End of the 3 year term.
I'm just ending my first 3 year term with Telus. Details of my switch from Shaw post 49 of this thread:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=141637&page=4&highlight=optik+pvr+free+rental
There were some ups and downs with the TV. One outage in May 2013 lasted about 8 hours, but the internet was still working, so I watched streaming video instead. (it was a regional outage).
A handful of recorded programs I couldn't use fast forward on without them skipping right to the end of the program, but that only happened in the first 18 months.
A few times the response speed of the remote and HD would slow down to a crawl, but that turned out to be because they were in the process of updating the software at the time (it happened once at 1am).
When I decided to cut back to 6 theme packs from 9 packs, I had to do it through live chat on the website, which only involved a minor amount of attempting to upsell me by offering free trial channels. The rest of the time swapping theme packs or cancelling and bringing back Sportsnet World (I only wanted it during Premier League football season) was very easy to do online and immediate.
Turbo 25 internet (now called High Speed Turbo) has exceeded my expectations with never any lowering of download speed even while watching, recording 3 TV shows, and there was no difference between a wireless/wired connection.
On my last bill of the term (received this month) I saw that they would be billing me for the 1 PVR, 1 Digital Box that had been free for the term. I called the 866-310-6988 number and asked what my options are since I don't want to start paying the rental charges. (the PVR is the old 320gb HD, and I was actually prepared to turn it in and get a refurb PVR 500gb HD $99 and digital box $49 from FS/BB/LD, even if it meant losing the recordings I have on the PVR).
It turned out the CSR just said "as a reward for your customer loyalty, we will continue your free rentals (of the equipment) permanently." I said "so I don't need to sign another contract term?" He said, "no, your next bill will reflect this call and the change to continued free rental."
It was apparent to me that you have to call in and request this, though. It's not automatic.
So, all in all, I'm a happy Optik Internet/TV customer. I may decide to sell my condo and move at some point in the next few years, so no contract is just what I want right now.