Tivo this week has revised their service agreement to include a $150.00 cancellation fee with their service. Not only does Tivo’s $150.00 cancellation fee apply to any new service, but users are complaining that it is also being applied to any service reactivation on a unit which they already own. In fact, Tivo customers in forums across the Internet are not only complaining, but taking their business elsewhere.
Tivo just recently also announced a $150.00 rebate program, and it has been possible to get a free Tivo after the rebate with great prices such as at Amazon.
The similarity in dollar amounts between the $150.00 rebate program and the $150.00 cancellation fee have confused some, leading them to believe that the cancellation fee only applies to customers who buy a Tivo with the $150.00 rebate.
Not so.
According to the Tivo website:
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“WITH RESPECT TO ANY NEW TIVO SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION ACTIVATED ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, YOU AGREE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE TIVO SERVICE FOR NO LESS THAN 12 MONTHS (THE “SERVICE COMMITMENT”). IF YOU FAIL TO MEET THE SERVICE COMMITMENT BY CANCELLING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO THE TIVO SERVICE (OR IF TIVO TERMINATES YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO THE TIVO SERVICE DUE TO A BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT), YOU AGREE THAT TIVO MAY CHARGE YOU A $150 EARLY TERMINATION FEE, AND YOU AGREE TO PAY ANY SUCH EARLY TERMINATION FEE.”
See that first line there? “WITH RESPECT TO ANY NEW TIVO SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION ACTIVATED ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 6, 2005…”
That’s pretty straight forward.
Between the new pop-up ads on Tivo, the fact that Tivo is now selling access to your Tivo to advertisers, and the new cancellation fee, is it any wonder that I am so pleased with my ReplayTV?
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And did you notice that authorization for TIVO to charge you $150 if TIVO terminates the contract! That one is ripe for exploitation, since TIVO is judge and jury.
WAY TO GO DRIVE THAT CO. INTO THE GROUND.