Posts by rowdyhawk15

slycyclist342 said:Well, if you claim you possess it—even if you argue it belongs to a corporation as others suggested—you’ve essentially made a confession.🙂

This is why those shady mob lawyers always tell you the same thing: if you get hauled in, shut your mouth and demand your attorney immediately. Silence is everything. They can't force a subscription or a fine on you unless you give them the opening to do it.

A proven method for dealing with PBS collectors—when they knock on your door, open it and

1. Ask who they are and who specifically they are looking for (most of the time, they don’t actually know; they just read a last name off a list).
2. Once you've done that, ask for their ID—not some flimsy laminated card, but actual identification—and politely note down their name, surname, address, and employee ID number. If they refuse to provide their ID, simply tell them the conversation is over and close the door.
3. After you've logged their details, ask what they want. Listen patiently while they drone on.
4. Your response should be: "I have no comment, thank you," then shut the door.
5. Following this, you'll receive the infamous PBS notice regarding the initiation of a misdemeanor proceeding. It’ll claim that the mighty, all-powerful PBS "determined" on a certain date at your specific address that the subscription for one receiver isn't being paid. It states that legal action has been initiated and the case has been handed over to the PBS legal department. Inside, there's usually a bill for $80 (perhaps more if two collectors showed up, maybe $160) covering a "prior period"—which is essentially just the collector's commission for signing up a new subscriber. The fine print claims that by paying, you are consenting to be registered as a subscriber. So, DO NOT pay that bill; doing so is functionally the same as signing yourself up.
6. File the notice away and wait.
7. There is a 99% chance nothing happens. You won't get a court summons. Instead, in about two years, a collector will show up again, and you just repeat steps 1 through 6.
8. If you fall into that 1% where things actually move forward, it means the collector forged your signature on the application (I've seen this happen before). In court, you state clearly that the signature isn't yours and demand they produce evidence proving the existence of a receiver. Don't bother defending yourself by saying "I don't have a TV"; instead, challenge them to provide the proof. Since they have none, the court will dismiss the case due to lack of evidence. Honestly, seeing the look on those vultures from Hanžeković's office when they realize they've lost the case is worth it. Make sure to ask the court for travel expenses and opportunity costs since you wasted your day. You might recover the travel costs, but you certainly won't see any compensation for your lost time.

It would probably be wise to record the conversation with the collector, but I never thought to grab my camera. Next time.

Regards,

Laura Ramirez7 said:I’ve been lurking in this thread for a few months now, and I have to say—it’s actually pretty gripping, almost like reading a crime novel 😍 (as someone else already pointed out).

Everything regarding how to dodge a citation and what to do when you get those threatening letters from the FCC is laid out perfectly.

But here’s what’s missing—there is zero info on whether anyone has actually gone before a judge and what that experience was like. Did you hire an attorney, or did you just stay quiet and play dumb—say, by denying you even own a receiver? Does an FCC inspector actually show up to court? And if they do, are they flying solo or bringing their own legal counsel?

Honestly, having that kind of intel would be incredibly helpful for people trying to fight back against this bloated, obnoxious FCC bureaucracy.😍😍

I’ve been to court and lost, but I’m not airing the dirty details in public.

ruggedhawk5 said:I actually tried calling NBC to clear things up. I told them, "Look, I have one of your notices in my mailbox, and I have absolutely no idea what this is about. Could you please explain?"

"We don't know anything about that; please call the mobile number listed on the notice," they replied.

So, basically, an official document from NBC is meant to be discussed face-to-face with whoever happens to answer the phone number printed on the paper.

Alright, so I might ignore the notice, but I am genuinely concerned about the potential fallout of initiating a misdemeanor proceeding:

Essentially, it's me versus 120 lawyers who are under contract with NBC and operating within the framework of the Law passed by the Country... Hmm, interesting...

My argument: the inspector couldn't verify the existence of a receiver.
The Prosecutor's argument: "I can do whatever I want, so prepare to get hammered!"

I worry that if this reaches a courtroom, the debate won't even be about whether I allowed the inspector into my home, but rather about the simple facts: that I pay for high-speed internet and digital cable, that I live in a major metropolitan area with perfect signal strength, and that I have a utility meter and live in a standard apartment building.

Courts rule based on evidence. If this actually makes it to a courtroom, the burden is on you to defend yourself by claiming you didn't have a receiver—whether that's the truth or just a convenient lie depends on your conscience. It’s on them to prove otherwise. That’s the catch: they can't prove anything if they weren't granted access. The issue is that the citation will state they identified a receiver on a specific date. If you didn't let them into your home, your word is all they have to work with. You just say, "I didn't have one on that day," and that's it. They're stuck.

People lose in court because they confess. People win because the other side lacks proof. Now, it just comes down to whether you'll cave or if they'll fail to produce any actual evidence.

It’s a proven pattern.

boldlynx23 said:Time for some theory-crafting.

Look, I haven't paid a dime in ten years. A few times, I’ve actually found business cards from some jerk at PBS stuffed in my door—they circle phone numbers and write "call urgently." Naturally, I never called.
There was even one time I didn't answer the door because I wasn't expecting anyone.
Well, my wife opened the door instead. She didn't say anything to him, but apparently, it was enough for his report. So now what? Sure, he didn't see my TV. Fine. He didn't see a radio. Fine. No phone. Fine. No computer. Fine. But he *did* see the newly installed PVC door and the renovated entryway. And he's going to assume what? That this poor guy doesn't own a TV, a radio, a phone, or a PC—and can barely scrape together enough for a decent car if he's spending it all on new doors. 😁

I eventually found out what went into that report. He wrote that he didn't see a TV and that access was denied because the lady slammed the door in his face and wouldn't come back. Which is true.

Okay, so PBS sent a warning. Let's say I ignore it. What then? Get a court summons and show up just to testify about what? To tell the judge the inspector didn't see a TV because I don't have one—just like I don't have a computer, a phone, a radio, or a car? And that I haven't paid the fee for over 10 years because I didn't realize it was required by law? And that I won't pay moving forward because they have no way of knowing I've been living in the dark for a decade, and I'm sure as hell not giving them that insight.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but how is a court—which is basically just pulling money from the same pot and acting just as parasitic as PBS—supposed to rule in favor of me, the actual lawbreaker? From everything I've read, it's just one law canceling out another in this endless loop of bureaucracy. You spend years in courtrooms, filing motions and appeals, wasting massive amounts of time just over a measly $27 a month. I'm paying a premium for it now, which I hate, but the money just goes to a parasitic state that gives nothing back. When I actually need a medical checkup, I end up shelling out extra cash to private clinics anyway.

The point is—don't try to go toe-to-toe with a bull unless you've got horns just as big as theirs.

Good luck to all of you in your ongoing fight against these parasites. May they never catch you like they caught me, may you be able to kick them off your doorstep forever, and may the courts be more on your side than they are on theirs.

Once again, people are talking nonsense. If you receive a notice regarding a fine, the document will explicitly state that the inspector determined on a specific date that a subscription wasn't being paid for a receiver—be it a TV, a radio, or whatever. If the report states they didn't see a TV, you aren't getting a fine notice because there is no violation to report—no device was confirmed. In my estimation, 99% of the people here are just spinning fantasies, while maybe 1% have actually dealt with PBS.

mistyrider1 said:

rowdyhawk15 The user states:
Something about this doesn't sit right with me. If nobody actually signed up for the cable service, how can they justify sending out notices regarding the commencement of misdemeanor proceedings? According to standard legal procedure, you should first receive a court ruling declaring you liable before any attempt at garnishment can even be considered. It’s a massive leap in logic. On what possible grounds are they even classifying you as a subscriber in the first place?

Look, to be perfectly honest, I don't see any reason to lie about this...
We received two of those yellow slips—the kind you get when there’s a certified package waiting at the post office—but naturally, they always arrived while my husband and I were stuck at work. Eventually, we managed to track down some information through a few channels to figure out what was actually going on. It turned out to be a blue envelope from a specific notary public, among other things. Since the only thing we could have possibly owed was a subscription fee (we are meticulous about our bills; if anything, we regret not being even more diligent back then), and considering several of our friends were receiving identical notices around that same time, we decided to play it safe and just leave them sitting there. Risk assessment, I suppose.
We have never received anything substantial from them—nothing but a relentless stream of collection notices. It starts with one, then another follows, and before you know it, they're just piling up.

It is quite telling that when we actually reached out to the staff in New York City, they managed to provide us with—quite frankly—the completely wrong brand of television set.

Look, our lawyer friends gave us some advice: just reach a settlement, pay what's owed, and call it a day. Honestly, given how we are, we simply don't have the stomach—nor the luxury of time—to be dragging ourselves through the court system over this. If we hadn't paid, he would have just filed a report against us, and that would have been that. Simple as that.

boldlynx23 As stated by:
What is the total figure for those foreclosures if it isn't classified? If you can't post it here, feel free to send me a private message.

It appears we are dealing with some sort of... situation. $1.25...which we are now paying for in installments. 😢

Believe me, things unfolded exactly the way I described them...
The real kicker for us was the sheer anxiety over the outcome—what happens if we actually lose this lawsuit?! Who on earth is going to foot the bill for all those sudden, unexpected expenses?
Look, we aren't exactly thrill-seekers; we're more the type to play it safe. Above all else, we have a healthy fear of federal agencies. We really have no desire to go toe-to-toe with the heavy hitters in Washington.😢

Did you actually pick up those notices to see what the deal was?

First off—read the enforcement laws. Look up the definition for something like an "authentic document." PBS has to prove there’s an actual bill or series of bills that went unpaid. For those bills to exist, you have to be registered as a subscriber. To get on their books, you’d have to do one of these things:
a) sign up yourself
b) let a collector into the house and sign the paperwork
c) let a collector in and refuse to sign (which just leads to a misdemeanor charge)

Bottom line: they clearly have an authentic document, otherwise this collection wouldn't even move forward (besides, you can always appeal a collection order). It sounds like someone filed a report on you—maybe your son?
Some collectors fake the registration—they make up a specific TV model and forge a subscriber's signature using basic scam tactics. If that happened, you could easily contest it in court. Otherwise, the collector is pocketing about $67 in commission for every new subscriber they land—that's where those $80 "penalties" come from.

Your lawyer friends gave you bad advice. Avoiding the court summons is probably what landed you in this ridiculous situation—though, again, why would you even receive a formal judgment if you weren't a customer? If you had just shown up to court and stated, "On this date, I didn't own a TV, and I have no idea how this collector decided I was a subscriber since he never even stepped foot inside," you'd be fine. Back it up with three witnesses and that's that. The burden of proof is on them to prove the receiver exists—but tell me, how can they prove anything if you aren't cooperating?

Honestly, your story doesn't hold much water. The truth is likely somewhere else.

ruggedhawk5 said:I find myself unable to agree with that perspective, and frankly, I don't view it as particularly helpful advice. Why do I say that? Because paying the subscription fee is a legal obligation, and it is abundantly clear that anyone attempting to circumvent it is technically in the wrong.

The fallout from following that line of thinking could include $80 + $333 fines for failing to register a receiver, plus legal fees, general headaches, and endless runs to the courthouse.

The reality is that the courts aren't foolish; they find it far more lucrative to take the word of PBS over an individual's claim. Furthermore, there are countless ways for them to establish that you indeed possess a receiver...

What truly piques my interest in this whole saga is how a formal notice from PBS can be deemed invalid from the very outset. And why is their entire approach characterized by such aggressive, extortionate, and intimidating tactics?

From my vantage point, this notification regarding the commencement of misdemeanor proceedings isn't really a legal document at all; rather, it feels like a public confirmation of extortion, and I believe it's litigious enough to cause genuine mental distress.

Is there anyone here with legal expertise or significant experience who might be able to confirm or refute my thesis?

The notice about starting legal proceedings is just the usual bluff from PBS. That’s why they claim if you pay the fine, they’ll drop the "proceedings" and register you as a subscriber.
For them to actually win a case in court, they’d need to prove you actually own the receiver—something they can't do unless you decide to cooperate with them. Don't be naive.

slycyclist342 said:Sunday, you should probably do some digging yourself.

First off, if I recall correctly, the statute of limitations is only one year—so you won't be able to come after me for any unpaid debts in two years.

It seems highly irregular to me that four different offices would all be initiating collections proceedings every six months.

I assume this was how the procedure went down (in response to rowdyhawk15's inquiries).

They sent a notarized affidavit—basically some unpaid invoice you supposedly owe—to a bailiff or an attorney, who then used that document as grounds to issue a notice regarding the initiation of a seizure.

I believe there is a deadline to file an appeal—eight days, if I recall correctly, though I can't say for certain.
If you file a formal complaint, they can't just hit your bank account directly; instead, they have to pass it off to the courts to initiate a lawsuit.

In court, the Public Broadcasting Service has to prove that you actually owe them anything at all, while you have to focus on proving exactly what you're already trying to establish.

Of course, if you end up losing the lawsuit, make sure to factor those legal fees into your calculations as well.

Looking at what Sunday wrote, there’s no way a valid certified document even exists here. I mean, think about it—if he was never a subscriber, never signed an agreement, and his kid never even let a technician through the door, then there's zero record of him being a customer. If there's no customer record, there's no legal basis for a certified document to exist in the first place, which means there's no foundation for this seizure order. Something is seriously off here.

mistyrider1 said:Here is the reality: we weren't home; our child (who was 15 at the time) answered the door. He told them we didn't have a TV, and then the fellow just left.
After a while, we found ourselves in the exact same situation as you. We ignored it—tossed it in the trash. We did that for two years. Then, out of nowhere, the garnishments started hitting us... four of them!!! One every six months. Over two years, that’s four separate legal actions. On top of that, the law firms that took over the collection added their own hefty fees...

No matter how you slice it, it’s a disaster!
Ultimately, we called the law offices, negotiated a reasonable payment plan, and sent a cancellation notice to NBC, which they (after we followed up) eventually accepted.
But even now, we are still paying off those debts... 🙄

Perhaps your best bet is to just bite the bullet, pay it, and then formally cancel the service?🤷

Something doesn't add up here. If nobody actually signed a contract for the TV service, they should be sending a notice regarding a misdemeanor proceeding first. You'd have to receive a court ruling declaring you liable before they could even think about a garnishment. On what basis did they list you as a subscriber in the first place?

Lisa Gonzalez97 said:So, I wanted to ask you all—I actually received that notice of violation at my house, blah blah. I didn't open the door for anyone, I didn't hand over any info, and I even sent them an email asking how on earth they got my full name in the first place. Basically, this individual—the inspector—is trying to tell me, under what laws exactly, that they can force this subscription on me? They're trying to bleed me dry for hundreds of dollars over this universal nonsense... just pages and pages of text with nothing clear written down, and then the final sentence says: "All requested information will be available for review during a court hearing before the competent court."
Now, what I'm wondering is, will this actually end up in court? And more importantly—since we live in such a "law-abiding" country—can I actually sue this inspector for misusing my personal data? Should I report him for accessing my private information through illegal means?

You probably received that infamous notice of violation. If that's the case, don't pay it—just wait for the court date and let them try to prove you meet the legal definition of a "Subscriber." Usually, if you haven't signed anything and they didn't catch you red-handed, it won't even make it to a judge. It's a classic predatory tactic by companies like AT&T. People see the notice, panic, and pay it—essentially volunteering to become subscribers.

Mark Booth7 said:So, this past Saturday, I handed my ID over to two guys—they scribbled down all my info, but I didn't sign a single thing and I certainly didn't hand over the $80 they were demanding. Now they’re claiming they’ll be back today to finish the job. What’s the move here? Is there any way I can just tell them to go screw themselves?

Thanks

Look, if you were never a subscriber, never signed an application, and never gave them access to your property, then feel free to ignore them. When they show up, just tell them straight—you have nothing to say and they need to get off your property.

After that, you'll receive a notice of violation—essentially a bill for $80 with a little extra "voluntary subscription" fee tacked on if you decide to play nice. Don't pay that notice; otherwise, you might as well throw your money down the drain.
If this actually ends up in court, make them prove you even own a receiver. Since they don't have a signed application from you, they won't have a leg to stand on.

The issue here is that you gave them your ID, so they have all your personal details. If you run into a particularly shady collector, they could technically forge your signature on the application—then you're stuck trying to prove it wasn't yours. You shouldn't be handing over any information at all, especially not your private data.

I haven't seen anything from prius1849 yet. I'm waiting for them to weigh in. kaže:
A plea for the amateurs and the experts alike.

Good grief... I haven't read such an illiterate mess in a long time—no punctuation, no commas, just endless, mile-long sentences. :-)

The collector can't touch you—provided you meet a few specific conditions, and assuming you haven't already been flagged by the system:

Don't let him onto the property.
2. To prevent the recipient from getting a direct look.
3. As if you’d ever admit to owning a receiver.
What happens if you don't sign the application?

Look, if someone tries to bluff you by listing off your possessions—claiming they know you have a TV, an antenna on the roof, high-speed internet, a smartphone, or even a car—treat those claims like any other empty threat from some random App. It’s all noise. My advice? If they hit you with a question, just give them a flat "no comment." If they actually happen to be standing on your property, tell them to clear out or politely show them the exit. Don't engage.

If you handed over your personal info—or if they managed to scrape it somehow—and you didn't sign the report, expect a letter from PBS in about 30 days. It’ll be a notice of violation and payment slip for $35. Just more bureaucracy to deal with. $80It’s a classic bluff—standard operating procedure for that App. My advice? Just archive the notice of violation and the $35 payment slip. Don't pay a dime. Let them chase their tails.

P.S. These collectors are aggressive—borderline obnoxious—mostly because their bonuses are tied directly to how many new subscribers they sign up. Their whole goal is to lie or intimidate people just to squeeze out that commission. Usually, people get spooked and either sign the agreement right then or just pay the fine on the notice of violation and payment slip for $35, effectively turning themselves into subscribers. Honestly, unless you play along with them, it’s pretty difficult for them to legally force a subscription on you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGojIMO9_iE