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If not, it might be Small Claims Court. This sounds like harassment, too.
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@Urgleglurk: Small claims court, file a police report to have your phone records subpoena'd for the months you had called tivo to cancel.
Not sure on what extra you can charge them with with wages lost on the hours you have spent trying to cancel..
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contact the states AG. I have done this to companies before that have done this to me. It is amazing just how fast things get done when the states AG gets involved.
This might sound old fashioned, but perhaps you could write a certified letter so that you have proof that you did indeed ask to cancel the account.
@Borax-Johnson: Something I learned years ago when sending certified mail is get the paper work from the post office for the letter and add the certificate number to the letter. This lets you demonstrate that a particular letter matches the return receipt.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-545239-100x100.png\")
@Borax-Johnson: \"Try sending TiVo a letter by certified mail canceling your account.\" Well hell...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-114659-100x100.png\")
Along with the certified letter, I would include documentation from your bank about the chargebacks, to further show how long ago it was cancelled.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-257467-100x100.png\")
@hotdogsunrise: @QuantumRiff: Yeah, exactly. If one doesn't do that, it seems pretty easy to say \"I canceled x time ago\" and hope they take your word.
Weird that they would continue to charge your account after suspending service. Typically you cannot be charged for services not supplied.
My policy is that if a single phone call doesn't take care of it, off to certified mail I go. Yes, it's annoying, but it's also documentation.
And documentation is invaluable in cases like this.
Any debt collectors call, I'd tell them that you don't owe the debt and you have documentation proving it(the charge backs, etc...).
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1234893-100x100.png\")
Another option, if TiVo or their collection agent -- if external -- is sending bills through the mail is to accuse them of mail fraud. This is where the 'lawyer friend' (or state attorney general, if your state has a pretty active consumer affairs dept) comes in real handy.
It's a nice, legit action that I had to threaten on Centennial Wireless over the summer.
Also, if there is an external collection agent, do not forget to send a letter to them asap denying the debt.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-400379-100x100.png\")
Send the documentation of Chargebacks. If the bank found in your favor, that should be proof enough.
Definitely a glitch somewhere and not cool to deal with - maybe Tivo just isn't used to people canceling because Tivo is so cool?!
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@hillsrovey: I had a similar issue when cancelled Time Warner Cable. They kept telling me it was because their billing system was automated. Blah-de-blah. They finally relented and realized not only did I not owe them money, since I cancelled the account several months before, but they actually owed ME money.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-762676-100x100.png\")
Consumer: \"Yes, I'd like to cancel my service.\"
TiVo: \"I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you do that.\"
Consumer: \"...my name's not Dave.\"
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-488475-100x100.png\")
I want a DVR that doesn't have to be hooked to any service and will record the way my VCR did. FOR THIS VERY REASON. I will not buy or rent one until I can have it.
*bangs cane on the ground* Now get off my lawn.
Dear Michael:
We here a TiVo would really like you back. So let us offer make you a limited time offer, pay us all back fees and sign a new two year contract or we publish so possibly embarrassing information about your TV viewing. What would your freinds think about you watch one episode of Blossom 43 times?
Your pals
Tivo
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-179969-100x100.png\")
Yeah, I had a problem with Tivo about 5 years ago when I called to cancel but they still billed me. Took lots of phone wrangling to get it taken care of. good luck with that. Small claims court?
@hypnotik_jello:
Small claims court for the time and hassle. Hit them for as much as you can and no doubt they'll be asking you to settle and happy to hand you a check.