Yes. Today I receive another letter from them. Despite the hassle of dealing with them in this post, they’ve sent me another letter. Further below I disect the letter, but first I want to draw your attention to an Advertising Standards Authority ruling:
Advertising Standards Authority ruling on previous mailing from Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd.
Before you read that, I should draw your attention to three things:
- Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd. had a complaint against them upheld on the grounds that their previous mailings breached CAP Code clause 7.1 on the grounds of TRUTHFULNESS.
- Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd. had a complaint agsint them upheld on the grounds that their previous mailings breached CAP code clause 43.2 on the grounds of database practice. They won’t even tell the ASA where they get their mailing list from.
- Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd. had a complaint against them upheld on the grounds that their previous mailings breached CAP code clause 7.1 on the grounds of TRUTHFULNESS.
You’ll get the point of why I’ve over emphasised those three points, and used such large red letters to emphasise that the company breached rules on truthfulness when you see a reconstruction of what they send people:
So, if you get a letter from:
Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd., Unit 5, Capitol Trading Park, Kirkby Bank Road, Kirkby L33 7SY
You can safely throw it in the bin. I opened mine, and was confronted with a big red “IMPORTANT NOTICE” which was “REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION”. Their capitals, not mine. As with the last time they wrote to me, I was a little sceptical as to how factual their letter heading was.
Foolishly, I read on, I’m re-writing here the exact colour/bold/grammar that they sent me…
“YOUR SKY DIGITAL SATELLITE SYSTEM WARRANTY IS DUE TO EXPIRE.” I’ll correct them here, my Sky box was covered by a standard warranty which expired several years ago.
“WHY WAIT 3 DAYS FOR A SERVICE CALL, WHEN OUR UNIQUE SAME DAY SERVICE IS AVAILABLE FROM ONLY £5.99 PER MONTH.” Since you ask, I wouldn’t pay that because if I had put that amount in a bank account each month since my Sky warranty expired, I could afford to buy a new HD box for myself.
“Call 0871 423 7974 without delay”
I’m wondering why they request my telephonic company so immediately, and find the answer in their smaller block capitals…
AS SOON AS YOUR SKY DIGITAL SYSTEM IS OVER 12 MONTHS OLD, YOUR STANDARD SKY WARRANTY EXPIRES. IN SHORT THE SYSTEM IS NOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. NO MORE FREE CALL-OUTS!
IF YOU REQUIRE A SERVICE CALL AND YOUR SKY DIGITAL SYSTEM IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, YOU WILL NOW BE CHARGED A MINIMUM CALL OUT FEE OF £72. [I assume this is the feeble excuse they have found to write to me again, but it holds no water.]
RESTORE PEACE OF MIND AND EXTEND YOUR SKY DIGITAL WARRANTY WITH US. WE’RE ONLY A PHONE CALL AWAY WITH EASY PAYMENT OPTIONS BY CHEQUE, DIRECT DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD
OUR UNIQUE SAME DAY SERVICE* MEANS THAT IF YOU CALL OUR SERVICE LINE BEFORE 10AM WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO HAVE AN ENGINEER AT YOUR HOUSE THAT DAY. [Three things strike me, a * in a sentence, not a 1 which would look semi-professional; the other two are that they will endeavour to have an engineer at my house that day. What is endeavour? How hard will you really try? Come on, I don't want to be left without the latest Katie Price and Peter Andre story on Living TV! Another question, would this engineer care to show me his professional qualification upon arrival, along with his I.D.?]
I finally find the little * at the bottom of the large upper case capitals. I squint to see the smallest writing.
*service calls dependent on engineer availability and stock levels. (Not including weekends or bank holidays.)
Sorry, my mobile phone insurance costs far less, and guarantees me someone with a replacement phone on my door that day, are you even trying to provide a service here?
I’m sorry, I don’t buy it. Although I’m not going to get a warranty for a Sky box that’s done fine for several years, I felt obliged to check my options. Here’s a price-comparison: [28 June 2008]
| DSWC Ltd. | SKY | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Sky System | £5.99 per month | £5.75 per month, for 3 boxes |
| Sky+ | £9.59 per month | £8.25 per month, inc 1 SkyHD or Sky+ box or 2 normal boxes |
| Two Simple Sky Systems | £9.99 per month | £5.75 per month for THREE boxes |
| Sky+ and a Simple Sky System | £12.99 per month | £8.25 per month, includes TWO Simple Sky Systems |
I’m sorry, I’d rather pay the lower price to Sky for a next day service. Maybe three days at the outset, if they are really busy and somoene’s off with gastric flu, just to cover themselves.
I haven’t given a good enough idea of how childishly Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd. convey themselves in their letter. I really cannot recall ever having received any information in writing which was an “IMPORTANT NOTICE” which was “REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION” with those two parts covering 1/7 of a page. Any solicitor, hospital or doctor etc who has felt the requirement to write to me has used a modest letterhead. So why does Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd. feel the need to make such a striking impression?
We’re all human, and allowed to make our own choices, but believe me, from what I can tell, and Im not a lawyer, professional or anything clever like that, if you use these Digital Satellite Warranty Cover people, you’re a fool.
Oh yeah, their FREEPOST address, which you can send things to is:
FREEPOST RRHK-EUUZ-EKHC Unit 5 Capitol Trading Park Kirkby Bank Road Knowsley Industrial Park LIVERPOOL L33 7SYI’m a member of the Mail Preference Service, I’ve informed them. To me, if you post something to me, it becomes my property to disclose at my will. Next time I receive a letter from these people I’m going to get more personal legal advice.
Update 12th July 2008:
I received another “IMPORTANT NOTICE, REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION” today. Apparently it’s my final reminder that I need to take them up on their exclusive offer. I still can’t see anything exclusive about it, and their prices are still more than Sky would charge. They’ve introduced a same day service, so long as I report a fault to them by 10:00am and wait in all day.
The Mail Preference Service has responded to say that they will take up the case.
hi everyone can anybody give me any information or feedback about the following companies
1.digital warranty care
2.satellite and homecare
3.satellite aftercare
any info would be great s like everybody on this site i think i have been scammed by these b*****ds
I believe they are now using scam techniques as the company Digital Protect Sampora using the same tactics – I had a phone call a couple of weeks ago – on the same lines
so BEWARE!
They can not take any money out of any banks as all the accounts have been frozen, so if money is being taken out it can not be that company !!
Digital Warranty is a Class A Scam company. A year ago it took 3 months to get my money back.
This week (w/c 14/2/11) I had another call and told them to disappear as I kew all about them.
Today 19/2/11 on checking my account there was the familiar £6 debit again.
It appears that they keep ypur details for an extended period of time and then start it up again.
I just read another ‘Mirror’ site that told me that they were put into liquidation—Doesn’t appear to be!
They are well known to the Authorities and to the Banks
so why is it so difficult to stop these people.
I hope they get severely punished some time soon
DW
I used to work for them. Horrible company with absolute poor management. People running round mad. Staff saying rude and disgusting comments to customers. I was constantly in the office being shouted at because 1. I kept telling people the truth and 2. Because I would not and could not con an old person into taking our insurance they did not need. I’m glad, over the moon that a poor, horrible, rotten company has gone into the ground. I hope PAUL SMITH has to sell his house and the rest of the no good management. NO MORALS!
The data for calling people was actually from SKY engineers, DSWC would contact them and pay them x amount of money for sky customers information. I know this because on calling a “customer” the clients name would show up as follows:
Name : Mr D Smith
Address: 23 Sandhill Lane (Buzzer broken)
I also know this because we were told on uncapped times “We get the information from SKY engineers but don’t tell any ‘customers’ that. You can’t say we’re SKY but bend the truth to sell, sell, sell lets ‘SMASH’ it today”
No one in there had any relevant qualifications and the management would BULLY staff who didn’t have a leg to stand on as the company was just poorly ran and there was no HR or any professional help. Many times management ran about with bats and other blunt weapons scaring people off outside that had come to have words about how a relative was being treated.
To end it FUCK YOU DSWC ltd. I’m glad I took the piss and rinsed the bar at the christmas night out!! You bunch of con artists!
i too have been scamed didnt realise rung sky and wanted a repair on the number provied they knew nothing about it. i paid by credit card hope they cant take any more money
sky have taken over the calls for the company they have not got your details because they did not have access to the data base – but they will cover your fault as they want your custom
They wont take any more money as accounts have been frozen whilst investigation is going on
And if your wondering how your information gets to all other warranty firms follow this link it explains a lot
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/dec/08/personaldetails
Kim,
That’s irrelevant. I have been a member of TPS and MPS for over five years. DSWC were spamming me. That is not a defence for Sky. If DSWC received my details and failed to filter them out because I am on the MPS, then they are quite clearly at fault.
I don’t agree with what a lot of you are saying – our small family run business covered many of this companies london & south east england service calls we were effient, rialible and honest. We were going to approx 100 – 120 customers each week, so if DSWC were such a rip off how come they paid us to attend their customers problems with their sky equipment.
What all of you fail to see is that, if sky take over all warranties, and elimate all of the competition, then they can charge what they like for that warranty, just as they have done with all their packages.
I don’t agree with people being ripped off by any company, but like all contracts their needsto be consideration on both parts and DSWC receives payment and the customer will have their equipment replaced or repaired within (with us doing the services) a 24 – 48 hr time limit.
When we went into our contract with this company they made it very clear they wanted us to attend they customers within our postcodes within a 24 – 48 hour period within them sending the customer sheet to us.
We have covered many customers over the last 6 months and most of them have been extremley happy with our and DSWC service – i say most as no firm in any business can have a 100% customer satisfaction.
As for the FSA stating this cover should be considered an insurance not warranty, just doesnt make sense, as when you go on sky protect page it classes it as a warrany not an insurance.
Thesaurus meanings
warranty – a written assurance that some product or service will be provided or will meet certain specifications
insurance – promise of reimbursement in the case of loss; paid to people or companies so concerned about hazards that they have made prepayments to an insurance company
“we were effient, rialible and honest” – I think this just about sums it up.
You are a complete rip-off because you knowingly feed off the vulnerable who can’t tell the difference between real SKY letterheads and your cheaply printed “ATTENTION RING US NOW!!!!” mail shots.
And how on earth can you take a dig at SKY for giving out personal details when you too are clearly in the wrong for accepting them?! What other way could you possibly know who is and isn’t contracted with them?
Thankfully SKY have contacted their customers and your excuse of a company will soon be dead and buried.
It not my company mate, we were engineers who went to their customers when they had a fault with their equipment, so we could repair it. We have not sent any letterheads to any one and we dont rip anyone off. our company is vat registered – rdi registered – and we own a shop, so anyone can come in for advise ( which is free !! )
If they were such a rip off they wouldnt be sending us there to fix the customers sky, the customers are paying for a service as long as they receive that service i dont see a problem, when we were doing their service calls we were there with 24hrs.
This company is not trading at present. A high court order on 16 Nov,granted the FSA permission to appoint a provisional liquidator. As a result all premises seized and closed, and staff dismissed. Any issues relating to your existing warranty, phone the number on the paperwork you have (if indeed you have any paperwork) as sky TV are answering all calls as they have been diverted to them at their request.
add me to the list too !! this company rang me last week and told me my cover expired in june !! i have since joined sky protection which is fine . however after trawling thru bank statements i see they took 54.99 from my account in may !! this was shown as acard purchase which is strange because i paid with debit card previously !! surely they cant just take money without requesting it this was not set up as direct debit !! Contacting my bank !!! Do not deal with this company …..you have been warned .
Some points about the above – if you receive junk e-mail ensure you read the details correctly and ensure the company is actually sky.
Also sky have got alot to answer for as they are obviously not protecting their customers details which enables companies like this to buy the information.
Ive too received a call from then and at no point did they say they were sky t.v – the girl whom called clearly said digital sateliete and when I asked her if she was sky she said no we are a seperate entity – I then asked were they got my information and was told they but this data from third parties.
I said well sky dont recommend that their customers use you and they recommend Domestic & General too which she replied well its just like your car insurance sir – if youve got a ford car you dont therefore use ford everytime to repair your car you have a choice of whom you can use, which is what were offering.
My advice to people would be to listen to the phone call and if unsure simply reect their offer of a warranty at the end of the day if your soft enough to give your bank details over the phone when youve been cld called you deserve all that you get – always always ask for a letter to be sent to you that wa you can clearly see its not Domestic and general and that way you can simply bin it and ignore it.
Digital Satellite Warranty Cover LTD
I’ve been totally ripped off by this company, I believed my warranty was covered through Sky. I’ve learned my lesson for sure. I’ve been trying to contact this company for two days with a fault with my remote control,no way can I get through to them. I have read the reviews and this clarifies my thoughts about this company. KEEP WELL AWAY from them. I’ve spoken to someone today (from a good reliable source) who told me the reason I can’t get in touch with them is because they are possibly in court today. They are still dealing around the corner from their previous address. They must be stopped from ripping people off!!!!!!!
My elderly aunt, who is rather deaf and gets easily confused, was persuaded/ co-erced after a lengthy ‘phone conversation, into giving her account details and this company have set up an 18 month contract! I am now trying to cancel this agreement. Wish me luck as it sounds as if I’ll need it!!
i recieved a phone call tonight as i cancelled my DD in oct.i had taken out a new insurance policy with D&G which was much cheaper and sky reccomend.I took this policy out in february as i was informed by the salesman that they were the only company that sky use,i have since found out this is totally untrue.Tonight i was informed that they would restart my DD which i told them they weren’t,i have now been told that they will be in touch with their solicitor.My certificate states they only use sky qualified engineers which again is not true.My certificate has no expiry date but as i had signed the agreement i was liable for payment,i informed them that i had never signed any documents or agreements and was not going to pay any more money.Surely something can be done to stop these people having access to your information, sky have an oblicagation to their customers under the data protection act.
I to am trying to get in touch with them – the recorded message informs me to ring BEFORE 8p.m and it’s only 6.40 pm now
Thats ridiculous!
They send me a letter a few weeks ago which i ignored and today i found out the actually put a direct debit on my bank account robbing me of £54.99!who the hell gave them permission!
Now im in overdraft of 50pounds and i cant spend a thing until next payday!
Please!give me a number to call these damn scum and make a complain…tomorrow i gonna go to the bank as well to make sure never ever get a direct debit from them!
Just off the phone to this disreputable company. Relative in her 80′s was conned into thinking this was cover from SKY and has been paying money for over a year. She stopped the direct debit and got a very threatening phone call this morning threatening her with court action. Can you imagine how upsetting this was to a person with severe heart problems!!!!!
The upshot of MY phone call? I was transferred to a supervisor who ASSURED me her name would be taken off the list. I somehow feel that this will not be the end of the saga as the response was so abrupt. I did ask for this in writing but, as you’ve guessed, not blooming likely! They can send all the letters they want…no more money.
Isn’t it against the law for a company (SKY) to allow access to people’s details? Sky should be prosecuted in my opinion and RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!
Sky haven’t allowed access to anyone’s details, moggie. Most likely, the installation company, or the installer him/herself have passed on your relatives details to DSWC. Sky would have no interest whatsoever in passing on details as they offer an insurance product themselves.
Understand rollkit,TY but if Sky use an outside contractor for installations for example, surely Sky have a responsibility to their customers and a duty of care. If this senario has been on-going for quite a substantial amount of time and these con men have been flagged up on e.g. Watchdog, then perhaps Sky needs to have a re think about who they sub contract to. That would make sense to me
My name can be added to the conned list! They contacted me a few days ago and I was convinced they were from sky as they had all my details and they never said they weren’t from sky. Anyway, I agreed to their £8.99 a month cover only to find that they took £25 from my account for an initial payment which they never mentioned during the phone call. I contactde them and they said that I could not cancel the contract as it was for 12 months and that if I cancelled my direct debit they would continue to request them and would be contacted by their legal team. I informed them that I had never received any paperwork for this so called contract and would like it sent to me immediately along with a transcript of the phone call. They told me that I had to request this in writing.
I then contacted Trading Standards who said that by law they have to cancel the contract and refund me all monies if I cancel within 7 days. This was in accordance with DISTANCE SELLING REGULATIONS 2000 which states you must have a 7 day cooling off period and can cancel for any reason within that time. They said to send the letter stating this by recorded delivery and also state that by law they have 30 days from date of letter to respond and refund my money. If they do nothing then Trading Standards are going to contact them for me.
i have just spoke to the company informing them i have cancelled my direct debit, i was threatened with court action, i await this in the post, they will not get another penny from me!!! i also told the girl on the other end of the phone to get a proper job that doesnt involve conning the public!
You cant just blame a telesales rep for doing her job, its up to the people who run the company.
I too have been fooled into this, i have rung them and told them i have cancelled my direct debit, i was told i was in contract with them until June, i told them my direct debit is cancelled, there response was you will be sent a court letter, i told the person taking the call that maybe she ought to look for a proper job, where the public are not being conned! i await my threat of court action, an will be also writing to my bank asking them to block any further diredt debit mandates sent to them from this company.
so there’s plenty of us been scammed… but who can tell me how to get my money back?? They phoned me out of the blue, convinced me i needed to part with £60 for my Sky warranty renewal. When i didn’t receive any paperwork, i called the number they left several times and only got an answering machine. I then called my credit card company who confirmed the company, “Digital Warranty UK Ltd”, had taken £60 from my Barclaycard. The credit card company said they would record the transaction as “in dispute”, and send some forms. BUT DOES THIS MEAN I WILL BE REFUNDED?? What assurances do i have if any, from credit companies, against these fraudsters??
I am another mug taken in by the sales telephone call lies these parasites push.
I to have had £25 taken from my bank account and even when I cancelled the debit with my bank they just put another request in. I have put in a claim for the return of the £25 but I dont hold out much hope. TIME SKY WERE SHAMED INTO TAKING ACTION ABOUT THESE CROOKS.
at no point is any customer told the are talking to sky, if your so stupid to give your details over the phone and are not even sure who your talking too you deserve everything you get you idiot
I too have been drained by 5.99 a month by this company although it was not me they spoke to but my parents who where none the wiser and as i dont live at home anymore didnt think to check them out, although alarm bells rang today when i got 25 quid taken from my account for no reason on top of the 5.99!! So i called them to cancel and ask why the 25 was taken out.. no reason could be given apart from the CSA Paul saying “it shouldn`t have been taken from account sir..” bare cheek of them!! how do they get away with it?????
I also have been done over by this lot pretending to be sky protect, now i have cancelled my direct debit. now they have rung demanding £25 cancellation fee and i have also be threatened with there leagel team.
HI IM CALLING FROM DIGITAL SATELLITE REGARDING YOUR SKY DIGITAL SERVICE, ring any bells??? never has this compasny pretended to be sky
i was caught out too with this con.i immediately cancelled my direct debit and spoke to my bank about this con after finding £25 taken from my account. i have contacted trading standards and i will be writing to this bunch in the hope of getting my money back, (i wouldnt hold my breath), although this company may be registered and recognised by other buisnesses surely something can be done to stop them from conning others in future.their code of practice consists of lying to customers and goodness knows what else they are capable of,passing on our bank details to third parties? i hope not, but i am very concerned about this.
My partner got a phone call pertaining to be Sky to say warranty was due and would he like to renew. He had just had the reminder in the post so totally convinced they were Sky he gave our bank details over the phone so they could take 94 pounds. They caught him off guard and all logic went out the window as they were so convincing. We have a direct debit in place so when he told me he had paid the Sky equipment warranty over the phone I knew straight away it wasn’t legit. We are on damage limitation now and have been in contact with the bank with all the info I could get to try and stop them getting any money. Have notified Trading Standards as well. Just a few clicks on internet brings up loads of stuff about these people and none of it good, so many trading names. How on earth do they keep getting away with it, must be making millions selling warranties that don’t exist totally fraudulently
STAY AWAY FROM THESE THEY ARE SCUM BAGS I WAS A EMLOYEE WITH THESE N THEY R A SCAM THEY DNT COVER U THEY DONT ANSWER THE PHONE THEY DONT COVER YOU FOR NOTHING THAT THEY SAY THEY DO THEY MAKE OUT THAT THER SKY SKUM BAGS THATS ALL THEY ARE JUST MONEY GRABBERS HOE THE BUSINESS GETS SHUT DOWN TO STO THEM MAKING MISERY TO ANY 1 ELSES LIVES
DEAR CUSTOMERS DONTO GO WITH THIS COMPANY AS I WAS A EMLOYEE FOR SEVAEARL MONTHS IN HERE AND I NO EXACTLY WOT GOES ON ITS A SCAM VERY BIG SCAM THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY AND DONOT GIVE YOU ANYTHING BACK FOR IT WEN YOU CALL U THEY JUS EGNORE YOUR CALLS AND NOW THEY HAVE NAMED THEM SELVES ANOTHER ASWELL AS DIGITIAL SATELITE ITS ASLO SATELITE DIRECT DONOT GO WITH THESE COWBOYS WHEN YOU CALL U THEY NEVER ANSWER OR WEN THEY DO THEY NEVER SEND OUT A ENGINEER THEY DONTY COVER YOU FOR WHAT THEY SAY LIKE ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE WEATHER DAMAGE OR STORM DAMAGE LOADS OV BOLLOCKS STAY AS FAR WAY AS OSSIBLE AND MAKE SURE YOU TELL EVERY 1 THANKS BARBARA………
haha someones had the sack
When you contact your bank to cancel, speak to the Direct Debit Department and tell them the whole story, get them to put a note on your file and ask them to to put a “block” on this company otherwise SDSW can go back and re-submit a separate direct debit – and it will come out of your account again. If it’s on your file then any subsequent direct debits will be the bank’s responsibility.
l too have been scammed by these blood suckers, thinking that this company belonged to sky l took out insurance on my sky hd box only to find that when l wanted repairs doing they told me l had the wrong insurance and would cost another £55 to upgrade. l am contacting trading standards on monday, l have also written to sky and they are not interested. l have rung this company , written twice asking for a full refund to no avail, l am seriously thinking of contacting the police for theft, but l shall see what trading standards come up with. This company should be closed down, bombed, gutted, flattened along with all its employers and employees along with anyone else who know how this rat pit operates. how do they sleep at night?????
I was silly enough to take out 12 mths coves (plus 3 free) in early Sept, via telephone sales, then spotted this forum. Was promised paperwork would arrive within 7 days giving me the option to cancel. Guess what? No paperwork still after 16 days.
Cost £99, so just below credit card minimum amount for legal recompense. Trading Stds advised me to write quoting “Distance Selling Regs” demanding refund.
Trading Stds said NEVER BUY OR GIVE CARD DETAILS OVER PHONE. Lesson learnt. WIll keep you posted re reimbursment claim.
I have just discovered that my mother – in -law has been a victim of these people. They have taken a payment twice from her account when she has not agreed to any renewal. We had taken out a policy last year without realizing what sort of company we were dealing with. The bank are not being very helpful and I have reported the matter to Trading Standards who are coming back to me.
Many years ago I made the mistake of taking out a policy with this lot thinking they were a sky affiliated company. I found out after about a year they weren’t and cancelled, chalking that one up to not knowing any better. This month I find £25 direct debit coming out of the account from DSWC LTD. I haven’t had any contact with these people since then. My warrenty will run out in about two months and I have sky protect for £6.87, why oh why would I take out another policy for £25 ….Oh thats right I didn’t. Off to the bank tomorrow to cancel and complain.
You can add my name to the list too. Though my local “Consumer Direct” service told me that this company IS registered with Companies House as a legitimate Company. Am totally confused but still trying to get my money back.
You can add my name to the sorry list of victims. I have reported it to Trading Standards, but why oh why is Sky not doing more about this. They would appear to have a serious data protection issue and could open themselves up to litigation if a group of victims got together, found a lawyer, and launched a joint action. The root of the problem is the leakage of personal account information of Sky customers to disreputable third parties (I would suspect the thug who came to instal the box in the first place). Hopefully the tabloid press will pick up on this and shame Sky into taking action.
I too have been scammed. Knowsley Borough Council Trading Standards are putting a file together on DSWL. Just completed a questionnaire for them. Their no. is 0151 489 6000.