Rent-to-own PVR problem - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

LimpSkeletor · 2012-02-11, 12:42 PM

Hi folks,

I signed up for the 3-year PVR monthly payment plan (rent-to-own, not a rental) in July, and I am leaving Shaw because of a competitor's promo. I was told when I signed up, that if I left Shaw, I would be stuck paying the $10 a month for 3 years regardless of my services with Shaw. I said that was fine. They told me it was billed separately and will come off of my credit card independently of my bill. Now when I call to cancel my services, they are telling me that I have to pay the remaining balance on the PVR because they are closing the account! I never agreed to this, and they are claiming that I signed a contract saying that I did. I may have, but I don't remember signing any such document. I have asked them to produce this document. I am fine taking the $10 a month hit, but I can't afford to pay $300+ all at once. I am thinking of going back to Shaw when this promo is up, so can I use that to my advantage? Is there anything I can do? I am going to my retail outlet soon to "discuss" it with them. Thanks

DSgamby · 2012-02-11, 04:45 PM

You agree to a 3 year contract. You are leaving before your 3 year contract is up. You must pay the remaining charges.

By paying your bill, that is your agreeing to the terms.

Jason316 · 2012-02-11, 05:15 PM

u can't pay $10 a month because you are no longer with shaw

you must pay off the remaining balance plain and simple

it says that on there web site!

Shaw misleads a lot(like the gateway fisco)but this time they didn't mislead anyone plus its common sense that if u leave you must pay off the bill

LimpSkeletor · 2012-02-12, 09:03 AM

I get what you're saying, but I don't think it's fair to say that "they didn't mislead anyone" when the guy on the phone told me that if I left Shaw, it would not affect the independent billing for the PVR. The way he explained it to me, this was an independent transaction separate from my account. There is no contract for my services, only a contract for the PVR. It is not "common sense" that if you close your chequing account, you have to pay off your mortgage at the same bank.

57 · 2012-02-12, 10:35 AM

Unfortunately, CSRs often don't provide correct information. Sorry. The terms are probably available in writing on your bill or on the provider's website and what a CSR says is not relevant, unless it got put in your record file and even then if the CSR made a mistake a senior person can overrule.

antonk · 2012-02-12, 12:50 PM

In some cases that information might actually be true, but only if you signed up before Shaw started doing their own easy pay. I'm still paying off the bill from 2 years ago when I purchased a Pace 758D (which was replaced by the DCX3400 a lot time ago), and that money is still going to Wells Fargo, not Shaw. So if I were to close my Shaw account now, I would still continue to make the monthly payments to Wells Fargo, because that is completely independent from my Shaw account.

But anything in the last year and a half or so would have been done by Shaw, so yeah, you would have to pay the balance immediately upon closing the account.

Edit: Oops, missed the July date in the original post, so my information is most likely irrelevant. But I'll leave it just in case it's relevant to someone.

2012-02-11, 12:42 PM	#1
LimpSkeletor Rookie Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	Rent-to-own PVR problem Hi folks, I signed up for the 3-year PVR monthly payment plan (rent-to-own, not a rental) in July, and I am leaving Shaw because of a competitor's promo. I was told when I signed up, that if I left Shaw, I would be stuck paying the $10 a month for 3 years regardless of my services with Shaw. I said that was fine. They told me it was billed separately and will come off of my credit card independently of my bill. Now when I call to cancel my services, they are telling me that I have to pay the remaining balance on the PVR because they are closing the account! I never agreed to this, and they are claiming that I signed a contract saying that I did. I may have, but I don't remember signing any such document. I have asked them to produce this document. I am fine taking the $10 a month hit, but I can't afford to pay $300+ all at once. I am thinking of going back to Shaw when this promo is up, so can I use that to my advantage? Is there anything I can do? I am going to my retail outlet soon to "discuss" it with them. Thanks

2012-02-11, 05:15 PM	#3
Jason316 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 274	u can't pay $10 a month because you are no longer with shaw you must pay off the remaining balance plain and simple it says that on there web site! Shaw misleads a lot(like the gateway fisco)but this time they didn't mislead anyone plus its common sense that if u leave you must pay off the bill Last edited by downbeat; 2012-02-12 at 03:24 AM. Reason: Excessive punctuation removed

2012-02-12, 10:35 AM	#5
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,339	Unfortunately, CSRs often don't provide correct information. Sorry. The terms are probably available in writing on your bill or on the provider's website and what a CSR says is not relevant, unless it got put in your record file and even then if the CSR made a mistake a senior person can overrule. __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

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2012-02-11, 04:45 PM	#2
DSgamby Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario Posts: 3,932	You agree to a 3 year contract. You are leaving before your 3 year contract is up. You must pay the remaining charges. By paying your bill, that is your agreeing to the terms.

2012-02-12, 09:03 AM	#4
LimpSkeletor Rookie Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 3	I get what you're saying, but I don't think it's fair to say that "they didn't mislead anyone" when the guy on the phone told me that if I left Shaw, it would not affect the independent billing for the PVR. The way he explained it to me, this was an independent transaction separate from my account. There is no contract for my services, only a contract for the PVR. It is not "common sense" that if you close your chequing account, you have to pay off your mortgage at the same bank.

2012-02-12, 12:50 PM	#6
antonk Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 222	In some cases that information might actually be true, but only if you signed up before Shaw started doing their own easy pay. I'm still paying off the bill from 2 years ago when I purchased a Pace 758D (which was replaced by the DCX3400 a lot time ago), and that money is still going to Wells Fargo, not Shaw. So if I were to close my Shaw account now, I would still continue to make the monthly payments to Wells Fargo, because that is completely independent from my Shaw account. But anything in the last year and a half or so would have been done by Shaw, so yeah, you would have to pay the balance immediately upon closing the account. Edit: Oops, missed the July date in the original post, so my information is most likely irrelevant. But I'll leave it just in case it's relevant to someone.