[Hi8]

This may get confusing....

I had an old series 1 Sony 2000 with a lifetime sub. I sold on eBay years ago. The sub was NEVER transfered to the new owner. I called to buy a new S3 HD Tivo and the CSR told me that the box was still calling in daily. I said shoot. If it hadn't called in I would have just transfered to my new HD TiVo. So I went with a 2 Year pre-pay on the New HD Tivo.

Today I called back and wanted to know what the multiple discount was going to be on my future TiVos that I plan to buy over time. I nice lady told me that because I still have the Lifetime in my name, if I choose the monthly payment, it would only be $6.95 for each TiVo (up to 4 more). SO she told me as soon as my new HDTiVo arrives, to call can change the plan to a monthly and I'll save $29 over the same 3 years.

Plus I can add up to 5 TiVos! each for only $6.95 each per month.

The only downside to this is, if the guy that I sold my series 1 to, calls and transfers the lifetime to his name it will kinda screw things up. But that was over 3 years ago, I'm guessing he would have tried to do that by now if he was going to.

yipeeee.

(edit) so to summarize, TiVo doesn't know that I sold my Series 1 and think I'm still using it , as far as my account is concerned. I actually told both of the CSR's that I spoke to the truth. So in reality both the guy I sold my old series 1 to and I are benefiting from one lifetime sub!

 

[ah30k]

So you are taking advantage of MSD since the person you sold your lifetime S1 to has not transferred it to his account.

I see no problem at all.

I thought for a minute you were considering transferring it to your new unit. That would be pretty low.

 

[dswallow]

Well technically TiVo could also eventually identify the different location of the lifetime unit and start billing you properly since all units are supposed to be in the same household. Not that they seem ever to have done that. Yet.

 

[Hi8]

that's true...

and NO I never considered taking my Lifetime back. I was totally up front with both CSRs. And specifically told them I sold the unit. They are the ones that told me the account would automatically provide the discount because the LTsub was still registered to me.

I suppose they could un-do that but neither agent lead me to believe that that is anything that they do. They did warn me that if the real owner asked to get it transfered they would have do it.

 

[Saturn]

I thought all units in the same "household" had to have the same zipcode punched in to get guide data or they'd "catch" you...

 

[dwit]

Probably going to ultimately end up being a case of a misinformed rep.

 

[dswallow]

I thought all units in the same "household" had to have the same zipcode punched in to get guide data or they'd "catch" you...

I've actually never noticed anyone ever say they were "caught" but that is certainly one of the flags I'd start looking for if I had software running to monitor such things.

 

[shady]

You are potentially doing the guy who bought your S1 out of $6.95 per month if he has since bought another TiVo, because you are getting his MSD and not him!

 

[Hi8]

You are potentially doing the guy who bought your S1 out of $6.95 per month if he has since bought another TiVo, because you are getting his MSD and not him!

that is true, but he can always transfer the LT in his name if he wants/needs the MSD. This is what was explained to me.

the CSR seemed to know what she was talking about, as MANY TiVos are sold on eBay and allot of people don't know they (SHOULD) transfer the TiVo to there own account.

They generally just get it home go through the guided setup from scratch and start using it. As long as they never get a bill they really don't care.

 

[Hi8]

I've actually never noticed anyone ever say they were "caught" but that is certainly one of the flags I'd start looking for if I had software running to monitor such things.

so I guess the loop hole in this would be if you neighbor had a Lifetime HE could by another few TiVos and split them with you and have them all registered to him, and you could benefit from the MSD, and NEVER get caught cuz the zipcode would be the same on all the boxes.

 

[dswallow]

so I guess the loop hole in this would be if you neighbor had a Lifetime HE could by another few TiVos and split them with you and have them all registered to him, and you could benefit from the MSD, and NEVER get caught cuz the zipcode would be the same on all the boxes.

I said that'd be one of the flags, not the only one.

 

[MikeyB]

I said that'd be one of the flags, not the only one.

Exactly. The units also wouldn't dial in from the same phone number (or use the same IP, if on broadband) -- also another easy way to verify location. I think, for now, TiVo doesn't really care. If abuse became a problem, I'm certain they could catch the violators.

 

[Hi8]

Exactly. The units also wouldn't dial in from the same phone number (or use the same IP, if on broadband) -- also another easy way to verify location. I think, for now, TiVo doesn't really care. If abuse became a problem, I'm certain they could catch the violators.

well I tend to agree that there are OTHER flags they can use , but I can say that in my house I can violate both of those flags just mentioned.

I have 3 phone lines which each TiVo could use a different one, and I have two different ISPs as a backup. I have Comcast HSI and a DSL line ISP provider. My job requires me to connect through a VPN to maintain and or to respond to trouble calls 24/7 - I can't take a chance my net connection is down when I need it. So I could be using two different IPs & Phone CID numbers as far as TiVo would know I'm two different locations / people, yet I'm not and I'm legit.