Sky TV-Is this harassment

Chapter One

Back in June 2007 i received the following offer from Sky TV.

r MrJ xxxxxxx
g xxxxxxxxxx
i Newton Stewart
Wigtownshire
xxxxxxxxx
V32/0011479
12919/0061

Dear Mr xxxxx, June 2007
Pay once. Watch digital TV forever
We wanted to tell you how easy it is to switch to digital TV. It's also great value. For a one-off payment of only £75,
you will be able to access over 200 free digital TV channels, including your BBC and ITV favourites.
The equipment is yours to keep forever. Our expert engineer will install everything you need to go digital, and
will then give you a personal demonstration to make sure you're happy. On top of all that, you can choose any 2 of
Sky TV's 6 entertainment mixes for 6 months.
Discover the things you love on Sky TV
Whatever you enjoy watching, you're sure to find it with the great number of quality channels on Sky TV. That's
quite a claim - but if you look more closely, you'll see a wealth of special interest programmes covering almost
every imaginable topic. From gardening to fishing, biographies to cutting-edge current affairs, travel to interior
design, there's something to suit all tastes. Here's a taster of some of the great programmes available across our
6 entertainment mixes:
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on LIVINGtv
Eye of the Leopard on Nat Geo Wild
Katharine Hepburn on The Biography Channel
The Re-Inventors on UKTV Documentary
Dali Night on Sky Arts
DIY SOS on UKTV Style

Get over 200 digital TV channels, plus the option to subscribe to Sky TV after 6 months
At the end of 6 months, you can continue to enjoy the great quality Sky TV channels from just £15 a month. Or you
can cancel Sky TV and still enjoy over 200 free digital channels, including your BBC and ITV favourites, with nothing
more to pay. For more information about this great package, call 08703 335 401 by 14 June.

Yours sincerely,



John Orriss
Customer Communications Director
Pay once watch forever
Includes all the Sky equipment and installation you need to go digital.
Enjoy over 200 free digital TV channels PLUS 6 months' Sky TV.


For more information call 08703 335 401
•cf telephone line required. After the end of your 6-month warranty, costs may be payable for service calls or repairs to your digital satellite equipment.
Lines are open 8.45am - 8.45pm, 7 days a week. Please have your bank details ready.
Calls cost up to 8p per minute for BT customers. Calls from other providers may vary.
Sky Subscribers Services Ltd • PO Box 43 • Livingston • West Lothian EH54 7DD
Registered No. 2340150 (England) • Grant Way • Isleworth • Middlesex TW7 5QD • VAT Registered No. 440 6274

A few years ago i had problems with cancelling my then Sky Contract and was pursued by a debt collection agency that went under the name of Oxford Servicing.I had doubts about accepting this offer,but thought perhaps they aren't the aggresive ogres they once were and went ahead.

Sky Installed and everything ok.
One months notice posted off in November.Everythings fine.

Chapter Two
Whats this come through the letter box?

002240
Mr xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx
NEWTON STEWART
Wigtownshire
xxxxxxx
416 /O
NEW PAYMENT
DETAILS ARE
NEEDED

Date: November 2007
l.|l||l|..||l.l|||..|l|l||l.|||...||.|
Account Number: xxxxxxxxxxx
Dear Mr xxxxxxxx
We've heard from your bank that you've cancelled your Direct Debit instruction. You might have done this because
you want to cancel your Sky subscription, but cancelling your Direct Debit doesn't mean you have cancelled all your
Sky services.
By cancelling your Direct Debit we can't automatically process your payment when it becomes due. Instead we'll
send you an invoice showing what's owed on your account. This will include an invoice charge of £4.00. That charge
will be added every month that you pay by invoice rather than Direct Debit.
To ensure your Sky services stay active and to avoid paying the extra monthly invoice charges, you need to get in
touch with us quickly to set up new Direct Debit details.
This can be done easily by calling us on 08702 430 835. Lines are open from 7am to llpm everyday. Alternatively,
you could complete the enclosed Direct Debit instruction and return it in the envelope provided. Remember, it takes
up to 5 working days for your new payment instruction to be processed so make sure you send it in time.
You can also ring the number above to:
• Change your billing date to one that suits you better
• Make a payment by credit or debit card with immediate effect
• Get help with any other payment and account questions
Don't forget, if we don't receive new Direct Debit instructions you will have to pay the extra monthly invoice charge.
So please get in touch as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
^(W_.
Denise Allan
Head of Operational Finance
Sky Subscribers Service;, Ltd • PO Box 43 • Livingston • West Lothian EH54 7DD
sky.com 3123
Registered No. 23^0150 (England) • Grant '.^av • Islewoith • Middlesex !W7 SOD • VAT registered No. '|'|0 627^ 67
Q10/115/2106/07)

A telephone call to Sky to ask what they are up to.
After fifteen minutes on the telephone i was assured my subscription would be cancelled,everything was in order.

I thought i'd better back this up with a further letter highlighting my annoyance at their inability to stick to the contract.

Chapter Three
This morning i received the following letter.
002503


Mr xxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
NEWTON STEWART
Wigtownshire
xxxxxxxx
1,|1||1|,,||U|||,
416 /O
AVOID EXTRA
CHARGES BY
REJOINING SKY

Account Number: xxxxxxxxxxx
Dear Mr xxxxxxx
Date: 13th December 2007

0x010xx0x000
We are writing to tell you that you have breached the terms of your Sky Digital contract by not making all your
payments to Sky within your 12 month minimum term. Unless you address this quickly we will have to apply an extra
charge of £120.00 to your Sky account. This charge is calculated like this:
The difference between what you paid for your standard installation and our full standard installation charge.
You must call us immediately to rejoin Sky and avoid paying this extra charge.
If you do this, we won't make the above charge, but you will still have to pay anything you currently owe us and
remain as a paying Sky customer for the rest of your 12 month minimum term.
Rejoining Sky is quick and simp Ie to do. Call us on 08702430 835 and we'll arrange for your Sky service to be restored
as soon as we've received any payments due to us.
Paying is easy too. Just call the same number to pay by credit or debit card, or to set up a new Direct Debit instruction.
Remember, it takes up to 5 working days for your new payment instruction to be processed so make sure you send
it in time. We can also help you if you'd like to change your package or your payment date. Lines are open from 7am
to llpm everyday.
Unfortunately, if we don't hear from you within the next 1A days the charges set out above will be added directly to
your Sky account. What's more, if you do not pay the full amount owed on your account we will refer your debt to a
collection agency_This coyjd affect your cred_[tJ>tatusjind ultimatelyJead to legal action being brought again st_ypu.
That's something we would definitely rather avoid, so please get in touch with us soon.
If you've settled your account or rejoined in the last few days, then sorry for writing to you and please ignore this
letter.
Yours sincerely
^..lUyC. ^olv^
Denise Allan
Head of Operational Finance
^
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COMPANY
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Sky Subscribers Services Ltd • PO Box 43 • Livingston • West Lothian EH54 7DD
Customer Service T 08702 W W W • Republic of Ireland T 0818 719 819
sky.com
Registered Charity No: 1012369
Sky's charity partner 200'* - 2007
CarbonNeutral®company
Registered No. 2340150 (Em
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Another telephone call to Sky Customer Services.
Usually the calls to Sky Customer Services are to a call centre in Scotland.Today i had the distinct impression this was to a call centre in India.This call lasted ten minutes.I was advised to ignore this letter and that everything was in order.

Am i being overly optimistic that the matter is now closed.

Scots Magazine 1747

I have an 1747 copy of the 'Scots Magazine' given to me a few years ago by my father.It's seen better days but is still readable.

On page 589 is the following verse.No reference is made to the author.

It really is so beautifully versed,i thought it should again see the light of day.
From the Scots Magazine 1747

A Song

How could I venture to love one like thee, Or thou not despise a poor conquest like me !.
On Lords thy admirers could look with disdain, And tho’ I was nothing, yet pity my pain !
You said, when they teaz’d you with nonsense and dress, When real the passion, the vanity’s less ;
You saw thro’ that silence which others despise, And while beaux were prating, read love in my eyes.
Oh ! where is the nymph that like thee ne’er can cloy, Whose wit can enliven the dull pause of joy ;
And when the sweet transport is all at an end, From beautiful mistress turn sensible friend !
When I see thee I love thee, but hearing adore, I wonder, and think you a woman no more ;
‘Till mad with admiring I cannot contain, And kissing those lips find you woman again.
In all that I write I’ll thy judgement require, Thy taste shall correct what thy love did inspire ;
I’ll kiss thee, and press thee till youth is all o’er, And then live on friendship till passions no more..

Klondyke Ferry

This is an interesting picture i took up in Alberta Canada in 2003.The Klondyke Ferry crossing the Athabasca River into the Sandhills Provinicial Park.
Named for it's historical links to the gold rush.

Technical details.
Length of crossing (m) 230
Load Capcity (kg) 50,000
Propulsion Cable
Ferry Length (m) 20.42
Ferry Breadth (m) 9.96
Ferry Hull depth (m) 1.3
Capacity 1 Crew, 50 Passengers, 13 mid-size cars
Year build 1983

Lazy Day

I wrote this poem about 30 years ago.It reflected a typical Saturday in my life.
I've never published it before,but since this is my blog i think i can be a little self indulgent.
The cigarettes were an expensive habit,i gave up on September 28th 1986.

Lazy Day

By Jim D

up in the morning at 10 o’clock
everyday movements around the block
look in the fridge for bacon and eggs
empty the teapot of yesterdays dregs

collect the daily paper from the front door
dodge the cat sprawled out on the floor
sit in the armchair with teacup and fag
glance at the headlines while having a drag

half an hour later, off to the loo
a quick wash and shave, and teeth brushed too
look in the mirror combing hair
distinct impression, there’s more grey there

it’s 11 o’clock, there’s a test match on telly
back in the armchair with hands on belly
openers are slow, look at the crossword
listen to the chatter of the neighbourhood blackbird

one o’clock, score – forty for two
look under the stair for missing shoe
into the car and down to the bookies
call at the bakers and buy some cookies

back home, coffee in cup
back to the telly, volume up
first race is due off in five minutes time
should have called for a lager and lime

lose interest in racing when selections go down
contemplate a trip, perhaps into town
decide against, turn back to the match
just in time to see a great catch

half past five, what’s for tea
beefburgers, how many?, as many as three
back to the box, news of the day
everyone wanting to have their say

telly and crossword the rest of the night
it’s been a lazy day all right

Lake Hawea

But for a change a little bit of brightness from New Zealand with a picture i took back in 2003.This is the beautiful Lake Hawea.

Subtle Scottish Jokes

A few weeks ago Tam Cowan in the Daily Record asked readers to send in their favourite Scottish Jokes.These are a few of them.Perhaps some non caledonians might need some interpretations.

A Glasgow man - steaming and skint - is walking down Argyle Street when he spots a guy tinkering with the engine of his car. "What's up, Jimmy?" he asks. "Piston broke," he replies. "Aye, same as masel..."

Did you hear about the lonely prisoner? He was in his cell.

A teenage girl phones her dad at midnight and says: "Can you come and get me? I've missed the last bus and it's pouring with rain."
"Okay," says her dad. "Where are you ringing from?"
And the girl says: "From the top of my head right down to my knickers."

A Glasgow woman goes to the dentist and settles down in the chair. "Comfy?" asks the dentist.
"Govan," she replies.

What did the Siamese twins from Glasgow call their autobiography? Oor Wullie.

A guy walks into an antiques shop and says: "How much for the set of antlers?"
"Two hundred quid," says the bloke behind the counter.
"That's affa dear," says the guy.

Did you hear about the fella who liked eating bricks and cement? He's awa' noo.

After announcing he's getting married, a boy tells his pal he'll be wearing the kilt. "And what's the tartan?" asks his mate. "Oh, she'll be wearing a white dress," he replies.

Ten cows in a field. Which one is closest to Iraq? Coo eight.

Three wee jobbies sitting on the pavement. Which one's a Musketeer? The dark tan yin.

While getting ready to go out, a wee wifie says to her husband: "Shug, do you think I'm getting a wee bit pigeon chested?" And he says: "Aye, but that's why I love you like a doo."

What was the name of the first Scottish cowboy? Hawkeye The Noo.

A Scotsman in London is having trouble phoning his sister from a telephone box so he calls the operator who asks in aplummy voice: "Is there money in the box?"
"Naw, it's just me," he replies.

What do you call a pigeon that goes to Aviemore for its holidays? A skean dhu.

How many Spanish guys does it take to change a lightbulb? Just Juan.

A man takes a pair of shoes back to the shop and complains that there is a lace missing.
"No," argues the assistant, "look at the label - it says Taiwan."

What's the difference between The Rolling Stones and an Aberdeen sheep farmer? The Rolling Stones say: "Hey you, get off of my cloud." And an Aberdeen sheep farmer says: "Hey McLeod, get off of ma ewe."

What do you call an illegitimate Scottish insect? A wee fly b*****d.

Did you hear about the BBC Scotland series that features the queue for the toilets at Waverley Station? It's called The Aw' Needin' Line.

What about the Scotsman who lost his testicles in a motorcycle accident? The surgeon re-attached them with Bostik.

Two negatives make a positive but only in Scotland do two positives make a negative - "Aye right."