — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 10:38:51 GMT

So had your Sky contract expired when you cancelled? If not then you would be liable for the early termination fees.

I believe BT do sometimes have promotions where they offer to cover these fees but that's strictly by invitation only.

Your BT contract will be in the name of whoever signed up for it & made the initial payment.

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

VeteranISPUser — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:13:08 GMT

@Briggers88wrote:
We just spoke to Sky and they're claiming that the fee is an early termination charge (switch credit) that BT have to sort.

Hi @Briggers88 I’m afraid that BT do not have any obligation to sort anything, unless this was agreed in advance. Early termination fees are very common and it looks like you are liable. It doesn’t appear to be a “switch”, but a cancellation (with early termination fees) and a new customer with BT. The only thing switched is the connection. In my opinion you are liable to pay the early termination fee to Sky.

Edit: Please note that early termination fees are always paid by the customer (not the new ISP), then any claim for a refund is credited to the new account.

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

imjolly — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:12:43 GMT

@Briggers88

'My parents were loyal customers over 10+ years, left when they thought they were taking advantage with yearly price increases. We switched to BT for the broadband, the switch over was meant to be handle by BT. Then 8 months later we get a debt collection agency requesting £144 which sky never informed us about at all'

unfortunately the mid term increases are part of your fixed term contract and you do not have the right to cancel and move to another provider without incurring early termination charges. looks like you have made an error and now have to pay the £144 requested by Sky

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

Briggers88 — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:18:59 GMT

We were still in the cooling off period of the new contract, so there shouldn't of been any termination fees.

I'll chase it up with Sky and message again if we have any joy 🙂 thanks for all the help!!

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

chrisjp — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 13:32:24 GMT

"We were still in the cooling off period of the new contract, so there shouldn't of been any termination fees."

Do you mean by this that you were still in the cooling off period for the new BT contract?
If so, this has no bearing at all on the early termination fee that you have been charged by Sky. Your mother's contract with Sky can't have been in the cooling off period, given that you say you'd been with Sky for some time, but didn't like the yearly price increases (which unfortunately seem to be a feature of all broadband provider "fixed price" contracts)

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

Briggers88 — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:41:13 GMT

Hi,

I believe she'd initially accepted the new increased sky contract but then decided she didn't like the yearly price bullying, so cancelled it all and just set up the broadband with BT.

We just spoke to Sky again to argue there shouldn't of been an early cancellation fee. They finally agreed, cancelled the debt and for some reason even said we were owed £28.45 🤗

So in the end all is well. Thank you for the community and all the responses, it helped guide us in the right direction!!

Craig

Re: Sky still charging me after switching to BT

chrisjp — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 19:43:44 GMT

Ahh...I see. Good result!