New Ftv Cards - Now Closed.

SPAWKER

Saw this on digital spy this morning "new phone no ftv cards 08700541800"these cards are guarnteed till 31/12/05 according to this site,will give it a ring later on.

Our man in Havana

see here for full details.

Take standard FTV precautions before calling.

SPAWKER

Rang the number ,got 5 different options,then got operator she said that the card was £23.50 & you can only pay by credit card or switch card.But I guess they will only take british registered credit cards.

Aquos76

All existing cards will be switched off from November 5th.(Pale blue type and the one with the house on it) This has been confirmed by the Channel Four operator which I spoke to this morning. I was transferred to channel four when I selected option 2 on the automated service. I explained that I had a number of FTV cards which had been issued earlier this year by the BBC and was wondering if I would need to replace them. She explained thet this was " a next generation card" and I would need one of these to continue viewing ITV1 CH4 and FIVE.

The cost of the new card is a once off £23.50 for residental and £104.75 for commercial customers.

sceptre

Originally posted by Leonard
£104.75 for commercial customers.

Hmmm, that's interesting

/strokes non-existant beard

Is there a commercial TV licence in the UK?

Aquos76

Originally posted by Leonard
All existing cards will be switched off from November 5th.(Pale blue type and the one with the house on it) This has been confirmed by the Channel Four operator which I spoke to this morning. I was transferred to channel four when I selected option 2 on the automated service. I explained that I had a number of FTV cards which had been issued earlier this year by the BBC and was wondering if I would need to replace them. She explained thet this was " a next generation card" and I would need one of these to continue viewing ITV1 CH4 and FIVE.

The cost of the new card is a once off £23.50 for residental and £104.75 for commercial customers.

A further update on this last post.

I have just gotten of the phone and went through the very same process and I was told the complete opposite this time around. All Ver 2 cards will continue to work and all Ver 1 cards will begin to be switched of between the 5th and the 12th of November.

Why do I get the feeling that we are going to be messed around again. Could somebody ring up the Number and ask what I have asked just to see what reply you get.

maisflocke

The official details can be found here:

Free2view: http://www.free2view.tv./index.htm

huh!

from what I see on the site all types of existing Free to View cards will have to be replaced, the only reason possible for the new generation of FTV cards to be replaced is Sky being money hungry gangsters

sceptre

Originally posted by huh!
from what I see on the site all types of existing Free to View cards will have to be replaced,

Hmmm, I dunno.

Who will be eligible for the new cards?
Anyone who has a first generation (P1) viewing card. This covers both people registered under the BBC-funded free-to-view scheme (the so called solus card scheme) and former subscribers to Sky who have not renewed their subscriptions (so called 'churners').

From the top of the FAQ page:
This web site allows residential customers, with a light blue viewing card without a house logo, the ability to replace their viewing card and continue to view Channel 4, Five and ITV1 on digital satellite without the need to subscribe to a pay service.

So if your first card was a P2 card then you're not eligible for the scheme. If this is true then there's no possibility of those who obtained the BBC P2 cards of getting a new one which would put them in no man's land.

I suspect that only the P1 holders will need a replacement.

And I assume that next time Sky change the encryption they'll just tell everyone to shag off.

From this page though it seems that holders of the P2 cards still have to phone 0870 054 1800. Anyone done this yet?

the only reason possible for the new generation of FTV cards to be replaced is Sky being money hungry gangsters

Oh this is certainly so if it's the case.

huh!

It was the fact that people that have the new generation cards issued by the bbc, have to ring Sky that has me suspicious, hope im wrong as I have one,

Our man in Havana

Both my P1 ftv cards have been deacitvated. I used the website to obtain new cards using my contacts in the uk details.

kilasser

Any one know will you be able to view different ITV regoins in other channels with this new card?

Skyuser

Do ya get ITV2 from these cards??

no

Originally posted by kilasser
Any one know will you be able to view different ITV regoins in other channels with this new card?

yes

Etiki

If I get a new card through my contacts in UK will it be
necessary to have my digibox connected to a phone line
to have the card activated, if so I suppose it would have to
be a Uk phone line?
thanks

byte

No, as it's a replacement, I'd imagine it may come active. If not, you'll probably have to ring a phone number.

Aquos76

Did anyone else ring the number and ask what the situation was as regards the P2 type cards. I spoke to someone else this evening who had rang up today and he was also told that all cards would need to be replaced. This is very conflicting as I was told two different things by two different people in realation to the P2 cards. The phonelines are open between the hours of 9am and 9pm so if someone else could give them a call and report your answer here, it would be much appreciated.

Our man in Havana

Rang them this evening regarding cards being switched off. They tell me that all P1 cards are switched off as soon as a replacement card is ordered.

Bah! Now i have no C5 until next week.

Lennoxschips

in the middle of the rugby world cup

the backstards

jrd

Folks

As someone who did not get a British FTV card before the BBC move, what options do I have now to get a new one from "free2view.tv" - a misnomer in itself - ??


TIA
Jolly

TVDX

I find it all very worrying, i could go for it and give the website a shot, but im not sure that my contacts in the UK will be very quick to send it and then the fact that the existing card is instantly switched off.

I suppose if i dont do it, then ill have nothing anyway in a few weeks time so i might as well.
But, do they check that the credit card is from the UK or not?, and do the cards get mailed activated?.

I guess answers will be forthcoming in a week or so when people start getting these cards.
Still though, this is hardly a solution, again someone is being left out, in this case not P1 holders, but the general puclic at large who wont be able to get 3 of their channels on satellite without paying for them. So some people get treated differently than the other. Its all quite unfair really.

Leesider

If you apply on their website, they also ask for home telephone number, and the number of the line connected to your digibox.
Perhaps the cards are to be activated via phoneline, which would blow ROI based boxes out of the water??

Our man in Havana

Originally posted by Leesider
If you apply on their website, they also ask for home telephone number, and the number of the line connected to your digibox.
Perhaps the cards are to be activated via phoneline, which would blow ROI based boxes out of the water??

Thats just optional info. The cards are self activating, just insert them and away you go.

watty

Well the http://www.free2view.tv./index.htm saved a complex phone call....

Fortunately My FTV P1 card was in same name as my credit card...

The site don't object to Irish Credit card. But it doesn't like spaces in Card Numbers (FTV or Credit).

Obviously it is connected in real time to existing FTV card database.

Messages of Doom this morning on UTV makes it unwatchable.

LAST time I said spend no money and do nothing (I was right). This time, while the £23 is a rip off (Millions in profit to Sky) and the Exchequer makes out of it too.. This time you need to do it.

TVDX

Watty, what did you mean about spaces in credit card numbers?.
And also, do you think the card has to be in the name of the person who initially requested it?.

And is it then sent to the address you ordered it from?.
I have a P1 waiting to do this with, but im worried about the fact that the card will be switched off while i wait.
Im not sure it will be sent over very quickly. The relatives(i would say) are getting annoyed now about letters arriving in there door for me, after all ive had 2, but im thinking if i can seek out the other P1 card i had which isnt being used, i could try to request a replacement with that, but the relatives i think have moved since then.

I also have a card that looks like a P2 card, but it never worked in the first place and siad there was a problem with the card, the weird thing about this one is the number begins with a 0 and the chip on the card looks like an old P1 chip and looks different then the chip on my subscription which is P2.

Its possible i may be able to request using this one, i might chance it. Does the website check that the card number is valid before giving you a screen that says you have been successful?.
Have you sent for it Watty?.

watty

Ordering a card on web site..

1) the viewing card number and credit card numbers have spaces. On the web site you type the digits with out the printed spaces on Info screen or credit card.

2) Well the site *IS* for existing P1 holders.
The only non-optional (i.e. realy changable) bit of address is the house number. I'd guess only the name and postcode (or even post code was stored in database).

They are going to send it to the house number you pick and rest of address detials is Postcode based.


I'd *GUESS* that:
The P1 card number has to be valid and for that postcode.


Generally if an order using Credit card has delivery name differ from Credit card name it can be a problem. I never lied about my name. Nor indeed the Post code.

You need not fill in ANY item with * mark (the opposite to most web forms), so I left them all blank.

I imagine no UTV, C4 and Five now till new card comes. But I have 632 other TV and 583 Radio on satellite including FTA BBC, Discovery, CNBCe, DW TV, TV5, TV5e, TVEi, NileTV, Tango TV (simpsons in english), A gazzillion pop video channels just like the Pay ones on Sky... Even Eurosport and Euronews.

I expect ITV to be FTA before the card needs replaced. I don't care much about Five, which will likely become PayTV anyhow. Very little these days on C4.

I might get a motorised FTA / PVR dual tuner Satellite HHD system maybe next year when prices drop more. (Will timer recording allow for time taken to get from 55W to 64E on the motor drive?)


What would be interesting to try to see how smart the backend database is:

1) A Postcode + house number that is real (and that you can pickup post from)

2)A real *Irish* P1 card number....


They would have thought of this (laughs softly )?

Anyone got £23 to spare for an experiment?

"It is time to go. Goodbye!"

And with that he was gone.

Irish Bazza

My P1 card was registered in Scotland (for the footy, now gone), can I give a change of address to my brother in Northern Ireland on the automated system using his Visa number?

huh!

Are they issuing new cards to new customers or just renewing old cards , does anyone know?

Our man in Havana

Originally posted by huh!
Are they issuing new cards to new customers or just renewing old cards , does anyone know?

They are issuing new cards to new customers but you have to phone up and speak to them directly.

You have till 31st December 2003 to order.

Yes new cards are being issued to those who have never had one before if you phone the number on the free to view site and press 3

Do have your UK adress and post code ready though !
Dial 141 before the number to hide your own number to the call centre in the UK ie dial 14100 44 870 etc
mm

mickmc

Looking for a bit of advice here.

I have a P2 card purchased from ebay that doesn't give me ITV C4 or C5. I have checked the freeview website and rang the number.

I was hoping that it might be an automated service to activate the card but no.. it was answered by a real human. My problem is that as I purchased it on ebay I don't know who the card orginally was registered to and their address.

Am I better forgeting about this card and ordering a new one with a UK address or will they activate this old P2 card.

Another question is that I don't see any restrictions on the number of cards that may be ordered so I was going to order 4 (family and friends) - anything that might cause a problem here

Anybody any ideas ?

Thanks

Mick

Our man in Havana

Originally posted by mickmc
Looking for a bit of advice here.

I have a P2 card purchased from ebay that doesn't give me ITV C4 or C5. I have checked the freeview website and rang the number.

I was hoping that it might be an automated service to activate the card but no.. it was answered by a real human. My problem is that as I purchased it on ebay I don't know who the card orginally was registered to and their address.

Am I better forgeting about this card and ordering a new one with a UK address or will they activate this old P2 card.

Another question is that I don't see any restrictions on the number of cards that may be ordered so I was going to order 4 (family and friends) - anything that might cause a problem here

Anybody any ideas ?

Thanks

Mick

Mick,
My advice would be to forget the card you have and ring up and order a brand new one by pressing option 3. You will have to speak to a human so have your story straight before calling.

Cant see probelms with the number of cards ordered as each one has to be paid for.

Best of luck Mick, let us know what happens

James

bkehoe

Anyone successfully ordered with an Irish credit card in their own name, but got the card(s) sent to a friend in the UK - i.e. do they need the cardholder address or anything?

Brendan

Our man in Havana

Originally posted by bkehoe
Anyone successfully ordered with an Irish credit card in their own name, but got the card(s) sent to a friend in the UK - i.e. do they need the cardholder address or anything?

Brendan

Yes I did it with 2 cards. Gave uk contact name and address and used my credit card number. No Problem.

bkehoe

Hmm, 2, they told me i could only get 1! Planning on ringing up to order 1 today, as i've managed to get an address with my name on it in the uk, so if they ask about irish cc, i can just say i've just moved to the uk.

Our man in Havana

Originally posted by bkehoe
Hmm, 2, they told me i could only get 1! Planning on ringing up to order 1 today, as i've managed to get an address with my name on it in the uk, so if they ask about irish cc, i can just say i've just moved to the uk.

I did it via the website and just did the process twice and no problems.

If the say anything about your Irish CC just as you said recently moved to UK. Anyway its none of their business.

robert muldoon

I got my P2 card thru West- Sat in UK and its working perfectly, Do i require a new one, and i also have one out in Spain, I am very unclear as to whether these new cards will be activated by phone or by just giving them the box details etc or whether they will be switched off at all

I predict an explosion of boxes with activated cards under this new system appearing on e-bay shortly
of course they won't mention the card but a contact query will tell you theres a card
mm

carrolls

Originally posted by robert muldoon
I got my P2 card thru West- Sat in UK and its working perfectly, Do i require a new one, and i also have one out in Spain, I am very unclear as to whether these new cards will be activated by phone or by just giving them the box details etc or whether they will be switched off at all

No, you won't need a new one, as the P2 cards (Picture of House) will decode the new encrypted data when Sky switch off transmission of the old encrypted data (Sometime next week).

watty

Originally posted by Man
I predict an explosion of boxes with activated cards under this new system appearing on e-bay shortly
of course they won't mention the card but a contact query will tell you theres a card
mm

As long as it is descret Sky won't mind. They stand to make millions profit from these cards. The only question where between £5 per card and £16 per card the profit is.

Our man in Havana

Update:

Received my 2 new cards from my UK contact this morning. Put them into my boxes and all is well.

Appears that the cards are self activating so no calling up the UK and blufffing.

Ordered them online on Monday last week arrived today. 7 days is not bad. Used Irish CC no problems.

James

BANZAI_RUNNER

as regards your new cards, were you using older cards then upgraded?

second question ,
If you never had an ftv card , and you phone sky, do you have to give them the digibox number?

Our man in Havana

Originally posted by BANZAI_RUNNER
as regards your new cards, were you using older cards then upgraded?

second question ,
If you never had an ftv card , and you phone sky, do you have to give them the digibox number?

Yes they were upgrades for 2 old ftv cards. All the old settings are transfered across like the PIN for parental control. U do need to put them into the correct digibox to work. Takes about 15 secs to work.

Dont know about not having a card before. I suspect you will need to give them the number at some stage most probably when activating the card.

You only have till 31-12-2003 to get a FTV card. After that no one knows what will happen.

BANZAI_RUNNER

thanks for the info

_Kaiser_

Evenin' all,

I've bought myself a new Panasonic box from e-bay to replace my rather old Grundig one (will be gettin it next week). I also have an old NI sub P1 card that was replaced during the year and so has now expired - doesn't give ITV/C4/C5 but I use it occasionally to watch the extra BBC channels (easier than tuning them in).

My questions so are this:

1. Should I have a mate from up north ring and say he's bought this box from e-bay and he'd like a new FTV card to go with it please Can I then call Sky myself to have my own subs card married to the box or will they pick up on the serial number being used for both cards?

2. Use the number on the P1 card to order one myself from the website - naturally tho I don't wanna do this if it'll cause a problem with my friend's sub.

Appreciate any advice...

lifeboatdoc

the free2view website and other info advises those with light blue P1 style cards to replace them with new P2 "house" style cards at £23.

I have two late issued P1 cards which have never showed the nag banner. I read that some late issue P1 style cards actually had the P2 software on.

Thus it would seem that a small number of people might not need to buy a new card.

Icehouse

MGT's contract to run the FTV helpdesk is for 2 years, so they're not going anywhere on the 31/12/03

mick90

The 31-12-2003 deadline only applies to replacement cards and not to new cards. New cards will continued to be issued after 31-12-2003.

georgekildare

I purchased a replacement FTV card by phone and gave my address as that of a contact in Scotland. The name and address that I gave was different from the original data on the P1 FTV card. Could this create a problem?

My credit card was charged the 23.50 pounds on 30 October, but my Scottish friend had not received the card by today.

Our man in Havana

Originally posted by georgekildare
I purchased a replacement FTV card by phone and gave my address as that of a contact in Scotland. The name and address that I gave was different from the original data on the P1 FTV card. Could this create a problem?

My credit card was charged the 23.50 pounds on 30 October, but my Scottish friend had not received the card by today.

Give it a few days and see. It can take 7-10 days.