Legally, would this be considered stealing?
I called the cable company about 2 months ago to decrease our cable service all the way down to basic service. They immediately switched off the digital signal, I turned in my box, and a few weeks later I saw the adjustment in my bill. To this date they still haven't bothered to come out and turn off the expanded channels though (which would simply require them to climb the pole, and do their thang). Of course I haven't called them on it, it's not my job. My question is, if and when they find out, could I be charged retroactively for these extra channels, even though I asked for them to be removed?
Answers:
Keep proof that you asked for basic and the bills...the mistake is theirs but that will not stop them from trying to retro you.
Heck, you turned your box...they can't hold YOU responsible for their neglecting to unhook you. YOU are not allowed for insurance reasons to "unhook" yourself and they are WELL AWARE!
Besides if seen climbing...YOU will be subject to getting caught hooking up illicitly...just ENJOY!
Ethically, I think you should call them about their error. I doubt that they would charge you for those months since it was their mistake.
Yes it is considered stealing. You should call them up and tell them they forgot to remove the extra channels. It's going to come back and bite you if you don't.
if you access those channels it is stealing, since you know it is a property that is not yours. (although many people would disagree - the example of finding a quarter in a pay phone, which is not yours, so technically taking it is stealing, but many people disagree). Even though it is the company's negligence. But if those channels are there and you do not watch them even though the company left up the availibility, it is not stealing.
You gave the box back and still have the channels?
I think we are not getting the full story here.
It is up to the cable company if they charge you or not. If you don't have the box hooked up then they can't charge you. If they catch you with channels you are not paying for, they may bill retrospectively.
It is now their obligation. However, you and I and a whole lot of other people know how the cable creeps work. It would not suprise me if they kept billing you as long as they could get away with it figuring that you would not not have the resources, or the resolve to file claims against them in court.
I've seen this situation happen twice, both times with different results. For my family, the expanded channels were removed and nothing was added to the bill. In a friend's case, Comcast told him he was responsible for ensuring he was paying for what he received and charged him retroactively for 6 months of premium channels.
In reality it is there err. I would think they would have to prove you watched the channels they forgot to disconnect.
You do what you feel you need to do, it is there err. They cant do anything.
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