Paying for the BT Vision box

James J · 05-07-2010, 11:56

£45 apparently is what they want to charge me for a Vision box, this with the highest priced broadband tarrif.

Pretty disgusting given the general cost of line rental, the packs, broadband option 3 etc, is there no way around this? It used to be free!

jaybee24uk · 05-07-2010, 15:43

Sad thing is when you contract runs out the box is useless, as you have to subscribe to get the thing to work.

Not like you get your £45 back after then end. You'd be lucky to get a fiver for it on ebay.

James J · 06-07-2010, 20:54

Now they want £90 since I only want one pack.

Absolutely preposterous but they won't budge an inch.

James J · 06-07-2010, 20:59

In short they have changed the colour of the box to justify charging for it.

TraceT · 07-07-2010, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaybee24uk

Sad thing is when you contract runs out the box is useless, as you have to subscribe to get the thing to work.

Unless things have changed you don't.
I don't currently have a contract to use my Vision box. Used to just pay for VOD on flexi {pay as you go} but recently just re-subscribed for the TV pack & TV replay only. You need to keep your Vision account active on BT's Broadband to keep the box working.

I've had the box for about 3 years though.

07-07-2010, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by James J

Now they want £90 since I only want one pack.

Absolutely preposterous but they won't budge an inch.

I was quoted £90 for the box on a 12 month contract with Sky Sports costing £16.99 or £60 for a 24 month contract with Sky Sports costing £11.99. Both with no packs.

The box dropped to £45 for the Bronze pack and Sky Sports on a 24 month contract.

You may be better waiting to see what Top Up TV do as far as prices go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraceT

Unless things have changed you don't.
I don't currently have a contract to use my Vision box. Used to just pay for VOD on flexi {pay as you go} but recently just re-subscribed for the TV pack & TV replay only. You need to keep your Vision account active on BT's Broadband to keep the box working.

I've had the box for about 3 years though.

I was advised that as long as I had a BTV active account the box would work, but if I left, the BTV box would be useless.

Not a good selling point IMHO which is why I'm staying as I am for now (I like my O2 BB to much).

gamercraig · 11-07-2010, 08:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraceT

Unless things have changed you don't.
I don't currently have a contract to use my Vision box. Used to just pay for VOD on flexi {pay as you go} but recently just re-subscribed for the TV pack & TV replay only. You need to keep your Vision account active on BT's Broadband to keep the box working.

I've had the box for about 3 years though.

That is correct, and I've only had my box for just over a year. I cancelled the pack option I had and now just use it as a freeview PVR and occasionally watch the odd pay-on-demand film

stuntmaster · 11-07-2010, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew63

I was quoted £90 for the box on a 12 month contract with Sky Sports costing £16.99 or £60 for a 24 month contract with Sky Sports costing £11.99. Both with no packs.

The box dropped to £45 for the Bronze pack and Sky Sports on a 24 month contract.

You may be better waiting to see what Top Up TV do as far as prices go.

I was advised that as long as I had a BTV active account the box would work, but if I left, the BTV box would be useless.

Not a good selling point IMHO which is why I'm staying as I am for now (I like my O2 BB to much).

This was devised so that users could not activate BT Vision get a cheap PVR that has HDMI and can do on demand like replay then cancel vision and effectively claim a free or ultra cheap PVR.

It's sub £100 and does the same if not better than some of the things the Topfield and the humax can do.

I suppose if BT made it so that everything disabled itself bar the 8 day freeview and the basic scan for channels then i think that could work. I can see where BT are comming from and can also see where you are comming from.

BT need a happy medium, Sky+ will work without a sub except you loose recording. wonder if BT could do something like that?

Wardbt · 14-07-2010, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaybee24uk

Sad thing is when you contract runs out the box is useless, as you have to subscribe to get the thing to work.

Not like you get your £45 back after then end. You'd be lucky to get a fiver for it on ebay.

homeplug will worth £30 on it is own..

Wardbt · 14-07-2010, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraceT

Unless things have changed you don't.
I don't currently have a contract to use my Vision box. Used to just pay for VOD on flexi {pay as you go} but recently just re-subscribed for the TV pack & TV replay only. You need to keep your Vision account active on BT's Broadband to keep the box working.

I've had the box for about 3 years though.

I have the white box myself but I had to put it in storage, as I was not able to get the required 2mb speed that is required to run the service. however recently moved to a new house and i get around 5.5mb speed which is enough, I can not see the point for charging people £15 for the box, then after adding Sky sport the cost went up to £45, I chatted to one of those operators online and she said you can not just activate the box you already have, you need a new box..so I am not sure how you managed to do that..

TraceT · 14-07-2010, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wardbt

I have the white box myself but I had to put it in storage, as I was not able to get the required 2mb speed that is required to run the service. however recently moved to a new house and i get around 5.5mb speed which is enough, I can not see the point for charging people £15 for the box, then after adding Sky sport the cost went up to £45, I chatted to one of those operators online and she said you can not just activate the box you already have, you need a new box..so I am not sure how you managed to do that..

You're not sure how I managed to do what exactly?

Your circumstances are obviously different, as you said you have moved house.
I've already said I've had the box about 3 yrs. [Got it free back then for re-contracting my broadband actually]

To re-iterate what I was saying; You only need to keep your Vision account active on BT Broadband to keep using the box.
You don't need to keep subscribing to any packs, as you can go on what they call Flexi [pay as you go] as I did a few months ago.

maltaron · 14-07-2010, 16:07

My old vision box packed up and rang bt sales. I renewed my broadband contract with a £2.00 per month discount and got a new Black home hub and new Black vision box free for a £6.99 per month TV pack.(which I cannot use as BB is too slow) A good deal in fact.

Wardbt · 17-07-2010, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by TraceT

You're not sure how I managed to do what exactly?

Your circumstances are obviously different, as you said you have moved house.
I've already said I've had the box about 3 yrs. [Got it free back then for re-contracting my broadband actually]

To re-iterate what I was saying; You only need to keep your Vision account active on BT Broadband to keep using the box.
You don't need to keep subscribing to any packs, as you can go on what they call Flexi [pay as you go] as I did a few months ago.

[Got it free back then for re-contracting my broadband actually]

that's all I needed to know. thx

05-07-2010, 11:56	#1
James J Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 7,589	Paying for the BT Vision box £45 apparently is what they want to charge me for a Vision box, this with the highest priced broadband tarrif. Pretty disgusting given the general cost of line rental, the packs, broadband option 3 etc, is there no way around this? It used to be free!

05-07-2010, 15:43	#2
jaybee24uk Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Seaside, N Yorks Coast Posts: 644	Sad thing is when you contract runs out the box is useless, as you have to subscribe to get the thing to work. Not like you get your £45 back after then end. You'd be lucky to get a fiver for it on ebay.

06-07-2010, 20:54	#3
James J Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 7,589	Now they want £90 since I only want one pack. Absolutely preposterous but they won't budge an inch.

06-07-2010, 20:59	#4
James J Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 7,589	In short they have changed the colour of the box to justify charging for it.

07-07-2010, 10:25	#5
TraceT Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rotherham, S.Yorks UK Posts: 201	Quote: Originally Posted by jaybee24uk Sad thing is when you contract runs out the box is useless, as you have to subscribe to get the thing to work. Unless things have changed you don't. I don't currently have a contract to use my Vision box. Used to just pay for VOD on flexi {pay as you go} but recently just re-subscribed for the TV pack & TV replay only. You need to keep your Vision account active on BT's Broadband to keep the box working. I've had the box for about 3 years though.

07-07-2010, 10:48	#6
Andrew63 Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally Posted by James J Now they want £90 since I only want one pack. Absolutely preposterous but they won't budge an inch. I was quoted £90 for the box on a 12 month contract with Sky Sports costing £16.99 or £60 for a 24 month contract with Sky Sports costing £11.99. Both with no packs. The box dropped to £45 for the Bronze pack and Sky Sports on a 24 month contract. You may be better waiting to see what Top Up TV do as far as prices go. Quote: Originally Posted by TraceT Unless things have changed you don't. I don't currently have a contract to use my Vision box. Used to just pay for VOD on flexi {pay as you go} but recently just re-subscribed for the TV pack & TV replay only. You need to keep your Vision account active on BT's Broadband to keep the box working. I've had the box for about 3 years though. I was advised that as long as I had a BTV active account the box would work, but if I left, the BTV box would be useless. Not a good selling point IMHO which is why I'm staying as I am for now (I like my O2 BB to much).

11-07-2010, 08:03	#7
gamercraig Inactive Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 5,874	Quote: Originally Posted by TraceT Unless things have changed you don't. I don't currently have a contract to use my Vision box. Used to just pay for VOD on flexi {pay as you go} but recently just re-subscribed for the TV pack & TV replay only. You need to keep your Vision account active on BT's Broadband to keep the box working. I've had the box for about 3 years though. That is correct, and I've only had my box for just over a year. I cancelled the pack option I had and now just use it as a freeview PVR and occasionally watch the odd pay-on-demand film

11-07-2010, 22:59	#8
stuntmaster Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southampton - Hannington - TX Posts: 4,878	Quote: Originally Posted by Andrew63 I was quoted £90 for the box on a 12 month contract with Sky Sports costing £16.99 or £60 for a 24 month contract with Sky Sports costing £11.99. Both with no packs. The box dropped to £45 for the Bronze pack and Sky Sports on a 24 month contract. You may be better waiting to see what Top Up TV do as far as prices go. I was advised that as long as I had a BTV active account the box would work, but if I left, the BTV box would be useless. Not a good selling point IMHO which is why I'm staying as I am for now (I like my O2 BB to much). This was devised so that users could not activate BT Vision get a cheap PVR that has HDMI and can do on demand like replay then cancel vision and effectively claim a free or ultra cheap PVR. It's sub £100 and does the same if not better than some of the things the Topfield and the humax can do. I suppose if BT made it so that everything disabled itself bar the 8 day freeview and the basic scan for channels then i think that could work. I can see where BT are comming from and can also see where you are comming from. BT need a happy medium, Sky+ will work without a sub except you loose recording. wonder if BT could do something like that?

14-07-2010, 12:21	#9
Wardbt Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20	Quote: Originally Posted by jaybee24uk Sad thing is when you contract runs out the box is useless, as you have to subscribe to get the thing to work. Not like you get your £45 back after then end. You'd be lucky to get a fiver for it on ebay. homeplug will worth £30 on it is own..

14-07-2010, 12:28	#10
Wardbt Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20	Quote: Originally Posted by TraceT Unless things have changed you don't. I don't currently have a contract to use my Vision box. Used to just pay for VOD on flexi {pay as you go} but recently just re-subscribed for the TV pack & TV replay only. You need to keep your Vision account active on BT's Broadband to keep the box working. I've had the box for about 3 years though. I have the white box myself but I had to put it in storage, as I was not able to get the required 2mb speed that is required to run the service. however recently moved to a new house and i get around 5.5mb speed which is enough, I can not see the point for charging people £15 for the box, then after adding Sky sport the cost went up to £45, I chatted to one of those operators online and she said you can not just activate the box you already have, you need a new box..so I am not sure how you managed to do that..

14-07-2010, 15:03	#11
TraceT Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rotherham, S.Yorks UK Posts: 201	Quote: Originally Posted by Wardbt I have the white box myself but I had to put it in storage, as I was not able to get the required 2mb speed that is required to run the service. however recently moved to a new house and i get around 5.5mb speed which is enough, I can not see the point for charging people £15 for the box, then after adding Sky sport the cost went up to £45, I chatted to one of those operators online and she said you can not just activate the box you already have, you need a new box..so I am not sure how you managed to do that.. You're not sure how I managed to do what exactly? Your circumstances are obviously different, as you said you have moved house. I've already said I've had the box about 3 yrs. [Got it free back then for re-contracting my broadband actually] To re-iterate what I was saying; You only need to keep your Vision account active on BT Broadband to keep using the box. You don't need to keep subscribing to any packs, as you can go on what they call Flexi [pay as you go] as I did a few months ago.

14-07-2010, 16:07	#12
maltaron Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 217	My old vision box packed up and rang bt sales. I renewed my broadband contract with a £2.00 per month discount and got a new Black home hub and new Black vision box free for a £6.99 per month TV pack.(which I cannot use as BB is too slow) A good deal in fact.

17-07-2010, 10:00	#13
Wardbt Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 20	Quote: Originally Posted by TraceT You're not sure how I managed to do what exactly? Your circumstances are obviously different, as you said you have moved house. I've already said I've had the box about 3 yrs. [Got it free back then for re-contracting my broadband actually] To re-iterate what I was saying; You only need to keep your Vision account active on BT Broadband to keep using the box. You don't need to keep subscribing to any packs, as you can go on what they call Flexi [pay as you go] as I did a few months ago. [Got it free back then for re-contracting my broadband actually] that's all I needed to know. thx

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Paying for the BT Vision box