Foxtel rip-offs - any advice?

Ljenawabz on 18/04/2013 - 12:28
Last edited 18/04/2013 - 13:53

So I am a foxtel subscriber of over 15 years. I added the sport package a few months back (just before they jumbled around all the channel packages) to watch the footy. I recently checked my bills however and compared them to previous amounts.

Before I had sport, I was paying $67 a month. Now, it is up to $96 a month. Ridiculous, I know. This is for the starter package, sport and some entertainment channels (I think the three enternainment package channels).

Outraged at this price, I hopped onto the foxtel website. According to their website, the same channels and package I recieve (starter, entertainment and sport) is valued at $85/month. A little better than $96 a month.

I figured that I was paying more because I had these channels and then foxtel channel packages and some of the pricing and so they conveniently left me on the old packages without telling me so that they could rort more money out of me and hope I didn't notice.

Well I did notice. I called up foxtel yesterday and explained this. I was told that "these prices on the website are for new customers only" and that I could not get these packages (despite not seeing this written anywhere on the website). Apparently customer loyalty of 15 years means nothing either. The best they could do would be to add a $30 credit to my account.

When I asked about cancelling and resubscribing, I was told that there had to be 30 days between resubscribing after cancelling.

I find this whole situation ridiculous and the audacity of this company has never surprised me over the years, but now I feel they are just getting silly.

Anyone else experienced anything like this with foxtel? Any advice? The threat of cancellation didn't seem to make them squirm like it would have in the old days.

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Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 18/04/2013 - 12:33

    I called and politely asked for a better deal. Got on to all channels incl HD, (except movies) for $86/mth. 12mth contract.

    From what I've seen it all comes down to who you ask and how you ask it

  • Moots on 18/04/2013 - 13:37

    If you have am Xbox 360 + Gold Membership it's $79 a month for all channels, may want to check it out!

    • ESEMCE on 18/04/2013 - 15:04

      Plus data.

      • Moots on 18/04/2013 - 18:53
        +2

        If your with Telstra it's unmetered.

        • dy4me on 21/04/2013 - 17:36

          when did they add the three fox sports channels to the xbox fox sports lineup instead of that stupid fox sports play?

          also isnt it $94 for all channels or is there a way to get it cheaper?

        • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2013 - 21:21

          They revamped the xbox foxtel offerings in March.

          Basically sports channel was $10, pretty basic offering. Now it has much better sports offering, but cost 3x more at $30.

          Movies offering has also changed. It use to be split into two offerings, Showtime and Movie Network, for $15 each. Now they've been altered (A planned changed since they took over Austar I believe) and combined together for $30.

        • dy4me on 21/04/2013 - 23:58

          wasnt sports $15 before? but at the same time who was going to pay for sports with the fox sports 1,2,3 channels and instead that stupid fox sports play.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2013 - 17:53
      +4

      Quality is worse than standard analog tv

      • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2013 - 13:33
        -6

        Your Internet must be terrible, as it streams amazingly in HD for me.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2013 - 13:47
          +4

          We must have different definitions of quality. I assure you the highest setting is any thing but HD and has nothing to do with my Internet.

          If you've ever set up a proxy/vpn and streamed some services from the US you will realise that Australia has rubbish.

        • Moots on 20/04/2013 - 21:16

          Can anyone suggest a setup?

          1) A box that streams to the TV
          2) A service that you can watch international shows
          3) a steady VPN that allows the connection to the service above.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2013 - 18:04
          +4

          Good thing that I'll have fibre running along my street but not to my home so I can literally see what I'm missing out on under the liberals. Tony abbotts stupidity never ceases to amaze me.

          I guess what matters is that his buddies he sold telstra to continue to get line rental.

        • Jesmond on 22/04/2013 - 00:22

          I feel like negative voting your comment just because you managed to turn a good old fashioned Foxtel price hike thread into a political debate.

  • blitz on 18/04/2013 - 13:44
    +4

    As long as they think you won't cancel they'll continue to charge what they want. They know that you've been there for 15 years and hence are not likely to jump ship. You need to change their way of thinking.

    "Hi. I see you have a model on your website that's about $10 cheaper than what I'm getting"
    "Yes, that's for new customers only"
    "I see - so you're saying a new customer can get a really good deal?"
    "Yes, that's correct"
    "OK, well I guess I should think about being a new customer at another cable provider. I'm cancelling my contract herewith".

    But if you keep paying, they'll keep charging.

    • Tnetennba on 24/05/2013 - 01:35

      another cable provider

      There are others? Last time I checked, Foxtel had a ridiculous monopoly :(

  • slow on 18/04/2013 - 15:23

    This sort of thing is not that uncommon. I work in IT and often see it with software vendors.

  • jenawabz on 18/04/2013 - 15:46

    Hmmm. Might have to try again and hope for a different customer service rep that can do me a better deal.

    Does anyone know if the guys in the booths at shopping centres look after this type of thing as well, or are they predominantly just sales persons for new customers?

  • kingsville on 18/04/2013 - 15:58
    +2

    I was in exactly the same situation.

    The foxtel rep wouldn't budge, so they passed me on to the disconnection avoidance team. Within five minutes they agreed to add $10/mth credit to bring me down to the new customer price and I agreed to a 6mth contract.

    I should have asked for more!

  • StewBalls on 18/04/2013 - 16:31
    +15

    Call them up, and just tell them you wanna disconnect…don't try to negotiate anything. Then, watch them start throwing offers at you. Keep saying no, and don't budge until you get the full package for half of what you're paying now, guaranteed for a year at least.

    Everyone that I know with Foxtel has done this, several times at least…the last one I heard was $42/m for the super-duper pack.

    The big key is to lead out with a simple disconnect request, otherwise they know you're bluffing! ;)

    • drdolphin on 19/04/2013 - 14:47
      +3

      Spot on advice. The key is ringing them to cancel, not to negotiate - let them do that. I found that if you say that you want it but your partner doesn't it gets them bringing the cost down. The final offer I was made was $42 for all the channels (I'd been with them 10 years).

    • Tal_Shiar on 19/04/2013 - 16:28
      +2

      im getting a flashback to cancelling my 3 mobile service…lol

    • Giraffe on 20/04/2013 - 17:11

      +1 can't give better advice then StewBalls

  • Natt on 18/04/2013 - 16:32
    +1

    This sounds like a dumb question, but what use is foxtel?

    I am genuinely asking, not out to score points.

    Is it for the sports? Movies?

    I always seem to have plenty to watch sans Foxtel so am curious :O

    • StewBalls on 18/04/2013 - 16:34
      +26

      It's a way to have a constant stream of money disappearing from your bank account each month, whilst ensuring your TV is always able to play drivel you don't really wanna watch, but watch anyway coz you're bloody paying for it! :p

    • jenawabz on 18/04/2013 - 16:44
      +3

      The primary reason I have it is for sport. I can't get enough it it - mainly AFL, Super Rugby, EPL, A-League, but also golf and NBA. Others (females) in the household watch the lifestyle channels (housing shows, renovation shows, cooking shows, reality shows, all that junk).

    • [Deactivated] on 18/04/2013 - 19:34

      lol…I am glad someone else asked the question! I've always wondered that myself - I have enough trouble keeping up with shows on free TV (especially with all the new channels) and I would say that I watch a reasonable amount of TV.

      I kind of get people with the sport thing, but not any of the other stuff? I love those lifestyle shows but whenever we have pay TV (on holidays etc) I just get frustrated at all the re-runs and crap that seems to be on all the time on those channels. I suppose if you had it full time you'd get to know what you liked and tape the good stuff. Even so, it seems like an awful lot of money to be paying for a couple of different programs!

  • Natt on 18/04/2013 - 16:49

    Ah perhaps that's why I don't miss it - sports are not terribly exciting, and I am happy with any lifestyle show rather than a particular one

    Although I did notice Game of Thrones - we caved and bought a season pass for that on Itunes

  • Davros on 18/04/2013 - 17:03
    -1

    Correct me if I am wrong but if you have Foxtel you can also get Bigpond cable (same cable)
    Ditch Foxtel, get 200gb of cable (super fast speeds by Australian standards) and stream whatever you want .
    And then there are torrents.

    • pmupsinep on 20/04/2013 - 18:46

      No, Foxtel is also delivered via satellite

      • m0nkeycheese on 21/04/2013 - 09:58
        +1

        It depends where you live, it can be on the same cable

  • andyman1908 on 18/04/2013 - 19:38
    +1

    Check out the whirlpool thread "foxtel bargaining". Plenty of tips there. Im currently on $51.50 per month for sports hd (everything except movies) for next 3 months :)

    • [Deactivated] on 19/04/2013 - 17:59
      +4

      3 months? Foxtel played you well.

      • andyman1908 on 20/04/2013 - 09:20
        +1

        That didnt play me that well. I can cancel tomorrow if I want.

    • Harold Halfprice on 19/04/2013 - 22:09
      +2

      after those 3 months prices will revert to standard and youll probably have to mortgage your house, thats how ridiculous theyre gonna be

      • aerona on 19/04/2013 - 22:15
        +2

        Ain't nobody got time fo dat.

      • andyman1908 on 20/04/2013 - 09:22

        Again, it's for next 3 months but I can cancel anytime. Im not that stupid to pay full price. Have paid $59 previously and more recently $86.

  • ChmpgneTasteBeerBdgt on 20/04/2013 - 00:02
    +2

    OP - Just a few points as I have the old pricing in front of me right now.

    Base package + three entertainment package is actually $93. (Base is $45 and each entertainment pack is $16.)

    Its more likely you were on FamilyiQ package which has all of the above plus iQ service for $72. I assume you don't have iQ and Foxtel valued you enough not to charge you $100 to upgrade to iQ to receive the $72 figure. Instead they were kind enough to give you a $5 discount instead, dropping your monthly cost to the $67 figure you mentioned. If you had iQ and got this price, you got a reasonable discount ($60 a year).

    Current pricing for the above package and Sport is $97. So technically you're getting it for $1 cheaper. Nothing too exciting really, but it's something. Now the main thing here is you're upgrading your services (adding sport) and as with everything in life this comes at a cost.

    To put it in perspective the same package on the old pricing was $92 and had about 5 less channels. So you're paying $5 more than the old pricing but getting more for it. If you removed sport, it would revert back to the price that you SHOULD have been paying before - $72.

    With that said I always press service providers for loyalty discounts but in this case I don't think you need to hate on Foxtel when it doesn't appear that they have 'robbed you'.

    • ChmpgneTasteBeerBdgt on 20/04/2013 - 00:12

      Instead of just negging, why not be constructive and explain how what I've typed isn't accurate? (And neg once you've explained the flaw in my comment)

    • jenawabz on 20/04/2013 - 16:57

      Hmmm. Well, I was looking at this page: https://www.foxtel.com.au/shop/packages-and-deals/?execution…

      On closer inspection it does say "Offer ends 29 Apr 2013" which I guess would indicate it not being the normal prices, though it doesnt appear to state anything like "only available to new subscribers".
      However I did mention to the woman on the phone that I would be happy to sign a contract for a cheaper price but she still said there was nothing she could do.

      We do have IQ but we don't get charged for it… I was under the impression that it is a standard now for foxtel connections? There doesn't appear to be any information about it being a $10/month extra anymore.

      • ChmpgneTasteBeerBdgt on 21/04/2013 - 02:11

        So you were getting FamilyiQ for cheaper than the old price.

        Under the new pricing, IQ is now included with any Foxtel package.

  • isidore12 on 20/04/2013 - 01:43

    I know it is not related to sport but my in-laws have foxtel and I also think it is a rip-off. Personnally, I have a region free DVD player, I buy all my TV Shows and movies on amazon uk. If the TV Show is new and expensive, after watching it, I sell it on Gumtree.

  • MementoMori on 20/04/2013 - 12:45

    Unfortunately this is a common occurance, most particularly with Banks.

  • tonka on 20/04/2013 - 14:59

    I think their pricing model is way off. If Foxtel halved their price I would subscribe, so would many including pensioners etc that cannot currently afford it.I believe there is the potential to double subscription then advertising revenue would be increased win/win.

    • ChmpgneTasteBeerBdgt on 21/04/2013 - 02:25
      +1

      That's like saying, "if Holden halved the price of the Commodore more people would buy it". It's easy to make these suggestions but how do you still run a profitable business? There's still a cost involved to get the rights to shows, sports etc just like there's a cost to build a car.

      If we had a population like America then it could be feasible but with a smaller audience comes a higher cost per household. It's been proven that the "cheaper" option doesn't work in Australia. Look at what happened to SelectTV. They had a cheaper 'pay for what you watch' service like you want Foxtel to be. People still held off subscribing and they went bust.

      • tonka on 22/04/2013 - 20:51

        I'm assuming Foxtel have fairly fixed costs, whereas to manufacture a vehicle the more you produce the greater your manufacturing expense.

        What I am talking about with Foxtel is the basic supply and demand model. Lower price equals greater demand. If they do have fixed costs then they are the perfect business to execute this.

        Discussion seems to show though that what they have is the dodgy model, sucker everyone for as much as you can get them to pay.

  • sraymond on 20/04/2013 - 15:46
    +1

    I have always reckoned the differents packages that they make you purchase were a rip off. I would much rather they let you buy channels at say $1 each. They could still stick you with a minimum number and rental/HD extras. But having more control over your subscription would make you feel a little less ripped off.

    • ChmpgneTasteBeerBdgt on 21/04/2013 - 02:34
      +1

      There was a company called SelectTV that had something similar to what you're describing. They went bankrupt. That model obviously doesn't work.

      Also $1 per channel would hardly cover the billions spent on broadcast rights… $1 per channel is a great way for Foxtel to go out of business, for thousands of aussies to be out of work and for everyone to go back to the times when only two or three footy matches were televised per week and there was a small amount of variety compared to what's currently available. Come on people, think about it from a logical business perspective. Not everything can be bought for $1.

  • unity1 on 20/04/2013 - 16:12
    +4

    I signed up to the standard package + sports for 12 months and was paying $60 ($72-$12 discount)per month for 12 months. Rang last month to cancel me service as I did not want it any longer. I was not interested in any discount.

    Few days later received the return label and instructions in the post. On the same day I received a phone call from their disconnections department. The guy simply offered me the same package at $23.50 per month for a further 12 months, no contract so I can cancel at any time without penalty. That was an offer too good to turn down and I didn't even need to beg. Can't turn down a good bargain. I have the IQ2 terminal.

    • Giraffe on 20/04/2013 - 17:05
      +1

      Wow that really is too good to turn down!

      Best we've been able to get was $82 down to $65 for 3 months then down to $55 for another 3 months. Hopefully we can get a longer term discount next time. We have sports + iqhd.

      A good point for the OP is to set a cancellation date. Worst case if you don't get any discount offers just 'change your mind' to keep it

    • blitz on 20/04/2013 - 21:09

      Can't turn down a good bargain. I have the IQ2 terminal.

      You can't turn down a good bargain because you have the IQ2 terminal?

  • givemeagooddeal on 20/04/2013 - 20:46

    Hi there, as others have mentioned, ring and cancelled. I did this twice and worked a treat. They can only offer me the special deal for 6 months once and then 8 months. I was paying $46 for sports with iqhd. I would recommend you ring a couple of days after you just made another payment and organise disconnection on the last day of your billing period. If you want to be even safer, orgainse for them to pick up the box 2 weeks after disconnection. This will give their retention team to ring you and make an offer. They rang me 2 weeks later after I rang to disconnect to make a super offer. Btw, dont accept the first offer.

  • tonka on 20/04/2013 - 21:22
    +3

    Seems like they have different pricing plans depending on whether you negotiate. Not sure I support that model in a way it discriminates against those who deal with them at face value. This will quite often be the elderly.

  • dalecjr on 21/04/2013 - 09:05
    +2

    Unfortunately Foxtel have us all by the balls. Their sport coverage is very good I have to say.
    I was paying $130 a month for the full whack and just pulled thr plug recently. The dude on the phone tried to keep me connected by offering me the same package at half price for 12 months. I turned it down but just goes to show they are a reactive company with no idea about customer loyalty or retention.
    Telstra own half of them so you can see the similarities in structure and attitude.

    I now stream sport I want to watch through various sites and have set up Netflix ( US Version) using an IP masking company. Works out at less than $20 a month.

    I ditched Bigpond as well - TPG have been much better - and cheaper!

    Good luck all - POWER TO THE PEOPLE!! haha

    • Car-la-la on 21/04/2013 - 09:46

      interesting, where do u stream afl from? im keen

  • dalecjr on 21/04/2013 - 10:34

    AFL? whats that? joking.
    I use XMEFORUMS - they do requests and are usually quite accomodating even though they are mostly into cage fighting and MMA stuff.
    I am more of a Soccer fan - they show the big UK matches and have different levels of subscription, the most expensive being $10 for a months access. High quality streams.

  • KingstonTheNotSoWise on 21/04/2013 - 11:30

    Unfortunately loyalty means nothing to companies now days (except for places like coles with fly buys and eb games with their carrot thingy etc…), and it's because a small minority took advantage of it and now the people who are actually loyal to a company have to suffer for it. I've had similar experiences with Telstra, which my folks have been using them since before I was born (more than 23years) and still telstra were happy to let me pay $130/mth for a 100gb plan when they had a 500g plan listed on their website the entire time for the same price, funny thing is someone called us to upgrade from a 50g plan to a 100g plan last time but no one called for the 500g one and to make things worse there was a 200g plan for around $100-115. I've also been struggling for the past 3-4 years trying to get a telstra tech down to install a cable line for faster net but they keep saying theres a clog in the pipe underground and the council wanted around $10,000 to fix it (yes $10,000), when a mate of mine can easily install the line for less than a few hundred. And when he does, I'm thinking of moving to optus, unless telstra can offer me a nice deal.

    The only advice I can give you is to hop to a new provider (I'm not sure of any other than foxtel though, maybe try netflix? :S), similar to insurance companies you just have to change every now and then so they're nice to you to start off with, all cheap and stuff then after a year or two they start sucking more money out of you. Threatening to cancel means nothing now because if you leave they'll still get god knows how many more new subscribers joining at the same time.

  • dirtybird on 21/04/2013 - 14:33

    Very happy with my Roku 2 XS (Roku 3 out now) and Netflix sub for my TV and Movie fix.
    Picked up a $30 gift card from ebay that gave me a years subs to Netflix and the Roku was only $80 at the time.

    Simply read this and I was on my way.
    http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1695235

    I'm on a Telstra Ultimate 200g plan.

  • thetownfool on 21/04/2013 - 16:44
    +3

    Due to my job I move house almost yearly, but despite this my wife and I had been with foxtel for 12 years or so, premium HD package at $132 per month. When we moved last, we were advised there would be a $150 reconnection fee, despite the current dwelling having an active foxtel connection (we just needed to plug in the box).

    Regardless of what I said the guy on the phone said we'd get charged - they needed to 'check the wiring hadn't degraded'. It was a pride thing more than a money thing, I just felt like they were abusing old customers when a new on would get connected for free and get a cheaper package. I politely cancelled my service went online and looked into hulu and netflix and unblock US, and that night was streaming both onto my ps3. They called back offering a free reconnection and discounted package, but it was too late. Actually I was so pissed off I cancelled both my mother and brother-in-law's foxtel connections and got them onto hulu and netflix as well. I pretty much sell hulu over foxtel to everyone and anyone I can, if only I could get a commission.

    The one thing I miss is the sport. There really isn't a way around that depending on what you want. I mostly wanted NBA and foxtel showed 2 crappy games a week, so NBA league pass was better anyway. Miss watching the tahs and some nrl though.

    Other things like HBO shows can be bought via itunes (still works out cheaper, plus more convenient if you have an apple tv, which I had because it's the easiest way to get a hulu account), and hulu has a much better service for almost all current TV shows, on demand as well. Netflix is a bit like the old weekly rentals section in the video store, but good to keep the wife entertained on maternity leave.

    Also another great thing about hulu - NO KARDASHIANS! (as of yet). The joy of not hearing that inane crap when I get home from work is a close second to seeing my baby boy.

  • nikey2k27 on 22/04/2013 - 06:02

    I've seen it all comes down to who you ask and how you ask it

  • dealman on 22/04/2013 - 16:40
    -1

    A friend was trying to sell me the benefits of Foxtel. I said to him - "I'd get Foxtel, but only if they had a 24 hour P0rn channel"

    He said It's been done already, It's called the INTERNET

  • JayM on 22/04/2013 - 21:09

    I don't have Foxtel but i might ring up and ask to cancel my non-existant service and see what I can get…….All I want is AFL, NBA and EPL. The other channels can get f***ed.

    • kiwipride on 21/05/2013 - 06:42

      How did you go? :)

  • kiwipride on 23/05/2013 - 08:23

    So I've taken all the advice here and rang to cancel. They offered me about half price but only in SD so I stuck to my guns and still canceled. They will switch it off next Thursday. I am nervous as all hades. What if the retention team doesnt call back????

    • Giraffe on 23/05/2013 - 15:57

      Then call next Wednesday to cancel the cancellation? That's the only thing I can think of…

      • kiwipride on 23/05/2013 - 16:05

        Yeah, I guess that's all I can do know.

  • kiwipride on 23/05/2013 - 14:08

    Bump

  • kiwipride on 25/05/2013 - 20:55

    Still no word from the retention team!!!!!!!

    • ChmpgneTasteBeerBdgt on 25/05/2013 - 23:20

      LOL good luck. $75 to reconnect AND $75 to upgrade back to iQHD AND your normal monthly subscription.. You might end up worse off.

      • kiwipride on 26/05/2013 - 06:07
        +1

        Weird how you think that is funny.

        • ChmpgneTasteBeerBdgt on 26/05/2013 - 09:42

          People I know including my father, have not been contacted by the retention team prior to disconnection. I understand this is OzBargain but it seems counterproductive to risk paying more in the hope to save $10 a month. What if you miss the call and it's a private number?

          I'd rather save my money in other ways or be told right there and then that they will offer me a discount than fret that my Foxtel will be cut off. The less I need to think about, the happier my life is.

          Regardless, I hope it works in your favour.

        • kiwipride on 26/05/2013 - 09:47
          +1

          I agree with you. I am going to call them on Monday and ask for the best price to have me stay connected. (in HD of course)

        • ChmpgneTasteBeerBdgt on 26/05/2013 - 10:20

          Since you've already started the process, I assume there's no harm holding off until Wednesday to negotiate. (They must be able to stop a cancellation right?)
          Hopefully they'll contact you before.

  • kiwipride on 28/05/2013 - 12:41

    Couldn't hold out any longer. Rang them and saved $25 for next 6 months. That's a win I guess…..

    • KBZ on 28/05/2013 - 15:08

      Is that better than the EOFY sale they have atm?? If it was you could have just re contracted.

      • kiwipride on 28/05/2013 - 16:09

        I don't know. $75 for HD sport, Mystar box, Lifestyle & std channel package.

  • shakilm54 on 26/12/2013 - 00:41

    Check this out for free foxtel over Christmas, nothing better to do: http://bit.ly/18VwAbE

  • jimbobaus on 26/12/2013 - 20:26

    I set a reminder in my phone for 2 weeks before the end of my 12 month contract each year.. i call them and tell them i want to cancel as its become "too expensive" every year without fail i get a discount, last year they gave me two additional packages free, so am essentially getting everything except sport for $86 a month.. although its going up $2 in Feb LOL..

  • PATB on 04/05/2022 - 08:54

    I had my 90year old Mum's Foxtel account cancelled on the 1st of May as she never watched it. She paid $40 a month. On the 14th May she was charged(Direct Debit)$40, so I rang and complained and was told someone would ring me back, didn't happen. On the 14th April, charged $40 again. Rang and was told there would be a refund of $53.00, still nothing. Rang 5th May, talked to some moron who tells me there is nothing under her information but an error message, so they can't help, the error must be in the information I gave them, funnily enough it's the same information she had been using for the whole 20 odd years she's had the service. Obviously i will just cancel the Direct Debit. What a bunch of A holes, way to treat a 90 year old, long term customer.

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