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).
March 6th, 2008 at 4:06 am
i cancelled the direct debit with got you covered, 5 months later they sent a debt notice that they will take me to court for £67, I have contacted cardigan trading standards.. I do not know where I stand if they try and go to court or send in bailifs etc
March 9th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
All you lot that keep slagging off sat direct. Yes we know they they have had their share of problems but they are only one of about 30 companies all doing the same sort of thing. As a former employee of that company I did question some of their ideas but at the end of the day the general call staff are simply doing what theyre paid to do. If you dont like the offer simply hang up, its as simple as that. why waste your time on forums like this slagging off people. get over it,get a life and grow up.
Satellite Direct will be around in one form or another for a long time yet, you dont have to buy the product but over 600,000 others have and most of them are very happy about it.
March 9th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
dodgy dave reynolds on watchdog monday 10th march please watch!
March 9th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Hi James,
the Telephone Preference Service exists so that telephone owners can choose not to receive telemarketing calls. It’s an opt-out scheme so anybody registered really does not want to hear about anything a telemarketer wishes to sell.
You suggestion that anyone annoyed by telemarketers who disregard the TPS should “get a life and grow up” is laughable. These people already have lives and they’re busy enjoying them, which is precisely why they don’t want to be interrupted by unwanted sales calls.
Satellite Direct ignored the TPS, I know this because they called me. Satellite Direct attempted to mislead me on several occasions about the expired warranty on my Sky satellite system. Satellite Direct were subsequently taken to court by BSkyB about this exact problem, and lost the case.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
HA HA HA, Trust the BBC to make a complete balls of it.
Satellite direct does NOT operate from Brighton. Their Head office is in fact in FORD, the office the BBC showed was in fact Satellite Supports office, they are an independant company and all satellite direct does is administer their Warranties, Satellite Direct do NOT sell Sat Support warranties. The whole thing was a complete cobbled together peice of claptrap.If they wanted to se Satellite Direct they should go to Ford not Brighton. As the so called customer said, She thought they were sky, in other words she didnt listen to what she was told. nuff said.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Hi James,
Your unprompted posting here looks a lot like a damage limitation bid on behalf of Satellite Direct. You began by insulting people who are concerned that they’ve been misled, then criticised the BBC Watchdog programme that investigated Satellite Direct on behalf of those consumers. If you can help the BBC clear up some of the cloudy waters, why not give them a call? I’m sure they’d love to interview you for a follow up programme next week!
March 10th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
May I suggest James Garland reads the report of the Watchdog programme (on bbc1 tonight 7.30pm). It showed that Satellite Direct are a fake; they proved this by putting in a reporter on a training scheme run by Satellite Direct - and they don’t get your phone numbers from sky its completely at random. Watch the program on BBC iPlayer and draw your own conclusions.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
hi, barbara are you aware of how many companies are doing this?or do you think satellite direct are the only company?
March 10th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
hi james
you must be related to the md or on the payroll because sat support you say are indenpendant but infact are owned by sat direct uk and train the employees as are many other local companies sat uk own and cold call to sell you warranties and i am sure if they hang around long enough ford will be visited
March 10th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Satellite direct do NOT run the training programme, As I said SATELLITE SUPPORT are independant of Satellite direct and as such recruit their own staff, When I worked for the company we were very definately told to make sure customers understood we were not part of SKY, In fact we were proud to be the largest independant warranty company in the UK, as far as I know they still are, why do you think sky are so worried. That pillock that was shown on watchdog is the sort of individual that gives everyone else a bad name, All the people I worked with were honest people just trying to earn a living, As I said in my earlier message, the fact that the company has over 600,000 customers and is constantly expanding simply speaks for itself.