How to tell if a TIVO unit has been activated with Lifetime service? (1 Viewer)

[Allan]

HI,

My question is how I can tell if my Tivo unit has been activated with Lifetime service. I bought it used about 8 months ago. The seller had bought it from someojne else. He sold it as unactivated. However, after hooking it up, it worked. I assumed it was jsut for a short grace period. However, the grace period never ended and it has been going strong for the past 8 months or so. I jsut assumed that there had been a mix-up along the way and a prior owner had paid for the lifetime service. Anyway, I got a Tivo update the other day saying that I msut go to Tivo.com to activate the unit since the grace period is ending. How could the grace period have lasted for over 8 months? Is there a way to find out if the unit has lifetime service already activated? I don't want to pay the fee if someone already paid it!

Thanks,

allan

 

[Keith Mickunas]

Under one of the menus is a screen that shows system info. It should state what kind of service it has. For lifetime service it is very clearly listed, I don't know how the others would be listed. The screen I'm referring to has version number, connections, storage and a bunch of other info.

 

[Al Fischer]

If the previous owner, paid for lifetime, you get it. The service goes with the receiver not the owner!!

Hit the TiVo button, select messages and set-up, system information. Look for the service account status. It will say lifetime if it is.

 

[Allan]

Thanks for the help. I know that the Lifetime service runs with the unit. However, I bought it with the understanding that Lifetime service was NOT activated. However, since it has lasted over 8 months, I jsut assumed that the seller was mistaken. But now, all of sudden, I got a Tivo message saying that I must activate the unti soon since the grace period is running out. So, I was wondering if the Lifetime service WAS in fact purchased, and Tivo is mistaken now. OR, if Lifetime service was not purchased but, Tivo had mistakenly been supplying me with the service for free for the past 8 months.

Has anyone ever heard of a Tivo situation like this before???

thanks

allan

 

[Michael Reuben]

So what information did you find on the system information screen?

M.

 

[Allan]

still at the office. I'll check when I get home and post the result...

allan

 

[Pamela]

According to the Tivo site:

If you've acquired a TiVo recorder with a Lifetime subscription, you need only reset your personal TV preferences by completing the Guided Set-up and you're ready to go!

I would like to know if you start out with the monthly service, can you switch to the Lifetime subscription later?

 

[Dmitry]

I would like to know if you start out with the monthly service, can you switch to the Lifetime subscription later?

That's what they told me when I was signing up -- that you can switch to a lifetime subscription at a later point.

 

[Michael Reuben]

can you switch to the Lifetime subscription later?

Yes, with an important caveat: When you switch, you don't get to count the monthly payments you've already made toward the lifetime fee.

M.

 

[Allan]

Michael-

Okay, I went home and checked. THe service menue said something to the effect of "2; no service; 0 dayys left in the grace period." I guess that means that I am out of luck and have to purchase the service now. My only question is: how did I have full Tivo service for over 8 months if I didn't have Lifetime service and I never paid the monthly fee???

Allan

 

[Michael Reuben]

My only question is: how did I have full Tivo service for over 8 months if I didn't have Lifetime service and I never paid the monthly fee???

Sounds like TiVo screwed up and you got a break. Fun while it lasted.
M.