Set Top Box Rental Fees
chabbyd
Enthusiast - Level 3
Doesn't there become a point in time where the set-top box rental fees paid are more than the actual value (new or used) of the set top box?

I am wondering why I have to keep paying rental fees for equipment that in essence I have paid enough over the years to own outright. It seems like Verizon is making a heafty profit off of this.
18 Replies
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

@chabbyd wrote:
Doesn't there become a point in time where the set-top box rental fees paid are more than the actual value (new or used) of the set top box?

I'm quite sympathetic to this idea.  A number of mobile phone companies have taken similar steps when it comes to paying for new wireless devices.  Still there really is no precedent, in the sense that one usually understands the term "rental."  For example, if you live in a rental apartment long enough (and this is fairly common in New York), you don't automatically "own" your dwelling after a certain period of time.

"It would be nice" if fees were lower and one could somehow own STBs.  Hey wait, isn't that something like Tivo?

chabbyd
Enthusiast - Level 3

Your response makes no sense at all.

1.  You PURCHASE/BUY wireless devices.  You don't rent them.  You pick what you want and pay for it.  You are responsible for it.  To use it you need to pay a service provider.  Even landlines phones have not been "rented" for over 40 years.  This is exactly how these set top boxes should be handled.  Verizon doesn't maintain these set top boxes.  I've had mine for 5 years and Verizon has never touched it since they day I started service. 

To date I have paid $719.40 in rental fees for this box and it is not made of gold.  How many boxes do you think Verizon can purchase for $719?  I'd bet quite a few.

2. I do own my home.  Every month I paid a mortgage until I paid the "value"/agreed upon price when I purchased the home and interest to the bank that lent me the money until I paid the agreed upon amount and now I own my home. I am also responsible for it and everything in it.  When you rent a apartment, you pay the landlord for shelter.  You are not responsible for it (unless of course you purposely burn it down).  The landlord is responsible for the apartment/property.

Again Verizon doesn't maintain my box.  I have no idea how you figured renting an apartment is the same as renting a cable box.

3. I also don't know what Tivo has to do with any of this.  I don't have Tivo.  I don't want Tivo. If a Tivo box could replace my cable box I would be happy to return my very expensive metal box to Verizon and purchase a Tivo.  But, IT DOESN'T and IT WON'T.  So what does Tivo have to do with the absurd amount of money I pay monthly for this non-gold, metal box?

Thanks for your response, but it makes no sense!

beetlejuice2
Specialist - Level 1

@chabbyd wrote:

Again Verizon doesn't maintain my box.  I have no idea how you figured renting an apartment is the same as renting a cable box.

3. I also don't know what Tivo has to do with any of this.  I don't have Tivo.  I don't want Tivo. If a Tivo box could replace my cable box I would be happy to return my very expensive metal box to Verizon and purchase a Tivo.  But, IT DOESN'T and IT WON'T.  So what does Tivo have to do with the absurd amount of money I pay monthly for this non-gold, metal box?

Thanks for your response, but it makes no sense!


Actually they do maintain your box. If it fails to work properly or at all they replace it with a different one easily at anytime. If you are talking about dusting it with a swiffer then no. If you were to own it and it were to break you would be out of luck (unless there was a warranty with it).

It would be nice to be able to purchase the boxes or pay less after so many years, but I highly doubt it will never happen.

Yes some providers such as Directv offer a buy option for their boxes, but most providers don't.

What does Tivo have to do with it? I easily understood what armond said so it shouldn't be hard to figure out, but I guess you don't understand so I will clarify it a little.

You are complaining about how much you have paid for the cable box. You said, "If a Tivo box could replace my cable box I would be happy to return my very expensive metal box to Verizon and purchase a Tivo.  But, IT DOESN'T and IT WON'T."

Well guess what? IT CAN AND IT DOES. You would own the box.

If you don't like the boxes Verizon provides you at the cost you pay, you can get a Tivo and NOT HAVE a Verizon box. All you need are cable cards from Verizon which are still rented, but for around $6 a month. You do have to pay for the Tivo service as well though which you might as well consider a rental fee since it will cost just as much per month for the service as it does for the Verizon boxes. Tivo does offer a lifetime service though which I believe is either $400 or $500.

The rental fees are high with Verizon considering Directv is like $5 a month and Brighthouse is around $11 (at least where I live), so they could at least give better discounts after x amount of years or if you have more then one box. I pay $37 a month for my 2 boxes when it really should be half that at most imo.

It should be interesting to see how much Verizon will charge per month for their upcoming media server and extra boxes needed for each tv.

vzn2
Enthusiast - Level 2

@armond_in_nj wrote:

@chabbyd wrote:
Doesn't there become a point in time where the set-top box rental fees paid are more than the actual value (new or used) of the set top box?

I'm quite sympathetic to this idea.  A number of mobile phone companies have taken similar steps when it comes to paying for new wireless devices.  Still there really is no precedent, in the sense that one usually understands the term "rental."  For example, if you live in a rental apartment long enough (and this is fairly common in New York), you don't automatically "own" your dwelling after a certain period of time.

"It would be nice" if fees were lower and one could somehow own STBs.  Hey wait, isn't that something like Tivo?


Hi "armond_in_nj",

 

I like your example of "renting an apartment" but you are missing a point. In that case, you have an option to buy actual home. Well, one can argue, tivo is the option (For people who need DVR capability, which I don't want), but it requires you to use "cableCard", which has following restrictions:
Some of the advanced features of your FiOS TV service are not available using a CableCARD, such as the following:

  • FiOS TV Interactive Media Guide
  • On Demand
  • FiOS TV Widgets
  • Parental Controls

 

In addition, their cableCard is also $5/month. And you will endup paying $15/month for tivo subscription. 

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QFios
Enthusiast - Level 1

for crying out-loud!  don't you get it! ... there is no alternative! ... WE ARE FORCED TO RENT FO RTHE REST OF OUR LIVES!  If you rent an apartment or any other palce to live you still have the option to PURCHASE a home or some other form of dwelling to live in.  There is no other option to but a verizon set-top box!  No option to purchase a comcast STB, etc!

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chabbyd
Enthusiast - Level 3
You obviously don't understand my point. I would be happy to"maintain" my own box as 1. I haven't had a problem in 5 years so my odds are fairly good and 2 I'm sure I could buy quite a few boxes with $700+ Verizon continues to stash in their pockets
beetlejuice2
Specialist - Level 1

@chabbyd wrote:
You obviously don't understand my point. I would be happy to"maintain" my own box as 1. I haven't had a problem in 5 years so my odds are fairly good and 2 I'm sure I could buy quite a few boxes with $700+ Verizon continues to stash in their pockets


 

Directv boxes are $600-$700 new and Verizon charges $650 per box if you don't return it after terminating service (but become a rock) so new they would probably be the same. If they were used on ebay you could probably buy a lot.

Just think if you were to pay the rental fee for 10+ years. You could probably pay a NASA scientist to build a new one out of diamonds for that amount.

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roaddogg1
Specialist - Level 1

@chabbyd wrote:
You obviously don't understand my point. I would be happy to"maintain" my own box as 1. I haven't had a problem in 5 years so my odds are fairly good and 2 I'm sure I could buy quite a few boxes with $700+ Verizon continues to stash in their pockets

If you want to maintain your own box then go buy a Tivo, get the lifetime subscription, and pay the monthly fee for a cable card. Tivo's are way better then the fios dvr's anyways.

You might lose Fios VOD though and if you ever have issues with fios tv dont expect them to help at all because you arent using their equipment. Yes it would be nice to be able to buy a fios box from Verizon, but it won't happen so we either have to deal with it or go elsewhere.

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chabbyd
Enthusiast - Level 3
Thanks for the continued harassment. You must have a lot of free time on your hands to continually annoy people in the Verizon forum.

FYI. You assume I am referring to a DVR box and I am not. I don't want a DVR and therefore a TiVo. With that info maybe rethink your response, but please keep it to yourself. Your responses are not helpfu
chabbyd
Enthusiast - Level 3
Maybe I am a NASA scientist. All I need are the diamonds. Thankfully I won't have to hire someone for D&D
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roaddogg1
Specialist - Level 1

@chabbyd wrote:
Thanks for the continued harassment. You must have a lot of free time on your hands to continually annoy people in the Verizon forum.

FYI. You assume I am referring to a DVR box and I am not. I don't want a DVR and therefore a TiVo. With that info maybe rethink your response, but please keep it to yourself. Your responses are not helpfu

Harassment? Wow! If you think advice is harassment then I truly feel sorry for you. If you don't want responses then maybe you shouldn't be posting {please keep your posts courteous}

Good luck to you.

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Bonus12
Enthusiast - Level 1
Although I drooped a few iq points after reading this I do agree that the option to buy a box through verizon or aftermarket should be available. I've actually considered filing an attorney general complaint.
NC-BUD
Enthusiast - Level 1

I agree with Bonus 12.  A class action  was filed against AT&T for overcharging people for rental payments for teleophone sets that vastly exceeded the actual cost of the equipment. A settlement in 2002 set aside a $350 million fund to compensate almost 30 million class members, but only 92,000 claims were filed, with payouts ranging between $15 and $80. 

 

I see the same issue with STB.  

vzn2
Enthusiast - Level 2

I completely agree with you. This is complete "rip off". Even Comcast (now xfinity) gives first HD Set Top Box for FREE. As you can tell, this set top boxes are cheaply made and pretty sure, does NOT cost verizon more than couple hundred bucks. 

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chabbyd
Enthusiast - Level 3
Thank you Kudo0. I think it is insane. Cable companies need to be regulated. They continually increase rates, fees, misc charges, rental fees... On and on while removing channels on more than a regular basis.

I think it is crazy that my cable/Internet bill is more than my winter gas bill or summer electric bill. And I don't have any extras. No DVR, 1 cable/1 TV, no high speed Internet, no premium channels, I never rent or buy movies or PPV. It just unacceptable. Then you throw in the lousy box that I've paid well over $800 for by now. It makes my blood boil!

Maybe Verizon should stop advertising so much - I must get 10 printed items a week - that might reduce their "cost" a bit. Hell why send all thAt crap to me. I'm already a customer. Better known as SUCKER!
vzn2
Enthusiast - Level 2

@chabbyd wrote:
Thank you Kudo0. I think it is insane. Cable companies need to be regulated. They continually increase rates, fees, misc charges, rental fees... On and on while removing channels on more than a regular basis.

I think it is crazy that my cable/Internet bill is more than my winter gas bill or summer electric bill. And I don't have any extras. No DVR, 1 cable/1 TV, no high speed Internet, no premium channels, I never rent or buy movies or PPV. It just unacceptable. Then you throw in the lousy box that I've paid well over $800 for by now. It makes my blood boil!

Maybe Verizon should stop advertising so much - I must get 10 printed items a week - that might reduce their "cost" a bit. Hell why send all thAt crap to me. I'm already a customer. Better known as SUCKER!

I completely agree that they should be regulated. They advertise their "double play" / "triple play" combos for around $80/month. But, with all these crazy "Cablebox/card fees", "franchise Fee", etc. it easily comes around $110/month (without DVR services and just one TV). FCC should force them to put the total cost they would charge to the customer for their services in all their advertisements. 

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chabbyd
Enthusiast - Level 3
Amen!
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LawrenceC
Moderator Emeritus

As this thread is now over two years old, it will be locked in order to keep discussions current. If you have the same or a similar question/issue we invite you to start a new thread on the topic.

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