confusion with lifetime service subscription

rogerGE · 11-10-2006, 04:15 PM

Hi, I am new to this site and need any help anyone is willing to offer. I inherited a Tivo series 1 that has a premium lifetime subscription with it and have since called Tivo and had it put in my name. I asked the first time I called if I sold it would the Lifetime service go to it's new owner and they told me that it is totally transferable. I then asked if I or if sold to someone else, could the lifetime service be moved to the series 3 and was told "yes" for $199 and done by December 31st, 2006. I then did some research on different sites (can't recall which one I found this one on) and someone had posted that if your lifetime subscription was purchased before a certain date (I think Jan 31st, 2001) that the $199 is waived. I then called Tivo back and asked them to please look at the serial # of my S-1 and do I, or if sold to someone else, does the $199 have to be paided in order to get the lifetime service moved to the series 3? The lady put me on hold and then came back a few minutes later and said that if I or anyone else that owned the lifetime subscription that my unit has that the $199 fee is waived if moved to a series 3 and there was NO deadline on having this done. Is there anyone that would definitely know the answer to this question due to I am concerned about either selling it with the guarantee or going out and buying a series 3 myself and finding out that whoever I spoke with was not sure and gave me a answer that they thought I might want to hear.

Also does anyone know the difference between a "premium lifetime" and a "basic lifetime" subscription? Thank you so much for any help!

RogerGE

arcadefreaque · 11-10-2006, 04:41 PM

Basic lifetime service is what a series one comes with by "default" - it allows for "basic" functionality without a subscription, in that it allows you to do manual recordings without getting the program listings. Premium lifetime service is basically a "lifetime" of regular TiVo service, where you get the whole package of functionality and listings and not just the "dumb recorder" version.

If your machine was activated before some date (I don't remember), then they grandfathered the ability to transfer that subscription once to any other machine for free. You could transfer it to another Series one, a Series 2, or a Series 3. This is different from the offer that allows you to pay $199 to transfer your lifetime to a Series 3, as "any" lifetime machine can be transfered with that price. It sounds like you have a really old Series 1 that was activated before that date - thus allowing you the grandfathered ability to transfer without a fee.

rogerGE · 11-10-2006, 04:57 PM

Thanks Arcade,
I just saw a post that says before Jan 21, 2000. The lady at Tivo said my lifetime subscription was purchased 6 years, 7 months ago which I think would put it around 4/00, after the cutoff. I really am confused now, I doubt they changed their policy or timeframe on this?
RogerGE

Einselen · 11-10-2006, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerGE

Thanks Arcade,
I just saw a post that says before Jan 21, 2000. The lady at Tivo said my lifetime subscription was purchased 6 years, 7 months ago which I think would put it around 4/00, after the cutoff. I really am confused now, I doubt they changed their policy or timeframe on this?
RogerGE

They did not change it. Call and ask what date it was activated, don't mess with the math. If it is before Jan 21, 2000 then you have your grandfathered unit, if not then you will have ot pay the $199 transfer fee.

If the CSR says was 4/00 and it is eligble get a case number for it. Sure it may not hold up but then you can argue that you were told it was eligble and they might work out some sort of deal or compensation for the wrong info.

funtoupgrade · 11-10-2006, 05:10 PM

Log onto the TiVo web-site, click on the manage my account link. then click on your DVR peferences. Once that screen comes up the date of lifetime activation will be displayed. The before Jan 21, 2000 is the correct cutoff date.

rogerGE · 11-10-2006, 05:18 PM

Thanks guys,
Yea Funtoupgrade I just went to preferences and it said March 2000, so obviously the lady gave me the wrong info, my luck. Anyways I at least know now that it will run $199 to move it to the S3.
Thanks again

Einselen · 11-10-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funtoupgrade

Log onto the TiVo web-site, click on the manage my account link. then click on your DVR peferences. Once that screen comes up the date of lifetime activation will be displayed. The before Jan 21, 2000 is the correct cutoff date.

Yeah yeah you can do that too, but don't we all just love talking to the Tivo CSRs? I got the extention number for John, I call him everyday and he is my bestest best friend!

rogerGE · 11-11-2006, 02:56 PM

LMAO, yea they are fun to talk with, always get a different answer, gotta enjoy that. I called back and gave the guy I talked with the woman's name and he goes "she said what?" lol But he did say he was sorry for her mistake, which made me really feel all warm inside!

Oh well, missed it by 3 months and the good luck continues. Thanks to all for your comments and advice, learned more here than on the phone with Tivo. One more question, is the cutoff to have the subscription transfer to the S3 Dec 31st as quoted by Tivo or Jan 31st, 2007 that I have read?

mick66 · 11-11-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcadefreaque

Basic lifetime service is what a series one comes with by "default" - it allows for "basic" functionality without a subscription, in that it allows you to do manual recordings without getting the program listings.

That is NOT what basic is. Tivo Basic applies only to a limited number of S2 Tivo-DVD units. The cost of the basic service on these units was built into the higher purchase price. With basic those units receive 3 days worth of guide data but have no MRV or TTG functionality. The old S1 units are simply capable of recording by time and channel w/o guide data and w/o a subscription.

rguedel · 11-14-2006, 12:42 PM

Hi all,

I currently have a Series 1 that was activated in December of 2000 and was interested in upgrading to a series 2 with a dual tuner. If I am reading correctly, I cannot transfer my lifetime service for free because it is after the Jan 2000 cutoff, but I can pay $199 to transfer?

Thanks for your help!
Robyn

DancnDude · 11-14-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rguedel

Hi all,

I currently have a Series 1 that was activated in December of 2000 and was interested in upgrading to a series 2 with a dual tuner. If I am reading correctly, I cannot transfer my lifetime service for free because it is after the Jan 2000 cutoff, but I can pay $199 to transfer?

Thanks for your help!
Robyn

You can only transfer lifetime to a Series 3 unit for $199, and that offer ends at the end of the year. Your only option really is to buy the DT box and pay a monthly charge.

You could sell the Lifetimed box and use your profits to pay monthly, or if you want to keep both you will pay a lower monthly fee (Multi-service discount) on the DT box.

mick66 · 11-14-2006, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DancnDude

You can only transfer lifetime to a Series 3 unit for $199, and that offer ends at the end of the year.

Transfer option ends January 31, 2007.

DancnDude · 11-15-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick66

Transfer option ends January 31, 2007.

Wow thanks for that. I always thought it was the end of the year. Now I have more time to decide if I should jump in. I want to but there's that whole "lots of money" part that keeps getting in the way

classicsat · 11-15-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick66

Transfer option ends January 31, 2007.

But the DVR, yes has to be a Series 3, has to be purchased on or before Dec 31 2006.

mick66 · 11-17-2006, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicsat

But the DVR, yes has to be a Series 3, has to be purchased on or before Dec 31 2006.

Only if you buy from tivo.com. How can Tivo know when a S3 Tivo is purchased from anyone other than tivo.com? They can't. You could buy one from Circuit City on 1/31/07 and then go home and transfer a lifetime sub to it. Tivo won't know or care.