5 posts shown.
anchicha As specified by urbantinker24:
Good grief... I haven't read such an illiterate post in a long time. No periods, no commas, just mile-long sentences. :-)
As long as you haven’t been flagged before, the collector can't actually touch you, provided these conditions are met:
If you don't let him onto the property.
2. To prevent the receiver from getting a direct line of sight.
3. Just don't admit you actually own a receiver.
4. What happens if you don't sign the application.
Look, if your neighbor tries to bluff you by listing off things like having a TV, an antenna on your roof, high-speed internet, a smartphone, or even just owning a car—treat those claims like any other empty bluff in an App. If he asks you anything, just give him a flat "no comment." If he actually ends up on your property, politely ask him to leave or find a way to show him the door gracefully.
If you handed over your personal information—or if they managed to get a hold of it somehow—and didn't sign the application, you should probably expect a letter from PBS within about 30 days. It’ll likely be a notice of misdemeanor proceedings and payment slip for $35. $80It’s just a standard bluff based on how the App works. My advice? Archive that notice of misdemeanor proceedings and the payment slip for $35, leave them unpaid, and let them deal with the consequences.
P.S. These collectors can be quite aggressive and pushy because their bonuses are tied directly to the percentage of new subscribers they bring in. Their whole goal is to intimidate or mislead people just to secure that commission. Most folks end up getting spooked and either sign up for a subscription or pay the fee on the notice of misdemeanor proceedings and payment slip for $35. Legally speaking, it’s actually very difficult for them to force a subscription on you if you don't cooperate.
I received an email from PBS today stating that since my stay was less than a month, I wasn't actually required to register for a subscription. I sent them a reply, however, where I formally reported the controller's rude behavior and included his name.
magjar07 said:It’s not my specific provider, but more like Comcast... once you're locked into those big systems, getting out usually requires a legal battle.
That law wouldn't hold up in any decent court outside of this country. In Austria, for example, you can cancel a subscription through standard mail on plain paper. The reason doesn't even matter—whether you're switching from cable to streaming, moving to a senior plan, or just your smart TV registered a change. It's that simple.
rowdyhawk15 said: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.
If you managed to read through all that, thanks. I don't actually live here full-time; I’m just in town occasionally. When I called PBS, they told me that if you aren't in the country for more than a month, you aren't required to register your TV. Despite that, this idiot tried to force me to sign a document claiming I'd been here for two months, demanding payment for a service I haven't even used—I haven't even turned on a television or a radio. I really hope he doesn't make it past the driveway next time, because I plan on keeping the gate locked from now on. Anyway, apologies for any typos.
Seeking advice from the experts
I arrived home last Friday afternoon with my daughter, and within about half an hour, some guy starts trekking through the yard toward the front door carrying various papers. I pulled the curtain back just enough to peek out, and there he is. He introduces himself as a representative from the local cable authority/utility bureau, flashing some ID. He claims they’ve "detected" an unregistered receiver in my household and suggests it would be best if I registered it now to avoid being taken to court—which, frankly, isn't a great solution for either of us. I told him, "Look, I don't actually live here full-time." He pushed back, asking how long I stay. I told him I'm usually here for 30 days or less. He then insisted there is no such thing as a 30-day registration and suggested it would be better if he just registered me for two months and I paid once a year. I found his logic highly questionable. I tried explaining that I don't even have a satellite dish anymore; I don't have a TV or a radio. He countered by implying I likely use the radio in my car. While I do have a car, I wasn't sure how that applied. He kept droning on about legal requirements and how everything is available online, essentially telling me he knows the law better than I do. I told him I'd need to verify all of this myself, but noted that their offices aren't currently responding to inquiries. When he asked how long I'll be staying in the States, I told him until Christmas. He gave me a phone number for a supervisor at the utility company. He claimed people on my street had already been caught using similar "tricks" with their devices, and my neighbor later whispered that they have special equipment to sniff out these receivers.
I was feeling a bit anxious heading into Monday, knowing my neighbors might have told him I own a TV. I called the utility company and spoke to a woman, explaining that I live abroad but visit the States occasionally and want to register for a period of less than 30 days. She informed me that for such short stays, I am not required to register a TV. When I asked why their field agents were demanding a two-month minimum registration, she suddenly became evasive and redirected me to a manager who, predictably, failed to show up. Frustrated, I tracked down the number for the specific agent who visited me. I explained to him that his interpretation of the rules seems to contradict the regulations of the agency he represents. He flatly denied our conversation, claiming he never promised to call a manager. When I called him back, he was quite blunt, stating he would record the encounter in his report and that I could file a formal grievance if I wished. I told him he could write whatever he liked, provided he accurately noted that I do not reside here for more than a month. He insisted he couldn't do that and that I must register for a three-month block, offering to come over immediately to process it. I told him I simply didn't have the time, as I had to take my daughter to school and then head out on a trip. He remained incredibly stubborn. I eventually told him I wouldn't be registering for anything longer than my actual stay and that I would handle everything online once I returned. He then resorted to threats, claiming that while he is the inspector for this area, no one can register anything except through him. It felt like he was judging my family life, implying that since I spend significant time here, I should be paying. I had to firmly tell him that he was overstepping into my private life and that it wasn't his business where I live or who I live with. He asked if I was finished talking; I told him yes, because he had crossed a line into my privacy.
A question for the veterans here: this guy is completely irrational and arrogant. What can I expect? Do these "detection" devices actually exist? Furthermore, if they send a bill, should I pay it automatically to avoid hassle, or should I hold my ground regarding my car radio (which he clearly doesn't know the ownership of)? He does know my last name, which he likely pulled from my mailbox, and he seemed to imply that an email won't suffice. Can this collector simply write whatever he wants in his report and use these personal methods to claim I own a receiver?
It is deeply irritating to deal with this kind of behavior and these empty threats of legal action. It feels as though these individuals act as if they are above the law.