‘Heads Up’ - NOW TV Contract Renewal

[dave_van_damn]

Having recently experienced ‘sharp practice’, I offer a ‘heads up’ to anyone about to renew a NOW TV contract in HK.

(1) Check your existing contract end-date and specify that your renewed contract should start after the existing contract expires.

(2) Check your chosen package details carefully and keep a printed record of what is included.

(3) Once your renewed contract starts, check your NOWTV bills for unusual/additional charges.

Note also that the Chinese/English yellow-coloured paper ‘application form’ is no longer in use. The new contract, displaying in full your personal information (name, HKID, phone numbers, email address, home address etc.) is completed on a computer, printed on plain white paper, and available in Chinese only!

In case you are wondering:
After receiving a renewal reminder, we happened to be passing a PCCW shop and called in to renew. There were still 2 weeks to run on our existing contract, ending 30 August.

Our NOWTV Bill dtd 16 Sept included over HKD400 in charges backdated to 01 August, half at the new contract’s increased rates. Not a small amount given that we only subscribe to 3 channel packages! Apparently, a start date of 01 August had been applied to our new contract, not
01 September as we expected. The charges included one month’s fees in respect of a 24-month subscription to Channel 668, to which we hadn’t subscribed. NB: Channel 668 turns out to be Horse Racing and is not even listed on the printed channel list!

After spending an hour in the same shop yesterday, we are now awaiting a refund, reluctantly offered by the Manager-on-Duty, probably so that we would leave!
Shame on PCCW!

Thanks for this post.

Just out of curiosity, did you subscribe to the packages through the NOW TV website, or in a shop with a seller or did you select the package using the remote on your TV?

I'm considering getting some of the sports channels but I don't want to be locked into a contract. They sell 12 month contracts on their website and in store, but if you sign up via the TV remote, it says they're 1 month roll-over contracts which can be cancelled "at any time".

I'm just wondering which would be the best way to subscribe to avoid any headaches when I want out...

[P Arthur]

Hi Dave,
We have always visited a PCCW shop to renew contracts, so that we can read what we are getting in writing before we sign up. This was the first time in 10 years that I discovered 'surprises' on our bill.

Sorry, I don't know much about the 12-month or 1-month roll-over options except that they are definitely more expensive than the 2-year contract prices.

I recently discovered 'Early Termination Charges' and 'Charges for loss, replacement or failure to return equipment' (HKD1000+) on our last contract, which I hadn't noted before! From now onwards, unless we can read Chinese, we won't know what we've actually signed up to!

Honestly, if you have a choice and want to avoid headaches, I suggest you give PCCW/NOWTV a miss and check-out the other TV providers in HK. Good luck!

[gunsnroses]

Since we subscribed to Netflix/Prime/UboxTV, we have cancelled our Now TV subscription. Actually it was few months after we realized we are still auto-paying for Now TV channels that we never watch.
But we are still a customer as they are the only game in our village to provide internet service.

[ByeByeEngland]

I can't remember where I read it sorry but I have been told read the smallprint VERY carefully for NOW TV's world cup packages. I think it was something to do with contract length and discounted costs reverting to full price. That may have been for commercial use (i.e. bars).

Biggest issue with Now TV as with any service provider in HK. Diarise the contract expiry and check the contract carefully. In the case of NOW TV if you don't notify them 30 days before the expiry of a contract you are tied in for a minimum of 30 days from the time you give notice of intention to quit (or not renew)

[huja]

- BUT I prefer a quiescent [nag-free] wife & . . .

Don't we all.

[FrancisX]

Thanks for this post.

Just out of curiosity, did you subscribe to the packages through the NOW TV website, or in a shop with a seller or did you select the package using the remote on your TV?

I'm considering getting some of the sports channels but I don't want to be locked into a contract. They sell 12 month contracts on their website and in store, but if you sign up via the TV remote, it says they're 1 month roll-over contracts which can be cancelled "at any time".

I'm just wondering which would be the best way to subscribe to avoid any headaches when I want out...

Don't do it.

That's all.

[Shiojiri Hiro]

now want to charge me $900 to 'port' my existing contract to a new apartment. (i'm moving).
contract ends Feb 2023. I plan to end it when i leave the current flat just pay them out and move to HKBN who are doing a promotion - $99 per month for 36 months and free installation...