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).
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
do i work for them no i checked them up because of all the stuff on here and found out they were a ligit company. and when they called me they said your warranty may have expired and reinstated no renewed and because i was paying more with dom and gen i changed over
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I had a Phone call yesterday (2nd April) from Subscriber Services about renewal of my warranty, offering improved contract. I went with this but was worried that they did not want a direct debit set up. On checking I found that this company had the same call out number as Satellite direct! I could not find the website given or get an answer from the other number given by the telesales person. I cancelled my card so they won’t get the money. Beware that Subscriber Services and Satellite direct are one.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:01 am
I did 6 service calls for Satellite Direct yesterday and as far as I could tell all the customers were happy but, alas, these people will not be seen on Watchdog along with countless other thousands of people who are satisfied with their service. In answering the problem of people getting confused with us and sky,I always ring customers up with an ETA and explain that I am the satellite service technician from Satellite Direct. The customers usually then shout out to their respective households ” its the sky man on the phone”, in which case I have to explain that I am NOT from sky. That is the problem, when you talk of satellite most people immediately think of Sky because of the dominance they have in this country. I have worked for this company since they started and enjoy working for them. I also worked for Sky when they launched Sky digital and I was not impressed.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Thanks for your comment Alan. The problem of people incorrectly inferring the source phone call is indeed one that will persist (and the Watchdog programme highlighted that it’s a problem that Satellite Direct’s sales staff are trained to take advantage of), but that’s not the problem that I was originally highlighting.
I was called by Satellite Direct (even though we’re TPS registered) and the representative attempted to mislead me into believing that my “Sky warranty” had expired. The problem here is not about inference it’s about implication. People who are TPS registered can expect only companies with whom they have an existing contract to call them, so when someone calls and tells them their warranty has expired, the caller implies that they are calling from a contracted party. ie. Sky.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Sky Maintenance scam. A company calling itself Quickcom Solutions
Ltd, from Bognor Regis. They wanted me to cancel direct debit for
maintenance, and pay by debit/credit card. I dont have a maintenance contract with anyone, and dont have a bank account.
I report the fictitious company and details to Sky. I did point out eventually, after letting the man ramble for 10 minutes, that he
was calling from a witheld number, gave me a telephone code for
somewhere local to me, which wasnt Bognor, and if he didnt
nervously cough after every sentence he might have more luck.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Please can someone tell me the address for satellite assured as I really really need to cancel!!!!
Many thanks
April 10th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
An elderly relative of mine appears to have been fleeced twice by people selling dodgy warranties for Sky TV Equipment - once by Satellite Direct UK Ltd, then again by South Coast Digital Services. How do these people sleep at night?
April 14th, 2008 at 10:16 am
The bank will issue a chargeback for many reasons and up to 6 months too with some cards. If it is a scam tell the bank and they will refund money straight away then get the money bak from the company scamming you. Also the company has to pay costs of retrieving the money. I don’t know if your elderly relative is within time to issue a chargeback but the fact they already had another policy looks like they were at the least tricked in to getting another one.
If these companies have to refund your money and get charged for it too then they have a big problem making money and hopefully give up.
If you have relatives that are infirm or ‘too trusting’ then check they are not taking out dubious policies that last 2/3 yrs with companies that probably haven’t been around that long.
April 14th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
satellite direct and subscriber services are two different companies subscriber services are giving out satellite directs number to customers!!
April 16th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Just had a letter from Satalite Assured Ltd today wanting £90 of arrears. i can remember cancelling the dd many months ago and refusing to renew the contract over the phone. Must admit that when i took out the warrenty I thought is was Sky offering the cover to me.
as i do not want to pay for a service i dont want or need do i have to pay?? has anyone else had this type of letter?