How to Reduce Your Sky Bill By 30% or more!

Despite the fact that there are so many different TV providers and opportunities for us to watch TV shows and movies at home more than ever, prices are increasing.  Sky is included in that.  Plenty of people, in fact, are dropping their Sky TV package altogether to save a bit of money here and there.

But what if you miss their box-sets? And what about their movie packages? The question remains – can you threaten to cancel or knock down your Sky package to get a cut in subscription costs?  Possibly.  Let’s take a closer look.

How to Get Cheaper Sky As An Existing Customer

Sky isn’t always forthcoming on deals for existing customers, but it’s still worth following the brand online in case there are any perks you can take advantage of. Otherwise, it’s worth calling the existing deals team to find out where you could save some money in future.

Call Sky directly on 0333 7591 018 to speak to the team and see if you can negotiate any deals. Alternatively, just log into your Sky account online and see if there are any deals that apply to you.

If you’re yet to join Sky, however, there are a few deals the company runs regularly across the year. Check out their new customer deals page if you want to sign up from scratch.

Examples of Potential Deals with Sky

Remember, deals available through Sky will change from time to time, so it’s worth following the brand on social media as well as bookmarking the deals page linked above.

But, let’s quickly take a look at a deal or two you could get through Sky as a new customer, just to demonstrate how and where you could save some money.

For example, Sky regularly packages together its TV, superfast broadband, and Netflix streaming together in one package. At the time of writing, such a deal could grant you £350 off your bills over an 18-month period, provided you tie in for that amount of time. The deal represented here would see you paying £39 per month, but the downside is Sky could change these fees at any time during your contract period.

Alternatively, Sky also gives money off on its broadband provided you pay for TV and Netflix. Such a deal might expect you to pay £26 a month for all three for nine months, and then £60.50 for another nine, tied into an 18-month contract.

If you’re an existing customer, there’s sadly not much wiggle room here. However, that just means it’s time to get good at haggling!

Will Sky Reduce My Bill?

If you don’t ask, you don’t get.  However, there are a number of circumstances and factors which may tip your chances of getting a cheaper deal more in your favour.

• Have you got plenty of coverage from other providers in your area?  Can BT, Virgin Media or TalkTalk offer you a more comprehensive deal?
• Are you at the end of your contract term, or have you been out of contract for a while?
• Have you continued to pay in full, on time, without any major discounts or reductions applied?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to any or all of the above, you may be in a good position to haggle a package with Sky.  If you are at the end of your minimum contract term and are on the cusp of moving elsewhere, they will be especially keen to keep you.  This will also likely be the case if you have been a loyal customer – long-running, and have always paid your bills on time.

How to get Sky to Reduce Your Bill

Once you’ve thought about your chances of getting a fee cut, you’re going to need to think about how you’re going to get it.  Here’s a plan of action to bear in mind:

• Research the wider market, current deals from other providers, and local coverage.  Offering a comparison to Sky while discussing your future with them will put you in a powerful position.
• Don’t fob them off.  Be honest!  Tell them that you’re looking to cut costs.  Say that while you’re happy with the service (if, in fact, you are), you can no longer justify the monthly expense.  Add in the fact you’ve seen better deals elsewhere if you can.
• You should also casually mention your tenure to the team.  If you’ve been paying Sky bills since 1998, for example, it’ll put you in good stead.  However, retention’s staff should always have this data to hand.
• Stick to your guns!  While you may feel like a drop in the ocean to a big company like Sky, they HATE losing customers to the competition.  Which agent really wants to face up to that when they get their monthly review?  Therefore, don’t be afraid to hold out for a better deal if you only get given a few pounds off a standard package, and if you’ve been a loyal, full-paying customer. 
• Do, however, be realistic.  If you have a history of months of paying bills late, you’ll be less likely to hold sway with the firm.
• Before you start haggling, actually look through the services you’re using. Do you subscribe to sports channels but don’t actually use them? Are you paying for streaming but stick to standard channels most of the time? Check with Sky if you’re out of contract on any of these packages and remove anything that’s costing you money for the sake of doing so.
• Don’t be afraid to leverage your time and good payment record with Sky to try and whittle down a deal. You could, for example, look at the new deals currently listed (such as those suggested further up this guide) and ask if there’s a chance you’d be considered for the same rates.
• Consider mentioning to Sky that you’re happy with the channels that free services such as Freeview or Freesat have to offer. One of the company’s big gambits is their range of channels and shows – be clear that you’re entertained enough by basic TV, and you remove some of their bargaining power.
• Sky wants to keep customers who pay regularly and who use some of their most lucrative services. It just makes sense from a business perspective. While there’s always a risk that they’ll let you go if you push hard enough, be willing to use a threat to leave as a trump card. But, don’t bluff them.
• Use phrases with Sky’s retentions team that actually drive results. Something as simple as “I want to think about it” or “That’s not much of a saving” when you’re offered a small discount could see you offered a bigger deal. Don’t be afraid to stand your ground – just don’t be aggressive or unrealistic.
• If you’ve had problems with Sky’s service during your tenure, it’s fantastic ammo to use against the company. Even the biggest companies hate bad press, and Sky’s going to want to get you back on-side.
• Don’t fall prey to pushy sales tactics and claims that “this is the best we can do” if you know people have received better offers through Sky elsewhere. Always lead with the claim that you want to speak with your partner or the other bill payer before you make any commitments.
• Be prepared to leave if Sky genuinely doesn’t reduce your tariff and you’ve found a better value entertainment package elsewhere. If you’re out of contract, you’re free to do what you please. But, don’t offer up a threat to leave unless you actually intend to follow through if you don’t get the deal you’re looking for. In some cases, if Sky regards you as a high-value customer, this might be enough for you to claim a great deal right on the cusp of leaving.
• Consider threatening to leave when you’re close to the end of your contract if you’re not already out. You can give Sky 31 days’ notice that you want to leave their TV packages, and 14 days’ notice if you want to cancel their broadband or phone. The later you threaten to leave, the less chance there will be of you having to pay a disconnection fee. 
• A potential ace in the hole is that if you do cancel, there’s a chance Sky might give you as much as 50% off. That, at least, is what some customers have claimed!

Does haggling actually work?

If you’re like I was at first, you might think that haggling on set rates is pretty cheeky. After all, why wouldn’t a company advertise lower rates if they were available?

The question you should actually ask is why would they? Companies like Sky love customers who pay the price tag and do so willingly on contract, never challenging their rates.

So, be willing to try something a little daring. If you already have a few alternative options lined up and you know you can save money elsewhere – and, of course, that you’re either out of contract or are close to it – you really have nothing to lose.

How Much Discount Could I Get?

This really depends on your history with the firm, and all the circumstances listed above.  For example, I myself have recently been lucky enough to haggle a £30 reduction in my monthly bills.  That’s more money saved for essential stuff elsewhere.  There’s no telling quite what deal you could get.

Avoid Getting Greedy

As mentioned, Sky isn’t ever going to feel obliged to give you a cut in costs if they feel it’s not worth keeping you.  What many people make the mistake of doing is to keep haggling and haggling until Sky actually just let them leave.  This isn’t productive for anyone involved!

Sky will have set criteria in mind when it comes to customer retention deals.  Ultimately, everyone has their limits and prices!  If you push things too far, you risk getting transferred through to cancellations and getting your cut-off without any deal.  And oftentimes, there’s no going back on previous deals.

Beware the Extended Minimum Contract period!

This is a honey trap you’re going to want to avoid.  Certain deals come in with an added contract extension.  For example, for £25 off per month, you could be tied in for another 12 months.  Always, ALWAYS check with a member of staff whether or not you’ll be tied in for a longer period.  If you’re happy to stay with Sky for longer, there’s no problem.  But do make sure you get all of this in writing.

Generally, you will get an email confirmation of your new deal – and you’ll have a 7-day cooling-off period if you want to renege on it.  Well worth bearing in mind if you’re unsure.

What Are Cheaper Sky Alternatives?

If you’re on the lookout for cheaper deals to what Sky have on offer right now, you’re in luck.  You could consider any of the following:

• NOW TV is Sky’s pay monthly boxset/movie streaming service.  From less than £10 per month, you can access the TV and films you want without minimum contract fuss.
• Freeview is obviously the cheapest alternative – it’s free.  Check out the channels they have on offer, and if you’re not bothered about box-sets, movies or sports, you’ll be well away.
• Streaming services offer stacks of great entertainment for low monthly fees.  Look at Netflix, Amazon Prime and more. 
• Sports fans can even save money by subscribing to online services such as Dazn, which supplies international football, NFL, UFC, F1 and more for as little as £7.99 per month.
• You can, of course, also research the competition.  However, regardless of whether or not you pick Virgin, TalkTalk or BT, you may well end up paying similar costs.  Do your homework!

You can also check out our roundup of cheaper alternatives to Sky TV that may be a bit more budget friendly.