Licensee faces £6,000 pay-out over cancelled Sky

A distraught licensee is facing an upcoming pay-out of around £6,000 to Sky, despite quitting her pub last year.

Julie Crane, who ran Bar 44, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, with her husband until last December is tied into a 12-month contract which runs until August.

But Sky will not budge on the terms of the agreement.

The case is a warning to licensees that sign up with Sky that they must pay until the end of a contract - even if they leave the pub.

Julie handed the keys back to her landlord Punch after 10 years at the pub, citing "rising costs, local competition and a severe drop in trade" as the reasons.

She was able to cancel all her existing contracts, except the one with Sky.

"We signed up for a new 12-month deal last July," she said. "But we've stopped trading and want to fold the company.

"They are threatening to take us to court if we don't pay."

She said she was disappointed at Sky's attitude as she had been a "loyal supporter" of the company in the 10 years at the pub.

"We asked as a goodwill gesture that they cancel the contract on our behalf with no outstanding debt, but they have been most unhelpful through this already difficult time."

A spokeswoman for Sky said: "We can't comment on individual accounts. These are the standard business rules that our customers are aware of when they subscribe to Sky. All our customers are treated on a fair and non discriminatory basis."

Kate Nicholls, head of communications at the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said it was an issue the group was aware of and had raised it with Ofcom and Sky.

"Unfortunately it's in the standard terms and conditions, however unfair it seems," she said.