How can I get a better deal with Sky as an existing customer?

Don’t settle with what you’re paying. You could save hundreds of pounds with Sky deals for existing customers.

From Sky Movies and Sky Sports to entertainment and on-demand, Sky customers have loads of options at their disposal.

However, as any existing Sky customer will tell you, such an exciting choice of television comes at a cost and so to keep your options open, no expense can be spared… or can it?

The answer, in short, is yes.

So, when it comes to Sky deals for existing customers, how can you ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck?

Well, the Skint Dad team have put their heads together and come up with the following tips to keep your Sky TV running on a budget – read on to find out more!

How can I get a better deal with Sky as an existing customer?

There are lots of ways in which the existing customer can secure a better deal with Sky.

More to the point, whether you have Sky Cinema, Sky TV or Sky Broadband Essential (or all of the above), haggling or, put more quaintly, negotiating is the method that the majority of budget-bound subscribers have had the most success with.

However, there are a couple of other tips and tricks that the existing customer should take note of.

So, let’s take a look!

Haggle your Sky TV deal down

The ancient art of haggling may sound like a practice of a bygone era, but you’d be surprised at just how potent a weapon it can be in your quest for securing better deals with any subscription-based company.

With that in mind, Sky TV is no different.

Call and ask for a better deal

Yes, it may sound too easy, but simply calling Sky and asking for a new deal can reap great rewards. The key is to remember that the power lies in your hands.

You are paying them to provide you with a service, and they don’t want to lose that privilege.

So, do some digging and find out what deals new customers have access to and also what rival companies have to offer.

With that knowledge, you’ve got a solid base from which to make your claim for cheaper Sky TV and Broadband.

Threaten to walk away

We weren’t lying when we said the power rests in your hands.

Why? Because, like any company, Sky’s base requirement is to retain your custom.

They need you to make money.

So, whether it’s for Sky Broadband Essential or Sky TV upgrades, if you get in touch and they don’t play ball, don’t be afraid to threaten to leave.

That isn’t to say be nasty about it. After all, you want to keep them on your side, but prod, probe, charm and innovate as much as you can to receive your desired Sky box budget or broadband deals.

Do so successfully, and in a bid to retain your custom, the company should offer you a compromise at the very least. What’s more, if you do quit, the company might attempt to entice you back with a “new customer” Sky services deal.

Why does haggling work?

Haggling works because, essentially, it sees a patron call their provider’s bluff. Just as we stated above, Sky knows that the ball is in your court because their ultimate goal is to retain your trade.

Once you give yourself that knowledge, along with a bit of info about the best Sky upgrades and deals available for new and existing customers, they don’t have much room for manoeuvre. That’s why, nine times out of ten, Sky and any other subscription-based service will give in to keep you signed up with them.

After all, some money is better than none. In fact, such is the effectiveness of this approach, that some Sky Broadband and TV customers are known to have saved up to £700 by haggling a new deal. Now whether you’re a natural haggler or not, that’s definitely worth a try!

Look out for Sky deals for existing customers

It’s a good idea to keep an eye out for Sky’s existing customer deals.

Admittedly, the majority of existing customer deals will cost roughly the same as new customer Sky packages. However, the difference is that existing customers won’t be offered the added gifts that are used to attract newcomers.

For example, Sky has offered new customers a package deal with the added bonus of a gift card on top. While existing customers should be able to secure the same package at the same price, they won’t be offered a free gift card.

Yet, even without the gift, as many subscription companies increase their prices for existing customers over time, it’s definitely worth checking out Sky’s current best deals, as an existing customer upgrade or renewal could help reset the clock on your payment package.

The best time to start the process of getting a better deal is when you’re still in your current contract.

Don’t wait for it to expire, but get in touch with them around 31 days before the end of your existing offer. This also ties in with when you can give them official cancellation.

Check what the other providers are offering

Find similar packages from other companies

We discussed this method above. However, it’s such an empowering move that it’s worth looking into properly.

Before you get in touch with Sky, it’s essential that you do some research and find out what its rival companies and alternatives to Sky TV have to offer.

If you can find competitors that provide similar TV and broadband packages at a cheaper rate, you’ll have an excellent starting point. Plus, it’s a win-win situation — if Sky won’t lower its price, you’ve already found some cheaper, alternative providers to fall back on.

If you’re a Blue Light Card holder, did you know you can get a discount with Sky? That might help push their prices down a bit more.

Use them as a basis for negotiation with Sky

So, now you know what Sky is offering its new customers, what offers it has for existing customers, and, perhaps most importantly, what the direct competition has to offer.

It’s time to make the call and negotiate.

If Sky refuses to give in and offer you an improved plan (unlikely as companies hate to be outdone by their rivals), then you can simply walk away and claim your cheaper deal with the competition. That is the last thing they’ll want.

*Also, it’s worth remembering that time is of the essence in your hunt for a better budget deal. It’s best to get in touch with Sky towards the end of your current contract, as it’s easier to walk away without a mid-contract penalty. This gives Sky less power and, in turn, more to you.

Cut down the channels you don’t use

Do a channel audit

If haggling is a bridge too far for you, a slightly less dramatic method of securing a better Sky deal is to run your own audit of the TV channels on your current Sky package. From Sky Cinema to Sky Sports, if you make a list of the channels that you use most regularly, you can, in effect, prioritise them and then get rid of the rest.

Ultra HD and Ad Skipping are added extras that are easily dropped to keep in budget. So, review what you need and trim the fat.

Request the removal of channels from your Sky TV package

Once you’ve completed your audit, it’s also worth comparing your list of must-have channels against what you can watch for free with Freeview or Freesat. Many of Sky TV’s basic channel selections can be found on Freeview, and so you might find that you don’t actually need your Sky Box at all!

Or, do you find that you’re only really watching streaming services, so you just switch to them alone?

If you’re still keen to keep your TV and broadband, however, when the time comes to request the removal of your channels, you’ve got all the necessary info to hand.

Ans if you’re happy with the channels supplied by Freeview is a fantastic starting point for your haggle as you’re essentially stating that you’re happy to pay nothing. This should put the frighteners up your Sky expert and get the best results.

You may not want to lose all channels, but it may be that the cheapest way to get Sky Sports is by looking at other options.

How to negotiate with Sky customer service

The tone of your negotiation is as important as the research and reason you provide. Too harsh, and you’ll lose all sympathy. Too soft, and you’ll be a pushover to Sky’s trained team of upsellers in their retentions department.

With that in mind, these are Skint Dad’s top negotiating tips.

Be polite and friendly

First and foremost, aggression gets you nowhere.

Why? Because people are more inclined to want to help others who are nice. Approach your Sky expert with an abrupt, aggressive or blunt tone, and quite simply, you lose any bit of sympathy that you might have going into negotiations.

Tell them your budget

Along with the following negotiating tip in our list, it is all about setting out your stall early. Before you contact Sky, set out a maximum budget for yourself based on your finances and the options provided by rival companies, and tell them early on.

Once Sky knows your budget, it’s important not to exceed it, as their experts are trained to upsell. Stating your budget politely but stubbornly will not only force them to work around it but also give them something to aim for as they strive to seal that all-important compromise.

To aid the process, use phrases such as:

• “That’s still too much money, I’m afraid.”
• “I’ve worked out my maximum budget.”
• “I saw that Virgin offered it for this…”

Share any problems you’ve had with Sky

Sharing any problems you’ve experienced with your Sky Broadband, Sky TV, or Glass is also a useful tactic.

For example, telling them that you’ve had poor quality streaming on your Sky Sports Premier League package or a low average download speed on your Sky Broadband provides validity to your contact. It also shows that you recognise that their service isn’t living up to your current package’s pricing structure.

Acknowledging issues that you’ve had with their services may also result in the offering of gifts or discounts as the company attempts to make amends in order to retain your custom. So, if you have experienced issues with their service, it’s always worth a mention.

Don’t agree to their first offer

The first rule of haggling: don’t accept their first offer. The second rule of haggling is: don’t accept their first offer.

The vast majority of the time, Sky’s first offer is likely to be the least it can do, even if it’s an improvement upon your current TV package. Remember, after everything, it’s still a for-profit business, so it isn’t going to give away discounts lightly.

If you receive an initial offer for an improved package, don’t worry about turning it down. Even if your haggling doesn’t get you any further, you can always return to the original improved offer.

Ask if they can add extras to your package

Now, while the odds are in favour of you receiving an improved offer for your Sky Broadband/TV services, occasionally, existing customers will not get a the needed price reduction.

If competition packages also don’t appeal, you can always ask for a few free added extras to give your current package more value. If they’re keen to keep you sweet, you might well be granted some leeway in exchange for retaining your subscription.

Be prepared to walk away (and wait…)

After trying all you can to bring your package down with their retention team, if they won’t budge or still want to put their prices up, walk away and hold your breath.

It’s a risky move, but you may find you can get phone call offering you a better deal to stay with them.

If you don’t want to talk with someone over the phone, you could always try their messaging service.

They actually have a specific “win back” page where they say they have exclusive deals to come back to Sky, so it is always worth trying.

One member of our community shared:

“I pay £48.50 a month and I put in my cancellation as was out of contract, and the best they could offer was £78. Got an email from them about 5 days after the end of the cancellation period offering me the deal. Worth the risk if you’re willing to go without for a few days as they’ll always offer you a better deal to come back.”

Another member shared:

“It’s always worth calling and telling them you’re leaving. I’ve done that year after year and bartered them down. The one time I didn’t give in and actually cancelled, they called me back 3 days later with an offer.”

If you do end up seeing the cancellation through, you must make sure they know and don’t just cancel your direct debit or you may see more charges.

Also, if you have a Sky Q box, they are the property of Sky and on “loan”. You need to return it or they will charge you!

Sky Retention Team

You can either start the process of getting a better deal over the phone or through webchat.

This will be with a very well-trained retention team.

It’s their one and only purpose to keep you as a customer, and they should be offering you a deal good enough to get you to stay.

Their number is 0333 7591 018 or try them on webchat within your account, which is open from 9 AM to 7:30 PM Monday to Sunday.

FAQs