Question about owning receivers.

[bshady]

So I came across a guy on my local craigslist who is selling HR-21s and H23s and standard DVRs for $50 a piece. He is an independant contractor going out of business, I checked him out its legit. They are brand new and unopened. He swears he has already been penalized for the receivers and that he owns them and that in turn I would own them if I purchase one. I have my doubts. Can anyone confirm or refute this. Thanks in advance.

[RobertE]

Only DirecTv can confirm that 1) these boxes are truely "owned" and 2) that they will activate them.

You'll have to call and ask. You will need the RID number for each box in question.

[hobie346]

So I came across a guy on my local craigslist who is selling HR-21s and H23s and standard DVRs for $50 a piece. He is an independant contractor going out of business, I checked him out its legit. They are brand new and unopened. He swears he has already been penalized for the receivers and that he owns them and that in turn I would own them if I purchase one. I have my doubts. Can anyone confirm or refute this. Thanks in advance.

:welcome_s
I purchased a new HR23-700 from a e-Bay seller. Got the RID from seller, called D* to confirm unit was "sellable". Paid the seller, got the box, called D* to activate. No problems. A $50 for a HR20 is a good deal - if it's a new box.

[boba]

:welcome_s
I purchased a new HR23-700 from a e-Bay seller. Got the RID from seller, called D* to confirm unit was "sellable". Paid the seller, got the box, called D* to activate. No problems. A $50 for a HR20 is a good deal - if it's a new box.The KEY WORD is LEASE

bet you can't confirm the box will go on your account as owned. Price is still cheaper than $199 from D* for a lease but still LEASED.

[texasbrit]

So I came across a guy on my local craigslist who is selling HR-21s and H23s and standard DVRs for $50 a piece. He is an independant contractor going out of business, I checked him out its legit. They are brand new and unopened. He swears he has already been penalized for the receivers and that he owns them and that in turn I would own them if I purchase one. I have my doubts. Can anyone confirm or refute this. Thanks in advance.
If he's an independent contractor who has paid the penalty for the receivers he still does NOT own them, as far as DirecTV is concerned they are still leased receivers when they go to someone else.

[say-what]

The KEY WORD is LEASE

bet you can't confirm the box will go on your account as owned. Price is still cheaper than $199 from D* for a lease but still LEASED.If it shows as owned and thus transferable in the DirecTV system, you certainly can get it listed on your account as owned when activated - you just need to remind the CSR constantly, but it's certainly doable.

[boba]

If it shows as owned and thus transferable in the DirecTV system, you certainly can get it listed on your account as owned when activated - you just need to remind the CSR constantly, but it's certainly doable.Try it, those receivers have never shown up as owned because they are still NIB D* will only put them on as leased.:):):)

[hobie346]

Try it, those receivers have never shown up as owned because they are still NIB D* will only put them on as leased.:):):)

Wrong. Last question I asked the CSR was is this box shown as "owned" or "leased"? The CSR replied "owned". End of story.

[BattleZone]

If he's an independent contractor who has paid the penalty for the receivers he still does NOT own them, as far as DirecTV is concerned they are still leased receivers when they go to someone else.

This is absolutely correct. Contractors check out equipment from the HSP, and have a certain number of days to either activate them or return them to the warehouse. If neither is done by the deadline, the contractor is charged back for the retail cost of the receiver, BUT still does not "own" them. He can collect the up-front lease fee for them from a customer who wants to add a receiver, but the receiver will still be listed as a lease.

Many contractors don't understand the difference (they normally don't need to care either way), and a few who do have no problem lying in order to recover some of the money they are out. But the ONLY source of NIB owned receivers is to buy them *directly* from DirecTV.

[TBlazer07]

If the box was never installed (NIB) how would it show up in the system as OWNED (or even leased for that matter)? Unless it has changed the only equipment listed in the system that a D* CSR can see is either active or removed equipment (whether leased or owned) but not equipment that has never been installed/activated. Sounds like the CSR is giving incorrect information to get you off the phone.


Wrong. Last question I asked the CSR was is this box shown as "owned" or "leased"? The CSR replied "owned". End of story.

[harsh]

The CSR replied "owned". End of story.Ask three CSRs the same question and you'll get at least two different (and often conflicting) answers.

[joed32]

Ask three CSRs the same question and you'll get at least two different (and often conflicting) answers.

That's what I was going to say. Anything a CSR tells you is not the final word.

[LOCODUDE]

I would be very careful with this transaction.....

[TBlazer07]

You've got it wrong. It's:

Ask 2 CSR's the same question and you'll get 3 different answers. :lol:

Ask three CSRs the same question and you'll get at least two different (and often conflicting) answers.

[josetann]

If possible:

Go to pick up the receiver. Call DirecTV when there, give the numbers on the box and card, confirm it'd be owned not leased, have them notate the account, and record the entire conversation. Pay the $50, jump up and down for joy, and take the dvr back home to setup. If the receiver wasn't connected to a dish when it was activated, you may need to call in again once it's properly connected.

If this isn't possible, I'd buy them anyway if you need them. $50 is a good price even if it's a leased box.

[bshady]

Hey guys thanks for the input. I met him last night and got an HR21NC-100 and an H23NC-600 for $100. They were brand new still sealed, but the HDDVR did not have any B-Band Converters and no HDMI cord. Im guessing thats because these are not retail boxes. He also gave me a big spool of the 2-wire coax. I called directv while I was there and they said it was owned, but when I activated it they tried to argue with me. Finally they transfered me to the Access Distribution department and they gave me a number and told me to fax a copy of the invoice for the receiver. I called him, he faxed it, and now it is on there as owned. Also, for some reason it did not extend my contract. I don't know why, but I'm not complaining. Again thanks for all the advice.

[josetann]

...Also, for some reason it did not extend my contract. I don't know why, but I'm not complaining. Again thanks for all the advice.

Adding owned receivers shouldn't trigger a commitment. Sometimes it does by mistake though.

[JLucPicard]

Hey guys thanks for the input. I met him last night and got an HR21NC-100 and an H23NC-600 for $100. They were brand new still sealed, but the HDDVR did not have any B-Band Converters and no HDMI cord. Im guessing thats because these are not retail boxes. He also gave me a big spool of the 2-wire coax. I called directv while I was there and they said it was owned, but when I activated it they tried to argue with me. Finally they transfered me to the Access Distribution department and they gave me a number and told me to fax a copy of the invoice for the receiver. I called him, he faxed it, and now it is on there as owned. Also, for some reason it did not extend my contract. I don't know why, but I'm not complaining. Again thanks for all the advice.
Sounds like it worked out like it should have!

The "NC" in those model numbers, by the way, stands for "no cords" and is usually what they do when they send a replacement receiver (the cords should already be there with the original). As such, you would not have gotten BBCs or an HDMI cable. For purposes of identifying/relaying information in the future, just refer to them as HR21-100 and H23-600. ;)

Also, when an owned receiver is activated on an existing account, they are not supposed to extend your contract, so it sounds like they got that right, too!

Great job! :)

[LOCODUDE]

Yep, sounds like this worked out great..... :)