NTL cable TV connection active without subscription

ChilliNuts

Hi,

Just bought a second-hand house in Dublin. I plan on signing up with NTL for their basic TV package. However, I happened to notice that we already have a signal.

I have yet to check with the previous owner, but I presume he closed his account with NTL. Does anyone know if it is standard practice for NTL to leave the connection in place for a certain amount of time after accounts close? I guess NTL will eventually send out a technician to disconnect us, after which we'd have to pay a reconnection fee to get going again.

Any thoughts?

Mossy Monk

a place i lived in before had the same thing. ntl never turned it off. they also kept sending us leaflets asking us to sign up. needless to say we didnt. moved out instead

stoneroses

Yes, they will contact you - but might be worth your while contacting them as they may have offers for new customers on DTV & Broadband if it's available in your area.

nava

Mossy Monk wrote:

a place i lived in before had the same thing. ntl never turned it off. they also kept sending us leaflets asking us to sign up. needless to say we didnt. moved out instead

Hi

My friends house was the same, but they lived in flats in Rathimes, it was switched on for a few years when they were living there, they asked the landlord but he hadn't paid for it.

Regards

Raytown Rocks

Hey Chillinuts.

In my opinion your getting something for nothing. The guy that left may have asked for his service to be disconnected or asked for his account to be moved to his new address.
If you get a bill with his name on it send it back to NTL. ( return to sender)
You could go months without paying, and if eventually NTL call to disconnect simply say you have just moved in and want to change the connection into your name.

Hope it all works out.

Chef

bk

NTL can't automatically disconnect you from the analogue service. The analogue service is unencrypted and they would have to physically call to the house and disconnect the wires (which wouldn't be hard to reconnect).

However strictly speaking you are stealing their service and it is illegal, though I've never heard of anyone being prosectued for it (IANAL).

If you call them and decide to sign up for broadband or Digital TV, you will have to pay for the analogue serice, however they will often give it to you for free for 12 months.

Ulsterman 1690

We used to have NTL digital but got rid of it but we still get an analouge signal consisting of the five basic UK channels plus a couple of others they seem to have forgotten to encrypt (Animal Planet and Cartoon Network)along with various FM radio channels

Apparently under UK law though they have to supply you with the five national analouge channels even if you no longer subscribe to their other services apparently this is why you can get FTV channels on expired sky cards

However strictly speaking you are stealing their service and it is illegal, though I've never heard of anyone being prosectued for it

In the case of the Animal and Cartoon Channels if someone GIVES you something theyre hardly in a position to turn around later on and accuse you of stealing it :rolleyes:

Aquos76

bk wrote:

NTL can't automatically disconnect you from the analogue service. The analogue service is unencrypted and they would have to physically call to the house and disconnect the wires (which wouldn't be hard to reconnect).

Not totally correct. We are on cable here and our analogue signal was switched on from a little green mini pillar down the street. Numerous times I have had probles with my signal and when the tech guys call out, they alwways check the mini pillar down the road also.

stoneroses

Leonard,

What BK was implying is that they cannot disconnect you remotely for the analogue service unlike digital. They have to send a crew out to cut the wire either at your house or at a local cabiunet but either way its a job for a crew and not a remote switchoff.

thund3rbird_

Ulsterman 1690 wrote:

Apparently under UK law though they have to supply you with the five national analouge channels even if you no longer subscribe to their other services apparently this is why you can get FTV channels on expired sky cards

the guy bought a house in Dublin.:rolleyes:

The tax man

You probably will be disconnected at some stage.
It takes time for the info to filter through to the right department that the previous owner of the house no longer lives at the said address and the new tenant hasn't contacted NTL.Then a crew comes out and cuts you off.
Then you ring up to get signed up and god only knows how long you'll be waiting without TV.
If it's a house they'll usually catch up on you,if it's an apartment it's pot luck.

Enjoy while it lasts.

ChilliNuts

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll just open an account. Don't want to create hassle down the line for the sake of 20 euro per month.

Plus if they do disconnect us, I just *know* it'll be in the middle of The Sound Of Music on Christmas Day

doodio

i wouldn't sign up for it
it seems to me that it's very rare they'll cut it.

stoneroses

doodio wrote:

i wouldn't sign up for it
it seems to me that it's very rare they'll cut it.

Yes but then again ... some people are more honest than others. How can we expect NTL to provide better products through investment if we dont pay them for the products we currently get.

jimmycrackcorm

When ntl connected my tv they accessed a manhole and physically changed something. to disconnect it they would have to physically send someone out to do that also. I guess it is either not worth their effort to send someone who who could otherwsie be earning revenue connecting customers or it has been lost in a bureaucratic mixup which is probably more likely.

I wouldn't bother telling them either. Legally it cannot be said that you are stealing the signal because it is the responsibility of NTL to block it not you.

They cannot back charge you for the retnal simply because no contract exists between you and NTL. This is not like the TV licence either as this is a take it or leave it service.

I'd just enjoy it and when they eventually somehow discover you are not on the network and cut you off - sign up then at the very worst you will have teh rich cultural diversity of Irish tv..

Yes but then again ... some people are more honest than others. How can we expect NTL to provide better products through investment if we dont pay them for the products we currently get.

This has nothing to do with being honest. NTL will only get better products through having better management.

Freddie59

ChilliNuts wrote:

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll just open an account. Don't want to create hassle down the line for the sake of 20 euro per month.

Plus if they do disconnect us, I just *know* it'll be in the middle of The Sound Of Music on Christmas Day

You're dead right. €20 - what the hell would it buy you nowadays? Cheap peace of mind if you ask me.:)

Freddie59

Ulsterman 1690 wrote:

Apparently under UK law though they have to supply you with the five national analouge channels even if you no longer subscribe to their other services

I see where you're coming from.......but I don't think UK law applies in the good ole ROI!:eek:

Duiske

I agree with stoneroses on this. They WILL eventually disconnect you, so better to give them a call. Maybe they will reward the honesty by not charging you a set-up fee.