NTL moral dilemma...

We finally bought our house two months ago and NTL wrote to us asking if we wanted to continue with the previous owner's tv service "before it was switched off in the next few days".
For the first few weeks we weren't actually living there due to all the work that needed doing. TV was the least of our worries. We are living there now though... and the NTL service is still there, even though we haven't signed up for it.
So, should we just carry on enjoying the free channels? Or should we sign up now so that we don't run the risk of NTL eventually "switching us off" so we have to pay a reconnection fee to get the service going again?

Right thing to do, pay them what you owe.

Best thing to do, get Sky. NTL is rubbish.

This happened us as well, they will definitely realise at some stage and cut you off after a period of time, but I say keep enjoying it while you have it!

Thanks for this... I wouldn't be paying them what we owe as we never signed up for it. What I'm really wondering is would we get further notice of them cutting us off and if we didn't would we have to pay a reconnection fee?

philipb said:

What I'm really wondering is would we get further notice of them cutting us off

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In my experience - no. The next you hear about this could be when they have cut you off and there's a letter addressed to Dear Householder lying on your doormat.

We were renting a house during the Summer and there was a problem with the account. They advised we would be cut-off unless the landlord contacted them to sort it out. About 4 weeks later they sent around a crew to disconnect the analog service, who didn't even knock on the door to let us know. We then had to schedule a reconnection. We didn't progress this as we were due to move out that week anyway.

I was in the same position, renting house as students we enjoyed a couple of months of free NTL (about 6 months) until they cut us off. We thought it was great at the time but then when we were eventually cut off it took quite a while to be reconnected and in the end we were sorry that we hadn't just taken over the account in the first place and avoided a long lonely spell in 4 channel land! There is also a reconnection fee. I think it was about €50 but that's a few years ago.

I lived in an apartment for over five years where it was still connected and they never disconnected it despite sending the odd letter\threat. I would have lived without cable rather than pay them though had it come to it.

I moved house a year ago and got the same letter in the new house. I rang in august last year and said no thanks. Didnt hear any more about until they came out in March of this year to disconnect .
I hadnt known it was still connected as we were using an alternative supplier.
I would put forward its a moral grey area if you continue to use it until they cut it off.

I suppose if you watched just RTE1, RTE2, TG4 and TV3 you should have no moral problem as you could pick them up free anyways. And sure if you just peeped at the other non-Irish channels.... !

Mrs Som bought a new apartment 4 years ago and got NTL installed. (Basic package) She signed contract etc but was never billed once in the 3 years she was there. She eventually moved and I believe the new owner is still getting the service. Unusual for NTL who in my experience were very good at collecting money!

Philipb,

Re-con fee is €50 so depending on what you have and how long you have/will have it for you can do the sums. Strictly speaking if they do a 'disco' they are doing that to the previous owners account so you can approach ntl as a 'new' customer and avail of the new sign-up offers...Off the top of my head they'll give you free digital for 6 months when you subscribe to the basic package.....I've worked in the cable/comms industry for years and ntl (soon to be UPC Ireland) are pretty good....Channel line-up is excellent and their broadband (if you can get it is top class)....Ok, so their customer service leaves a lot to be desired but show me a cable company in Europe which is any different !

r2d2