Tags: Scams
Phone Spam from Satellite Direct UK
November 23rd, 2006, by Rich.
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.
September 20th, 2007 at 9:30 am
This gets worse my parents have been charged for numerous policies and Satellite Assured and Satellite Direct have taken out over £600!!!! in 12 months .Now the trading standards are interested and anyone who has been cheated or can not get their money back should contact
Senior Fair Trading Officer
West Sussex Trading Standards
Trading Standards House
Centenary House
Dorrington Lane
Worthing
West Sussex
BN13 2QB
01903 839743
September 20th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Satellite Assured did exactly the same thing to me and it has taken the best part of 8 months to shake them off, assuming of course they have really backed off. What they are doing is misrepresentation by pretending to be from Sky when they obviously aren’t. In other words, this is Fraud. My advice is to call them and point this out- persist if you don’t get what you want from them and if all else fails, go to your local Trading Standards. My case is now logged with my local Trading Standards office and if anything else happens they will be taking it up for me. Good luck!
September 22nd, 2007 at 4:09 pm
My mother was scammed this week by Satellite Services Bognor Regis. They inferred they were from Sky - surely this is Misrepresentation - Fraud? An agreement came through - open ended - which means they can dip their hand into my mothers bank account on a regular basis - even though this was NOT agreed too. We rang Barclays who basically said - ‘Bank policy sir..yada yada…tough luck’….’and no you cannot cancel it because it is open ended’…what!! So now we have to cancel the Barclays Bank Account (even that does not protect her apparently) - (I think the Barclays account is 30 years old) and move all pension receipts into Lloyds..etc. The guy at Barclays really did not give a s*** said he was the messenger…and all that!
September 22nd, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I work for satellite direct, for 2 years now,,, in my ten years of working i have never worked for a company like it, has excellent atmosphere, and cares for empolyees, as does it care for customers,,,,,,,,,,,we r hitting 80 per cent, same day calls,,, while domestic and general,, ie skys repair company ,, have 80 per cent failure rate on there guarenteed (3day) service, so i think that speaks for itself,we currently the biggest maintance agreement company going , partly due to buying competion out, so for those companys which weere practising unorthodox selling, have been dealt with sufficently.. and no longer practising there misleading ways.
if anything SATELLITE DIRECT UK , have been steadily working to eliminate this unproper sales from our business…
Any sky / ariel installer who knows anything know they want a jobn wit with sat d,,, quite simply because WE R THE BEST.
September 22nd, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Having read all the Emails - the Advice I would give to myself would be
a) NEVER EVER EVER give your bank account details over the phone to anyone! - Yes its obvious - but look how many people have given such details!
If you have given your account details:
a) Empty your bank account!
b) Cancel your bank account - you need a quick resolution - I am not convinced banks move quickly enough in the event of possible scams etc Open a new account - possibly a different bank that is friendly to helping you with this kind of thing - I think Nat West are advertising how good they are in this regard…
c) Contact the bank stating that you believe you might have been scammed - given details of the company etc and try all ways to cancel the payment(!!!)
c) Contact TPS if your preference has been not to receive telemarketing and make a complaint - giving the company details etc
d) Contact the company provoding the ’service’ and cancel the agreement - recorded delivery.
f) Contact Trading Standards and make a complaint
g) Contact the FSA - especially if this is a warranty - and make a complaint
h) If you paid by credit card you might be covered by Sec. 75 of the Consumer Credit Act that the card issuer is jointly liable with the “merchant / supplier”
I) Contact BBC Watchdog - the more complaints about a particular company the more likely they are to investigate and help sort it out.
Post on great sites like this - I also found this one
http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/watch_out/scams/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_4240000/newsid_4248800/4248891.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6
September 28th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
This is from another site, but more evidence. I think Alec(234) is a plant from these conmen he does not mention fraud,or taking money from your account.How can they sleep???
September 29th, 2007 at 4:10 am
I have been trying to cancel my policy with “SATELLITE ASSURED” as they ripped me off.
I was out and one of there sales people Anthony Withinterrs got my 8 year old son to read out my credit card number. they then took £110 pounds out without my knowledge.
I have tried writing in to cancel to Unit 5, New Barn, Vinnetrow Business Park, Vinnetrow Road, Runcton, Chichester, PO20 1QH which I did within the seven day guidelines. They NEVER bothered contacting me back I also tried calling 08700-600-250 but the number was not recognized.
Does anyone has any other contact details?
October 3rd, 2007 at 1:34 pm
I am a customer of satellite assured and got seen very promptley to fix my sky+. the 08700 600 250 is correct as that is the number i used to get an engineer, so i don’t know why you are saying the number is not recognized california dreams?? did u dial it wrong?
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I think Susan is an impostor. With over 237 complaints against their company and others just on this website I don’t think they would fix her Sky+ promptly. I managed to get through on 08709194966 today and they agreed to refund me in full or give me 6mths free cover.
October 5th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
That number there (08709194966) is for “satellite repair” californiadreams. i called satellite assured and they said satellite repair aren’t the same company. i used to have the repair service with satellite direct, until i had a bad experience, ie they took £60 a month from me instead of £6!!! i got a call from satellite assured and took cover with them and they helped me. i did a search on satellite direct on my search engine and came across this, i believe this is a blog for satellite direct, not just satellite assured. it seems as though something dodgy is going on with california dreams, as i am not an “imposter”!! LOL!