Haggle with Sky
Top tips for cutting your bills with the TV giant
Sky typically increases TV and broadband prices annually. If you’re no longer under contract or are eligible to exit without penalty, take advantage of the price increase as a bargaining chip. Use this opportunity to negotiate effectively and potentially secure a better deal.
1-min read: How to haggle with Sky to save £100s/yr
Sky is among the simplest companies to negotiate with, according to a survey, as 79% of individuals who attempted reported some level of success. If your contract has ended, here are a few quick tips to reduce expenses. You can find a more detailed list in our comprehensive guide below:
1. Ditch optional extras.Are you paying for Sky Movies but never actually watching them? Conduct a channel audit to identify the channels you rarely use and consider removing the ones you don’t need.
2. Call Sky retentions team and ask for a discount. First find out what newbies are paying as this will be useful ammo when negotiating.
3. If it won’t budge, consider walking away. Some of the best deals are had when you’re prepared to cancel your service completely. It may help you get a better discount, or if you do cancel, they can entice you back with ‘welcome back’ offers.
‘I haggled almost £1,500 off my Sky bill’
Our latest negotiation survey, conducted in December 2023, revealed that 79% of Sky TV and broadband customers who attempted to negotiate were able to secure a better deal, demonstrating the potential success of haggling. To discover which other companies are receptive to this approach, check out our compilation of the best service providers to negotiate with.
Don’t settle for pricey Sky packages – make it fight to keep you, or switch
If you’re frustrated by price increases or your bills are rising because your promotional deal is ending, don’t just accept it – there are many steps you can take. If you want to stay with Sky, and many people do, especially since some of their offerings are unique, don’t underestimate the power of negotiation.
Haggling might be traditionally associated with markets, but it’s very effective in the UK. You can save a significant amount on Sky’s services, particularly TV, as well as broadband and line rental.
Essentially, give Sky a call and request a better deal. Mention that you’re paying too much or that competitors have better offers. If that doesn’t yield results, say you intend to cancel your service. This often gets you transferred to their powerful retention departments, where hidden deals are offered.
Why haggling works…
Here’s the key thing to understand:
Companies make their best deals only available for newbies, and they LOVE loyal customers as they stay with the firm through thick ‘n’ thin, paying full price and never looking for a better deal.
This approach enables large companies to consistently secure guaranteed, effortless profits. Now, consider this: do you prefer to be a customer whose patronage is actively sought after, or one who is simply taken for granted? If you wish to avoid being taken for granted, embrace the haggle challenge.
Haggling is just one of your price cut weapons – check new deals too
Negotiating can be extremely effective, but consider it as just one component of your strategy to obtain the best deal. Often, ‘new customer’ offers from other providers are unbeatable. Therefore, while haggling is important, always compare the price you negotiate with the top deals available by switching, including broadband, phone line, and TV packages.
Eight top Sky haggling tips
Haggling may sound straightforward, but perfecting it is an art. Here are our top tips for haggling with Sky – for more, see our full guide on Haggling with Service Companies.
1 – Tell ’em you’re happy with Freeview – most of Sky’s basic channels can be found on Freeview
Freeview is available at no cost for many users and offers a wide range of channels. Bringing it up in conversation signals to Sky that you’re informed and aware of alternative options.
Using Freeview as a reference can be a strategic way to initiate negotiations, as it indicates to Sky that your baseline offer is £0. From this starting point, you can negotiate further, potentially securing a better deal with some flexibility.
2 – Do a channel audit to see if you can ditch channel packages you don’t watch
Evaluate your Sky subscription to ensure you’re only paying for what you actually watch. If there are channels or packages you don’t use, it’s time to cut them out. Below is a list of Sky packages and the channels they encompass, so you can review and adjust your subscription accordingly:
- Sky Cinema – Sky Animation, Drama, Premiere, Thriller, Action, Select, Sci-fi horror, Greats, Family, Comedy and Hits.
- Sky Sports – Premier League, F1, Cricket, Football, NFL, Arena, Golf and Main Event
- Kids – Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, Nicktoons, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, Boomerang and BabyTV.
‘HD’ and ‘Multiscreen’ are also optional extras, so you can save money by ditching these if you don’t need or use them.
3 – Timing is crucial – if you’re out-of-contract, or close to the end, it’s easier to leave without penalty
Negotiating works most effectively when you’re approaching or have reached the end of your contract. Although trying to negotiate earlier is fine, if you face difficulties, make a note in your calendar for when your contract is close to expiring and follow up at that time.
If you do forget, don’t worry. Telecom and pay-TV providers are now required to inform you that your contract is nearing its end. This notification can come as a letter, email, or text message between 10 and 40 days before the contract concludes. However, be cautious—due to an ongoing dispute between Sky and the regulator, Sky might not notify you about the end of your TV contract.
For Sky contracts, you can provide notice of your intention to leave 31 days in advance for TV contracts, and 14 days for Sky Talk and Sky Broadband.
Moreover, if your broadband or line rental costs (or TV charges, depending on your contract) increase, you might have the right to terminate your contract without incurring penalties, even if you’re still within the minimum term. This also applies if the cost of additional services you regularly use goes up, resulting in “material detriment.”
When notified of such a price increase, you will have 30 days to decide on your course of action, including the option to cancel your contract without penalty. This presents an excellent chance to negotiate better terms or switch to a more affordable provider.
4 – Benchmark the best deal – find out what newbies are paying so you have a realistic goal
It’s important to have the factual arsenal at your fingertips before you pick up the phone, so do your homework.
Research the deals, discounts and codes that Sky and its competitors offer to act as a basis for negotiation. Compare broadband, phone line and TV deals to find the best buys and sign up to our weekly email to get the latest offers.
5 – Check your account for existing customer offers
Sky previously ran adverts encouraging its customers to contact it and see what ‘exclusive deals’ are available if you stay with Sky (you can often find info on these by signing into your Sky account). It’s actively encouraging you to haggle, so it would be rude not to take advantage.
Of course, if you’re not satisfied with what you’re offered online, you can call Sky and try to haggle via another avenue – see point 6 below for how to contact its retentions department.
6 – Get through to the retentions department – be nice and use the phrases that pay
If you’re nearing the end of your contract or have already finished it, you hold a significant advantage: customer loyalty. Leveraging this is straightforward—simply inform them of your intention to leave.
If you don’t have any luck via the advertised ways of getting in touch, then it may be worth trying another route to the ‘customer retentions’ department – aka the Paulina Tertre of haggling – instead. (Note: This department might be called ‘disconnections’ externally, but make no mistake, customer retention’s their job.)
How to contact Sky’s customer service team
If you call customer services and tell them you want to leave they should put you through, but to get through as quickly as possible, call Sky cancellations on 0333 7591 018 – it starts as an automated service to find out why you’re calling, but you should get put through to the right place after a couple of minutes.
Use charm, chutzpah, cheek… and a smile
Aggression or anger will just put their back up and won’t get you anywhere. You’re asking for a discount, and they’re just as much within their right not to give it as you are to leave. Aim for polite, friendly, non-combative yet firm.
Use the phrases that pay
You may find that your Sky customer service rep will only offer a small discount at first, but if you don’t agree with the price, try phrases like:
– “I’ve worked out my budget, and my absolute max is £[insert price here]/mth.”
– “[BT/Plusnet/TalkTalk/Virgin Media] can do it for less.”
– “I need to think about it.”
– “I think my other half will go bonkers if I pay that.”
– “It’s still a lot of money.”
– “What’s the very best you can do?”
Don’t panic if they call your bluff and say they’ll disconnect you
Some individuals feel anxious about trying this due to the fear of being cut off. A simple way to navigate this situation is to use the phrase: “Hold on, I’ll call you back shortly. I need to consult with my spouse/partner/pet/fish first.”
Problems mean discounts
If you’ve previously experienced problems with Sky, like sluggish broadband speeds or lengthy wait times for customer service, be sure to mention these issues when negotiating. This information can be valuable leverage, as they will likely be motivated to address your concerns and improve your experience.
Don’t say yes to the first offer they give
You should never go with the first offer. Chances are, it’s not the best deal they can do. Remember, be firm.
Don’t fill the silence
Sales representatives might urge you to accept a deal by emphasizing that it’s a “limited-time offer,” but don’t let this pressure you into agreeing to the new price or terms unless you’re absolutely sure.
During the final stages of negotiation, a common tactic is to remain silent. The goal is to create an uncomfortable pause that makes you feel compelled to speak. Use this to your advantage by waiting for them to offer a more favorable price or deal.
Ask if they can throw in extras
If they won’t slash the price, ask them if they can at least include any extras, such as a faster connection. free calls or extra channels.
If you fail – try, try and try again
Although not verified, there are whispers that within some companies, employees might have varying quotas for the number of deals they can handle.
Even if this isn’t the case, it often seems that way to many individuals. You might have reached out to the wrong person at an inconvenient moment. Reaching out again after a few days and connecting with someone different might prove to be more successful.
7 – The high-stakes option – cancel and see if you’re offered up to 50% off
Several MoneySavers have shared that after canceling their Sky TV subscriptions, they received a voucher offering up to 50% off not long afterward. These vouchers might appear on their TV screen, within their Sky online account, or arrive through the mail.
Opting for this strategy carries some risk, as there’s no certainty that an offer will be provided. However, if you’ve exhausted other negotiation methods and are already considering canceling, it could be worth exploring this approach.
After you receive email confirmation to say you’re leaving, check your account via your TV to see if you’ve been sent an offer, or sign into your online Sky account. Some have reported receiving a voucher for a lower amount in their online account than via TV, while others have successfully asked for between £50 and £100 bill credit on top via its live chat.
Always check the full details off the offer to ensure you know exactly what you’re getting and which parts of your bill the discount would apply to.
What is the number for Sky’s win back team?
Call Sky’s win back team on 0333 759 4451 – it starts as an automated service to find out why you’re calling, but you should get put through to the right place after a couple of minutes.
8 – Finally, if Sky really won’t play ball, vote with your feet
If you don’t receive what you’re looking for, it may be time to seriously think about switching providers. Keep in mind that new customers often have access to the most favorable offers, and there are numerous other options available. Compare broadband, phone line and TV deals using our Broadband Unbundled tool to find the best package for you – you could save £100s.
What is Sky’s retention team and what does it do?
Sky’s retention team plays a crucial role in its operations, focusing on maintaining its current customer base. This team actively works to prevent customers from leaving by providing special offers and discounts as their fixed-term contracts approach expiration or when customers express a desire to cancel their services.
As a current Sky subscriber, you benefit from the retention team’s ability to craft personalized offers aimed at encouraging you to remain with Sky. These tailored promotions can sometimes include deals that are not offered to new customers.
How to contact Sky’s retention team
You can contact Sky on 0333 7591 018 or via its online chat service to see what it’ll give you, then compare it to the latest offers for new and existing customers.
If Sky is too expensive, what are the alternatives?
If you’ve decided to leave Sky, you’ll need an alternative. For broadband, you can check the latest hot promo deals from other providers using our Broadband Unbundled tool.
If you have TV with Sky, you can check what TV packages are available from other providers. You can also check the best options for free internet based services such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4, or paid for streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV+ offer exclusive TV shows and films.
There are also several sites where you can pay to stream or download online movies or TV shows – including Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube. See top services to buy or rent new releases.