tags: Scams
Phone Spam from Satellite Direct UK
November 23rd, 2006, by Rich.
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I just got another call from Satellite Direct UK telling me that my Sky warranty needs renewing. Oddly enough, nothing has changed since their last call. We are still registered with the TPS so it’s unlawful for them to phone us and we still don’t have a Sky box, so it’s definitely not out of it’s warranty period, which they again suggested. Satellite Direct UK you are not morons: stop ignoring the TPS.
Update: Looks like we’re not the only recipients of their unwanted sales calls: Longrider (also called twice) points out a host of others.
Update: Satellite Direct UK’s business practices have subsequently been successfully challenged in the High Court by BSkyB.
Update 2008/03/10: Satellite Direct UK are investigated by BBC Watchdog (it’s available on iPlayer for 1 week after broadcast).
Update 2008/07/05: The director of Satellite Direct UK appears to have been charged with fraud and money laundering.
May 12th, 2007 at 11:13 am
People in Africa wouldn’t even believe that we’re even bothering
debating about petty things like whether an engineer can get
to your house the same day or not. It just proves how greedy we
are. Its inspiring actually. It makes me want to go out there
and care about things that really DO matter.
May 13th, 2007 at 3:20 am
Hannah The company I am with in Worthing provides a same day service and it covers my whole system they are also sky approved retailers and provide the cover for just £45 per year how much does your company charge?
May 13th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
I have contacted Sky regarding this company asking if they recommend Satelite Cover Direct uk Ltd and the agent tole me that they did not endorse that company and that as we are living on an island in the hebrides they would not cover us anyway regardless if we pay the direct debit. Also the DD was set up in Dec last year but it took them till this month to deduct payment, why?
May 14th, 2007 at 10:01 am
I feel I should properly review Hannah’s thoughtful comment regarding “people in Africa [who] wouldn’t even believe that we’re even bothering debating about petty things like whether an engineer can get to your house the same day or not”.
Firstly I wonder which “people in Africa” we’re talking about. Africa is home to 13% of the worlds population, and happily not all of those people live in poverty due to crop failures, civil wars or poor leadership. So I assume that the people Hannah is referring to are those who don’t live secure lives in gated communities with armed response guaranteed within 120 seconds. Hannah’s point is (I think) that people in poverty, on the edge of starvation, would be surprised that she and Oly are defending their company’s shoddy and unlawful communication practices by highlighting the speed at which a Satellite Direct engineer will arrive onsite if called.
It’s a valiant, touching and bizarre twist of a defence. Satellite Direct may provide good service to it’s customers, but that’s irrelevant to the subject of my original article, which concerns the repeated spam I got from Satellite Direct, and the fact that these misleading communications have been proven in court to be dishonest.
Let’s take a huge leap forward and imagine for a moment that the populations in all African countries stabilise, and that law and democracy has prevailed in every African country and that people have clean water, and a good supply of food - because that’s the goal for those countries right?
What then? If a company comes along in Africa that ignores the laws that are created by and for the people, what happens? Should the people just ignore it? Or should they discuss it? Would representatives from that new company then join in the conversation and highlight that there are still people elsewhere that do not have a stable food source?
May 15th, 2007 at 9:36 am
I had £110 taken from my bank account from satellite direct without them even talking to me. How they got my debit card details i do not know. I have already got an agreement for repairs to my sky box with another company called south coast satellite services , if it is part of the same firm i am not sure , but either way they have taken money without my authority.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:11 am
I looked into the company and there’s no obvious link between them. If you have a phone number for South Coast Satellite Services Limited then try asking for Costas Peter Demosthenis or Antony Plunkett, who are the directors. I’m sure they’ll be able to help you out or put you on to somebody who can. If it helps, the company address is 93 ALDWICK ROAD, BOGNOR REGIS, WEST SUSSEX PO21 2NW
May 15th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Following the recent injunction these guys have set themselves up again as a company called satsupport ltd so look out
May 15th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Hi DJ,
Companies House does not corroborate your claim there, or at least, not directly. There is a company called “SAT SUPPORT LTD” which is based at 112-116 Western Road Brighton BN3 1DD, company number 06174353, incorporated 21/3/2007 - however, the directors are Clare Johnson and Tristan Glaves.
May 15th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
tried phoning south coast satellites sytems, no answer , phoned satellite direct, was told that they had taken over southcoasts
data base and should have been told that they had ceased
trading and i should go to bank for return of money taken, no
joy with bank as it was not taken via direct debit was given
load of waffle by satellite direct but eventually they agreed
to return my money, but it still appears that i have lost my
original £120 paid to southcoast sat systems, unless any else knows ihow i could recover it?
May 16th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Hi - I received a call from Satellite Direct and coincidentally enough my warranties had expired on my two Sky+ boxed. I thought I would give it a go. Then one of my boxes went wrong so I gave them a call. An engineer was offered for the next day but I scheduled the call for the following week. The engineer arrived when he said he would and was polite and informative. He could not fix the probably so instantly replaced the sky+ box and everything worked perfectly. I know these calls can be annoying but in my case it was a blessing. Sky has to accept that there is competition out there. No £65 call out and two Sky+ boxes covered for £100 for a year - CANT BE ALL BAD