Sky – Customer Service #fail
Yes I know it’s completely my fault that I was let down so implausibly badly by Sky, one of the biggest TV and communication companies in the UK.I’ve known, as everyone knows, their despicable reputation as far as ‘customer service’ goes and in my book have long been the worst company in the UK. That is just behind BT, the biggest communications company in the UK who absolutely fail to communicate.Oh you may not have had any problems with them as a private customer but can I guarantee you will know someone, who knows someone in business who has lost hours, pounds and their sanity over their incompetence.So yes, I knew only too well what I was getting into when contacting Sky to install TV and broadband in my new place, three weeks before I was due to move.I had no choice. After agreeing to the move I find out that the building does not have cable capabilities. No beloved Virgin Media.Yes I was looking forward to enjoying solo access to cable TV after 18 months of living with people but most important, I need reliable broadband as I work from home.After researching alternatives I realised I had to use Sky but set up contingency plans to make it happen. So lacking in confidence was I that I started a diary from the very first conversation and resolved to make many phone calls to check all is in order and on track. Forgive me I just need to get this out there for other potential victims to see:March 6thBecause I live in an apartment, although there is already a shared dish, there was no way for me to sign up to Sky on-line so I had almost resigned myself to endless expensive 0870 calls from my mobile when I notice a Sky stand in the local shopping mall.Jolene, who I’m guessing was self employed rather than an actual Sky employee goes through all my options but says it will take at least 3 weeks for my phone line to be live and the broadband will come after that. I thought I better get going on this as that will be moving in time so take a not of her mobile number. Great I thought no 0870 numbers.Monday Try to call her but not able to get through all day.Tuesday Call the 0870 no and place the order. The call centre staff got me an install within less than 10 days and say broadband will come by 25th, a day before I move in. Because I have to call them back, I even get a normal number to call; 01623 418000. Perfect.I have no idea why they need to install the TV so far before the telephone line that will the bring the vital broadband so it seems I have no choice but to be paying for satellite TV 10 days before I move in and actually watch it.I get a text confirmation from DAS, the company installing.And then it all goes wrong.17th March I take a bus to the new place having had a call from DAS with approximate arrival time within a two hour period. I have just ordered my not very nice, expensive coffee from the local place and open my laptop to work when I get a call to say he’s 5 minutes away.All goes well, the driver installs whilst I check the post for the viewing card. There is no card from them. The installer dismantles and takes everything way. Turns out their company policy is not to leave the box behind. I have no idea why and nor does he. He did tell me that this will set back broadband by a further 7-10 days after the TV is installed. I have no idea why the TV has to be installed before the phone/broadband. Neither does he.Conclusion; to get more money from the weary customer.12.04 I immediately call Godfrey, who set up the install for me who informed me that he clearly stated that I needed to hand the card to the engineer when it arrives. I agreed he did say that, he just declined to let me know that it was critical that I received it before the install. Knowing how important it was to have the broadband before moving in, had he done so, I would have gone to the new place several times to check.12.25 It will take a week for a new card and they cannot/will not make the call to ask for it any sooner. I wait for a manager to call14.27 Spoke to manager Richard, will not make the call to Sky to speed up the card because he knows it won’t happen. Turns out I have not been speaking to Sky, just DAS. Rude and obnoxious for several minutes when all I asked for is a clearer idea of when the card will arrive, the manager finally admitted a new card will take 3-5 days depending on Royal Mail.The card arrives the next day. I assumed this was the original delayed card as another one never did arrive. Installation now booked for 23rd march. If the broadband is to follow in 7-10 days after that only makes it a few days after moving in day.No text confirmation arrives this time23rd March I called as I didn’t have text confirmation for install today. They had it booked for tomorrow. Few phone calls later, they manager to get hold of installation manager who agreed engineer will call in today between 12-2. OK25th March I check progress on-line and find they have given me Movie channel instead of Sports. I had to have one or the other to get some sort of a deal. I forget what that was now.25th March I check on progress with the phone line and this time, I get put through to Sky (Yvette) themselves. They have no broadband order. They cannot find my address listed (despite having installed TV). They have no phone order.Oh they now have the phone order.Then, after 5minues (I counted) of me asking the question ‘When is my broadband being installed, I get the answer; the line will be installed 14-16th April and the broadband will arrive 2 weeks after that. Oh no.THIS IS FIVE WEEKS AFTER THE AGREED DATE UPON ORDERING AND PAYING. 26th March Call back Godfrey, he now tells me the same thing. He will neither confirm nor deny that he lied during the initial conversations that broadband would be active 2 weeks after the TV installation.There’s more. 5th April I get a text to say phone line starting on April 13th.7th April I call Sky directly on the 0870 no for clarification. I don’t need to go through how many people I got put through to before receiving the confirmation for Eleyna. ‘Broadband typically arrives 2 weeks after the phone line starting’There has to be another way. I decide to buy a broadband dongle from T-Mobile at 3 times the cost and download restrictions but I’d rather give money to a company that has looked after me for more than a decade than a company that certainly has not.I cancel broadband and TV very easily. They say someone from ‘customer services will probably call to discuss’. I say I will not be taking that call.T-Mobile dongle arrives next day and works perfectly.The customer services call never came.What a waste of time, energy and money all that was.Next time I move, I’ll check the building is cabled before viewing.