Setanta - how to make sure customers never come back

Setanta UK make great play of their "No annual contract" terms.

Of course it isn't as attractive as it first seems - there is a joining fee to make sure that you don't just opt out over the summer when there are no football matches to show.

And you have to give 30 days' notice of your intention to stop. Not attractive, but clearly laid out.

What I take exception to is their refusal to take more than 30 days' notice of my intention to stop. They will only take 30 days notice from the day you call up. In that time, they will have one further payment from you - but you won't get a full month for that payment unless you call on exactly the right day.

Example - you first joined on the 8th of the month. You call on 30th April to cancel. Setanta will take a full month's payment from you on 8th May, but will cut off your service on 30th May because that is 30 days from when you called to cancel. Between 30th May and 7th June, you have paid for Setanta service but can't have it. Swizz.

Some people will lost just a day, some will lose nearly a whole month.

Legal - almost certainly. Wise? I reckon not. The nasty taste left by their greedy attitude will make sure that this customer doesn't go back.

For those who do stick with Setanta - pretend to cancel your contract. I was offered a £15 rebate (£5 a month for the next three months) if I stayed. I didn't take it, but it might be worthwhile for you.

Update 9 July 2008
Setanta get worse. Today they have mailed me with an offer where the small print reveals that they have increased their Joining Fee to £20, the minimum period to two months, the notice to 60 days, and the monthly fee to £12.99 (a 30% increase). An interesting way to win customers in a recession!