What is a Lifetime?

[20TIL6]

I think some here have touched on this. Forgive me if I have overlooked a solution.

I'd like to get a couple of S3 units and get the VIP transfer on both of them. I have two S1 units that I purchased lifetime for ($249-299) back in 2000 - 2001.

Here's the kicker, they are both Sony SAT-T60 units, yes series 1 DTV/TiVos. But when I bought them, the service was still bought from TiVo and I went with lifetime. It was only sometime later that DTV began charging an additional $5 for monthly "DVR" service and it affected customers just starting or without lifetime. I was never charged this amount, on my DTV bills it shows clearly DVR lifetime service with no charge for my units.

My service numbers are 15 digits just like the VIP program talks about.

If TiVo would honor this VIP program for two new S3 units, I would be kicking DTV and my SAT-T60 units to the curb and bringing in my local cable (right now that's TW, but Comcast is taking over our market).

I will probably call the VIP number. Any thoughts from you guys if they will even understand my situation? Thanks. :confused:

[Arcady]

I don't think Dtivo lifetime is accepted for the VIP offer, since DirecTV took over those accounts from TiVo a very long time ago. DirecTV "lifetime" goes with your account and not with the box(es).

[mick66]

Any thoughts from you guys if they will even understand my situation? Thanks. :confused:

I'm sure they'll understand your situation. I'm also sure that after the phone call the csr will stand up and ring the 'D*Tivo user called us regarding lifetime transfer' bell so that everyone in the office can have a quick laugh.

[szohn]

I think it's going to come down to CSR roulette for you.

There is thread where one user indicated he was told by a Tivo rep he would be eligable (i'm sort of new here so I couldn't post the link, you can find it by searching)

There are reasons to think you won't be eligible, as so many people here want to point out. None of these came from anyone at Tivo, but here are the reasons others here don't think you're eligable.

1. Your account was transferred to Dtv, and the "Lifetime Product Subcription" was converted to a "Lifetime Account Subscription"

This holds some weight, they had a legal right to change the terms of your agreement, but you also gave tivo money in good faith for a lifetime product subscription so there could be room for exceptions.

2. Your box isn't really a Series 1 or Series 2 as described in the VIP offer.
Personally I don't think this arguement holds water, the original tivo I purchased wasn't called a series 1 and is eligable, and when I asked DTV about some software upgrades, they indicated my DTivo box was a series 1 and I won't be seeing the upgrade. This definition is about as reliable as anyone else's here. (meaning it's not)

3. Based on #1 Tivo is in a non-compete situation with DTV and cannot legally offer any discounts to shared DTV customers.
This sounds very possible, and the most absolute.

I'm in the same situation as you and I personally was told no by the first CSR I spoke with. But then, the person didn't know that the series 3 had been released, nor that there was any VIP program (I called Tuesday and seemed to catch them off guard), so I may try again. Without an incentive to purchase early, I'll wait to see what Vista has to offer (or does to price via competition).

Best of luck to you.

[tunnelengineer]

yeah, don't waste your time. You have lifetime with Directv, not Tivo. You technically do not have a Series 1 unit. Therefore, not eligible.

[classicX]

What is a lifetime?

It varies by demographic, but currently it's somewhere around 76 years. Not long at all, I'm afraid. :(

[tunnelengineer]

Main Entry: 1life·time
Pronunciation: 'lIf-"tIm
Function: noun
1 a : the duration of the existence of a living being (as a person or an animal) or a thing (as a star or a subatomic particle) b : LIFE 12
2 : an amount accumulated or experienced in a lifetime <a lifetime of regrets>