Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd probed by Mersey Trading Standards

The Liverpool Echo has reported that Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Limited have been investigated by Merseyside Trading Standards, after it received scores of complaints about the firm.

I wrote about this company in April 2007, after receiving their Junk Mail. I wrote again in August 2008 when they continued to send me junk mail, despite me opting out and registering with both the Telephone Preference Service and the Mail Preference Service.

I wasn’t prepared for the scores of comments I received about the satellite warranty company. Across the two articles, over 130 to date. It’s not like the company has learned to behave, the comments are still flowing. Some of the things people have told rollkit.com show the absolutely disgraceful business practices the company uses.

I’ve also had to block several suspect comments, where multiple entries were made from the same IP address in Liverpool, from people with similar names, but different email addresses, within a very short space of time.

The Investigation

According to the Liverpool Echo, the firm are being investigated because they, or some of their sales staff, said they were calling on behalf of Sky, or claimed to be linked to the company. As comments on the two threads I linked to above show, many people aren’t prepared or ready for the automatic annual renewal. I don’t have a policy with the company, but it sounds as though they are charging customers first, then writing to them to say they’ve taken money. Any reputable insurance company would surely write well ahead, to advise of automatic renewal?

In the article, the company deny all the allegations put to them about their mis-selling techniques.

What can I do?

If you’ve taken out a warranty and changed your mind, the Distance Selling Regulations will come into effect. This gives you a seven day cooling off period. After seven days, you are tied into the contract for the remainder of the year, but in the Liverpool Echo article, DSWC say they will offer a pro-rata refund for any unused whole months.

In the article, Digital Satellite Warranty Cover say they can’t force people to read the terms and conditions of their policy. When you took out your order over the ‘phone, did they tell you explicitly of your right to cancel? This is a legal requirement.

If you don’t want the warranty to automatically renew, you must call Digital Satellite Warranty Cover Ltd before the warranty renews, or within seven days afterwards, as you’re covereed by the Distance Selling Regualations again.

Sky offer their warranty, Sky Protect, via Domestic and General. Sky charge from £69 per year for a normal Sky box, and £99 for Sky+ or Sky+HD. Multiroom cover comes as standard.

If you get a new Sky package from Sky Digital, it is automatically covered with a 12 month warranty.