Bogus digital TV sellers hit householders for up to €350

Apogee

Irish Independent wrote:

HOUSEHOLDERS have been warned about door-to-door sales people claiming to represent the new free-to-air digital TV service Saorview and charging €350 to install new equipment.

Around 340,000 householders currently receiving their TV signal through aerials will have to install new technology to access the digital service from 2012. But those who have to make the switch can buy the necessary equipment for as little as €59.

Now householders have been reporting sales people claiming to be from Saorview offering to carry out the work for €350.

A salesman calling to homes in north Co Dublin claimed to be from Saorview and offered to upgrade one home's TV service to accept the new digital service from RTE by installing a satellite dish, new set-top box and new wiring.

A price of €349 was quoted. However, the house in question already had a satellite dish and did not need new equipment to receive Saorview.

A spokeswoman for Saorview said neither it, nor RTE, had commissioned or endorsed any door-to-door sales activities.

The state broadcaster is switching off the analogue signal at the end of next year.

Cable and satellite customers won't be affected, but there are still swathes of the country where viewers are reliant on the analogue signal -- especially in rural areas.

Customers will need either a digital set-top box hooked up to their existing TV, or else a modern TV with a built-in digital receiver.

They will face costs of between €60 and €200, the spokeswoman for RTE said.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bogus-digital-tv-sellers-hit-householders-for-up-to-euro350-2889147.html

steveon

Apogee wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bogus-digital-tv-sellers-hit-householders-for-up-to-euro350-2889147.html

There was somethink on 2fm today about 12.45 but I only caught the very end of it.

watty

2nd sets etc on Cable & Satellite customers are affected.

It's nonsense to claim that Sky/UPC customers are not impacted.

St Senan

I have said before Saorview/RTE need to have some sort of public awareness about this. There is no point in Tommy and PJ spluttering on about the DSO when People in rural areas and especially older people are vulnerable to these leeches going around door to door selling Sky, BB and now so called Saorview. Its well known that its happening It needs to be highlighted on Newspapers, Flyers, Radio and on TV explaining to people about what is needed and where to find registered retailers.

The Cush

Saorview did publish a press release on door to door selling on their website about a month ago but is now buried in their press releases.

This warning needs to be prominent on the front page of the Saorview website to be of any use. The Tommy & PJ ads should also be providing this info also.

St Senan

The Cush wrote: »

Saorview did publish a press release on door to door selling on their website about a month ago but is now buried in their press releases.

This warning needs to be prominent on the front page of the Saorview website to be of any use. The Tommy & PJ ads should also be providing this info also.

The vulnerable older people wont have or cant use computers so the press release is of no use. This warning needs to be on Newspapers, Flyers, Radio and on TV.

druss

Originally Posted by Irish Independent

A price of €349 was quoted. However, the house in question already had a satellite dish and did not need new equipment to receive Saorview.



Cable and satellite customers won't be affected

That is as confusing to an end reader. Maybe the house had an aerial as well..but it implies that a standard satellite dish will receive Saorview.

And then misses the point that cable and satellite customers are not getting Saorview extra channels and HD content at the moment. And are paying for their Irish content.

Gargantuan

I had one of these cowboys call to my door a while back and was meaning to post about it .
At first I thought he was from Soarview awarness campaign or something , letting people know about new service.

He charging €350 for a combi box installed. I said i was not interested that I have it already and my folks even had Soarview for around 2 years so I am well aware of it.
He then started going on about how RTE had got the rights to Live Premiership matches and they were starting up two sports channels.
I knew he was full of $hite , but had to hand it to him he was very conviencing.
Was looking for a €50 deposit , I'd say he would of caught alot of people out with the scam.
Took a card off him , will have a look for it when i get home from work.

St Senan

Radio link here http://2fm.rte.ie/show/92 click on listen back and fast forward to 50 mins and then 120 mins . The sales crowd made a mistake and called to an installers door to sell saorview.

scruffy66

scaller wrote: »

Radio link here http://2fm.rte.ie/show/92 click on listen back and fast forward to 50 mins and then 120 mins . The sales crowd made a mistake and called to an installers door to sell saorview.

I heard the company in question that is talked about on 2 fm that was calling
to houses with the Flyers is called mytv.ie based on pembroke rd.

As far as i know and i could be wrong the guy who is down as the registered
owner of this company is or was head of marketing at SKY IRELAND.

Can anybody do some checking to confirm this.

Mountjoy Mugger

According to his website, he's selling a combi-box only for 169 + p&p, a saorview box only at 99.95 + p&p or, both for €349 including installation of dish and aeriel.

What's the scam, lads? I'd be wary of that Indo rag.

St Senan

Mountjoy Mugger wrote: »

According to his website, he's selling a combi-box only for 169 + p&p, a saorview box only at 99.95 + p&p or, both for €349 including installation of dish and aeriel.

What's the scam, lads? I'd be wary of that Indo rag.

The scam is that these guys are calling Door to Door selling Sky BB and now some combi box for saorview. They are saying to people that they represent Saorview.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=74654481 Be safe. Neither SAORVIEW nor RTÉ will ever send anyone to your door to check your television or aerial.

Neither SAORVIEW nor RTÉ has commissioned or endorsed any door-to-door sales activities under the SAORVIEW or RTÉ brands. The SAORVIEW logo is not permitted for use by any direct sales companies. Any approach from door-to-door sellers purporting to be acting for SAORVIEW is categorically not endorsed by SAORVIEW.

We are aware of a small number of people misrepresenting themselves as employees of RTÉ or SAORVIEW. Some of these people may be wearing clothing with the RTÉ or SAORVIEW logos, these people are not employees or agents of RTÉ or SAORVIEW. Appropriate action is being taken against anyone misusing either brand to further their sales activities.

There may be genuine door-to-door sales people in your area offering legitimate services associated with digital switchover. As with any stranger appearing on your doorstep, please exercise caution when dealing with any person offering to install a set-top-box or suggesting you need a new aerial installation*.

Please be advised that aerial installers are not permitted to use the SAORVIEW or RTÉ logos on clothing or vehicles. When choosing an aerial installer, our advice is to ask friends or neighbours for a recommendation or to choose one from one of the three recognised registration bodies listed above; installers registered with these bodies will have the necessary competence to complete the installation. If someone is coming into your home to do some work, it is always advisable to check their track record and ask for references from previous clients. If you feel that you have been misled in relation to the sales of equipment or installation services please contact the National Consumer Agency on 1890 432 432 or 01 402 5555.

* Most people with aerials already have an UHF aerial which will receive the SAORVIEW service, however, the decision to upgrade your aerial is up to you.

Lpfsox

Mountjoy Mugger wrote: »

According to his website, he's selling a combi-box only for 169 + p&p, a saorview box only at 99.95 + p&p or, both for €349 including installation of dish and aeriel.

What's the scam, lads? I'd be wary of that Indo rag.

Why would you need both a combi-box and a saorview box?

Peter Rhea

Lpfsox wrote: »

Why would you need both a combi-box and a saorview box?

€349 is the price for a combi box, dish & aerial installed. There's no combi + Saorview box package on that site.

Begob

For old people to understand this,it will have to be read out as a notice at all masses.
Meetings would have to be organised through something like that.
Community organisers will have to be involved to stem the chancres.
Otherwise we're at nothin.
Paper adds or the telly and radio adds aren't worth a fart.

St Senan

scruffy66 wrote: »

I heard the company in question that is talked about on 2 fm that was calling
to houses with the Flyers is called mytv.ie based on pembroke rd.

As far as i know and i could be wrong the guy who is down as the registered
owner of this company is or was head of marketing at SKY IRELAND.

Can anybody do some checking to confirm this.

Your bang on he is the owner all right and was/Is the head of marketing for SKY Ireland.

This company Mytv.ie are registered retailers on the Saorview website.

How can Saorview/RTE let Sky sales companies become registered retailers and not the Long term Local installer is a complete Joke


I am sure Saorview know since yesterday that this crowd broke the rules and are going around door to door selling combi boxes as Saorview. But today they are still listed on the Saorview site as Registered retailers. Again another complete Joke.

Kristopherus

There's a notice on the Saorview site referring to this practice. Of course should also be on Radio & TV:rolleyes:

STB

Kristopherus wrote: »

There's a notice on the Saorview site referring to this practice. Of course should also be on Radio & TV:rolleyes:

06 July a company called digitalbox.ie register themselves with the Irish Domain Registry. This is registered to a company called Muniment Ltd

They carry out a door to door campaign. It catches the attention of people that come to boards.ie for advice on the apparently mad quoted prices of €560+ being charged for 1 combo box plus an install for Saorview etc. Sure it would cheaper to get Sky, wouldn't it any non technical person might think ??? At those prices like ? I mean the fact that a Combo box (that gets you 9 channels out of the Top 10 for FREE that Irish people watch) yet REALLY only costs €81 retail shouldn't get in the way of truth should it?

Another site, this one called mytv.ie registered apparently on 23 July 2011 tell you all about Saorview and how exclusive RTE2 HD is and that Sky and UPC customers do not receive RTE 2 HD in their channel package. Hey they even have very familiar music running in the background on their site. But they have a bargain only €349 for the combi install (plus 219 for combi multiroom!!!!)

Then you look at the domain registry and you see that BOTH these sites are apparently registered to ONE Limited Company called Muniment and you wonder who are these names appearing under the domain info for each respective site....... Anthony Evans and Ed Sawday ?

Perhaps they are just 2 chaps trying to make an honest buck.

Sponge Bob

Same spivvo Sky resellers who promised us Channel 4 was imminent in 2004 eh!!

St Senan

STB wrote: »

06 July a company called digitalbox.ie register themselves with the Irish Domain Registry. This is registered to a company called Muniment Ltd

They carry out a door to door campaign. It catches the attention of people that come to boards.ie for advice on the apparently mad quoted prices of €560+ being charged for 1 combo box plus an install for Saorview etc. Sure it would cheaper to get Sky, wouldn't it any non technical person might think ??? At those prices like ? I mean the fact that a Combo box (that gets you 9 channels out of the Top 10 for FREE that Irish people watch) yet REALLY only costs €81 retail shouldn't get in the way of truth should it?

Another site, this one called mytv.ie registered apparently on 23 July 2011 tell you all about Saorview and how exclusive RTE2 HD is and that Sky and UPC customers do not receive RTE 2 HD in their channel package. Hey they even have very familiar music running in the background on their site. But they have a bargain only €349 for the combi install (plus 219 for combi multiroom!!!!)

Then you look at the domain registry and you see that BOTH these sites are apparently registered to ONE Limited Company called Muniment and you wonder who are these names appearing under the domain info for each respective site....... Anthony Evans and Ed Sawday ?

Perhaps they are just 2 chaps trying to make an honest buck.

Saorview will have to make an example here . Saorview say that the dont send people around door to door but yet a crowd of Sky Sales are approved as registered retailers they have gone against Saorview and went around selling combo systems door to door. And they are still listed as registered retailers on the Saorview website . What it seems is that anybody can make up a website claiming to sell Saorview approved receivers through Pay PaL register on the saorview site and then go out selling Combo systems door to door.

scruffy66

scaller wrote: »

Saorview will have to make an example here . Saorview say that the dont send people around door to door but yet a crowd of Sky Sales are approved as registered retailers they have gone against Saorview and went around selling combo systems door to door. And they are still listed as registered retailers on the Saorview website . What it seems is that anybody can make up a website claiming to sell Saorview approved receivers through Pay PaL register on the saorview site and then go out selling Combo systems door to door.

It seems you can be a registered online seller of saorview and go door to door selling and do installations and you dont have to be registered with any of the saorview approved bodies as this sky guy mytv.ie /digibox.ie seems to be.

WAY TO GO SAORVIEW:D

STB

scaller wrote: »

Saorview will have to make an example here . Saorview say that the dont send people around door to door but yet a crowd of Sky Sales are approved as registered retailers they have gone against Saorview and went around selling combo systems door to door. And they are still listed as registered retailers on the Saorview website . What it seems is that anybody can make up a website claiming to sell Saorview approved receivers through Pay PaL register on the saorview site and then go out selling Combo systems door to door.

Apparently Ed Sawday left Sky last year so bang goes any conspiracy theories that some people may have had (ala Mel Gibson style).......He now runs The Marketing Corporation which is a consultancy specialising in outsourced sales and marketing projects. Focus is on free & payTV platforms, as well as the telcomms industry, with experience in the Irish as well as UK market.

Question still remains why are the FTA boxes and installation costs being pitched so high (€560 on one of the 2 connected sites for a YET unapproved "Saorview" combo box). This will not help encourage the poor buying public. The trade price of the Triax combo boxes are €99 excl vat. Retail they are available for €145. Dish and an aerial would bring the costs up to €200 for materials if bought retail. €360 then for the work for a single box install. Handy work if you can get it! I thought RTENL had a meeting with installers about costs.

I note that MyTV are an approved Saorview agent http://www.saorview.ie/products-retailers/find-a-retailer/online-retailers/ whilst the connected company (through ltd) arent.

Anyone any idea the cost of an 0818 number these days ?

Gerry Wicklow

STB wrote: »

....
Question still remains why are the FTA boxes and installation costs being pitched so high ...

Because they can get away with it and take advantage of the thousands of vulnerable people out there. Until Saorview get a proper information campaign running this is only to be expected in ripoff Ireland.
PJ and Tommy telling us it's coming like Xmas only adds to the fear and confusion. Likewise advertising on the service itself or directing people to websites is beyond useless.:mad:

ted1

STB wrote:

The trade price of the Triax combo boxes are €99 excl vat. Retail they are available for €145. Dish and an aerial would bring the costs up to €200 for materials if bought retail. €360 then for the work for a single box install. Handy work if you can get it! I thought RTENL had a meeting with installers about costs.

While i don't agree with the sales policy , it is a free market and they are free to charge what they want. A meeting with RTENL about installer costs may be interrruped as an attempt of price fixing.

remember ths saying,a fool and his money are easily parted.

scruffy66

ted1 wrote: »

While i don't agree with the sales policy , it is a free market and they are free to charge what they want. A meeting with RTENL about installer costs may be interrruped as an attempt of price fixing.

remember ths saying,a fool and his money are easily parted.

I dont think he is that expensive Combo box fully installed 349.

Extra room 219,hard drive 59

He's certainly shown that there is potentially a bigger market for free to air TV than is realised,

Dont see the problem with going door to door as long as the truth is told by the sales guy ie: combo box channels dont do automatic updates
channels may move frequiences etc etc.

He brings his sales experience , installers and sales people from sky and is putting it up to other installers out there to raise there game[as in promoting their own business].Dont think SKY would be to happy with MR
SAWDAY:D

I see the main problem for free to air tv is that its credibility and reliability is going to get knocked every time channels move transponder.

Probably a stupid question but Could there not be a way of sending an updated channel list through the internet port at the back of the box?

St Senan

I see Saorview/RTE are still turning a blind eye to Door to Door selling activities from 1 of the on-line Approved "retailers".
http://www.jobs.ie/ApplyForJob.aspx?Id=1136922

NewHillel

scaller wrote: »

I see Saorview/RTE are still turning a blind eye to Door to Door selling activities from 1 of the on-line Approved "retailers".
http://www.jobs.ie/ApplyForJob.aspx?Id=1136922

They are perfectly entitled to do this. Turn it around - why don't the ISAA do something similar? The ASO is the best opportunity they'll ever get!

FRIENDO

http://www.beat102103.com/job-finder

An intresting job advertising add on Beat radio in Wexford.

St Senan

Here is another door to door Saorview sales job.
http://ie.vacancies24.eu/job/sales-representatives-kilkenny/

Sponge Bob

Come easter the country will be overrun with door to door scams.

St Senan

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Come easter the country will be overrun with door to door scams.

Scams are already happening since last MAY and will stay happening up to and after Oct24th.
Look at GumTree, Donedeal, Adverts.ie, FaceBook, the services sections in local Newspapers, Radio Adds, shop notice boards, carboot sales and all the Saorview Approved Reps/Installer driving around with the logo on Vans,
And Yet RTE/Saorview dont seem to be doing anything to stop this?????. They know its going on.

You have some installers in the Aerial rigging business after handing over hard earned cash to 1 of the 3 recognised bodies to have some sort of recognition now Finding themselves competing against these scams and Saorview/RTE seem to be doing nothing to stop these scams.
And that is why a lot more legit tax paying installers wont be Joining any of the 3 recognised bodies.

I wonder has RTE/Saorview found out 1st from all the Saorview Approved Retailers Shops, and online retailers that are selling Saorview approved products is that the Aerial Installers they use or employ are Legit tax paying, carry Pl insurance and has had their/His work checked out and Joined 1 of the Approved Bodies Or are these so called Approved/Qualified Fetac level 5 or City and Guilds installers working for contract installation companies ?????

Morris Code

Begob wrote: »

For old people to understand this,it will have to be read out as a notice at all masses.

As someone who might be considered as an "oldie" I find some of the comments on here a little patronising.I am over 60 and am reasonably up to speed on Saorview matters.I know many people both younger and older then me who don't have a clue-in the end many will be helped out by neighbours,family members and friends-who are "in the know".Oh yeh I can use this Interweb computer machine thing as well;)

watty

My dad is 82 this year and a retired English Teacher. He has Sky, Virgin Broadband, Virgin TV + PVR and is looking forward to ASO when he will get Digital Terrestrial. He also has PC and Email and buys stuff off eBay. The only "educating" on technical stuff I have given him in last 30 years was that he needed a 42" TV when replacing his CRT (He is delighted with it). Since he lives so far away, he figured out Mobile phone, PC, ebay, Virgin box, VHS, DVD, Sky box himself.

TV has existed since 1936, and the 1950s in Ireland (RTE since a few minutes before 1962), Broadcast Radio since 1921.
We have had digital TV in Ireland maybe 14 years now?
Personal Computers since 1976 (though IBM PC in Ireland 1981) and Mainframes since 1950s and Minicomputers being manufactured in Galway in mid 1970s.

Online services for over 30 years.

DECT phones since 1987

Cell phones since before most people online here were born!

How old of old people are we talking about and what cave have they been hiding in?

Mike 1972

The Cush wrote: »

Saorview did publish a press release on door to door selling on their website .

Really needs mentioning on their TV ads. In fact this problem should have been anticipated since there was similar happening during the Welsh switchover.

St Senan

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Really needs mentioning on their TV ads. In fact this problem should have been anticipated since there was similar happening during the Welsh switchover.

Mike 1972. Saorview were told by Installers Last April at the Seminars in Cork and Dublin that this would happen and that they would need to act on it fast.
They haven't acted and seem to be Approving sales companies, Sky Sales Reps and Hardware shops as Registered Approved Retailers. They Know what is going on and seem to be doing nothing to stop it.

coylemj

watty wrote: »

How old of old people are we talking about and what cave have they been hiding in?

Watty, your defence of our older citizens is all very well but Gay Byrne and a Saorview techie were on the Derek Mooney show on RTE radio a couple of months ago doing a phone-in Q & A on Saorview. One caller rang to ask if he needed to install a new aerial whereupon Mooney dived straight in and said that you don't need any aerial for Saorview.

Mooney is under the age of 50, has worked for RTE for years on radio and TV and even he clearly he hasn't a clue what it's all about.

The problem isn't old age, it's plain ignorance of matters technical which affects people of all ages. Not everyone understands even the basics of broadcast technology.

Morris Code

The problem isn't old age, it's plain ignorance of matters technical which affects people of all ages. Not everyone understands even the basics of broadcast technology.[/QUOTE]

Thats it in a nutshell-some people regardless of age have no interest whatever in any aspect of how their TV works-recently had a conversation with a relative who wondered how he might get a signal to 2 bedrooms which currently have 2 portables with a split UPC analog signal.Both will lose signal this year.
I noted he had a Sky Box-but when I asked where his dish was he said he didn't have one-had to bring him outside and show it to him-he was amazed.
He is only in his 40s.
Apart from paying Sky he is paying UPC for the analog signal and Eircom for Phone and Broadband.How many like him out there.

Peter Rhea

Morris Code wrote: »

. . . currently have 2 portables with a split UPC analog signal.Both will lose signal this year.

Have UPC set an analogue switchoff date?

watty

coylemj wrote: »

The problem isn't old age, it's plain ignorance of matters technical which affects people of all ages. Not everyone understands even the basics of broadcast technology.

More People are more ignorant than ever before and seem to think people that bother to find out are inferior. This attitude starts in the class room were knowledge of celeb gossip (I include Premireship etc) is lauded and studying despised.

They don't see that phone-ins on TV are not a Service but a way to milk the punter. Or that the Irish Lottery is essentially a cynical tax on the poor.

This is why we have 82% pay TV, rubbish Consumer Activism, and basically we elect criminals to Dail, because people don't care. It's a form of selfishness coupled with laziness.

It's not to do with being "technically minded" or "educated" or "smart". It's a deliberate attitude.

You are right, it's nothing to do with age!

watty

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Have UPC set an analogue switchoff date?

not publicly.

It's down to capacity. One Analogue channel could be 16 SD or 4 HD TV (or more) or Modem downlink adding 40Mbps to 100Mbps

Also Analogue encourages tampering with cable network which can upset the Broadband.

So when it suits them they will close it.

Mike 1972

watty wrote: »

It's down to capacity. One Analogue channel could be 16 SD or 4 HD TV (or more) or Modem downlink adding 40Mbps to 100Mbps

Also Analogue encourages tampering with cable network which can upset the Broadband.

For the reasons you state it would make sense for them to shut off analouge ASAP (certainely before the end of the year) Virgin Media in the UK have seemingly already stopped all analouge service (even the basic 5 FTA channels and FM radio)

On the other hand UPC in the Netherlands still carry around 30 analouge channels -picture quality not particularly great (although that could have been internal wiring in the places I was staying in) and terrestrial analouge TV stopped there quite a few years ago.

Antenna

watty wrote: »

Also Analogue encourages tampering with cable network which can upset the Broadband.

Surely the problem of non-subscribers 'tapping' into the cable happens considerably less nowadays (if at all) than it did in the past? Almost all the channels concerned on analogue cable are legally available with FTA satellite and terrestrial used together.
I'm sure a far far greater concern for them nowadays is sections of cable being stolen (for the copper content) and consequent disruption due to that.

People tampering with the electricity supply to get unmetered electricity is potentially much more of a problem (where electricity meters are usually WITHIN older houses).

Cable companies in mainland Europe seem to be able to supply a selection of channels unencrypted in DVB-C (for suitable TVs) as well as analogue.

Antenna

Mike 1972 wrote: »

For the reasons you state it would make sense for them to shut off analouge ASAP (certainely before the end of the year) .

upc will not make any announcement of such an upheavel to their service before terrestrial ASO, as they probably hope to benefit from terrestrial ASO.

I read that in the USA - analogue terrestrial switch off in cities led to an approx 10% rise in cable subcriptions!

Mike 1972

Antenna wrote: »

Cable companies in mainland Europe seem to be able to supply a selection of channels unencrypted in DVB-C (for suitable TVs) as well as analogue.

In Mainland Europe most TV's seem to have DVB-C tuning as standard. In the UK virgin media carry many of the main ("public service")* channels FTA although DVB-C tuners seem to be less common on TV's sold on the UK/Irish market.

I suspect unauthorised connections are less of a problem in countries where cable is routed through proper utility ducts rather than being strung from building to building.

* Including RTE1/2/TG4 in NI

watty

Some countries also allow cam and viewing card on the TV, USA and some German operators.

coylemj

watty wrote: »

not publicly.

It's down to capacity. One Analogue channel could be 16 SD or 4 HD TV (or more) or Modem downlink adding 40Mbps to 100Mbps

Also Analogue encourages tampering with cable network which can upset the Broadband.

So when it suits them they will close it.

Mike 1972 wrote: »

For the reasons you state it would make sense for them to shut off analouge ASAP (certainely before the end of the year) Virgin Media in the UK have seemingly already stopped all analouge service (even the basic 5 FTA channels and FM radio)

On the other hand UPC in the Netherlands still carry around 30 analouge channels -picture quality not particularly great (although that could have been internal wiring in the places I was staying in) and terrestrial analouge TV stopped there quite a few years ago.

I can't see them shutting down the analog service until after ASO, it would seriously muddy the waters and cause total confusion if they tried to do it in 2012. I'd be all for them doing it in 2013, maybe that would free up enough bandwidth to allow them to fix the awful picture quality on UTV.

There would be some customer resistance, especially for TVs in bedrooms but I think most people know that analog's days are numbered on cable.

watty

They won't do it before ASO.

zg3409

Personally I think cold calling by phone, door to door sales and junk mail should all be banned as those who fall for it are generally ripped off and don't get a chance to have a look at the alternatives and think about it.

Businesses claim it will cost jobs but in reality reputable companies will benefit.

Until it's banned I think various bodies with vested interests could make a genuine information booklet, approved by ASA and RTENL, with information on what you will get, what you won't get, with various boxes and guide prices.

It could be approved by the consumer agency and help the elderly etc.
RTENL only seem to be giving info on Saorview and nothing on FreeSat which confuses people more.

Until door to door sales are banned they should be made carry voice recording software which records whats spoken during the sale, and people who sign up need to be given a clear form showing they have 90 days to change their mind, with a way of accessing the voice recording of the sale.

Otherwise cowboys will be cowboys and even reputable companies will have rogue sales agents. We all have been lied to by sales, misled, mis-sold.

In the UK they did trials to ban door to door sales

"The scheme has been trialled in some parts of Cambridgeshire, leading to an 11% fall in distraction burglaries. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4121760.stm

I saw a mention on TV a few years ago where they banned it in some places and put signs up on lamp posts. I have been approached by people trying to sell religion, Sky TV, ESB, Gas, telephone, guttering, pillows, carpets, wooden flooring etc all with my best interests at heart

By the way if you are on UPC you need to do nothing for now.