Bell Tracking Receivers

[DT1]

Lets not make something out of nothing. You are supposed to hook your receivers up to phone line if not they can call you and you go around to verify them and that is IF they call you which probably won't ever happen.

[Roman Centurion]

Here we go again.

"If they ever call up to ask about my receivers, I'll cancel my account."

Verification is done to enforce CRTC rules. It's part of the terms of service, and if you don't read it, that's your own fault. Just like the terms of service nobody ever reads (but accepts anyway) when they install new software on their computers. You didn't read that? How do you know what you agreed to, then?

Will they disable a receiver based solely on the fact that you don't have it connected to a phone line? No. But they may do it if they can't verify the location of the receiver.

Sure, it seems heavy-handed, but there are people out there who split accounts and steal signal. There are private companies duplicating smart card numbers and selling illegal signal to US citizens, and representing themselves as legitimate. There are people who think it's okay to give their child a receiver to use in a different location.

These things cost Bell TV lost revenue, and in the end cost Bell TV subscribers. All the posturing about cancelling service over one phone call you probably won't ever receive doesn't change the fact.

[Pinza]

I agree with you Roman about the lost revenue.

I come across more and more, 4 receiver installs in Trailers nowadays than ever before, even in Trailers with 1 bedroom and 1 lounge area, they want and expect 4 receivers hooking up. Then they have the nerve to try to buy extra dish's from the Installers.....lol...

Hmm wonder why they want them.?

Could it be that the nice stack of 4 x 6131's on the work surface, at the side of the sink is going to migrate to 3 other Trailers as soon as the Tech leaves.? Who knows for sure, but I can guess.

This situation happens all too often now, it used to be 1 in about 10,000 installs but not now, it is a weekly occurrence.

[frontpl8]

I have some friends who don't connect to phone line because they have no landline, only cell phones. I wonder what Bell does then. None of my friends have ever gotten a call as far as I know. Bell even did the one guys install knowing he doesn't have landline.

[can3gxw]

I have gotten several calls over the past many years, asking me to verify the receivers that I have in my house. I didn't have any of them hooked to a phone line. If they left me a voicemail message, I ignored it. If they happened to catch me live, I just told them how many were hooked up. I have a couple of older receivers (2700 and 3100) that are just sitting in my closet now, waiting for the day that I may need Bell TV again.

I don't know why so many people are anti-everything "legal". "I'm going to cancel my account if I get a phone call from Bell". That's the biggest crock of horses**t that I've ever heard... no you won't... just be polite and move on. There are bigger things to worry about in this life than whether or not Bell might catch you doing something that you're not allowed to do. "But people are doing it all the time"... people speed and run red lights all the time too, but they too are against the rules...

[99gecko]

Caveat: I am not a lawyer, and normally I don't play one on the Internet

I recently noticed that Bell's TOS is partially in contradiction with the online sales information provided on their website:
http://support.bell.ca/en-on/TV/What...Install?step=5

Other factors to consider before installation

* The dish will require south-east exposure in western Canada and south-west exposure in eastern Canada, with a clear line-of-sight (no trees, buildings, etc., blocking the dish).
* If you live in a rental property or condo, it's your responsibility to get permission to install Bell TV. You'll be required to sign the work order, confirming that you have secured the required permissions.
* The account holder must be on-site for the duration of the installation. If you can't be home at that time, please ensure a representative, 18-years of age or older, will be on-site to authorize the installation and sign the agreement on your behalf.
* Technicians are not authorized or equipped to enter customer's attic for cable routing.
* Dish mount location may be regulated by local by-laws.
* Access to a telephone outlet is recommended.

Since this webpage is accessible by a person attempting to purchase a new receiver, it is part of their advertising disclosure.

Theoretically, a person could challenge Bell's TOS, since it contradicts it's advertisement.

As far as I understand it, Bell's only option if it were challenged would be to change the TOS, or disconnect service BUT refund all charges incurred since installation. Otherwise they could face charges under the Competition Act.

[taxtwit]

Originally Posted by Roman Centurion

It's part of the terms of service, and if you don't read it, that's your own fault. Just like the terms of service nobody ever reads (but accepts anyway) when they install new software on their computers. You didn't read that? How do you know what you agreed to, then?

Sorry, RC - it may be part of your TOS, but it ain't part of mine. I DID read the TOS before I signed on for Bell and I was well aware they included the "must plug receivers into phone line" clause. The point I was trying to convey was that I at no time ever agreed to that particular clause and, furthermore, clearly communicated to Bell I would not accept that particular clause and Bell still gave me the account. It's really just basic contract law - I offered to become a Bell subscriber on terms that did not include a requirement that I plug receivers into a phone line and they accepted. I have never signed my name to a contract with Bell that contains that particular TOS and I never will. If Bell tried to argue they were constrained from agreeing to accept my offer sans that particular TOS by (for eg) CRTC regulation, I'd happily drag the CRTC into it to explain how they expected Bell to enforce such a regulation when every year more and more households have no phone lines. Were Bell to suggest it was some kind of implicit TOS in our contract and threaten me with sanction, I'd see them in court.

Having said all that, I am ready, willing and able to verify every receiver registered on my account if Bell calls, because I am not "account splitting" (I don't consider having one of my receivers at my cottage for a couple of months during the summer "account splitting", even if I forget to call Bell to request them to take my other receivers out of service for a day before heading up there)

[Roman Centurion]

Like others have already said, Bell's not actually forcing people to plug their receivers into a phone line, especially people who don't have land lines. It's becoming more common.

So, please relax, keep your tin foil hat firmly in place, and everything should be fine.

My point was: why get worked up over something so trivial that they're not even enforcing? Life's too short.

[cle12000]

If it is part of the TOS to have receivers hooked up to a telephone line, when the tech comes to install why don't they hook it to the line if it's required? I pay for a installation and they do not install it in compliance to their TOS? Why am I paying for this installation then?

[Pinza]

99% of Technicians are Subcontractors and ONLY get paid if they carry out the installation. If 75% of all possible installations do not have a phone line close by that can be used then the Tech is going to be working for nothing.

Then consider that Bell will loose 75% of any new work and I am sure they would soon be out of business, or better yet, modify the TOS, which would be more sensible.

I know I say 75% but as more and more people are going to Cell Phones I can actually imagine that number could be even higher.

[HDTV101]

Originally Posted by Pinza

Could it be that the nice stack of 4 x 6131's on the work surface, at the side of the sink is going to migrate to 3 other Trailers as soon as the Tech leaves.? Who knows for sure, but I can guess.

If the Trailer Park Boys are smart enough they'll string the same phone line to all trailers and all 4 receivers, where every they may be moved to, in the same park, will all look to bell as still being in the same Trailer.

I kind of don't blame people in a low income situation from doing this... I pay over $80 a month for Bell... I think it's too much for what I'm getting.. that could be $20 if you split it like Bubbles and Julian do hehheh!


[

OK this is only my opinion I do not condone theft of services!

[Ex Agent EV]

99% of Technicians are Subcontractors and ONLY get paid if they carry out the installation. If 75% of all possible installations do not have a phone line close by that can be used then the Tech is going to be working for nothing.

Then consider that Bell will loose 75% of any new work and I am sure they would soon be out of business, or better yet, modify the TOS, which would be more sensible.

I know I say 75% but as more and more people are going to Cell Phones I can actually imagine that number could be even higher.

Look communicatons had (are they still in buisness?) the same policy. When technicians came to install the service they were installing, at the same time, a telephone jack on the wall behind the television so that receiver culd be hooked to a telephone line. Sad thing is, when I disconnected their service when they came to get their receiers they cut, at the same time, the cables inside the telephone jacks.

[steelzone]

I can cancelled my Bell service 2 years ago when they tried to verify my receivers locations for the second time in 6 months. Its utter BS that a company can annoy people at home and waste 20 minutes of my time for information they have at their end already. I just wanted to be left alone in peace to enjoy tv but no bell had to accuse me of being a thief.

Oh well they lost in the end because of this I cancelled every service with them from my satellite, to internet, telephone and cell phone. By the way I will never go back to those dummies ever again. Hope they go bankrupt.

[Pinza]

LOOK TV is no more Ex Agent, the assets were bought by Rogers & Bell.

As has already been stated in this thread, the Receiver Verification Dept is just doing a job they have to do thanks to the CRTC.

I am sure that Bell do not miss you and now can call 2 other Customers every 6 months instead of wasting their time calling you....

[HDTV101]

Originally Posted by Ex Agent EV

Look communicatons (are they still in buisness?).

Gone now since last November.


.....HELP! no signal....