DT Tivo Account

[TivoZorro]

Last April I bought a DT with a one year pre paid plan. At the end of April the year is up. What do I have to do, if anyting. I have two other Tivos with lifetime subscriptions so what should I be paying for the DT on a monthly basis or can I buy another year of Tivo service? Thanks.

[atmuscarella]

I really don't know what will happen "automatically" but there should be away for your to get TiVo's Multi-Service Discount (MSD) (http://www.tivo.com/5.11.4.asp) on a monthly payment plan. Please post what happens.

Thanks,

[mick66]

I'm expecting mine to automatically go to the $6.95 monthly rate.

The agreement states that after one year the account will be billed at the then applicable rate. The cost for my other MSD unit has not increased and this rate is the only rate that can apply because they (Tivo) can't assume a commitment period where their is none.

I guess I'll find out for sure after tomorrow. I was initially billed on 4/27/06.

[mick66]

Looks like I was charged $10.95

Not happy.

edit:
Called Tivo cs.
Very condescending.
My blood is still boiling - not because of the rate.

[rdrrepair]

Looks like I was charged $10.95It looks like they charged you the current 1 year rate plan less $6.00.
http://www.tivo.com/2.0.plans.step.1.asp

$16.95 per month
with 1-year plan
reduced from $19.95
Called Tivo cs.
Very condescending.
My blood is still boiling - not because of the rate.What happened?

[rdrrepair]

I'm expecting mine to automatically go to the $6.95 monthly rate.
So, if you were on a 3yr plan that ran out, would they have charged you the $6.95 you were hoping to pay?

with 3 -year plan $12.95 per month (http://www.tivo.com/2.0.plans.step.1.asp)

I'm asking, cause you seem like you knew what you were talking about. How do you think it got turned around? What are the other members in for when it's their turn? Are we better off signing up for the 3yrs and then allowing it to expire to take advantage of the $6.95 rate?

I know that "wishful think does not make it true" how did they explain it to you? You said that they were "Very condescending.
My blood is still boiling - not because of the rate." how did they torque you off?

[rambler]

Mick, after the call did they put you on a 3 year plan ($6.95 with the MSD) or just give you the $6.95 rate without a commitment?

[supasta]

You help is appreciated here mick. One of my DT boxe's year is up first week of May, and the other is up first week of September. Interested in what I may be in for. I am really not interested in a 3-year commitment (fingers crossed for TiVo/Comcast box)

Both of my DT units were purchased before the first rate change, so currently I am getting $12.95/$6.95.

EDIT: I may give them a call tomorrow just to get an idea, mabye I can give them a heads up as to my planning on keeping the TiVo around (Shh...Don't tell them I'll keep it no matter what)

[disturbedfred]

The fine print said at the time of my DT w/ 1 year commitment purchase, that it would be billed at the then applicable monthly rate. When contacting CS about this, I was told several times that worst case I could cancel this box from my account, then add it under MSD @ 6.95. Allowing that I do not have more than 4 boxes at this rate. I guess I'll see in June.

[mick66]

Mick, after the call did they put you on a 3 year plan ($6.95 with the MSD) or just give you the $6.95 rate without a commitment?

Neither.

[mick66]

You help is appreciated here mick. One of my DT boxe's year is up first week of May, and the other is up first week of September. Interested in what I may be in for. I am really not interested in a 3-year commitment (fingers crossed for TiVo/Comcast box)

Both of my DT units were purchased before the first rate change, so currently I am getting $12.95/$6.95.

EDIT: I may give them a call tomorrow just to get an idea, mabye I can give them a heads up as to my planning on keeping the TiVo around (Shh...Don't tell them I'll keep it no matter what)

It looks like you're paying monthly. You're rates wont change.

[mick66]

The fine print said at the time of my DT w/ 1 year commitment purchase, that it would be billed at the then applicable monthly rate. When contacting CS about this, I was told several times that worst case I could cancel this box from my account, then add it under MSD @ 6.95. Allowing that I do not have more than 4 boxes at this rate. I guess I'll see in June.

If you cancel the subscription, you have to commit to three years of service to get the $6.95 MSD rate. I won't do that.

I won't pay $10.95 next month. Before that time comes, I'll transfer any recordings I want from my 240 to my 540 (w/lifetime) and then cancel the sub on the 649 and then transfer service from the 240 to the 649 which will cancel service on the 240. Who's on first? I'll be down to 3 tuners, but I can live with that.

[rdrrepair]

Looks like I was charged $10.95

Not happy.

edit:
Called Tivo cs.
Very condescending.Based on Mick66's experience I foresee...

In a few months time, all of the people with lifetime transfers will start getting billed the higher rate for the sub unit. I was afraid of this back when I got my S3 with lifetime transfer. I asked at that time could I pay an additional $100.00 to get the 3yr package.

It made perfect sense to me. If they were promoting the $199.00 as the same rate for 1yr of service, and you really weren't loosing anything then, why not charge $100.00 more and get the 3yr packaged service for $299.00?

The CSR agreed and tried to put it thru... She came back on in a few minutes and told me her supervisor said no. She agreed that it sounded good, she just couldn't do it.

I won't pay $10.95 next month. Before that time comes, I'll transfer any recordings ... I'll be down to 3 tuners, but I can live with that.We will be re-visiting this same topic over and over again. I think TiVo should wise up. Charging the $10.95 rate will have mostly the same results as posted above.

Now TiVo is in a vicious circle - If you want to keep the service you will jump on a subsidized box and not re-up the existing box. We go back to the same problem. TiVo subsidizing boxes to get subscribers when all they really need to do is treat people right. I think it's cheaper to keep existing customers then it is to get new ones with subsidized boxes.

Do you think TiVo makes more money selling a subsidized box with 1yr, 2yr or 3yrs of service, or do you think they make more money charging for a subscription on a box that has outlived it's stated life? My guess is the latter.

I know in another 8 months I'm going to do the same thing and drop the 240 from the service after I transfer everything.

--Hey, TiVo! Do you want to do what's fair?
--Maybe not have to subsidize so many boxes?
Figure out how long the box has been in service at that household and then charge the box the rate that it's been in use. Box is 3 yrs old and is still with the original owners?... Charge out the $6.95 a month for MSD or $12.95 without MSD.

Box is 2yrs in service at the same household? Charge out the monthly fee for what a current 2yr plan is...

You're only making about a $1.00 a month per box with DirectTV - you can't say that when your loosing subscription customers over $4 dollar a month difference in price!

[ZeoTiVo]

one of the TiVo representatives who posted here said the Tivos bought on the 1 year prepay plans before all the last round of pricing changes took place would be grandfathered under the old MSD dela of commit to a year and get the 6.95 rate. I can not find that post right now, wonder if anyone else can?

NOTE -this is different from the free for a year when transferring lifetime deal.

[ZeoTiVo]

If you cancel the subscription, you have to commit to three years of service to get the $6.95 MSD rate. I won't do that.

I won't pay $10.95 next month. Before that time comes, I'll transfer any recordings I want from my 240 to my 540 (w/lifetime) and then cancel the sub on the 649 and then transfer service from the 240 to the 649 which will cancel service on the 240. Who's on first? I'll be down to 3 tuners, but I can live with that.
maybe you shoul call back and see if luck gives you a more professional CSR that you can explain that too - basically you will be cancelling service on a box.

[Shawn95GT]

I'd have to dig for the post, but the LT transfers are supposed to get the $6.95 rate.

All of my Tivos have always been lifetimed. I had 3 lifetimed S2s and now I have 3 Lifetimes S3s + 3 1yr pre-paid S2s. Tivo still isn't collecting monthly from me.

If I don't get the $6.95 rate when the pre-pay is up, I won't keep them around. I'm already iffy about keeping the boxes active. If I don't get the $6.95 rate that's the last nail in the coffin. I'll have 3x S2 doorstops.

[mick66]

I planned on canceling my DT subscription before the the next billing. I forgot, so I ended up waiting another month to do it. A 45 minute phone call to CS to cancel (2 minutes of talk time and 42 minutes of holding) and two CS reps later, I will get the 6.95/mo rate. I'll be on a one year commitment at the 6.95/mo rate and when that ends it will continue at that rate monthly.

I didn't even ask for a discounted rate. The CS rep made the offer.
:up:

[wolflord11]

The fine print said at the time of my DT w/ 1 year commitment purchase, that it would be billed at the then applicable monthly rate. When contacting CS about this, I was told several times that worst case I could cancel this box from my account, then add it under MSD @ 6.95. Allowing that I do not have more than 4 boxes at this rate. I guess I'll see in June.

Theres the catch right there. The current appicable Monthly rate :D