Mr. Shawa and I have lived here for almost a year, with cable, and have never paid a bill. When I plugged in the TV, I plugged in the cable just for the hell of it to see if it would work-and it did. We figured that the cable company hadn’t gotten around to disconnecting it yet and as soon as they figured out that the previous tenants had left, we’d be watching static. But we still have about 50 channels. It explicitly states in our lease that cable is not included with our rent. And lately we have been getting telemarketing calls from the cable company so their record must not show us as customers.
I say we aren’t stealing cable- the cable company messed up somehow and is accidentally giving it to us for free. Mr. Shawa, however says we’re technically stealing it. But that doesn’t seem to prevent him from taking advantage of it. He watches more TV than I do.
Actually, you are stealing cable, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be caught. I had the same thing when I first moved into my apartment, and felt so guilty and so paranoid that I called up the cable company to let them know. They had no idea, but they did tell me that yes, technically, it is stealing cable, and yes, you can be fined if caught – but obviously, they didn’t know I was doing it… So, there ya go. That’s what I know.
Once, I moved into an apartment and found that the cable service had not been disconnected. I dutifully informed our cable company, and said that I wanted to set up my own account.
To my surprise, the cable rep told me that they couldn’t do that – not until the previous tenant specifically discontinued their service. I had to wait until their account was cancelled before I could start paying.
In such circumstances, would it be justified to watch the cable TV? I think so. After all, if you brought this problem to their attention, and if you specifically said that you WANT to pay for the cable TV, then I don’t think you can be faulted for that situation.
I mean, you know that you aren’t entitled to it by virtue that you didn’t sign any agreement with the cable company. On the other token, for all you know, it became a part of your lease after you signed it.
I have no problem with using cable without paying for it. We had cable installed in our house when we moved in. With one movie package and the “extra” channel pack, we were paying around $80-85 USD a month. After about a year and a half, we looked into a dish. Considering we would be paying less per month for the same channels and then some we bought a dish and got it running.
I called the cable service and told them I wanted it disconnected. They asked why. I told them it’s just far too much money for what we are getting. She then said “It looks like we can lower your rate by 20 dollars a month and you will still get the same channels”
WHAT??? I asked what the deal was.
She said something about the service changed from analoge to digital so it costs the end user less. I asked why I was never informed about this months ago. She didn’t have an answer.
I was so mad I told her I not only wanted the service disconnected, but I want them to remove the cable run from the pole to the house because I will NEVER use your service again.
I just thought that was the dumbest thing.
I hung up the phine, fired up the dish and never looked back. Much better then cable and cheaper.
Yes, of course you’re stealing cable. You are receiving the service without paying for it. Yes, it was their initial error, but you’re continuing to knowingly receive it w/o paying for it.
Morally and legally.
And, in some jurisdictions, the penalties can be pretty large.
If the post office delivered some one else’s mail to you, does that mean you get to keep it? no.
I won’t get into the ‘how likely is it that you’ll get caught’ conversation. That part doesn’t matter to me.
I’m in the same boat as you shawa , except our lease doesn’t mention rent plus the cable people came out here and put up new wiring. Didn’t ask any questions, just came out here, said that they were updating our wiring, did their job and left.
I no longer think I’m stealing, because how could they not know?
I think I get cable automatically with my cable internet, not because they include it in the cost, but because they’re just the same thing and they can’t help it.
When it was being installed the cable guy hooked the TV up to see which line was mine (and then he was going to disconnect the rest). I think the lines automatically have basic service on them no matter what, and unless they are physically disconnected you will have cable.
They probably save more money by “giving” (and that is the loosest possible sense of the word) free cable to the few of us “trying it out to see what happens” rather than physically sending someone out to disconnect service every time someone closes their account.
But thats a WAG. All I know is I have cable, so I can finally watch Buffy on FX. Hail Eris.
wring, with Cablevision trying to prevent 4000000 viewers in the NYC/NYS area from watching the NY Yankees on the YES network–The NY Yankees not the Expos, and then split Mets games evenly to two pay cable networks to make up the slack of MSG programming, making Mets fans pay twice, cable companies have lost all moral standing and should get their signals stolen.
sorry, but the question was asked “is this stealing”. the answer quite clearly is ‘yes’.
I don’t generally hold to the belief that stealing from a bad person/entity is ok 'cause they’re bad.
Things like “but they did something bad first” or “but they should have figured out and billed me” or “they screwed up and forgot to charge me”, “But I really really want it and they charge too much, and they make scads of profits” etc. are all ‘justifications’, which generally come into play when you’re talking yourself into something you realize is morally questionable.
If you some one asks “is this wrong” they should be prepared to accept the answer 'why yes, it is". OTherwise, my suggestion is ‘don’t ask’
Well when you come right down to it, I agree with wring that I’m just making excuses. We have discussed 'fessing up, but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to call the cable company and ask them to please disconnect the cable or start charging me for it. For some reason, it would embarrass me. Not really quite sure why.
Why thank you wring, or should I say SHERRIFF OF NOTTINGHAM! Now I will have to explain to Little John and Friar Tuck that we cannot steal from the rich to feed the starving
A couple of decades back, the US courts ruled that whatever broadcast signals that are sent your way, are yours to receive for free. They can’t just say, “sure, we’re broadcasting to you, but you owe us money if you actually watch.”
Why the same thing’s not true of cable signals, I’d appreciate an explanation if anybody’s got one. Do we have any members of the communications bar here?
