[rogerxp]

This afternoon we had a massive thunderstorm, and I mean huge, very nearly coming in through the front door as the volume of rain was overflowing the drains.

Anyway, during it I was receiving the typical 'no signal' message however this is still showing hours after. I've been onto sky who did whatever reset methods remotely but nothing works.

I'm now having to get an engineer out (£55) or sign up to an extended warranty (£8.50p/m).

Now, being Mr Cynical, it's mightly strange that my box, having just come out of warranty, has suddenly packed in. Yes, it was quite a storm, but nothing else in my house electrical has decided to pack in. Could Sky have taken the opportunity to shaft my box up remotely just to get me signed-up. Yes, I know it sounds bonkers, but it's happened to me before (and I mean exactly).

Just bloody annoying as it'll probably take about a week for the engineers to come out .

[Snooky]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

This afternoon we had a massive thunderstorm, and I mean huge, very nearly coming in through the front door as the volume of rain was overflowing the drains.

Anyway, during it I was receiving the typical 'no signal' message however this is still showing hours after. I've been onto sky who did whatever reset methods remotely but nothing works.

I'm now having to get an engineer out (£55) or sign up to an extended warranty (£8.50p/m).

Now, being Mr Cynical, it's mightly strange that my box, having just come out of warranty, has suddenly packed in. Yes, it was quite a storm, but nothing else in my house electrical has decided to pack in. Could Sky have taken the opportunity to shaft my box up remotely just to get me signed-up. Yes, I know it sounds bonkers, but it's happened to me before (and I mean exactly).

Just bloody annoying as it'll probably take about a week for the engineers to come out .

It WAS a hell of a storm Rog. I was in Manchester for a meeting this afty and was just heading out of the city on my long drive back to Livingston when it arrived. Thats the most lightening I have ever seen I think and the road flooded instantly! The strange thing was it was bone dry and blue sky 10 miles further North!!

Bummer re Sky HD box. That electrical activity was doing funny things to my car stereo and I kept dropping phone calls on the bluetooth too.

British Summer eh Massive hailstones while I was in my meeting in Deansgate!

[rogerxp]

It was a good un. It's always the case when you reach behind your seat and notice your wife has nicked your brolly; typical (got completely piss wet through).

[Snooky]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

It was a good un. It's always the case when you reach behind your seat and notice your wife has nicked your brolly; typical (got completely piss wet through).

I made the schoolboy error of going to Manchester without a brolly.....

[rogerxp]

...says the man from Livingston

[Snooky]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

...says the man from Livingston

Touche!

I'm actually from the west coast of Ireland....it never rains there

[ed335d]

Dish could be out of alignment?

[EddieL]

Straight on to cancellations and tell them to take the lot out. They won't want to lose you.

[NathanJT]

Are you getting anything at all for signal strength/Quality on either of the inputs?

Reason I ask is, and this happened to us, the box will show this message if input one is FUBAR, but you could still have signal on the second. Input 1 is used for loading the planner etc, so if it can't get that you end up in your situation.

Then it's just a case of calling a local installer and asking them to fit an new LNB.

The cause? Badly fitted cabling in the back of the LNB by Sky, meaning water ingress and a fried LNB channel.

[NathanJT]

Originally Posted by EddieL

Straight on to cancellations and tell them to take the lot out. They won't want to lose you.

They have a habit of calling your bluff these days unfortunately.

[EddieL]

Got to go to the brink. They will call you back, who blinks first loses.

I never have nor never will pay them to come out. I have phone, TV and Broadband with them. If they can't comp. me a visit to keep me sweet they can go f***. Got to say it like you mean it.

[rogerxp]

Just been spanked by the tune of £99 but this covers everything for a full 12 months (instead of £65 for this call out plus 3 months warranty on the work carried out).

I reckon it's the actual cables the more I think about it. The water yesterday was just about to pour through the front door so think it's all drained in under my floorboards (through the air-bricks) where the Sky cables are currently hiding. Reckon they've fried the system once water got in.

I've been wanting to get the system re-wired anyway the more traditional way as the Sky engineers can't touch cables under the floor which has been a problem before.

By the time I've paid £65 plus some cash-in-hand to rewire over the house I'll virtually be at £99 anyway and I'll be covered for 12 months this way. Cables are all covered through the warranty; I checked.

Not massively happy but hey-ho. Chap coming out first thing on Sunday which isn't too bad I suppose (had to wait 2 weeks previously).

[peterg1965]

Originally Posted by EddieL

Got to go to the brink. They will call you back, who blinks first loses.

I never have nor never will pay them to come out. I have phone, TV and Broadband with them. If they can't comp. me a visit to keep me sweet they can go f***. Got to say it like you mean it.

+1. I refuse point blank to pay for their warranty. If any of the boxes go tits up they either replace for free or I cancel the lot. This has worked twice. If they do call my bluff, I would rather buy freesat HD boxes or go to BT Vision, they take a lot of my money every year and I expect service from them.

[rogerxp]

I do agree with your stance chaps but I'm too much of a pushover (...sometimes ).

[xenon]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

+1. I refuse point blank to pay for their warranty. If any of the boxes go tits up they either replace for free or I cancel the lot. This has worked twice. If they do call my bluff, I would rather buy freesat HD boxes or go to BT Vision, they take a lot of my money every year and I expect service from them.

+1 x 100

I've done this several times with the shitty Amstrad boxes and it's never failed.

After having been told I'll have to pay for engineer call out I politely ask them to put me through to cancellations who ask me why I want to cancel. I then tell them that I'm not paying £70 per month subscription for something that I cannot now see unless I pay more money to have the equipment they supplied fixed.

But you've had that box three years, sir!

Yes, and I've been a customer for 17. This seems like a good excuse to can it and try Virgin.....

One moment sir....

We'll come round and fit a new box, free of charge.


I've never heard of anyone who's had their bluff called unless you really try it on. If they do cancel then f*ck 'em, get something else. But they won't.

[creepy coupe]

Christ Ian £70 a month, does it bring you tea in bed?

[xenon]

Sky +HD, Multiroom, all channels.

Think it's £67 or something like that. Can't remember exactly.

Friggin' expensive now I've thought about it....

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by xenon

Sky +HD, Multiroom, all channels.

Think it's £67 or something like that. Can't remember exactly.

Friggin' expensive now I've thought about it....

Ah right, see how it all ramps up, must remember to show the wife, as she's bleating about £24 PM

[Em135eye]

Can't get you discounts but I am able to offer help with anything Sky related - especially if any of you live in an apartment/flat.

By help I mean get you to the right person rather than phoning the usual call centre number.

I don't work for Sky BTW - they are a client (and have been for years)

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by xenon

+1 x 100

I've done this several times with the shitty Amstrad boxes and it's never failed.

After having been told I'll have to pay for engineer call out I politely ask them to put me through to cancellations who ask me why I want to cancel. I then tell them that I'm not paying £70 per month subscription for something that I cannot now see unless I pay more money to have the equipment they supplied fixed.

But you've had that box three years, sir!

Yes, and I've been a customer for 17. This seems like a good excuse to can it and try Virgin.....

One moment sir....

We'll come round and fit a new box, free of charge.


I've never heard of anyone who's had their bluff called unless you really try it on. If they do cancel then f*ck 'em, get something else. But they won't.

I'll try this next time. If it's the reason I'm thinking of why it's knackered then it's my fault really but we'll see.

It is costly stuff isn't it. Think I'm up to nearly £60 per month with HD, full TV package (minus sports) & broadband. I could save a bit more by bring over my phone but can't be bothered; they've got enough.

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

Can't get you discounts but I am able to offer help with anything Sky related - especially if any of you live in an apartment/flat.

By help I mean get you to the right person rather than phoning the usual call centre number.

I don't work for Sky BTW - they are a client (and have been for years)

Can you get an '01...' number for the call centre. It really pisses me off not being able to use my free minutes on my mobile to be put on hold for 10 minutes waiting purely for an answer. Costs about £3 just to find out your system is f*cked . Think the 0844 number is an additional money maker for them - do they get a cut

[peterg1965]

You can use www.saynoto0870.com to find an alternate number but they are wise to people finding the normal landline/geographic numbers and change them frequently. There is no doubt that the 0844 numbers are a revenue maker for Sky.