Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

Just need to know, as we currently have Virgin but are moving to a non virgin area so have to either go with Sky or use freeview.

So was wondering if there was anyway of using the V+ box that we have as a recorder only for freeview?

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

No it can't. Also you have to return the V+ HD box when your account is disconnected

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

Actually you don't have to return your box. They ask you to dispose of it!!

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

Although they did that for a while with some of the SD boxes, tey have never done that with the V+ HD boxes If you don't return it, they will charge you to replace it

In addition all Digital STBs are now collected.

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

I cancelled my account 6 months ago and still have a stb and v+ box.

Customer services have not sent me anything to return them in yet.

How long do I have to wait?

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

You should contact them, and they will arrange for a collection

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

I think you have waited long enough. Just get shut of them.

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

Your advice is sub-optimal - as Ben stated above

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

No it's not and that's unfair. He's waited way beyond a "reasonable" time, so he can bin them. Obviously VM don't want them back.

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

There doesn't seem to have been any attempt to chase the return though.

Yes Virgin should have sent the appropriate box or arranged the collection visit.

However, just sitting there going 'well I'm not going to do anything if they don't do anything' isn't helpful.

---------- Post added at 10:53 ---------- Previous post was at 10:51 ----------

Also remember, that the cost gets picked up in one way or another eventually. If not by the person that should have returned the kit, then by all other customers when Virgin adjust their pricing to cover the cost of replacing equipment

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

Why should the emphasis be on the customer, correction, ex-customer, to do something about it? Totally bizarre.

He paid for a service, I assume he received that service. He cancelled the service and stopped the payments. His involvement ends at that point. What VM do or don't do is their business, not his. The emphasis is on VM to do something, which they didn't. You give them a couple of weeks to collect the equipment, that is reasonable. After that, do what you want.

He can be a good citizen and put the equipment in his local council recycling facilities if he wishes, but his involvement with VM is terminated.

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

So you are suggesting it takes less effort to drive or walk to the nearest recycling centre, that it does to contact Virgin ask them to arrange a collection of the equipment?

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

I left Virgin for 18 months and have now returned - and I am using my old V+ box as they never asked for it back. Saved me £40 on installation.

I used to have multi-room (not paying for that at the moment) so still have an old Samsung box (non HD) as well.

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

I would love to know out of interest when does a stb be decommissioned and not refurbed? When I had my V+ box installed the engineer said my old pace box would be tested then given back out to probably a council customer.

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

Ben, while I usually respect your opinion, and always regard your posts as more than informative, I think you are wrong in this case.

It is becoming increasingly popular, in this faceless, internet connected world, for companies to expect the customer to take the initiative over things like this. It's simply wrong.

I wonder how it would stand up in court if VM wanted to charge a customer for a box that had been available for collection for 6 months?

You say it's simple to contact VM to arrange a collection. It's even more simple not to!

I'm not saying bin the box, or sell it on evil-bay, but it should be in the owners interest, i.e. VM, to collect their own kit. You say we all pay for the discrepancies in the end. This is correct, but it's VM's shoddy attitude in not collecting the kit, NOT the customers.

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

I can understand the frustration when the collection service fails but these STB's do remain the property of VM and VM do want them back. I wouldn't dream of not returning a rental car or rental TV or any other rental kit so why should VM be treated any different?

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

Probably due to the fact that upto a few years ago 90% of ISP's including VM never bothered asking for their hardware back..

The two wrongs don't make a right but you can understand the resistance to the change in policy

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

Honestly I think most courts would probably be fairly balanced on the matter.

Yes Virgin should have arranged collection, that is not is dispute and I'm not defending them for not doing so.

However it is in the T&Cs that the equipment should be returned if the account is disconnected, and it is also in there that Virgin may charge for the equipment replacement if not returned.

I would also point out that at ANY stage after the replacement costs are charged, if the equipment is then returned the costs are cancelled.

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

What ever happened to the law that if you gave someone 30 days to collect goods in writing that the goods were defaulted if not collected...

I know it used to cover items delivered by mistake.. I presume in this case the contract covers against it.. But then again the contracts in most of these cases is cancelled once services are stopped????

---------- Post added at 09:01 ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 ----------

Hmmm, I think I'm thinking of the Unsolicited goods act which won;t cover in this case :doh:

---------- Post added at 09:02 ---------- Previous post was at 09:01 ----------

But it will cover boxes delivered to a property that you do not ask for ;) You do though have to tell VM and give them 30 days

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

A curious statement. Are second-hand cable boxes specially reserved for people who live in council houses?

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

As far as I'm aware there aren't any Digital council accounts anymore.

Re: Can the V+ box be used as a freeview recorder?
 

If his account had just been cancelled, then a quick reminder call to VM is fair. But not six months afterwards...

There has been case law on subjects like rental equipment (if anyone can find it, please do post it!) but the courts decided that if rental equipment was not collected (if it were sent to the customer in the first place) Then after after a "reasonable" time has passed and the owner had not arranged the collection of their equipment, then it is deemed to be "released" by the original owner as they have not sought to have the equipment back, or wording to such effect.

The same as if you lend someone a lawn mower for a day and three months later they still have it but you never bothered to get it back until now, it's theirs! Ownership is nine tenths of the law.

Different scenarios also applies to property, land, many other things. Although the time when you can claim ownership of something that was not originally yours, varies.