Bell TV and contracts

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ohmagic

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I used to sub to Bell 2 years ago and still have their dish on my roof and cables running down. I sold the receiver on eBay when I switched back to cable.

I sort of want to switch back now to Bell. The last time around I got locked into a 1 year contract when I bought the equipment. I don't like contracts and think its ridiculous to be locked down.

My question is, can I buy a used HD receiver from kijiji or eBay, connect it back up to the dish and just call up Bell and have them activate it?

I only want tv for the winter time. I don't watch TV in the summer, so I'd cancel once its warm out.

Thanks in advanced.
 
yea, definately possible. make sure that the person your buying it from left notes on their account indicating to transfer the equipment to you. there might be a re-activation fee, but you can request the agent that you want to start a brand new no contract account.
 
You can buy a new 9241 (or 9242 if you can find one) and get a $200 bill credit without a contract. Offer ends Dec. 31 I think.
 
Make sure you don't fall for the free installation trick. What they don't tell you is that it locks you into a contract even though you purchased the equipment outright. In your case, if they offer to have an installer hook up your receiver, just say no.
 
And that's a trick?
You get free installation in exchange for that commitment. Are you saying a company shouldn't have the right to protect itself from fly-by-night customers?
 
I believe he's probably suggesting that it's not made clear that a contract is the result of the free installation. If they're locking people into contracts without telling them (which seems common with Bell) then that is not ethical or reasonable.
 
But, as consumers, how stupid are we?

We are stupid (from a bell perspective), because Canadians by nature are trusting. Learned my lesson. With Bell, consumers should read every fine-print, record every phone call, keep every chat log, keep pressing until we get a definite black-and-white answer, and when something isn't resolved, directly contact the executive/CEO's office. With other companies, you probably won't have to do that.
 
You're kidding right, you've never dealt with Shaw or other cable companies that don't charge for installation and don't require contracts? Don't you get tired of being a shill for Bell?
 
For the Omagic:You can buy a ued receiver and activate it. You haveto make sure, as someone pointedout, that the person called in Bell to mention he/she is selling or giving the receiver and that he/she gives full autorisation to anybody who calls to transfer it to another account. I suggest you ask te receiver number and call Bell to verify BEFORE you make the purchase. Lots of people will terminate their account and just think rceivers are OK for someone else to activate it. This is not the case! Th not has to be in the account that owner agrees to tranfer. A 35$ tranfer charge will apply. You won't be eligible to get any nw client's promo (such as free install or rebte on your service). If they reactivate it under your old account a 50$ reactivation charge applies as well. You can also just open a brand new account to save that 50$.

For Peano: I doubt that yo can get that 200$ discount whithout signing a contract. Can you show us the link to te promo on Bell's site?

For billhome: I don't see a trick there... Bell gives you a professionnal installation (for 4 tuners I belive) FREE OF CHARGE to make sure your dish is pointed right an that you are getting the best signal possible. You don't havethe hassle to climb, to figure out what goes where, to call Bell, wait on line for them to pick up, go throught the menu to find what they need to activate it, they do it all for you. And the contract is not only for the fact that they ar giving you that free install. It is also because, in addition to the free install you are getting a new clients promo (programming credit for a period, dscounted programmig package, free PPV). They want to make sure that you will stick with the compagny (and bring them revenu) long enought to recover what they spent (free install, progamming credit)

Fo Interceptor: I was with Videotron before and had to sign a contract to get the new client's promo and free install. I switchd to Look and if I recall well also had to sign a contract.

To all : As a customer it is your responsability to read any paper work before you sign it. It could be lenghty, there could be fine prints, the rep woul probably roll his/her eyes and sight, but itis your responsability to do it. It i written on all Bell TV publicity i'v seen that promotion is offer upon signing a 1-2 years contact. It's not a hidden fact. When you choose your equipemnt with a Direct Sales rep on the phone he is supposed to mention this a well. Once you are install the technician tells you that yo have 10 days t sign out with no penalty
 
True enough. Bell is the only one I have had to take the steps you mention to record what was promised. In the end, it still didn't matter. What they promised was even recorded on their own computers. They still wouldn't honor it. I would sue them if I had the time since I have the proof.

Alas, its not worth my effort. I already have my retribution against Bell in another form.

I have dealt with Rogers, Distributel, Cogeco, Vonage, Telus, Dish Network, Directv and various small internet providers. I never had a problem with any of them. Only Bell.
 
I don't think you can point the finger at consumers here. As an average consumer who knew little about the TV industry, I suspect I would think that free installation was an inducement to take a company's services, and that the quality of those services would be incentive enough to stay. Bell obviously doesn't take that approach.
 
If they were giving me free installation, as an average consumer, I would still ask what's the catch.

Or do we really believe that we live in a magical land where we get something for nothing, and that Bell is the only company that doesn't play by this rule?

Every company lures you with the seductive promise of "free stuff" and "low prices". If you don't ask what the terms are - what can I say? I'm not pointing fingers at consumers, but we do have to exercise caution when dealing with any company that wants to do business with us.
 
I dunno. If the CSRs were the legion of con artists some people say they are, they'd have to be pretty sharp. :p
 
So in order to not get "tricked" by Bell, you should read the fine print for 15 minutes while the salesman stands there waiting. In the real world, who does that (1% of the population, and they would all be lawyers?). Canadians are trusting, and IMO Bell takes advantage of that.

Bell has a responsibility here, to say in big letters at the top of the contract - "in return for the free installation, you are now locked into a 2 year contract, even though you purchased the equipment". This seems to me to be a one-way street.

Ask yourself this - when was the last time you actually read the fine print? And in those cases when you didn't, did things go wrong? 99% of the time nothing goes wrong. For me, Bell is the only one. I was never able to find on the Bell site where it saids free installation means a contract even though I purchased the equipment.
 
Guys, I think were getting off topic here. I don't need installation because I have a bell dish pointed at 91/82 already on my roof. The coax is running to where my TV is..

All I wanted to know is if I buy a used clean receiver off kijiji or ebay and connect it. Can I call bell and activate that receiver without putting myself into a 24 month commitment? Again, I am going to cancel by the time spring rolls around because I don't watch TV in the summer.

Can someone please just give me a definite answer to my question? :)
 
Sorry, but I'm not a shill for anybody, and I'm tired of being insulted just because I'm talking common sense. I'm not debating whether it's right or wrong.

I know that Rogers cable used to charge installation fees even when the cable was already up and running. Has this changed?

I seem to recall Star Choice had an installation promo similar to Bell's way back. Has this changed?
 
I think I've said this before, but it's changed since you were working there. Not all agents know it, but you can take a purchased receiver off an account if it's closed, without any note on the account. Honest.

It's always good to call ahead though; if the account is still active, then authorization is required.
 
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