Sky, Sky+ & Sky HD Warranty Extension and Breakdown Cover with:

On the UK domestic market most extended sky warranty plans are provided by independent companies to that of the product manufacturer or service provider.

An extended Sky warranty is if you like a service plan. It is sold to the consumer on the basis that if anything goes wrong with your product within the extended warranty period it will be repaired or replaced no matter how old the equipment is. You should expect to have unlimited engineer call outs during your warranty period and telephone support whenever you need it. The extended warranty covers accidental damage as well as technical faults to either your dish; digital box; cables or remote control.

An extended warranty must not be confused with what is known as a manufacturers warranty. A warranty is freely given by the manufacturer whilst an extended warranty is something you pay for.

A warranty is a form of guarantee from a manufacturer to the consumer that if a product manufactured by them does not live up to the product promise function or breaks down within a specified period of time they will repair or replace the item subject to terms of the guarantee. For example, accidental damage is not covered.

Extended warranties are popular with people who wish to have cover beyond the manufacturers warranty for peace of mind. Mostly people take out an extended warranty after the manufacturers warranty runs out.

Retailers try to encourage consumers to purchase extended warranties at the time of purchase. Before agreeing remember to check what is covered under the manufacturers warranty and compare the extended Sky warranty terms against other extended warranty providers as you may get a better deal elsewhere.

Remember – you do not have to buy the extended warranty from the seller of the product you purchased. There are many extended warranty providers to choose from and it is worth shopping around for the best deal.

Get a recommendation from family and friends who are happy with their provider. Compare prices and value for money within the service provided. Check if any of the providers have any cost saving promotions for you to consider.

It is a highly competitive market and if you are considering an extended Sky satellite warranty breakdown cover for your sky satellite TV system here are some questions you might find useful to ask providers:

1. What is the call out response time (up to 48 hours is preferable)
2. Do they provide a service in your area?
3. How qualified are the engineers?
4. How many call outs can you have within your warranty period?
5. Is there any other costs or charges that could affect you outside of the warranty premium you have paid?
6. How secure are my personal details with you?
7. Is it likely that your details will be sold to any other company selling services or products?

Get a recommendation from family and friends who are happy with their provider. Compare prices and value for money within the service provided. Check if any of the providers have any cost saving promotions for you to consider.

If you are in any doubt about the company you are dealing with there are other steps to take for peace of mind:

• Get a recommendation from family and friends who are happy with their provider
• Check that the company is Ltd and registered with companies house.
• Look to see if they have a website or literature with information for you to read.
• See if they are registered with the FSA (applies if they are an insurance broker).
• Read the agreement carefully before signing and if sold to by phone make sure you respond with your queries or cancellation within the cooling off period (normally 7 – 14 working days).
• Check if any of the directors have been disqualified by checking the information provided by Companies House www.companieshouse.gov.uk/ddir.

Take note of the person you are corresponding with or if by phone the person you are speaking with and the time and date of your telephone call.

If in any doubt, check with the Office of Fair Trading. The OFT investigates complaints about unfair trading practises, misleading advertising, breaches in the consumer credit provisions and unfair competition www.oft.gov.uk. You can also try contacting Consumers Direct an online and telephone advice and information service for consumers in Great Britain, supported by the Office of Fair Trading www.consumersdirect.gov.uk.

A warranty is a form of guarantee from a manufacturer to the consumer that if a product manufactured by them does not live up to the product promise function or breaks down within a specified period of time that it will be repaired or replaced subject to the terms and conditions under the guarantee.

For example, on most electrical goods including digital television equipment this warranty or guarantee is normally for a 12 month period. In some cases a product warranty can be for 6 months or as much as 2 years.

Some warranties can extend beyond this period in part. If you take a sofa  the manufacturer may offer a guarantee on the frame for up to 10 years and the covers for 5 years.

It is important to remember that no manufacturers warranty applies to the goods where they are used for any other purpose or in any other way than was specified or demonstrated in the instructions.

Another important point to make is that no manufacturers warranty covers the goods if they have been subject to misuse neglect or accidental damage.

Know your rights

As a consumer you have certain legal rights and if your electrical item or satellite viewing equipment breaks down within a reasonable period of time without accidental damage caused by you  the retailer is obliged to put the problem right by repairing or replacing the product.

If you have concerns about what is a reasonable period of time or if you have a dispute with a supplier or retailer – then it worth contacting Trading Standards at www.tradingstandards.gov.uk for peace of mind.

Extended Warranties

A warranty must not be confused with what is known as an extended warranty. A warranty is freely given by the manufacturer whilst an extended warranty is something you pay for.

An extended warranty is if you like a service plan. It is sold to the consumer on the basis that if anything goes wrong with your product within the extended warranty period it will be repaired or replaced.

It is not necessary to have an extended warranty on a product however if you are thinking of taking out an extended warranty there are some points to consider before making your decision.

1. If your product is mechanical or electrical there are a variety of things that can go wrong and they may break or stop working at different times. This could be a faulty part, caused through wear and tear or through misuse or accidental damage. For each problem you face an engineer has to be called, a fee paid and the price of the part paid for. At worse, the product may not be suitable for repair and you need to buy a new one.
2. If the product is in regular use think about what pleasure it brings or the importance of the item in your home. Think about how you would manage if the product did not work as it could take days or weeks to put right. If needing to be replaced depending on your budget you may have to wait until you can afford a new one.
3. Retailers try to encourage consumers to purchase extended warranties at the time of purchase. Before agreeing remember to check what is covered under the manufacturers warranty and compare the extended warranty terms against other extended warranty providers as you may get a better deal elsewhere.

Remember you do not have to buy the extended warranty from the seller of the product you purchased. The retailer makes money on each extended warranty sold and often only offers one plan.

The cost of taking out an extended Sky or satellite system warranty

Prices for an extended sky warranty breakdown and repair plan for Sky digital TV equipment can vary from £60 per year to £95 per year for one standard system.

It is worth looking out for promotional offers such as 3 months free if you take out a 12 month extended warranty. Taking a two year plan or more can also save you money.

It is worth considering the cost of not taking out an extended sky satellite warranty plan. For an extended warranty with breakdown cover for a Sky, Sky + or Sky HD system your agreed premium covers any number of call outs in the warranty period and any parts to repair or replace faulty equipment.

To help you decide it is worth checking the cost of labour and parts for your product or satellite TV equipment. The average engineer costs in the region of £65 – £85 per call out labour only. Depending on the fault, parts can cost anything from £30 for a remote control to over £250.00 for a completely new system.

If you are unfortunate you may have a series of problems in succession with a payment going to the engineer or service provider each time.

The advantages of taking out an extended Sky or satellite warranty

The main advantages to taking out an extended Sky warranty are:

1. The cost is a reasonably small sum that can be paid either as a one off payment or broken down into regular instalments.
2. You only have one number to phone to arrange the support you need.
3. The extended warranty covers accidental damage caused in the home as well as technical faults.
4. Extended warranties on sky satellite equipment covers, outside dish, cables, digital box and remote controls regardless of age.

It is important to remember that any item replaced may not be new but if reconditioned or nearly new it is to be supplied to you clean and in good working order fit for purpose. It is as important to your warranty provider to supply you with satisfactory services and products otherwise they may have to make additional engineer call outs which is at cost to them not you.

It is worth checking your home content insurance policy before agreeing to buy a warranty as you could be covered in your policy. If not check what the additional cost on your policy would be to cover extended items and accidental damage cover. You will also need to check how making a claim would affect your premiums in the future.

Key questions to ask satellite warranty providers

Before taking out an extended warranty on your sky satellite TV equipment check with the provider what they are offering for the price quoted. Here are some key questions to ask:

1. What is the call out response time (up to 48 hours is a reasonable call out time to expect)?
2. Do they provide a service in your area?
3. How qualified are the engineers?
4. How many call outs can you have within your warranty period?
5. Is there any other costs or charges that could affect you outside of the warranty premium you have paid?
6. How secure are my personal details with you?
7. Is it likely that your details will be sold to any other company selling services or products?

For those who decide that they want added protection and peace of mind which an extended warranty offers then it is worth considering this as an option for your digital satellite TV equipment.