| Ridiculous charge for lost FIOS cable box! I recently had some major construction done in my apartment and a FIOS cable box was somehow lost. This was their least expensive digital box and not their HD box. I spoke to a FIOS rep today and they wanted to charge me $199 to replace this lost box.
Has anyone had any experience with FIOS for charges on lost equipment like this? |
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| $200 doesn't seem that bad at all.
How do you lose a cable box? Why should they be on the hook for the replacement cost? |
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| reply to NYC Guy
The contractors people somehow misplaced it while installing wood floors and i suspect that it was thrown out with all of the waste by mistake. I am currently in small claims court with them for poor workmanship so I seriously doubt I will ever get the money for the cable box from them.
As for the $199 charge I think that it is way too high for such an old type piece of equipment. We aren't even speaking about a HD box here! |
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| I wish you luck in small claims court. Sucks on top of them losing the box they did shoddy work. |
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DodgePremium
join:2002-11-27 | reply to NYC Guy
Not mine.
Is this the box?
»compare.ebay.com/like/1609592686···var=sbar |
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| No it isn't. Mine was a tiny black analog to digital converter box. The model is DCT700 which they bill me $5.99 a month.
»www.motorola.com/Video-Solutions···00_US-EN |
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 matcarlPremium
join:2007-03-09
Franklin Square, NY | Verizon states all their charges for misplaced or damaged boxes somewhere in their agreements. It's your responsibility to take care of their rental equipment. If you are leasing or renting a car, you are also responsible for it. How do they know you lost it or sold it on ebay? You have to take care of it. |
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 birdfeedrPremium,MVM
join:2001-08-11
Warwick, RI
kudos:8 | reply to NYC Guy
Consider one of these. »www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B003AOL2QY
Are you canceling service? or still keeping it? Do you have homeowner or renter insurance (although the deductible won't cover $200). Doesn't seem to be many options. Maybe if you were to file it as a theft with police report etc., it might be covered differently.
My DCT700 is not visibly branded by Verizon, although they may do a serial number scan and find it's not their inventory.
You're already on record as requesting a replacement with no return, so not sure how you can finagle it. Best you can do is try to find a sympathetic ear.
Consider Executive Resolutions, particularly if you can say you've had FiOS since the beginning and you plan to keep it forever-ish. Or, pay it and chalk it up to picking the wrong contractor. |
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tito79
join:2010-03-14
Brewster, NY | reply to NYC Guy
Just tell them to spread the payment on bill for 4 months. |
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Reviews:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·MegaPath
| reply to NYC Guy
Be glad they only want $200. Some cable companies want more for the box. And used cable modems that are lost/never returned try up to $300 for one that is about 4+ years old.
All cable companies charge these rates weather its VZ, ATT, or another MSO they're charged and stated up front for anything lost, stolen, not returned or anything else. |
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| reply to birdfeedr
Everyone here knows that a 4 year old box that isn't even an HD model is not worth what they are trying to charge. On principle alone I refuse to pay them that ridiculous $199 amount! |
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yyzlhr
join:2012-09-03
Scarborough, ON
kudos:1 Reviews:
 ·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to birdfeedr
said by birdfeedr:My DCT700 is not visibly branded by Verizon, although they may do a serial number scan and find it's not their inventory.
Lmfao, MSOs have inventory management systems that are sophisticated enough to ensure that you can't just return another STB even if it's the same model. |
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guppy_fishPremium
join:2003-12-09
Lakeland, FL
kudos:1 Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to NYC Guy
said by NYC Guy:On principle alone I refuse to pay them that ridiculous $199 amount!
You may wish to rethink that when you realize that they will send sell it to collections, you'll have your credit trashed and the credit hounds will inflate the amount due 10X and you'll still be on the hook |
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| reply to guppy_fish
Re: Ridiculous charge for lost FIOS cable box! Incidentally does anyone know what this DCT 700 box from Motorola really sells for brand new? I am not talking about eBay prices but from legitimate retailers. |
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| You signed a contract. You lost the box. Pay the bill.
As already pointed out, you're going to be in for a world of problems if you don't pay it...and yes, $199 is fair. With all of the subsidized equipment we're all used to such as cell phones and cable / satellite receivers people have lost touch with the real cost of these devices. |
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| reply to NYC Guy
You can't buy it from legitimate retailers. It is not sold directly to individuals. Only cable companies can legitimately purchase it. |
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| reply to NYC Guy
likely it was stolen. i hope u didnt leave them alone in ur house. what else is missing?
cable companies always charge a lot if customers lose their equipment. it teaches them to be more responsible. your $199 covers the loss of box and the cost of people that steal them then sell it on ebay for $10. |
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batsonaMaryland
join:2004-04-17
Ellicott City, MD Reviews:
 ·Vonage
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to NYC Guy
The contractor should have 'business insurance', for damage done on the job. Try to make the contractor pay for the loss.. I admit that small-claims wouldn't be worth it, but if they lost a DVR box @ $~550, then it might have been worth it to threaten litigation & see is that scares them...
or, take my Dad's approach.. Tell the owner of the company that you'll do everything in your power to influence people to NOT use that particular contractor, because they won't confess & pay for damage they did... etc etc... |
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yyzlhr
join:2012-09-03
Scarborough, ON
kudos:1 Reviews:
·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to NYC Guy
said by NYC Guy:Incidentally does anyone know what this DCT 700 box from Motorola really sells for brand new? I am not talking about eBay prices but from legitimate retailers.
I don't think MSOs can even buy this box anymore as most STB makers have stopped manufacturing SD terminals. Up north here where MSOs allow customers to buy equipment, the company I'm with sells the same terminal to customers for $99+tax for a refurb unit that comes with a 2 year warranty. If you lose a rental they charge $99 for the terminal, $5 for the power cord, and $25 for the remote, so not too far off from what Verizon is charging you. |
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