Cancelled Sky Direct Debit

A question about : Cancelled Sky Direct Debit

At the beginning Sept '11 I rang Sky to cancel my contract, which I had had for 11 months etc. thinking I was all within their terms, but they said you have to cancel EXACTLY a month in advance so ring back in 9 days, instead I just decided to cancel the direct debit as I worked out they'd already taken 12 payments as they took 2 in the first month. The day I cancelled the direct debit I unplugged the sky box so if they are able to check whether I was still watching they'll find out I wasn't.

I've had tonnes of letters from them saying we're unable to take payment we will have to cut you off, and eventually they did, they first got wescot credit services who text me day after day saying call our premium 0844 number to discuss, then 9th Jan Nelson Guest & Partners Solicitors and now scotcall are texting me.

The debt is over Ј21.50 or 1 months rental

They've all threatened about knocking on the door or taking me to court, but I don't actually live at that address anymore, my mum does still live there though which isn't ideal

Sky have rung saying they'll reconnect and wipe the amount if I start another direct debit, but I don't want sky anymore so didn't go there

What would you advise? Make contact with one of them? If I repay them I'd want to do something annoying for them like 10p a month as they made it so difficult to cancel my contract, I'm a student so the no money problem is easy to blag, do you think they'll carry on if I continue ignoring them? Can I just get put on skys blacklist? lol

Best answers:

• have you actually asked them why you owe a 13th payment?
  why can't you pay what you owe?
  your poor mother.
• Are you sure the first payment wasn't for the monthly subscription plus installation or for the box? So the Ј21.50 they are trying to take would be the 12th monthly payment.
  You can ring them to offer a payment plan, they'll probably try & make you pay more but realistically if you can't afford to pay it then they'll have to just accept what you offer. Can you offer Ј1 a month or something?
  Good luck
• I don't see how they've made it 'so difficult' to cancel your contract.
  They told you exactly what you needed to do, as per the T&C's. That you needed to call them in 9 days time to cancel... and you didn't. Therefore you breached your agreement with them, and are liable for the Ј21.50.
  Just pay the money you owe, it's only Ј21.50.
  I feel sorry for your mother.
• You didn't cancel the contract. You stopped paying, so Sky terminated the contract. Unless of course you put in writing to them that you wished to terminate the service at the close of your 12th month with them, and accordingly would be cancelling the DD after that final payment had been taken? No, thought not. Sorry, but you need to pay this, and quickly, before your poor Mum is put through any further distress.
  This line just says it all for me I'm afraid:
  Quote:
• OK, you've made a mistake. Dont do it again.
  In the meantime, write a letter to sky stating that you are cancelling the contract, you no-longer wish to recieve marketing materials and enclosed is a cheque for Ј21.50 in full and final settlement of any outstanding debt. You want a written confirmation of the cancellation and that your debt to them is discharged.
  Thats all you need to do. Next time, follow the proceedure and do as you are advised.
• hi im trying to stop them taking money out of my account if u cancel their direct debits can they not just go into ur bank anyway as you have a contract with them
• OP, Just pay this pathetic little sum of Ј21.50 plus maybe an excess which Sky may charge before they pass the debt to a collection agency.
  The alternative is to simply not pay what you owe and the result will mean your credit file will be trashed for 6 years. Bye bye credit, oh I can't get an overdraft, oh dear, what have I done, I can't even get a mobile phone contract. End of.
• Only just noticed that the original post is almost 2 years old. I wonder if they ever paid what was owed to Sky. Doubt it as they wanted to "annoy" Sky by sending just 10p a month. Hope they have grown up.