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.
October 25th, 2007 at 8:04 am
I have had the same problems as others. Dave reynolds took 3 direct debits. 2 in Septembef for £6.00
& £72.00 and another for £6.00 in October.I rang my
bank as soon as I received my statement to be told
I would need to contact the Company direct. As I
didn’t set the Direct Debit up, I had no idea who he
was. what concerns me is the bank said he could still continue to take payments even though i had
cancelled with the bank, because he could set up a
new one. I was horrified. At no time did I give
permission for this person to take money from account
. IS it possible do do these people for fraud.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I have a similar problem with direct debits. In September 2007 they took £6. and £72.from my bank account without my knowledge. When I complained to my bank they gave me details of Satellite Direct,when I complained they refused to delete my name from their records or cancel their direct debit unless I put it in writing,which was sent by recorded delvery, they did add that any monies taken were non refundable.I have never received any communication advising me of insurance policy nos. or telephone no. if I required their service.It is now 28 days since I phoned and wrote but have received no response. How can this be allowed ????
October 26th, 2007 at 9:36 am
i dont know whats going on with all the fake sales companys they say there offering a service that u dont need they call u up and try to BLAG you into paying somthing you dont need its crimanal and the worst thing is theres smaller companys opening up all the time with simalar names and there even worse i sugest a protest outside there head office in bognor regis at durban road industrial estate west sussex thecold calls have to stop
October 28th, 2007 at 10:31 am
My card company are well of these fraudsters and say the Directors(K.Boone and L.Boone) of Sat.Asured and all associated companies are under investigation and they are getting their evidence together. Sat Direct(dave Reynolds) has been fined a over Million Pounds but he is still doing the same con. Meanwhile my parents have been threatened by their staff and dare not answer the phone anymore .I have been to all the authorities but they just pass me on.Next stop the fraud Squad
November 1st, 2007 at 5:46 pm
dear sir/madam. I canceled my sky tv/satcov over a month ago but are still paying £5 direct debit satcov wich i wish to cancel.
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Just looked at my credit card statement and they have taken £50.00 out.
When they rang (I fell for it) I paid £50 last year. I have spoken to them this morning asking who had authorised the transaction and they said it was in my contract. When I paid over the phone I didn;t see a contract and nobody told me I had to do this every year!
To top it all, the payment went out on the 5th and I have until today to cancel! (Clever bunnies!).
Cancelled today and put in writing via the internet.
November 4th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
I have read with interest this blog, which I found on a search for Satellite Assured. I have had this company threatening a client for outstanding money, but they have not had any policy with them. I was doing some research and the client may well have been conned some time ago into believing a repair policy was with Sky. Anyway, it does appear that the companies mentioned here have changed addresses regularly, always using PO Box numbers (even these change), and have some geographic connections if not something more underlying.
Satellite Assured currently use the address PO Box 555, Chichester, which is different to one previously given on this blog.
Public records from companies house show;
Satellite Assured Ltd, co no 5031093, Co secretary and director Karen Boone, 50 years, of The Midway, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, occupation - carer. Co-director Lauren Boone, 24 years of same address, with occupation - sales person. However, the two listed shareholders are Hamilton Holdings BV1 and Meentweg Sparitcus NetherlandBV, both of Holland
Satellite Direct UK Ltd, co no 4008788, Co Secretary Kelly Jane Drew, Maple Gardens, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, director David Reynolds, 42 yrs, engineer of The Kernican, Brighton Road, Hassocks, West Sussex. Reynolds sold his shares to the only named shareholder on the 1st Sept 06 - One 4 Group Limited, 168 Church Road, Hove, West Sussex, which is also the registered address of Satellite Direct UK Ltd.
One 4 Group Ltd, co no 5819078, Co Secretary is Kelly Jane Drew, Director and only shareholder is David Alan Reynolds - so the shares are in fact held by Reynolds. This appears to link to the trading site One 4 Travel, which specialises in holidays to Turkey.
The documents received so far relate to a ‘Warranty’ number. I note from previous posts that this may need to be reported to the FSA if they are not registered with the FSA - anyone update me on this one please. I am just starting out on this trail, and can see some very interesting information previously. It does seem very co-incidental that two of the main companies outside of Sky for providing these warranties / plans reside in the same geographic area
Found buried at the bottom of the small print on Satellite Direct web site (albeit in bold), ‘Satellite Direct UK Ltd and Satcover Ltd are associated companies. Satellite Direct UK Ltd and Satcover Ltd are independent companies from Sky and are not authorised, associated or approved by Sky to sell extended service agreements’. Satcover Ltd is apparently used to collect monies.
November 5th, 2007 at 11:44 am
What a shower! I have had numerous calls from them and I now have threatening calls suggesting that I have ordered all sorts of stuff from various companies and if I cancel there will be a cancelation charge. Have told them to “go away”.
I am now thinking of contacting the police, or may be better how about a few of us visit their offices.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
David ,(257)
You are on the right track ,any company which needs to try and hide the real owners and works out of PO Boxes are usually hiding something.I am still trying to get re-imbursed all of the money paid to SATELLITE ASSURED and SATELLITE DIRECT (Now SATCOVER).try these .
Kevin.Stephenson@westsussex.gov.uk
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform,
Whistle@fsa.gov.uk]
November 6th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Having made enquiries with the FSA, they confirm that Satellite Assured is not registered with the FSA. Further advice given states;
“The FSA views that warranties confirming a manufacturer’s or retailer’s obligation is unlikely to be an FSA regulated product, however, where a warranty offers something significantly above this (extended warranty), then it could be viewed as an insurance product, which is regulated by the FSA. If Satellite Assured is offering an extended warranty then it could be operating in breach of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If this is the case then you should send your information with copies of the warranty to the FSA and mark it for the attention of the Perimeter Contact Centre at our usual address in Canary Wharf. The FSA does not comment on issues it may or may not have investigated.”
So get your information into the Trading Standards at West Sussex and to the FSA.