Illegal Cable Box

[Russ]

Originally Posted by don_1

I wanted to know how to go about telling Virgin Media of someone using an illegal box to view all their channels. What information do I need to give them and how, as I dont think its fair that he can view all the channels for free and I have to pay for them.

I want to remain anonymous, when reporting them.

Thanks

Ignore the pointless digs from others the forum, if you choose to report someone annonymously then that's up to you - if there was anything wrong in doing that then I'm sure Crimestoppers would have wound down a long time ago.

My advice would be to send VM a recorded delivery letter if you feel strong enough about someone using services without paying for them.

[Toto]

Originally Posted by kpanchev

If you want to grass your neighbour, you should have the courage to face him after that, otherwise you are worse than him!

What a moronic statement!

Why should somebody put themselves, and possibly their family at odds with someone who is prepared to steal cable services.

If you didn't have a cable box with VM, I dont think this thread would exists. It feels to me that you're only doing it for the selfish satisfaction.

Originally Posted by Enuff

If you didn't have a cable box with VM, I dont think this thread would exists. It feels to me that you're only doing it for the selfish satisfaction.

Perhaps the selfish satisfaction of knowing that a crime has been stopped?

[TheBlueRaja]

I'll sleep safer tonight knowing that another free cable user is in jail.

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Perhaps the selfish satisfaction of knowing that a crime has been stopped?

I would agree, but only if the OP carried on informing the authorities of other crimes, not just his neighbours free TV.

For instance, there are other crimes going on, maybe he could take a trip to my local market where anybody can pick up four pirated movies for a tenner and a pair of snide Nike trainers and other clothing for a quarter of the price the originals sell for.

Or why not just join a forum where members are dedicated to downloading copyright material, films, music, tv, software and illegal pornography etc... and gather enough infomation to inform the authorities? I can't see him doing that though, can you?

So it's "all or nothing", rather than the "one step at a time" philosophy?

I have stopped people breaking into someone's car, because I was passing at the time - but I don't drive around looking for crimes to prevent; according to you, I shouldn't have intervened, since I am not prepared to stop all crime.

Further to that, why should doctors and hospitals help sick people - they are all going to die in the end (this is just an example to show how using extremes doesn't really validate propositions )

OK, let's say that Don_1 has just found out that one or two of his family members and a couple of his friends have dodgy cable boxes just like his neighbour. Would he be as quick to inform the authorities?

Again, you are trying to find a reason why he shouldn't do something - isn't it better that something is done, rather than find reasons why not?

We can always find some examples which will make someone look bad - shouldn't we be looking for examples that help?

It would appear you are trying to provide a reason for why this person should do something that is perfectly reasonable.

Trying to make it black/white is along the same lines as stating that you know someone that was killed in a car accident, so you wouldn't get in a car - it's not that simple (as I am sure you know, but hey, why not let a philosophical nit-picking exercise stop someone reporting a crime).

btw, rather than having to justify why he should perform this act, why not give reasons why he shouldn't?

[Jelly]

He doesn't have to do what you want, Enuff. He's reporting a cable thief for his own reasons, and you can't do anything about it.

[tay77]

Originally Posted by Russ B

My advice would be to send VM a recorded delivery letter if you feel strong enough about someone using services without paying for them.

If the OP does write a letter, lets hope Virgin address the reply to the right house, or there could be trouble...

Originally Posted by don_1

lol, if I wanted it, i can get it easily, but i dont want to steal from cable companies.

So why not inform on the criminals that could easily provide you with free TV?

I'm trying to make sense of why Don_1 or anyone for that matter, finds it ok to inform on one certain person in particular?. I feel that the reason behind Don_1s' decision, is because of jealousy and selfishness.

VM won't do anything anyway!

There have been a few of these threads yet nobody has ever come back and said what the outcome ever was, if they can find out that someone is using a chipped box then no doubt they would soon find out if that person was caught!!

At the end of the day if the person stealing cable is stupid enough to brag about it then more fool them, if it was me i would have kept my mouth shut and not told a living sole.

[iglu]

Originally Posted by UncleBooBoo

At the end of the day if the person stealing cable is stupid enough to brag about it then more fool them, if it was me i would have kept my mouth shut and not told a living sole.

I like your avatar what is that all about?

[supremus]

Originally Posted by UncleBooBoo

VM won't do anything anyway!

There have been a few of these threads yet nobody has ever come back and said what the outcome ever was, if they can find out that someone is using a chipped box then no doubt they would soon find out if that person was caught!!

Yes, like I have said before, there's really no incentive for Virgin to go after individual users in this way. Even if you do phone in a tip, Virgin would have to invest considerable man-power in investigating the accusation. They can't just turn someone's cable off without proof, and if that person has a minimum subscription, maybe even broadband and phone, there's absolutely no reason for them to do anything about it. The only thing that makes sense to them is to go after people who make money selling hardware and services associated with cable piracy, or to do global hits through the encryption system, like they did a few weeks ago. There was a recent article somewhere about an Irish(?) trader, who had been prosecuted for selling pirate boxes, but that same article also said that the cable companies had never succesfully prosecuted any individual users. Even if they try, getting a conviction, even to the extent of a fine, is extremely difficult.