Logistics of 'taking' Sky+HD package to France?

[Daft Doctor]

Hi, just trying to plot the best way for to 'take' our full sky package with us when we move to France next year (the property we are renting initially has a dish and basic 'card free' sky already).

I know that to keep our package going (unofficially) we will need to use a paired HD box and card and maintain our existing subscription from a UK address. I don't unfortunately know of anyone in the UK who hasn't already got sky, so adopting a relative's address may not be an option (I presume Sky would pick up that there were 2 subscriptions for the same household?). I am unsure what else to do. I could upgrade the basic subscription I already have for a house that I let out to students, get a new HD box and card using multiroom and then take the extra box and card to France. What I don't know is whether Sky still insist on having any new equipment plugged into a phone line for a year after installation. I thought I'd read somewhere that this is no longer obligatory, but does anyone know for sure? If not, I could simply get new or existing equipment installed at my let property, promptly remove it and take it to France, problem solved. If it does need connecting to a phone line for a year it will be more tricky. Any insights or other ideas most welcome.

[Martin963]

I'm not an expert on this,  having ditched Mr Murdoch a long time ago,  but

a)  Multiroom subs do seem to be checked regularly,   with Sky making sure that both boxes are ringing from the same number

b)  some neighbours recently "went back" to Sky after a three year lapse,   and Sky assured them that in fact there was absolutely no need to connect the new HD + box to a phone line at all as they were "valued customers".

I'm sure others can tell you their actual experiences but I thought I'd get the ball rolling as it would be useful to have an update on the current position.

[Richard51]

[quote user="Daft Doctor"] (I presume Sky would pick up that there were 2 subscriptions for the same household?). [/quote]

Well Sky managed to set us up with a separate account at the same address rather than upgrade our existing account - and then proceeded to take two sets of subscriptions for several months before we realised.  (They also refused to refund the amounts taken in error - even though it amounted to several hundreds of pounds!).  So in answer to your question - their accounting systems are rubbish.

(Personally, I would love to dump Sky (I would actually love to get rid of the TV as well as I never watch it) but have been over-ruled by Mr R51 and sons.  They wouldn't even let me threaten to close the account to try to recover the money taken in error!)

[Baz]

When I upgraded about a year ago to an HD Box, I did not want a telephone connection and this was alright, provided I paid an additional charge of about £100 for the box. In fact unofficially if you disconnect the box after installation they take no action. (unless you are very unlucky).

Baz

[AnOther]

Sky have realised that in this world of 3g mobile phones not everybody has or wants a fixed line. Not so long ago I think it was only £25 but thats inflation for you.

Thankfully my daughter in UK is perfectly happy with Freeview and will never want Sky so that's my UK address taken care of [;-)]

[idun]

Frankly I do think it a pity that you are thinking of doing this.

Whatever french tv is like it is all in french and for me at least was a very good way of improving my french. It covers all things french/France and not just the 'restricted' bit of life where one lives. Also people chat, did you see 'Druker' last night for example, and ofcourse if one has not seen it or can say I was watching eg 'Thalassa' then it is 'living' in a place with the people.

Eventually we had SKY, but I never forgot how good french tv had been for me and still watch it regularly on TV5 Monde.

 

[Daft Doctor]

Thanks very much for the info.  Sky's website still states that new boxes must be connected to a fixed landline for 12 months, but I have heard that policing it is almost impossible and I also concur that not everyone will want a fixed line or have a line extended just to plug a box in.  It might be worth simply calling their bluff on that one and upgrade my student house package just before we head out.  Any further insight or direct experiences on the Sky thing most appreciated.

idun, for what its worth and although I appreciate your right to an opinion, our intention as a family is to integrate as fully as possible into french life, culture and language.  For my wife, my 9 year old and myself however there will be lots of challenges, setbacks and frustrations to overcome.  In those difficult times, when it would be easy to become morose, homesick and despondent, perhaps being able to relax and watch a favourite programme or two in English (including Newcastle United - though perhaps not so relaxing) in the privacy of our own home is something that will help lift spirits and I certainly will not feel guilty about it.  We will also put french news (particularly useful as it is usually repeated in a loop of stories and the presenters should speak without much of an accent) and other french TV channels (and radio) on regularly to help us all with learning the language, something which we have already started and consider a priority before and after we arrive in France.  No doubt over time as we gain the necessary language skills we will appreciate more and more french TV and its nuiances and feel less inclined to watch Sky, but I don't see what's wrong with having as wide a choice as possible, at least at the outset. 

  

[sid]

[quote user="Richard51"][quote user="Daft Doctor"] (I presume Sky would pick up that there were 2 subscriptions for the same household?). [/quote]

Well Sky managed to set us up with a separate account at the same address rather than upgrade our existing account - and then proceeded to take two sets of subscriptions for several months before we realised.  (They also refused to refund the amounts taken in error - even though it amounted to several hundreds of pounds!).  So in answer to your question - their accounting systems are rubbish.

[/quote]

Their accounting is rubbish... what about yours? I'd certainly miss several hundreds of pounds! [:-))]

[tinabee]

An option. Move your current subscription to the student rental address. You may have recently converted part of the student property into an "annex" for your personal use and it does not yet have a landline installed. You do not need any help installing your sky dish or box. Worth a try . . .

[idun]

I would say au contraire to be honest, the longer you are away the less likely you will want to watch french tv.

 

I have pm'd you.

[Daft Doctor]

Yes, good idea tinabee!  If and when we sell our house we will be moving into rented accommodation pending our move over the channel.  At that point we could just say we are moving into our student house (Sky don't know who lives there) and ask Sky to transfer our account (includes multiroom and a second Sky+ box already) to that property, incorporating the broadband package already on the student house.  The students can have the second Sky+ box and will in the process be upgraded for free to our better TV package.  As our own Sky+ HD and Sky+ boxes have both been connected for more than a year and as no new equipment or subscription they quite possibly wouldn't insist on landline connection.  Definitely worth consideration.

[LEO]

I bought a SKY digibox at a flea market in Portsmouth 4 years ago for £8 , and then went online and bought a SKY viewing card for £20.

From France I then used my uk  mobile phone to call SKY and activate the card!

Since then I have enjoyed Free view at no further cost!

bbc1,2,3,4

 itv1,2,3,4

Channel 4,5 ,

Sky news,

more 4 etc etc.

[Martin963]

Whilst what LEO has done is a possibility,   but in fact almost all those channels (except More 4) would work on a second hand Sky box without any card at all.

What LEO has is a "freesatfromsky" card,  which to be honest is of very limited value now that ch 4 and ch5 (the latter a bit fiddly to get but perfectly possible via "other channels") are free to air.

It's more than possible that more 4 and its stable mates will go FTA fairly soon as ch 4 are renting a transponder on Eurobird for FTA ch 4 HD (probably a temporary fix) and we're now not far from Astra 1N arriving at 28 deg E (*) with a battery of narrow-beam transponders which are designed to undo the log jam caused by those oh-so-precious rights holders demanding encryption for Europe-wide diffusion of certain programmes.

(*) Assuming they don't drop it in the sea when they launch it!

[POB]

We have recently cancelled our Sky subscription and opted for a Humax HD Freesat box.  In addition we have a a Canal + subscription with the Cube (a Sky+ equivalent).  This gives us all the televised premiership games including a Saturday 15:00 kick off, commentry is in French.  We also get a lot of films with the option of original soundtracks and some British TV re-runs Spooks for eg.

[powerdesal]

our intention as a family is to integrate as fully as possible into french life, culture and language.

Many comments on various fora mention the need to integrate - why?

I know the next door neighbour in UK, at least to say hello to but thats all, I dont socialise with them, I have nothing in common with them (apart from where we live). The same applies (applied) to my neighbours in Abu Dhabi etc.

The language I can relate to but French life and culture?????? again I ask why. I have my own life and my own ''culture'' and dislike the perceived pressure to 'integrate'

Having had that moan, I can appreciate that if children are involved then there are other factors.

[cooperlola]

D'accord, Steve.

[Daft Doctor]

Powerdesal, what I meant by my comments was that contrary to idun's concerns regarding our desire to have the ability to watch our favourite TV progs as and when we feel like it, we are not going to France with the intention of walling ourselves off in a little English castle and to expect the French to accept that we can't string a few words of French together, that we shouldn't have to and that we don't want to.  Its each to his own of course, but an opinion widely expressed at least on this forum that English immigrants in France do better if they make an effort to learn the language and take an interest in the community and country they have chosen to be their home.  I merely meant that we too would want to embrace that concept if possible.

As for friends and neighbours, I couldn't agree more that no-one should feel obliged to be more than courteous with anyone, let alone be in and out of each others houses all the time and poking their noses into each others business just to try to make the 'right impression'.  I have spent all of my professional life putting on an act of being interested in everyone and their problems (whether I like them or not and whether I am indeed interested or not), and I don't want to have that in retirement!  I will make the aquaintances and (hopefully - eventually) friends that I want in my own time and in a natural manner.  I don't give a stuff if they're French or English (or any other nationality for that matter), it matters only that I like them.  And yes, we have a son to think about and he will make friends and they will have parents who we may talk to at the school gates and get to know and so on, so we do indeed need to try to make an effort. 

 

 

[idun]

It actually annoys me when  anyone  moves permanently  to another country and doesn't learn the language and be considered part of their community. In France,  I would see maghreban women with their kids in the supermarket in my local town in 1983 and could not speak french and still could not when I left three years ago, kids all grown and petits enfants  in tow. It is no better if someone aisé doesn't either, colon comes to mind then.

I daresay I wouldn't have to venture far this very evening to see such examples in the UK too, and it feels plain wrong not to. Once someone makes that move, then why wouldn't they, why are they there?

I moved to France for an adventure and out of respect for where I had chosen to live and put my roots, I felt I had to make an effort , and that was before I had my kids, and it was hard for me, I have no gift for languages. We had always said we would move back when husband retired and I could have said, well not quite permanent so I'll find an enclave and not 'live' in France and what would the point of being in France have been really.

Also, I/we had a right to vote in local elections, a precious thing IMO ofcourse and how could I vote if I didn't know the locals and the where with all of where  I lived.

I still cannot think of anything better than watching french tv  at first.  The music of the language and depending on choice of program one can see what is going on and no pressure to reply.

[Daft Doctor]

Hi idun, I think your comments are entirely in keeping with the sentiments I have expressed.  I have also taken note of your comments and experience re French TV and as said earlier in the thread will certainly use it as a learning tool.