Odd MySky Promotional Call From Sky

Forums › Sky, Neon, Lightbox › Odd MySky Promotional Call From Sky

JimmyH

2898 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1554

#174999 13-Jun-2015 11:26

Yesterday I had a somewhat bizarre promotional call from Sky.

For starters, it came through on my cell (which I have actually given them for an earlier service call) from a blocked number, instead of my landline which they usually use. It was a person with a thick and somewhat broken accent who I could barely understand.

She identified herself as being from Sky and asked my had ever heard of a MySky Plus. When I said I had and knew what it was, they proceeded to start to tell me what it was in *excruciating* detail. I had to interrupt them three to tell them I knew all about the product and ask what the point of the call was before they stopped.

They asked I I had considered upgrading to one. And I replied I wasn't interested because I already had a setup which from my perspective worked better than a MySky would, a MySky wasn't suitable for my circumstances because they macrovision the analogue outputs which meant it wouldn't work with my video distribution system, and the level of ads on Sky meant that in any event I was more thinking of cancelling in the next couple of weeks rather than upgrading.

Then we got back into starting to go through all the *wonderful* features of the MySky again, which I had to yet again put a stop to.

Then we got to the meat of the call - apparently I had been selected for a special promotion offer - a free install, the first six months free then only $20 a month after that, on a 12 month term.

I again explained that a MySky wouldn't work with my setup, wasn't better than what I had, and I was probably going to cancel soon and was most certainly not interested in signing up to spend more on a 12 month term with break fees.

She then started trying to persuade me by listing all the features of the MySky *again*

At that point I was getting a bit grumpy and pretty much said "as I have just told you, for the reasons stated, I'm not interested".

Rather than take the definite response from me she then got a bit agitated and somewhat shouty - "but why, why wouldn't you want it, it's a great product and I am offering you a great deal".

At that point I just said "sorry, not interested, and hung up.

I found the whole experience a bit odd, and think they definitely need to sharpen their sales training:

they need people with better English skills and comprehensibility
they need to actually listen to what the answers are rather than just plowing on with what was probably a script regardless, as if the answers to previous questions had never been given
she never picked up on my statement that I was likely to cancel and certainly didn't want to upgrade with a term commitment - or do anything about flicking me to retention or similar instead - she just kept pushing the same material over and over
agitatedly shouting "why, why, why" at a person you have just cold called with an offer they have just stated they don't want, and even gone to the trouble of actually letting you know why, is a pretty weird tactic to try and make a sale?
they should probably call landlines, not cells during the day - if I had been in a meeting instead of at my desk I would have just dumped the call
if they want to maximise the chance their calls will be taken, surely they shouldn't block the caller's number?

I just the whole thing was more than mickey mouse for a large corporate like Sky trying to interact with long-standing customers.

1 | 2 | 3

2487 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1461
Inactive user

#1323918 13-Jun-2015 11:30

"hello sir, I am being from Sky TV, how are you today"

"I'm not very interested thank you" *click*

k1w1k1d

1711 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1305

#1323931 13-Jun-2015 11:52

I assume call was actually from Sky, not another scam?

We have been selected by the NZ Statistics Department to give details of our employment and income. Every three months we get a phone call where they ask every member of the household a series of questions on their employment for the previous week. That includes the kids too. Participation is compulsory, can't tell them to go away.
The last lady to call had an accent that I found hard to understand, especially at the very fast speed she spoke at. I asked her to slow down as I have some industrial deafness. She ignored my request and carried on as before. I got sick of asking her to repeat the questions. My wife and daughter also had problems with her.

I seriously considered ringing NZ Statistics to complain.
I hope that the call was recoded and that her bosses listen to it.

I know that NZ is becoming very multicultural, but organisations engaging with the public need to ensure that their staff follow the suggestions that Jimmy gave above.

wingbat45

233 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 8

#1323935 13-Jun-2015 11:58

yea sky are doing a round of upgrades atm

the language barrier is the worst, that and not listening to you the customer.

call and complain.

wingbat45

233 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 8

#1323936 13-Jun-2015 12:00

k1w1k1d: I assume call was actually from Sky, not another scam?

We have been selected by the NZ Statistics Department to give details of our employment and income. Every three months we get a phone call where they ask every member of the household a series of questions on their employment for the previous week. That includes the kids too. Participation is compulsory, can't tell them to go away.
The last lady to call had an accent that I found hard to understand, especially at the very fast speed she spoke at. I asked her to slow down as I have some industrial deafness. She ignored my request and carried on as before. I got sick of asking her to repeat the questions. My wife and daughter also had problems with her.

I seriously considered ringing NZ Statistics to complain.
I hope that the call was recoded and that her bosses listen to it.

I know that NZ is becoming very multicultural, but organisations engaging with the public need to ensure that their staff follow the suggestions that Jimmy gave above.

I wonder why they want to know all that? you would think the IRD would be able to provide the info to them.

I would love to know the language requirements to work in a call centre. In nz.

k1w1k1d

1711 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1305

#1323961 13-Jun-2015 12:12

The questions include hours worked, number of days, overtime etc. IRD would probably only be able to give actual income details, not how many hours or days you worked to get that income.
Not sure how much info sharing is allowed between Govt departments.

Going by last call, I would say not much.

bales

116 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 12

#1323963 13-Jun-2015 12:21

that sounds dubious at best can it be compulsory?

keithbayly

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 136

#1323996 13-Jun-2015 12:42

k1w1k1d: I assume call was actually from Sky, not another scam?

We have been selected by the NZ Statistics Department to give details of our employment and income. Every three months we get a phone call where they ask every member of the household a series of questions on their employment for the previous week. That includes the kids too. Participation is compulsory, can't tell them to go away.
The last lady to call had an accent that I found hard to understand, especially at the very fast speed she spoke at. I asked her to slow down as I have some industrial deafness. She ignored my request and carried on as before. I got sick of asking her to repeat the questions. My wife and daughter also had problems with her.

I seriously considered ringing NZ Statistics to complain.
I hope that the call was recoded and that her bosses listen to it.

I know that NZ is becoming very multicultural, but organisations engaging with the public need to ensure that their staff follow the suggestions that Jimmy gave above.

Both situations sound dodgy to me.
Participation is compulsory, can't tell them to go away. I doubt that's legal.
I'd be ringing back Sky and Statistics for verification.

ilovemusic

1469 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 307

#1324027 13-Jun-2015 13:27

That sounds bogus as you can't answer them over the phone.

When I was an employer we did get regular Dept Stats Labour surveys which are legally compulsory but always done via paper.

lxsw20

3689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2174

Subscriber

#1324044 13-Jun-2015 13:54

B1GGLZ:Participation is compulsory, can't tell them to go away. I doubt that's legal.

It is. The real fun comes when you're a business and Stats NZ call you up.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 136

#1324076 13-Jun-2015 15:04

lxsw20:
B1GGLZ:Participation is compulsory, can't tell them to go away. I doubt that's legal.

It is. The real fun comes when you're a business and Stats NZ call you up.

Yes, I know for businesses, but via the phone? I don't think so. It was always via paperwork with my Son's business. Via the phone you have absolutely no proof of who is on the other end of the call.

k1w1k1d

1711 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1305

#1324084 13-Jun-2015 15:22

Initial contact was a knock on the door. Tried to tell them we were not interested, but they won't take NO as an answer.
Same rules as the national census that happens every few years.
If a govt department says jump, you basically have to ask "how high".

We have a fridge magnet with a ten digit code. The caller asks us to get the magnet and then gives us the code to check that they are legitimate. If they know the code, we have to answer their questions. We will get 7 calls. One every 3 months for 2 years. Had 2 so far. The first call was no problem, but the second was hopeless. Will ask for supervisor if we have any more problems.

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

MadEngineer

4591 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2570

Trusted

#1324093 13-Jun-2015 15:47

I'd be asking for a legit publicly listed phone number to call them back on.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3317

Trusted

#1324096 13-Jun-2015 15:54

I don't care what people are trying to sell me over the phone, I won't buy.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#1324107 13-Jun-2015 16:25

What is the penalty for refusing to comply? Surely just a fine and not a criminal conviction. If this happened to me I would be prepared to fight it through the courts. Not if I was an employer, I can see the justification for that, but certainly as a private citizen.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

wsnz

654 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 204

#1324366 14-Jun-2015 10:26

Rikkitic: What is the penalty for refusing to comply? Surely just a fine and not a criminal conviction. If this happened to me I would be prepared to fight it through the courts. Not if I was an employer, I can see the justification for that, but certainly as a private citizen.

Provisions by the Statistics Act 1975, allow for an individual to receive a criminal conviction and a fine not exceeding $500, while for businesses the fine is up to $2000.

1 | 2 | 3