You can get sky plus for free - I just phoned them up and said I couldn't watch sky tv anymore as I was on nights and wanted to cancel - so they offered me sky plus for free, coming round on monday to fit it.
they tie you in to a new 12 month contract but dont really see that as a problem. say you can't afford it too.
i spent 40 minutes last night getting a refund, after it was sorted she said sorry for the delay in sorting it, i said its fine, i called the number that dont cost me saynoto0870, the bees knees