Sky customers in the UK are no strangers to frustration when their internet service goes down. Unfortunately, it happens more often than they would like. But the good news is that you could be entitled to compensation for any service disruptions. In this article, we will explain when and how you can claim compensation, as well as outlining your rights as a Sky customer.
Sky Broadband outage leaves thousands without internet
Last night (September 19), Sky Broadband experienced an outage, leaving thousands of customers without internet access. Downdetector reported that over 70,000 people reported the issue. Unhappy customers took to social media to express their frustration, with one customer threatening to cancel their direct debit if the issue was not resolved promptly.
Outage affects BT and Now TV customers too
Interestingly, this outage is not limited to Sky customers. Over 2,000 BT customers and over 5,800 Now TV customers also reported problems with their internet service. The cause of the outage is yet to be determined, and Sky, BT, and Now have yet to comment on the situation.
This is not the first time Sky Broadband has experienced an outage
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Sky Broadband has experienced service disruptions. Previous outages occurred on July 13, with over 500 complaints, and on June 30, with over 1,000 customers affected. If you are a Sky broadband customer, it's important to know your rights and how to check the status of your internet.
How to check the status of your internet
Sky provides a dedicated page where customers can check if there is a broadband outage or any widespread issues in their area. This page also allows customers to check the status of Sky TV, Sky TV apps, and Sky mobile services. To check the service, simply visit the website and enter your landline number.
In addition, you can run a test on your home WiFi to see if there are any measures you can take to get it up and running again.
Contacting Sky and compensation entitlement
If you are experiencing issues with your internet, phone, or mobile services, you may be entitled to compensation. Internet providers usually pay out £8 for each day that broadband and phone services are not repaired after two full days of no service. Mobile customers may also be entitled to a refund or account credit, depending on the circumstances.
If you experience a prolonged service outage, you may have the right to leave without incurring a fee. Sky is part of the Automatic Compensation Scheme, which makes it easier for customers to claim compensation during outages.
To make a complaint or inquire about compensation, you can contact Sky's customer service team at 0333 7591 018. Assistance is also available online.
Previous outages and how to reset your Sky Broadband router
Sky Broadband has experienced several outages in the past, including on August 20 and 22, August 4, July 28, and January 7. Customers have reported issues with their broadband service during these periods.
If you are experiencing problems with your internet connection, you may want to try resetting your Sky Broadband router. Simply turn off the router from the main plug, wait for 30 seconds, and then turn it back on. Please note that this may not guarantee a resolution to your broadband problems.
Free WiFi booster from Sky
If you are having trouble getting WiFi signal in all rooms of your house, you may be eligible for a free WiFi booster from Sky. To qualify, you must have already added Sky Broadband Boost to your internet package, be experiencing WiFi speeds of less than 3Mbps in every room, and have an issue that cannot be fixed by an engineer.
For more information, refer to the Sky Broadband Boost terms and conditions.
Be sure to check out our tips on how to save £200 a year on your broadband without haggling, as well as the best UK broadband deals for this month.
Finally, if you are a Sky customer, you might be interested in knowing how to avoid the upcoming price hike, which will see bills rise by £43 next month.
