SKY customers are being urged to check their bills to make sure they are not paying more than they need to.
The advice comes only days after an investigation into the firms’ practices by the telecoms watchdog closed.
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The Sun previously reported that Sky was slammed by Ofcom earlier this year by not warning customers that they’ve reached the end of their contract.
Ofcom said in response to the investigation: “We consider end-of-contract notifications to be an important consumer protection tool to prompt consumers to shop around for the best deal for their needs.”
Rules were tightened up in 2020, when Ofcom introduced rules requiring phone, broadband and pay-TV providers to warn customers when their current contract is ending.
It’s suggested that firms could notify customers of the change by text, letter or email.
Customers should be alerted up to 40 days before their deal ends.
Ofcom’s investigation into Sky closed on August 18, with the watchdog instructing the firm that it needs to start notifying its customers about their contract end dates within months.
Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert.com is reporting that Sky is unwilling to follow Ofcom’s instructions.
Ofcom highlights the importance of these end of tariff notifications and said that: “We found that some customers were able to save an average of more than £110 a year when taking out a new contract in response to an alert.”
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When contracts expire, customers are typically moved on to a standard deal – these are usually more expensive.
How to grab the best TV deal
If your contract has expired you’ll likely be able to find a cheaper deal elsewhere.
It can pay to start shopping around before your contract is up to get an idea of what’s on offer.
But don’t just switch contracts because the price is cheaper than what you’re currently paying.
Take a look at what other firms are offering and assess what channels you watch the most.
Use comparison websites, such as MoneySupermarket and uSwitch.com, to compare TV packages.
If you’re happy with your current provider, you may be able to haggle on price to save some money.
Firms value customer loyalty so if you’re reaching the end of your contract tell them you’re planning to move elsewhere.
Do your research so you know what comparable deals are available with other providers – and always remember to be polite.
