NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

So I was on the phone earlier to ask NTL to actually cancel my account (9 months late) and stop sending me invoices with a 4 pound credit on it and I happened to remember I had an NTL home modem, the silver newish one and mentioned that someone should come and pick it up. I was told "We don't collect modems any more so do what you want with it" ... It's no wonder NTL got in to so much debt if they don't reclaim hardware.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

How much is a modem worth? I don't do BB kit, so I don't know!
A STB is worth a lot of money, so its worth collecting, but believe it or not it may be cost effective to ditch cable modems!!!!!

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

I can't see how it wouldn't be cost effective, it'd take an engineer in the area a couple of minutes to drive down and he can drop it off at their local .. office or whatever when he get's back, they can then reuse for the next unlucky sod who thinks NTL broadband is actually worth committing 12 months of their life to.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Believe it or not I don't think the modems are mega bucks and would probably cost more to get them picked up............

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

I have heard it costs ntl on average 70 quid for each home visit. For each call theres the people calling at your home (travel, vehicle, and personnel cost), and the people answering the phone. All need paying whether busy or not.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

I think they only cost £10.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

You're kidding ?

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Fair enough, I'll smash it to bits, video it and call it post NTL therapy.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

:rofl: :rofl: make sure you make the video available to us lot :D :D

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Maybe on average it does cost £70 per visit, but it certainly doesn't cost £70 for a van that is passing the adress to stop, knock on the door and collect the modem. More like 70p.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Although NTL dont collect the un-used cable modems & stb's you are still liable if they get damaged.

NTL could employ a handfull of part timers someone who is okay to do therapeutic work to collect the un-used cm's & stb's & after the items have been tested they could be put back into the NTL rental system earning money again..

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

If my memory serves me right, the thinking is that the modem is advertised as free and the customer doesn't pay any rental for it so in effect can't take something off the customer that has been "given" to them (Don't quote me as tucked up in bed and it's late :zzz: )

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

9.4 The Equipment belongs to Us and You must not give anyone else any rights over it. We may add to or substitute it if We have a valid reason.

9.6 From the time We deliver the Equipment to You until You return the Equipment to Us, You are responsible for any loss or damage to the Equipment except if such loss or damage is:

(i)caused by Us or our employees;

(ii)due to a manufacturing or design fault; or

(iii)due to fair wear and tear.

You will be invoiced for the cost of replacing the Equipment and/or the costs of repair for loss or damage for which You are responsible under this Condition. Therefore You should insure the Equipment.

19.5 On termination of this Agreement You shall return all the Equipment at your cost to our offices within 14 days of the date of termination. If You do not return the Equipment We shall be entitled to bill You and You shall be liable to pay for the cost of replacing the Equipment, and unless the termination is due to our breach You shall continue to be responsible for the payment of Charges until all the Equipment has been returned or its replacement value paid.

NTL Residential Terms

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

If they ever tried to impose 19.5 I think I would seek advice on whether it could be classed as an "unfair contract clause" and was therefore not legally enforcable.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

This thread appears to be running in the same vein as the Engineers on the fiddle thread.

I would be dubious about being told that modems are not collected and you can do with them as you wish. I have seen customers posting that they have been told the same about STBs which they do want back.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Clearly not Dr, when an ex-customer is being told to do with it what he wants with the CM by an ntl CSR. :erm:

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

In the Nottingham region we only collect digital STB's. Cable modems and analogue STB's are left for the customer to either store away or dispose of. I am told that the Ntl home modems cost about £10 each which seems really cheap! ;)

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

I think I might have been the CSR he was speaking to. :)

STB's are still returned but now the modems are no longer picked up. If the customer is having an engineer visit or returning the STB we would take the modem but we wouldn't schedule a pickup for a modem or analogue convertor any longer.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

£10 soon add up to quite a total (especially when customers start leaving NTL BB in droves) :)

Must admit an ambit surrounded in clear resin makes a nice desktop paper weight.
(it would probably serve as good projectile for the wife or girlfriend in heated moments too)

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Yes, but pick up and testing plus its organisation would soon outweigh that.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

modems are worth £20 actually :)

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Well, now it's just 20 quids worth of bits sitting in a wheelie bin.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Like has been said b4 its not worth their while making a visit to pick it up. Sad but true!

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

if the modems arn't reused that means the mac address is lost does it not.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

I'd say about that too, seen some on USA based websites....its around £20-35 for an american cable modem.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

sorry to clarify my post, ntl pay or at least they did £20 for a modem :)

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

I've phoned ntl up three times to come collect or mail me out a jiffy bag to get my modem. They keep saying they've sent me a bag out.

I'm getting tempted to dump it now.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

The modems originally cost over £30, they're now down to just over £23. Still not worth collecting them though, by the time ntl pay for the collection/time/vehicle/petrol/screen and clean of the modems etc.....

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Depends on how many cm's can be collected/tested in 1hr 10-20? even if they cost £10 there's £100-£200 that is cost effective. Someone could do the work part time, working odd hrs could suit someone that is looking for therapeutic work, the government would probably pay NTL for giving them short term employment + money to pay the persons wages (whatever they pay for the odd hrs a month so wage wise wouldnt cost NTL anything) NTL could give the person temporary use of a diesel van/car (more miles to the gallon).
More importantly it will give someone that has a minor disability confidence that they can & are able to work a few hrs a week.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

I had a stb cmr who was told by an engineer that she would be better off with a sacm, go onto Ebay & buy a second hand one!!!!

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Need a bed warmer? :naughty: :D

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

It's not so much the engineer picking it up (even if you didn't schedule a visit specially), it's the testing and repackaging that would cost more money than it would cost to buy, essentially, a circuit board and a tuner. About as worthwhile as Gillette coming round to pick up and refurbish your old razor blades.

STBs are a different kettle of fish, there it is worthwhile tracking them through installation, removal, collection, refurbishment.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Are they not useable for some other ISP at all??

Or are they that bad?

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

The only other Cable ISP in the UK is Telewest, but both NTL and Telewest lock their modems to their accounts somehow, probably something to do with the MAC address so I doubt even another NTL user could use a diff. modem.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Sorry but I have to take some offence here.
To employ a disabled person would mean they could earn no more than £20 a week for a mondain job that will do little to inspire them. Any more just comes out of benefit and we are on a pretty low deal anyway. So a few hours for £20, wether NTL pay £20 an hour or £20 for the week. There would be no job satisfaction in it for most disabled that could do that and it would just be more like bob a job for a cub scout.

There are many disabled who would be quite capable of retraining in higher education so we can achieve respectable lives and income for ourselves but unfortunatley law states we cannot attend college or university for for more than 16 hours a week. 16 hours a week will not cut it to get the qualifications to demand the income we require to live.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Is that 16 hours a week attending lectures, or is all study included in that? When I did my Computer Science degree, we were expected to attend lectures for 12 hours a week, but expected to do another 28 hours study a week.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

That is the maximum time you can spend in official tution, which probably includes the lectures.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Have a look at the Open University, they are great, you can take the courses at your own pace and work toward numerous qualifications. Have a look at their site. www.open.ac.uk

You can start a course and do as little as 8 hours a week, they supply all the books and for a 30 point course (8 hours a week) you'd probably only have the equivalent of 30 min a week tutorials. ;)

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

I threw my terayon away today - they've had long enough to come get it or send out a jiffy bag for me to send it back.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Left three mths ago, phoned five times to ask for bag, none has arrived.

They sent Wescot in for the STBs two weeks before my contract had ended but just dont want the modem.

Want a laugh? it still works!!!!!!!!!!!!

Want a bigger laugh?

ntl's 1 meg is slower than my ADSL 512!
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO

it's worth 6 years fees to be able to post that!

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

NTL's cable modems are useless on networks other than NTL because of the MAC address is registered with ntl.

they arent collecting modems coz it costs a minimum of £250 to get an engineer out

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

:Yikes: :Yikes: :Yikes: :Yikes: :Yikes: £250 :confused: :confused: :confused:

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

How would that make them useless on another network ?

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Each modem has a unique mac number. NTL control what mac address's are allowed on the network. No acount no mac address on the network

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Would getting another modem (off ebay for instance) then try register the mac address with ntl make it work?

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Nope cos the modems are associated to the registered customer at the time of registration. If the cust has to have a new replacement modem the mac is reregistered on the system, this is usually done by the engineer.

Basically its pointless buyin another CM

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

the only modems that are allowed on ntl's network are:
3com CMX
3com Tailfin
Motorolla SB3100
Motorolla SB4100
Terayon Terajet 210
ntl home 100
ntl home 120
ntl home 200

If you got your own modem, you could replace the one that ntl have given you with this, but tbh i am not sure if there is much point in doing this. You will have to phone tsb for them to replace the mac address on the system. So IMO more hassle than it is worth.

Jtwn, why would you want to buy a modem from ebay when ntl give you one for free? :confused:

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

why :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

On the Motorola SB4100's you can pick your own upstream - useful when your area has become inbalanced with a day of 2's rebalancing.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Yes I know that - the question was how would it stop them being used on another network.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

AFAIK the only reason would be if another network only allowed particular models on their network. I can't see any reason why a SB modem that had been used on ntl couldn't be used on TW....

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Hi All,
I remember that BT took their phone back through the post in a Jiffy bag. Surely that would be cost effective.Anything like that would be better than all this gear going astray.I have a set top box here that they swopped over and forgot to take and can't be bothered to pick up.
George.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Not trying to give anyone ideas but will the ambit modem work on other cable modem networks in other countries like the US? etc... Suppose the Langley Platform ones would but the Bromley ones would only work in Europe?

Just a thought

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

As long as the providers network was compatible with the modem, and it was allowed.

All NTL modems are DOCSIS, if the other provider supported this, it would most likely work (on the other hand, they may only support EuroDOCSIS).

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

NTL 120 & 200 modems support both DOCSIS and EuroDOCSIS.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

The reason NTL don't take the cable modems back is because the cost of recovery, testing/reconditioning would far outweight the £20 cost of the modem itself. It's cost effective, even if it doesn't seem that way at first..

The digi STB's are expensive and usually are recovered, to replace them it costs £215 or so

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

NTL have left me with an Analogue STB and Cable Modem that belonged to the previous resident of the house (who is a mate of mine)...so what am I to do with these..?

If I request, will ntl write me a letter to state that I am able to dispose of these and that they won't go chasing my mate for the money to replace them?

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

According to ntl's Ts & Cs, your friend is liable for any costs to return them.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

neil to be honest ntl don't give a hoot abt CM's and analogue boxes and haven't done for the last 2 years!!

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

We won't write a letter but will happily confirm it over the phone and note it on your friends account in case of any problems.

Like Scooby says we haven't recovered these pieces of equipment in some time now.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

If NTL say that they dont want the modems, as long as you can get that in writing or something, then ownership would I assume pass to you.
So you can then flog it on ebay etc.
there must be someone that wants them, perhaps those that have been mentioned in the hacked bb thread? :D

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Why will ntl confirm it over the phone but not in writing? :confused:

Not aimed @ you Dezzo, but that sounds like a very underhand practice.......

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

I'm sure if you wrote in to us you would get a written response, personally speaking if a customer called in I would note it and give them my contact details in case of any problems. I wouldn't send a letter out.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Again-not a dig at you Dezzo ( :) ), but if you will confirm it on the phone, why would you not confirm it in writing?

Sounds to me like you worry that ntl may hold you responsible if the you know what hit the fan?

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

In all honestly it is purely down to time. I would rather deal with a customer, fully and clearly note the account and give them all my contact details than spend a far longer time writing, printing and sending a letter out.

If customers wish I would certainly E-Mail them confirmation.

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

Think I might just waste the paper and a stamp and some work time on writing ntl a little letter, as although these boxes not taking up that much space their still hanging around!!! - Dezzo - thanks for the help but I don't trust ntl as far as I can through them (ex-employee see)

Ta All -- now time to find out the address to write to for South Wales!! - probably Glasgow somewhere!!

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

part of the reason is neil if every time a CSR spoke to someone they had to confirm it in writing they wud not take many calls in a day ;)

suprised that customer solutions that do discons don't send one out automatically though :)

Re: NTL not taking Cable Modems back
 

That's crap, we have almost twice that!