Sky Bill Debt – Can You Get it Wiped?

Has a surprise letter from a debt collector left you puzzled and worried? Maybe you’re wondering about your Sky bill debt and if it can be wiped?

We’re here to help. Every month, over 170,000 people visit our site for guidance on debt matters. 

In this easy-to-understand guide, we’ll explore:

•  Unravelling the mystery of Sky bill debt.
•  How Sky handles bills and debt.
•  The impact of not paying your Sky bill.
•  Options if you can’t afford Sky but are still in a contract.
•  How to manage your Sky account better to avoid debt .

We know it’s tough to face debt issues, as research shows 64% of UK adults find interactions with current debt collectors stressful¹. Many of us have been there. We also know it’s possible to come out the other side.

We’re going to share some handy tips and tricks that might help you clear your Sky Bill debt. 

How Sky manages billing & debt

As Sky has a huge number of customers who use their services, they have fairly streamlined Sky billing process and debt management resources available.

Many of the services they offer with regards to billing and debt management don’t actually involve getting in touch with them at all, which can be preferable to many.

The Sky website has a very concise section dedicated to billing and debt management, with lots of the more commonly-asked questions being answered. There is a different part of their site dedicated to Sky Mobile. 

Implications of a restricted Sky account

One of the big threats of not settling your bill in time is having Sky account limitations put on your plan. When this happens, you’ll be obliged to pay off the outstanding balance in full before it can be reinstated. 

This can add up to quite a lot, so if you are having trouble paying your monthly bill, or miss one of your monthly payments, you may receive a strongly-worded letter from Sky regarding your bill. 

They could even sell your debt on to a third party, such as a debt collection agency. In this instance, you will have to deal with the debt collection agency directly.

The average unsecured debt amount has increased by 27% year-on-year (to £16,174)², and a large chunk of that debt is pursued by third-party debt collectors.

Consequences of not paying Sky bill?

Sky bill non-payment consequences and ignoring payment reminders and demands can earn you a CCJ.

CCJs remain on your credit report for six years. You’d have trouble getting credit during that time!

However, it’s a long process to getting to the court stage and receiving a County Court Judgement for non-payment of a Sky bill.

What are my options if I can’t afford Sky but I’m still in contract?

If you decide to end your Sky contract before the minimum term is up, you will face hefty termination charges. If you can’t afford to pay, you should contact Sky immediately to discuss your options. You may be able to downgrade your package which would result in cheaper monthly payments.

I always recommend responding to debt collectors – even just to question the debt’s validity or to negotiate. Remember, you have the right to request proof of the debt. They have to prove it, or they can’t charge you.

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Benefits of Proactively Managing Your Sky Account

I have found that the self-service options they offer means that you can deal with your bill quicker and more conveniently, and you don’t have to go through the nightmare of spending hours on the phone waiting for a representative to speak to you. 

The online service also means that you can keep track of your bill and check up on it at any time. It’s also much easier for you to update your personal details if you have any changes to your situation. 

Sky debt – write off

Owing a debt to a massive company like Sky can be a huge headache. They often have the resources to chase you up relentlessly about your debt and this can be an upsetting experience for you.

No-one wants to get forceful letters asking to pay back money you may not realise you owed, or to have a whole load of phone calls asking for debt to be paid.

There are ways and means that you can write off Sky debt however. There’s a couple of loopholes that have been reported to get your Sky debt written off but it depends on a situation and may not be applicable to everyone.

In short, I find that it might be better to check the Sky policy first.

New direct debit to sky clear outstanding balance

One of the loopholes for a Sky debt write off involves the promise of opening a new direct debit with them.

It’s been reported that if you have an outstanding debt with Sky, which might lead to your service being restricted, they will call you up to discuss your payment options.

If you explain your payment options to them, as well as a payment timescale, if it doesn’t look like it’ll work out for them, they have been reported to write off the Sky debt and start again, as long as you open a new direct debt with them. 

It’s often quite preferable for companies to keep their customers rather than have them pay the debts they owe, as in the long run, they could end up making more money from that method.

Navigating a Sky Price Hike

Companies like Sky will raise their prices. A Sky price increase can be a really stressful time as suddenly, you owe more than you thought you owed. Even if you’ve never had an issue with Sky, sometimes a surprise price hike can seem like a bit of a joke.

In these instances, one way you can get a Sky debt write off is to call them up and discuss this with them. As with setting up new Sky direct debit, the provider would much rather keep you as a customer than lose you outright.

Another clause that companies like Sky have to be aware of is the fact that you are legally allowed to exit your plan without having to pay any fees if the bills are suddenly hiked up – meaning you could get a Sky debt write off. So if you’re looking for a Sky debt write off, call them up today at 0330 041 3130.

Sky must give you 30 days warning before they implement a price hike. You have the right to cancel your Sky contract in those 30 days and you shouldn’t have to pay a fee.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Dealing with Sky Payment Errors

Another way of getting a Sky debt write off is more of an error rather than a tip or a trick you can do. It is still a loophole worth looking out for though, so keep it in mind. Sometimes Sky will forget to take a payment from you if you’ve signed up to a direct debit with them. This is, of course, completely accidental, and can be anything from a technical issue to a forgetful employee. 

When this happens, they’ll often reach out to you after some time claiming that you owe them a wedge of money. They’ll paint this as a debt that you now owe them. In reality, it is them who have made this error. Once you realise this error, you should call them up and get them to explain everything.

As with the other two loopholes regarding Sky debt write off, they would much rather have you as a customer than not. This often leads to them writing off missed Sky bill payments, as they are the ones in the wrong. They may also end up offering you some extras in addition to the Sky debt write off, so it’s worth keeping an eye on for sure.

Renegotiating Your Sky Plan: An Alternative Solution

Consider renegotiating your current plan if you can’t afford to pay your current one. Sky should consider your circumstances and offer you one of their more affordable Sky subscriptions.

However, you’d need to work out a repayment plan for any money you owe Sky first. Again, Sky customer service should offer advice on how to settle what you owe. The key to a successful outcome is to stay in touch with Sky support before they pass your details to a debt collector.

Staying On Top Of Your Debts

One of the hardest parts about being in debt is that the industry isn’t at all transparent.

One common tactic used by Debt Collectors is contacting you under multiple names and addresses.

Sometimes, it’s for practical reasons, but even then it can be confusing and intimidating. So it’s important to try to keep a level head and research what’s going on. 

Some of the biggest debt collectors in the UK operate under multiple names. 

• Robinson Way will sometimes contact you under the name Hoist Finance. 
• Cabot Financial Group recently bought Wescot Credit Services
• Credit Style communicate as both Credit Style and CST Law. 
• Lowell Financial also owns Overdales and collects debts under both names. 

In fact, in the case of PRA Group, they’ve been known to use multiple company names. As you can see in the image below.

If you’ve been contacted by a debt collector recently, it’s worth going through your post and emails to check that you haven’t missed anything, just in case they’ve started writing to you under a different name.

Tips to Avoid Falling into Sky Debt

Contact Sky support if you’re struggling with your finances and struggling to settle your monthly bill. They will take into account your circumstances and should attempt to set up an affordable way to get your account back on track. I have found it’s one of the best ways of staying debt-free with Sky.

Sky Subscribers Contact Details

References

1. InDebted, Debt Collectors Survey
2. StepChange, Scotland in the Red