Customers at high street stores are incorrectly being told they can only buy Freesat equipment if they also pay for an arranged installation.

Receivers are meant to be available on a standalone basis, allowing millions of people who already have a satellite dish to take home a set-top box, connect it and watch Freesat.

However, several Digital Spy forum members have reported that staff, mainly at branches of Currys, refusing to sell unless they pay extra for an engineer to install it.

Because the TV channels carried on Freesat's electronic programme guide originate from the same satellites that most consumer satellite dishes - including those fitted to receive Sky - already point to, Freesat services can be received by nearly all dishes in the UK simply by connecting a new set top box.

Some forum members have had to argue with staff before they are eventually sold a standalone box, while others have been told that dishes fitted for Sky will not work with Freesat.