Stolen VOD? - Page 2 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

ScaryBob · 2012-08-21, 02:45 PM

In addition to the bogus charges, the problem here is automatic withdrawals. I've had companies accidentally tack 0's on the end of fees, inflate charges in other ways and fail to deliver promotions. It really makes a mess when it causes depletion of funds or exceeded credit limits so don't allow it. One typo by a company can result in hundreds of dollars in bank fees, disconnected services and credit problems as it cascades through accounts. Paperless billing makes things even worse for the elderly, poor or disabled. There are other options, such as making automatic payments from a bank account (bank initiated payments for a fixed amount, not company initiated withdrawals.)

Shaw Champ · 2012-08-21, 02:47 PM

All of our Digital Boxes also have an internal monthly credit limit attached to them. Period of time is also a consideration, things can be small or within "normal limits" (eg no red flag) on a monthly basis but how long for?

CastleRockDays · 2012-08-21, 03:39 PM

Glad to hear things got sorted out Can-Al.

Kritiker · 2012-08-25, 11:24 PM

Can-Al, are you sure that you put on a PPV and VOD Purchase PIN and not merely the Parental Control Access PIN? They can be the same but need to be entered separately. I got fooled by this at first.

Also, I assume that you are using a Pace or Motorola box because I have yet to discover if the same can be done on the Gateway.

dlEVERYTHING · 2012-08-27, 01:49 AM

I had a similar experience except it was just my mom being inept and pressing buttons without reading(disorientated). Luckily, she informed me the same day(because she couldn't even figure out how to get out of the menu) and I called Shaw on her behalf to get the charges taken off.

Shaw really should offer a remote for older people with just the basic stuff eg. power, channel +/-, volume +/-, the numbers, and enter.

Zod · 2012-08-27, 01:51 PM

That is odd that it happened.

Like other have said; it's not easy to steal ppv's or vod.

Someone needs to either add their Cable Box to your account (which shaw should be able to tell you how many cable boxes are on the account) or spoof it. I've never heard of people spoofing boxes, so I'm not sure how easy it is.

I don't get that example someone used on the first page where they said the moved and the person who moved in after piggy packed on their acccount. The cable boxes are married to an account #. You can't just plug them in and be on someone elses account. You could run into problems if you gave an old one away (or sold it) and didn't call shaw to remove it from your account. (Once and a while I bring my DCX3200 to a friends because I buy centre ice. It retains my settings and account subscriptions for the evening of hockey).

I do agree that disabling VOD/PPV on the account is the best away to go.

I am curious as to how they were being charged. Have you asked shaw which cable boxes are associated with the account? Maybe there is an old one out there being used by someone else?

Can-Al · 2012-08-27, 04:50 PM

dlEVERYTHING: When speaking with Shaw they did mention that they had a remote that does not have the On Demand button. You just have to take the old one in and they will replace it.

Zod: Shaw is adamant that someone actually ordered these and we did identify the cable box in question. We still do not know what happened. One day when she was speaking with Shaw on the phone she was told that there was a movie playing at that moment even though her TV was off. (Don't know if the cable box was off.)

2012-08-21, 02:45 PM	#16
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	In addition to the bogus charges, the problem here is automatic withdrawals. I've had companies accidentally tack 0's on the end of fees, inflate charges in other ways and fail to deliver promotions. It really makes a mess when it causes depletion of funds or exceeded credit limits so don't allow it. One typo by a company can result in hundreds of dollars in bank fees, disconnected services and credit problems as it cascades through accounts. Paperless billing makes things even worse for the elderly, poor or disabled. There are other options, such as making automatic payments from a bank account (bank initiated payments for a fixed amount, not company initiated withdrawals.) __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2012-08-21, 02:47 PM	#17
Shaw Champ Join Date: May 2010 Location: AB. LG47"LE5500/Toshiba 32E200U /BDC6500/ Shaw Gateway Posts: 824	All of our Digital Boxes also have an internal monthly credit limit attached to them. Period of time is also a consideration, things can be small or within "normal limits" (eg no red flag) on a monthly basis but how long for? __________________ Shaw Employee, Opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.

2012-08-21, 03:39 PM	#18
CastleRockDays Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver Posts: 497	Glad to hear things got sorted out Can-Al. __________________ --Castle

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2012-08-25, 11:24 PM	#19
Kritiker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 536	Can-Al, are you sure that you put on a PPV and VOD Purchase PIN and not merely the Parental Control Access PIN? They can be the same but need to be entered separately. I got fooled by this at first. Also, I assume that you are using a Pace or Motorola box because I have yet to discover if the same can be done on the Gateway.

2012-08-27, 01:49 AM	#20
dlEVERYTHING Rookie Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 24	I had a similar experience except it was just my mom being inept and pressing buttons without reading(disorientated). Luckily, she informed me the same day(because she couldn't even figure out how to get out of the menu) and I called Shaw on her behalf to get the charges taken off. Shaw really should offer a remote for older people with just the basic stuff eg. power, channel +/-, volume +/-, the numbers, and enter.

2012-08-27, 01:51 PM	#21
Zod Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 590	That is odd that it happened. Like other have said; it's not easy to steal ppv's or vod. Someone needs to either add their Cable Box to your account (which shaw should be able to tell you how many cable boxes are on the account) or spoof it. I've never heard of people spoofing boxes, so I'm not sure how easy it is. I don't get that example someone used on the first page where they said the moved and the person who moved in after piggy packed on their acccount. The cable boxes are married to an account #. You can't just plug them in and be on someone elses account. You could run into problems if you gave an old one away (or sold it) and didn't call shaw to remove it from your account. (Once and a while I bring my DCX3200 to a friends because I buy centre ice. It retains my settings and account subscriptions for the evening of hockey). I do agree that disabling VOD/PPV on the account is the best away to go. I am curious as to how they were being charged. Have you asked shaw which cable boxes are associated with the account? Maybe there is an old one out there being used by someone else?

2012-08-27, 04:50 PM	#22
Can-Al Rookie Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Parksville, BC Posts: 5	dlEVERYTHING: When speaking with Shaw they did mention that they had a remote that does not have the On Demand button. You just have to take the old one in and they will replace it. Zod: Shaw is adamant that someone actually ordered these and we did identify the cable box in question. We still do not know what happened. One day when she was speaking with Shaw on the phone she was told that there was a movie playing at that moment even though her TV was off. (Don't know if the cable box was off.)