FURIOUS islanders have claimed they were misled into buying satellite TV warranties. They said a UK-based company persuaded them to disclose bank details. Geoff Ogier said a saleswoman from Satellite Services, a UK-based company with engineers in Guernsey and Jersey, implied the company already had his bank details, which it didn’t.

‘She told me that the warranty on my dish had expired and asked if I wanted a new one. I thought they were acting on behalf of Sky and said OK,’ said the 57-year-old.

‘She asked if I would confirm my debit card details and I said no because they should already have them.’

Mr Ogier said the saleswoman asked what bank he was with.

‘I stupidly told her HSBC. She said: ﾓOK, I’ll tell you the first four numbers on your card and then you’ll know I’m genuineﾔ.

‘When she told me the right numbers, I assumed she had my details so gave her the rest. It was only afterwards that I realised everyone who banks with HSBC has the same four numbers on their card.’

Mr Ogier said he was worried so phoned Sky, which said it had nothing to do with the company.

‘I phoned Satellite Services and said I wanted to cancel the payment because I thought they tricked me.’

The company said the payment had already gone through and his bank confirmed that, despite him still being within the 14-day cooling-off period. ‘I wanted to cancel, but the man said they were offering a legitimate service. I’m sure they do, but they used very dubious methods to get my details.’

He was told that he could cancel only in writing. But he said the company refused to give him its address, saying it would be on documents it was sending him but which he has still not received. ‘They took £80 from my account when they said it would be £60.’

Another islander, a 43-year-old woman who asked not to be named, said she had had similar problems with the company.

‘They are very clever with the way they word things. They implied they already had my card details and read out the first four numbers, so I gave them the rest,’ she said. ‘I feel like they tricked me into giving them my numbers and I had to cancel my card to stop the payment going through.’

However, Richard White, Satellite Services’ UK manager, said the company taught staff to make it clear that the company had nothing to do with Sky. ‘We offer a legitimate service. Most of our customers don’t like the service they get from Sky, so it is in our interest to inform them that we are separate,’ he said.

‘We do not have customers’ details and if an adviser has said we do, they will be in a lot of trouble. We have managers to make sure advisors stick to the script. I am talking about this subject blind because I haven’t heard the recordings. If there has been any inappropriate behaviour, I will see that the person involved is severely reprimanded.’

Sky issued a statement yesterday advising customers of its procedures.

A spokesman said: ‘Sky does not check customers’ bank details over the phone. With respect to extended-warranty products, Sky provides one approved product under the Sky brand. This is The Sky Repair Protection Plan, administered by Domestic and General Services. Independent companies can offer extended warranty products on Sky equipment, but these companies operate independently of Sky and have no association with Sky.’