[Giggi]

I switched from DirectTV to cable over the weekend. The gentleman I spoke to over the phone, in a plethora of generosity, allowed me to keep the DVR...all I must do is send to him the little plastic card from the slot by the reset button. This seemed awfully nice of him...at the time. I was quickly disillusioned about this Corporate Kindness:hurah: because, even though I disconnected the DVR before service was cut off, I could ony access recorded programs for about one day after the disconnection. I couldn't even pull up a menu--it only showed a blurry message about searching for the satellite.... I am wondering if this "gift" of a DVR is due to the Class Action suit I read about in one of the threads on this site.
Anyway, my question is this: can I do anything with this DVR? Is it even worth selling for parts? It seems such a waste...terribly expensive trash that I, with my bad back, will have to lug 3 stories down to the dumpster.:nono2:
I could not find this question in any of the threads; this is my first time on the site so please be kind if this has been covered before but I just did not see it, and thanks.

 

[hasan]

I switched from DirectTV to cable over the weekend. The gentleman I spoke to over the phone, in a plethora of generosity, allowed me to keep the DVR...all I must do is send to him the little plastic card from the slot by the reset button. This seemed awfully nice of him...at the time. I was quickly disillusioned about this Corporate Kindness:hurah: because, even though I disconnected the DVR before service was cut off, I could ony access recorded programs for about one day after the disconnection. I couldn't even pull up a menu--it only showed a blurry message about searching for the satellite.... I am wondering if this "gift" of a DVR is due to the Class Action suit I read about in one of the threads on this site.
Anyway, my question is this: can I do anything with this DVR? Is it even worth selling for parts? It seems such a waste...terribly expensive trash that I, with my bad back, will have to lug 3 stories down to the dumpster.:nono2:
I could not find this question in any of the threads; this is my first time on the site so please be kind if this has been covered before but I just did not see it, and thanks.

What model? If you paid for it in the last few years, it is most likely leased, and needs to be returned, or you get charge a non-return fee. You can't necessarily rely on what a given CSR says.

I would worry (a lot) about whether I owned it or not, and got some very bad advice. Many, many people think they bought a unit, when in fact they only paid an up front lease fee.

 

[carl6]

Call DirecTV and ask specifically for the Access Card Department. When you get them on the phone, give them the Receiver ID number (RID) and the Access Card Number, and ask if the unit is owned or leased.

If it is owned, then you can offer it for sale (the buyer will have to get a new access card from DirecTV), or simply dispose of it.

If it is leased, hang onto it for a couple of months, because DirecTV may very well send out a recovery box to get the unit back. If it is not returned, you will be charged a hefty non-return fee.

Please don't rely only on the information from the one CSR you spoke with. There have been many reports here of situations similar to yours where the user eventually was charged the non-return fee.

 

[The Merg]

If it is leased, hang onto it for a couple of months, because DirecTV may very well send out a recovery box to get the unit back. If it is not returned, you will be charged a hefty non-return fee.

Please don't rely only on the information from the one CSR you spoke with. There have been many reports here of situations similar to yours where the user eventually was charged the non-return fee.

If it is leased, I would specifically request a recovery box to be sent out. The Access Team CSR should be able to tell you if one has been issued or not. If not, have one sent out. That way you are not charged the non-return fee and then having to send back the receiver to get it refunded.

- Merg