Ofcom has issued a warning to Sky customers, urging them to check their bills.
This comes after a two-year investigation has come to an end in which Ofcom found that Sky had not informed pay-TV customers that their minimum contract period was over. This means millions of customers are thought to have overpaid.
On Friday Ofcom said: “Sky considers that its pay-TV services do not fall within the definition of an ‘electronic communications service’.
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“Sky therefore maintains that it has no obligation to notify its pay-TV customers when their minimum contract period is coming to an end.”
While Sky has not been issued a fine, the regulator has told Sky to change its practices within nine months.
Ofcom added: “We have directed Sky to take all necessary steps to comply with its regulatory obligations to send end-of-contract notifications to customers of its relevant pay-TV services, starting no later than nine months from the date of this decision.
“In addition, Sky must provide Ofcom with a progress report no later than four months from the date of this decision on the steps it will take to ensure the remedy is fully implemented within the nine months given.”
Sky has two months to appeal against Ofcom’s directive and the case could end up in front of a judge.
Around 3.5 million customers saw their Sky TV subscriptions lapse between February 2020 when the new rules were put in place, and last December.
Sky said: “We continue to believe Sky’s pay-TV service is not an electronic communication service under the legal definition in the Communications Act 2003, but we note the outcome of Ofcom’s investigation.
“We look forward to working with Ofcom to seek a legal review.”
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