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 12th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
I had exactly the same call and I live in Bognor so I checked it out. Its clear that their base is round here and there are a huge number of followers. There must be over 10 companies that have set up carrying out the same unsolicited nonsense.
The list makes interesting read but your all talking about the same thing and going round in circles so lets look at it from both sides. They are all sending out cold calls and probably making fortunes from the small percentage that fall for it. Its a genius idea so fair play to them, they must be laughing its a simple money making idea that will see you rich before you get closed down.
I saw the link to that article about Sky winning the High Court case against Satellite Direct. So don’t panic to much they’ll probably be closed down in the near future.
I had a call from Satcover 2years ago when I was on TPS, I complained and still had no response so give up on the thought of catching them that way. I get all kinds of market span through and and evidently TPS is powerless.
My latest call really pissed me off because I could tell they were suggesting they were from Sky so lets all complain through Sky and hopefully they will take these matters to court and successfully close them down like they are doing now
March 13th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Well good news….I got my full refund back into the account that they took it from without permission within two days of sending an email.
Thanks to this website, I would never have realised that this company were such scum.
Cheers Andrea
March 14th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Have also received through the mail an “URGENT NOTICE” saying my Sky warranty is due to expire (does not say when exactly though)!!
Only difference is this company is called Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd. Anyone know if they are related????
They do not claim to be accredited with Sky and they have no ASA number previously mentioned.
Any thoughts anyone?
March 14th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
From Companies House: Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd
Date of Incorporation: 02/11/2006
2nd Floor 145-157 St.John Street London EC1V 4PY
Company No: 05986843
March 15th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Ian, if you still have the letter, do you have the ability to scan it? How similar is the content to the letter we received?
If it is related, then it probably cannot have any bearing on the final settlement figure that Satellite Direct will have to pay to BSykB (so far only court expenses have been ordered to be settled) because its a different limited company, but Sky will want to know about it.
If it’s not related, then it’s possibly a monkey-see monkey do letter.
March 15th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Does anyone have a telephone number for Satellite Direct?. I paid for insurance last year over the phone and have noticed today that they have taken another payment out of my bank account without any permission from me. I phoned the 01273771220 number which answered as ‘The wheelibin and Window Cleaning Company!!!!’
March 15th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Jackie, check their website for their current number.
Anyhow “Wheelie-bin and Window Cleaning”… I’ve heard of stranger, but… I had to hear it for myself. Their answer-phone message says their office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 to 5, and since weve both called inside office hours, I have to wonder if it’s a “conveniently inconvenient” ruse to lead callers to a dead end.
Then again, bins and windows are made of plastic so it’s not totally inconceivable that the same products and tools could be used to clean them…
March 15th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
The numbers for SD are spread all over the this site so ul have no problem there.
As for the similar sounding company names this is because there are lots of companies starting up selling the same service. The problem is all the other companies dont service their customers because they dont ahve a service team. I have to say anyone stupid enough (bar the elderly and brain dead) that give operators their credit/debit card details over the phone deserve all they get!
Maria
March 16th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Ian’s mailed me a scan of the letter and a quick background check on DSWC confirms that they are nothing to do with Satellite Direct UK Ltd.
Incidentally, contrary to the letter’s claims DSWC are not the cheapest warranty provider:
March 16th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
iv done a bit o diggin for ya.
i googled to see of the address has been mentioned anywhere.
top result is a page from “the Information Commissioner’s Office” listing “Bogus agencies“, some of which have the same address:
Data Protection Agency Registration Services Ltd (Richard Webb/John Sullivan/Paul Marrow)
an’ accordin to companies house on 20/8/2002 that company changed its name to “Data Services (North West) Limited”. plus address from which it operated was the same address used by another company listed on the same page, this time its “Data Protection Agency Services Limited/Michael Sullivan (also trading as Data Collection Enforcement Agency)” and it appears they’re all interrelated.
the common surname is both companies is “Sullivan” - “john sullivan” and “michael sullivan”. praps they’re both rellys of “michael anthony john sullivan” - the company secretary of dswc.