Sammie Ellard-King
I’m Sammie, a money expert and business owner passionate about helping you take control of your wallet. My mission with Up the Gains is to create a safe space to help improve your finances, cut your costs and make you feel good while doing it.
Millions of Sky TV, broadband and home phone customers will see prices rise from 1 April, the telecoms giant announced on 18 February.
If you’re a broadband and/or home phone customer, you’ve got 30 days from being notified to cancel penalty-free. For TV customers, your rights depend on the exact service you have.
If you’re affected, you’ll be contacted from 18 February and see the price changes on your bill from 1 April.
How Much Are Prices Rising?
Exact increases vary by package:
Broadband: Most people will see a £3 per month rise (£36 a year)
TV packages: Increasing by between £1 per month (£12 a year) and £3 per month (£36 a year)
Home phone: Rising by £1 per month (£12 a year)
Sky Mobile: Already rose by £1.50 per month from 14 February
What’s NOT changing: Certain TV add-ons including HD/UHD, Kids, Multiscreen, Wholehome, plus Sky’s broadband social tariff.
More news:
Who Can Cancel Penalty-Free?
Sky Broadband and/or home phone: You CAN leave penalty-free – even mid-contract. You have 30 days from the notification date.
Sky Q (satellite TV): You CAN leave penalty-free – even mid-contract. Again, 30 days from notification.
Sky Glass or Sky Stream: You can ONLY leave penalty-free if you’re outside your minimum contract term. If you’re mid-contract, you can’t cancel without paying fees.
This is because Sky’s Glass and Stream services, delivered over the internet, aren’t covered by the same rules as broadband and satellite TV.
If you have broadband AND TV together: If you signed up for them at the same time (as a bundle), you can cancel the whole package penalty-free – even if it includes Stream or Glass. If you signed up separately at different times, you may only be able to cancel the broadband penalty-free.
Why Can Sky Q Customers Now Cancel?
This is new. Sky previously refused to let satellite TV customers leave penalty-free following mid-contract price rises.
But after a lengthy legal battle with Ofcom, Sky lost its case and must now let Sky Q customers leave penalty-free when prices rise mid-contract.
This doesn’t apply to Sky Glass and Sky Stream, which are internet streaming services.
What If You Want to Stay?
Try haggling.
A MoneySavingExpert poll found that 68% of broadband and TV customers who haggled with Sky got a better deal.
Call Sky directly and politely say you’re after a better deal. If you’re not happy after haggling, ask to leave.
If you found this interesting, please share!
Disclaimer: Content on this page is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making a financially related decision.
