Is Charter's Four Room $20.00 DVR Ad Deceptive?

Author	All Replies
Craiger join:2012-07-05 Chesterfield, MO	Is Charter's Four Room $20.00 DVR Ad Deceptive? I don't have Charter but I saw they are advertising for their four room DVR system at $20.00 a month. Don't they have a $5 set-top box fee also? So if you got four DVR's, I assume they are HD DVR's wouldn't that actually be $40.00 a month for four DVR's? What if you only wanted one or two HD DVR's?
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-14 20:50:15 ·

DadCooks Premium join:2005-02-28 Kennewick, WA	The mention of an equipment charge flashes on the bottom of the screen so it meets the Federal Requirements. But common sense says that the Federal Requirements should aid the consumer, not allow the provider to hide significant information. -- DadCooks (aka Eric)
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-14 21:21:05 ·
msmisfit join:2004-09-13 Lawrenceville, GA kudos:2	reply to Craiger Haven't seen the ad, but it must be misleading, because you are right each box is $5, plus there's a $20 fee that covers the first 4 boxes which is for the features/maintenance, etc. of those boxes. So that theoretical person who might want only two boxes would pay $30.00 month; or $25.00 for one. At least that is how I understood everything I've read so far.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-14 22:22:29 ·
BF69 Premium join:2004-07-28 Camden, TN	reply to Craiger No it's NOT misleading. ALL boxes are $5 a month. So if you had a SD or HD box and you wanted to move up to a DVR you're not paying extra for any boxes. You're paying $20 for the DVR service. By the way under the old pricing 4 DVRs were $60 a month not $40( including the cost of the box rental ). 3 DVRs were $45 now are $35, 2 DVRs were $30 still are $30.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-14 22:56:36 ·
Shad0wlore Premium join:2004-06-15 USA Reviews: ·Charter	reply to BF69 Re: Is Charter's Four Room $20.00 DVR Ad Deceptive? I'd have to respectfully disagree, BF69... The ads are worded as though you get up to 4 DVRs for ONLY $20. Only once you get into the fine print does it indicate that it's $20 for the 'service' and there's another $5 per box tacked on. Now see, if the user could bring their own DVR's to the mix, then I'd say it's not deceptive... However, since Charter is making customers use their equipment, it IS deceptive. To be honest, I don't have a problem with the new pricing.. but they really should be more forthcoming with the additional fees. (paragraphs of fine print that are up for 2 seconds are hardly forthcoming). I only side with it this way, because my elderly parents actually saw it and thought it was an amazing deal.. until they started reading the fine print.. that $20 is now $40 for their 4 TVs.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-16 16:04:33 ·
Craiger join:2012-07-05 Chesterfield, MO	I think it would be neat if Charter would let you use the PS3 and 360 and the PS4 and 720 when those come out. However they use ethernet and no cable card. Charter would probably have to switch to Video Over Docsis for that to happen. Or the next game generation gaming consoles to have cable card built into them.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-17 17:42:49 ·
mmainprize join:2001-12-06 Houghton Lake, MI	Craiger, you can use a cable card and one of these »www.silicondust.com/products/hdh···n/prime/ with your X-box or PC near you TV
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-17 20:10:24 ·
BF69 Premium join:2004-07-28 Camden, TN	reply to Shad0wlore said by Shad0wlore: I'd have to respectfully disagree, BF69... The ads are worded as though you get up to 4 DVRs for ONLY $20. Only once you get into the fine print does it indicate that it's $20 for the 'service' and there's another $5 per box tacked on. Once again YOU are wrong. Ok so I have 4 HD boxes no DVRs I pay $20 a month you expect to get 4 DVRS and the service for the SAME price? Does that make sense or sound fair? Anyways in order to get DVR service you have to have digital cable. Digital cable requires a box. ALL boxes are $5. So since one must pay $5 per box REGARDLESS if they have DVR service or not you are NOT getting charged extra for the boxes. Let's do simple math. 4 HD boxes = $20 a month 4 DVRs = $20 a month; DVR service = $20 a month. total = $40. Cost differential between having DVRs and not having DVRs = $20. So when Charter states DVR service for $20 how are they wrong?
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-17 21:07:16 ·
BF69 Premium join:2004-07-28 Camden, TN	reply to Shad0wlore said by Shad0wlore: I only side with it this way, because my elderly parents actually saw it and thought it was an amazing deal.. until they started reading the fine print.. that $20 is now $40 for their 4 TVs. It's not $40 since they are already paying for the boxes on the 4 TVs. They are swapping out the boxes for DVRs AT THE SAMNE PRICE.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-17 21:08:46 ·
Craiger join:2012-07-05 Chesterfield, MO	reply to mmainprize I was wanting Charter to let a customter use the lastest video game consoles as a standalone HD DVR and it wouldn't need to be connected to a PC.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-17 21:49:50 ·
Craiger join:2012-07-05 Chesterfield, MO	reply to BF69 People wouldn't see the fine print on the bottom and would expect $20.00 covers all four DVR's in the house at $5 per DVR. One way to do it would be to change the ad and say its a $20 DVR Service Fee and the DVR boxes are $5 extra. If Charter said that on the ad I wonder how many people would think that would be too expensive and not go for that plan? Or do something like $10 DVR Fee and $5 Box Fee, if Charter would still want to charge a DVR Fee.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-17 21:57:07 ·
BF69 Premium join:2004-07-28 Camden, TN	said by Craiger: People wouldn't see the fine print on the bottom and would expect $20.00 covers all four DVR's in the house at $5 per DVR. One way to do it would be to change the ad and say its a $20 DVR Service Fee and the DVR boxes are $5 extra. The boxes are NOT extra. If you already have 4 boxes you are just swapping them out for DVRs. The price on the boxes is the same. Once again I'm not sure how someone logically thinks they can get 4 DVRs and the DVR service for the SAME price as people are paying for non-DVRs and no DVR service. By the way price DVR service form DirecTv. They charge $20 for DVR service and $6 per box. AND they charge $500 fee for the boxes on top of it. So yeah Charter is screwing customers.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-17 22:07:19 ·
msmisfit join:2004-09-13 Lawrenceville, GA kudos:2	I have one DVR and when my price changes... I will be paying $25, rather than $15.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-17 22:50:17 ·
Craiger join:2012-07-05 Chesterfield, MO	reply to BF69 I have Directv I was just curious about Charter's DVR Ad. I like to keep up with what TV Service Providers are up to with their technology. Directv doesn't charge a $20 DVR Service its only $6 per month for both regular and HD DVR. DirecTV does charge a $10 HD Fee. Charter should maybe do something similar but keep their $5 per box fee.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-18 09:44:10 ·
BF69 Premium join:2004-07-28 Camden, TN	said by Craiger: Directv doesn't charge a $20 DVR Service yes they do. I went though the whole ordering process. When you get to check out there is CLEARLY a $20 DVR service fee.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-18 10:48:37 ·
BF69 Premium join:2004-07-28 Camden, TN	reply to msmisfit said by msmisfit: I have one DVR and when my price changes... I will be paying $25, rather than $15. Do you have any other boxes? If not then yes a person with just ONE box will pay more. Everyone else will save.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-18 10:49:29 ·
msmisfit join:2004-09-13 Lawrenceville, GA kudos:2	Just the one box....
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-18 13:38:54 ·
BF69 Premium join:2004-07-28 Camden, TN	said by msmisfit: Just the one box.... Well with the reduction of the prices in programming maybe it will even out for you.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-18 16:06:40 ·
crohakon1 @charter.com	reply to Shad0wlore said by Shad0wlore: I'd have to respectfully disagree, BF69... The ads are worded as though you get up to 4 DVRs for ONLY $20. Only once you get into the fine print does it indicate that it's $20 for the 'service' and there's another $5 per box tacked on. Now see, if the user could bring their own DVR's to the mix, then I'd say it's not deceptive... However, since Charter is making customers use their equipment, it IS deceptive. To be honest, I don't have a problem with the new pricing.. but they really should be more forthcoming with the additional fees. (paragraphs of fine print that are up for 2 seconds are hardly forthcoming). I only side with it this way, because my elderly parents actually saw it and thought it was an amazing deal.. until they started reading the fine print.. that $20 is now $40 for their 4 TVs. It still is a really good deal compared to the old pricing and most other companies. Old pricing; Note, DVR in old pricing was 5.00 (Digital Box) + 15.00 (DVR Upgrade) so the first box was 15.00 as the 5.00 Digital Box was included in the Digital Home package. 15 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 75 New pricing 19.99 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 34.99 Most companies charge 20.00 per DVR.
	to forum · permalink · 2012-08-18 17:41:20 ·

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