Sky TV subscriptions to increase

There’s bad news for Sky TV customers – the satellite television company have announced that they’ll be increasing their prices again in April, by a massive 8.1 per cent.

The increase works out as £5.60 per month, or £67.20 per year, on the average bill.

Almost all Sky TV customers will experience a price increase on 1 April, however, it will affect people on different packages differently, with the £5.60 per month figure only being an average. Some customers might see bigger rises higher than that.

The eight per cent increase comes at the same time as consumers are seeing many other bills rising.

A Sky spokesperson said in a statement: "This is not a decision we have taken lightly.

“We have tried to minimise the impact to customers with an average price increase across all our TV customers of 8.1%, which is below levels of inflation again this year.

“Competitors’ average increase over the last two years have been nearly double Sky’s average increase over the same period."

Sky Glass and Sky Stream customers who signed up on or after 18 October 2022 are exempt from the rise. This includes customers that took out an 18-month contract or a monthly rolling plan on or after this date. If you took out a rolling monthly plan before 18 October 2022, you’ll still see prices rise (it wasn't possible to take out a longer contract on Glass or Stream before this date).

Thinking about leaving Sky? Know your rights:

If you’re outside your minimum contract term with Sky TV, you can leave penalty-free. To do this, contact Sky by phone on 0333 759 1230 or online. You'll need to give 31 days' notice for TV packages.

If you’re still in your minimum term on a Sky TV contract then, unfortunately, you won’t be able to leave without paying an exit fee. You don't have the right to exit your contract penalty-free simply because of these price rises – Sky says that this is because you’ll have already been warned in the terms and conditions that prices could rise.

Haggling for a better deal

If you don't want to give up your Sky subscription, you could instead attempt to haggle with Sky.

Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert team found that an enormous 84 per cent of people managed to find success by haggling for a better deal.

They offer the following tips when haggling for a better deal:

• Benchmark the best deal elsewhere, so you ask for a realistic discount.
• Get through to the retentions (sometimes called disconnections) department. They have the most power to slash costs, as it's their job to keep you.
• Use charm and be friendly. Aggression or anger will just put their back up.
• Don't panic if they call your bluff and say they'll disconnect you.
• If they won't slash the price, see if they can include any extras, such as a boosted TV package.

And remember, if you’re a Channel Island customer, you’re entitled to a 20 per cent ‘goodwill’ discount on your Sky subscription, to make up for the fact that you shouldn’t be paying 20 per cent VAT.

The Jersey Evening Post fought to have the discount removed from Channel Islands customers’ bills. Customers in Jersey can call 0344 2411965 to speak to a customer service adviser and their 20% goodwill discount on Sky TV products will be applied to their account, if it hasn’t already been. The line is open from 8.30am until 9pm.