Sky TV "Maintenance Fee" phone call

[RonManager]

I received a phone call this evening from a call centre not in the UK, asking me to renew my 12 monthly "Sky TV maintenance fee" of either £16 or £60, it was hard to tell as the line was bad and the guy's English not brilliant either.

 

Alarm bells started going off once he mentioned renewing my DD. I challenged him saying that it was not a 12 month period as I have only had Sky TV since March. At this point he apologised and rang off.

 

I have since checked all paperwork from Sky since installation and there is no mention of any 'Maintenance Fee' anywhere. Also, all phone dealings I have had with Sky have been with their call centre in Livingston, Scotland.

 

Scam or what?

[Gigersaint]

Sounds like a scam to me. I've been a Sky subscriber for years and I've never had a call from them requesting this type of information.

[RonManager]

Sounds like a scam to me. I've been a Sky subscriber for years and I've never had a call from them requesting this type of information.

 

Cheers, I will check with Sky.

[St Landrew]

I do hope that by admitting to being with SKY you haven't given important info away. As a tiny example, did you confirm your name and address to the caller..?

[Block 5]

Was it the Fonejacker?

[RonManager]

I do hope that by admitting to being with SKY you haven't given important info away. As a tiny example, did you confirm your name and address to the caller..?

 

No, I didn't. He was aware that I was a Sky subscriber already. He then went into a list of things that I would be covered against, damage or breakdown of equipment etc. He then said my cover was due for a 12 monthly renewal. At that point I told him that I had not been with Sky for 12 months and knew nothing of any cover payment. He was polite and apologised and said he would get back to me after that period. I did not give him any bank details. I have contacted Sky about the call.

[bridge too far]

However, there is another company that has a cover plan that looks as if it's official but isn't actually the Sky cover plan. Somehow they 'know' that your Sky cover is about to expire and they call you to renew.

 

It's the same annual cost (£99?) as Sky. Mr TF 'renewed' our cover with this company (silly boy) but I do now have their Ts and Cs and they look OK so will stick with them ATM although we're about to go HD so I guess we'll get a new one-year guarantee for our new box.

[RonManager]

However, there is another company that has a cover plan that looks as if it's official but isn't actually the Sky cover plan. Somehow they 'know' that your Sky cover is about to expire and they call you to renew.

 

It's the same annual cost (£99?) as Sky. Mr TF 'renewed' our cover with this company (silly boy) but I do now have their Ts and Cs and they look OK so will stick with them ATM although we're about to go HD so I guess we'll get a new one-year guarantee for our new box.

 

Ok thanks very much. I will wait to see what Sky have to say and take it from there.

[Block 5]

I occasionally get the same thing with my mobile phone.

Some joker phones up and says "I understand your contract expires soon. I can get you a great deal etc etc...."

I've had calls like this 3 weeks before my contract expires and 11 months.

It's phishing by phone and it really hacks me off.

I wondered how they got my details.......the only explanation is that my mobile phone provider sold them my details (and yours).

Of course when questioned, my provider denied this happens.

But what other explanation is there?

 

Ron Manager....... How did this company know you had Sky, unless Sky sold them the information?

[RonManager]

Ron Manager....... How did this company know you had Sky, unless Sky sold them the information?

 

Exactly!! - hopefully Sky will enlighten me when I get a reply.

[Block 5]

Exactly!! - hopefully Sky will enlighten me when I get a reply.

 

Hopefully.....but don't be surprised if they deny all knowledge!

[Johnny Bognor]

However, there is another company that has a cover plan that looks as if it's official but isn't actually the Sky cover plan. Somehow they 'know' that your Sky cover is about to expire and they call you to renew.

 

It's the same annual cost (£99?) as Sky. Mr TF 'renewed' our cover with this company (silly boy) but I do now have their Ts and Cs and they look OK so will stick with them ATM although we're about to go HD so I guess we'll get a new one-year guarantee for our new box.

 

Not satellite direct by any chance?

[Johnny Bognor]

Ron Manager....... How did this company know you had Sky, unless Sky sold them the information?

 

 

You can buy mailing and telemarketing lists of Sky subscribers.

[bridge too far]

Not satellite direct by any chance?

 

A company in Widnes - I've forgotten the name.

[Johnny Bognor]

There are a few companies that provide this "service". Satellite Direct have a number of offices across Bognor and Chichester.

 

They purport to be calling from Sky, which is not the case as they have nothing to do with Sky.

 

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2009/10/sky-warranty-rogues-satellite.html

 

http://boakes.org/spam-satellite-direct/

 

They general rule of thumb should be that you NEVER give your bank details to anyone unless you are sure of their authenticity. If someone calls asking for your details, ask for their phone number so that you can call them back (whilst checking them out first).