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?

Happily, 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. Armed with that knowledge, you’ve got a solid foundation 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. It needs 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 patronage.

Once you endow yourself with 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. Hence, nine times out of ten, Sky and any other subscription-based service will relent in order to keep your custom.

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

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

For example, Sky Broadband Superfast is currently available to new customers for £26 per month with the added bonus of a £75 gift card. In this instance, while existing customers should be able to secure Sky Broadband Superfast for £26 a month, 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.

Check what the other providers are offering

Find similar packages from other companies

We discussed this technique above. However, it’s such an empowering move that it’s worth further exploration. Yes, indeed, before you get in touch with Sky, it’s critical 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, it provides an excellent platform upon which to dig your feet in. Plus, it’s a win-win situation – if Sky won’t relent, you’ve already found some cheaper, alternative providers to fall back on.

Use them as a basis for negotiation with Sky

So, now you know what Sky are offering their new customers; you know what offers they have for existing customers and, perhaps most potently, you also know what their direct competition has to offer.

It’s time to make the call and negotiate.

If Sky refuses to yield 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. Happily, though, that is the last thing they’ll want.

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

Moreover, Sky ‘Multiscreen’ and ‘HD’ are added extras that are easily dropped if you’d like to optimise your budget. So, review what you need and trim the fat.

Request removal of channels from your Sky TV package

Once you’ve conducted your audit, it’s also worth comparing your list of indispensable channels against those provided by Freeview or Freesat. Many of Sky TV’s basic channel selections, such as “Sky Premiere”, can be found on Freeview, and so you might find that you don’t actually need your Sky Box at all!

If you’re still keen to retain 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.

More to the point, proclaiming that you’re satisfied with the channels provided by Freeview is a fantastic opening starting point for your haggle as you’re essentially stating that you’re happy to pay nothing. This should put the frightened 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.

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 modicum of sympathy that you might have going into negotiations.

Tell them your budget

This, along with the following negotiating tip in our list, 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 establish it early on.

Once Sky know your budget, it’s important not to exceed it, as their experts are trained to upsell. Stating your budget in a polite but stubborn manner will not only force them to work around it but 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/TalkTalk offered it for this…”

Share any problems you’ve had with Sky

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

For example, informing them that you’ve experienced 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. Likewise, it also conveys that you recognise that their service is fallible and, thus, isn’t living up to your current package’s pricing structure.

Finally, 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. Thus, 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, the first offer that Sky provides 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 and so isn’t going to give away discounts lightly.

Hence, if you receive an initial offer for an improved package, don’t worry about turning it down. Even if your haggling doesn’t bear further fruit, you can always return to the original improved offer. Lest we forget, you’re in the position of power here, and Sky’d rather keep you than see you walk.

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 fail to secure a desirable price reduction.

In such an eventuality, 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.

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