Goodbye StarChoice

[Brad]

Well it's official. After three years of being a rather unhappy
StarChoice customer, I disconnected today and went back to cable TV.
The choice was rather an easy one. Beginning next month, the cost for
the Gold Service on StarChoice will increase to $47.99/month, plus
your additional programming fees. There's the multiple receiver
charge, and a few other things on there as well which will make my
bill about $70+ next month. I can have my Cable TV back with ALL the
specialty channels for $43.99 a month, for digital service!

The logic just doesn't prevail for me to stay with Satellite TV and
the bullshit that StarChoice keeps feeding its customers. I have had
two receivers go bad om me (both 301's) and have seen the rate
increase every year since I've been a subscriber. I started out with
the Platinum package, no additional receiver charge and all channels
for about $45.00. Now, I'm only on the Gold package, paying nearly
double the amount and I'm enjoying less and less. They've lost me as
a customer as of today. The Cable TV guy is coming on Tuesday of next
week, at which time I will sell my receivers and dish to whomever is
interested. They can keep their shitty company and the shitty
programming they provide. I've had enough.

[LithiaSpgs]

Why not try ExpressVu?

[Brad]

Post by LithiaSpgs
Why not try ExpressVu?

My hellish experience with Sympatico left a bad enough taste in my
mouth to make me avoid ANY Bell owned company. Besides, I don't think
ExpressVu's packages are any better than StarChoice. I have no
regrets at all about dumping Satellite TV. They can keep it.

[Harry Eugene Ly]

ExpressVu treats their customers worse than StarChoice.

I've never been on StarChoice but I'm currently on ExpressVu and whenever I
call their support line or their customer service line, they assume that I'm
a tester/thief even though I'm not. They go by the assumption that you are
stealing their signal if you call about a problem. With StarChoice, there
isn't this paranoia.

I can't really compare StarChoice's prices against BEV's prices but some of
the benefits of StarChoice over BEV is that you only pay 1 multiple receiver
cost instead of a multiple receiver cost for everyone single receiver that
you own. BEV charges a multiple receiver cost for each receiver. StarChoice
only requires 1 charge for this no matter how many receivers you own.
Another benefit of StarChoice is that you get a limited transferrable
lifetime warranty of your dish and your receiver. With BEV, you don't get
any warranty outside of the standard 90 day installation warranty and 1 year
warranty of your receiver/smartcard. If you want a warranty with BEV, you
have to pay around $7.00 per month and their contract doesn't include normal
wear & tear or weather... so it is practically worthless.

Post by Brad

Post by LithiaSpgs
Why not try ExpressVu?

My hellish experience with Sympatico left a bad enough taste in my
mouth to make me avoid ANY Bell owned company. Besides, I don't think
ExpressVu's packages are any better than StarChoice. I have no
regrets at all about dumping Satellite TV. They can keep it.

[Gary Tait]

On Mon, 2 Feb 2004 21:15:58 -0500, "Harry Eugene Ly"

Post by Harry Eugene Ly
ExpressVu treats their customers worse than StarChoice.
I've never been on StarChoice but I'm currently on ExpressVu and whenever I
call their support line or their customer service line, they assume that I'm
a tester/thief even though I'm not. They go by the assumption that you are
stealing their signal if you call about a problem. With StarChoice, there
isn't this paranoia.
I can't really compare StarChoice's prices against BEV's prices but some of
the benefits of StarChoice over BEV is that you only pay 1 multiple receiver
cost instead of a multiple receiver cost for everyone single receiver that
you own

Isn't BEV's the same? one fe covers all additional receivers?

Post by Harry Eugene Ly
. BEV charges a multiple receiver cost for each receiver. StarChoice
only requires 1 charge for this no matter how many receivers you own.
Another benefit of StarChoice is that you get a limited transferrable
lifetime warranty of your dish and your receiver. With BEV, you don't get
any warranty outside of the standard 90 day installation warranty and 1 year
warranty of your receiver/smartcard. If you want a warranty with BEV, you
have to pay around $7.00 per month and their contract doesn't include normal
wear & tear or weather... so it is practically worthless.

Post by Brad

Post by LithiaSpgs
Why not try ExpressVu?

My hellish experience with Sympatico left a bad enough taste in my
mouth to make me avoid ANY Bell owned company. Besides, I don't think
ExpressVu's packages are any better than StarChoice. I have no
regrets at all about dumping Satellite TV. They can keep it.

[Harry Eugene Ly]

Sorry but BEV charges PER receiver... not 1 extra charge. If you have 3
receivers, you will pay the full price of the subscription for your first
receiver and pay around $7.00 (taxes included) for the 2nd and the 3rd
receiver (which would amount up to around an additional $14.00) for 3
receivers in your household.

Of course the $7.00 multireceiver charge from BEV depends on the programming
package. If you have a large programming package, the PER receiver charge is
around $3.00+tax.

Post by Gary Tait
On Mon, 2 Feb 2004 21:15:58 -0500, "Harry Eugene Ly"

Post by Harry Eugene Ly
ExpressVu treats their customers worse than StarChoice.
I've never been on StarChoice but I'm currently on ExpressVu and whenever I
call their support line or their customer service line, they assume that I'm
a tester/thief even though I'm not. They go by the assumption that you are
stealing their signal if you call about a problem. With StarChoice, there
isn't this paranoia.
I can't really compare StarChoice's prices against BEV's prices but some of
the benefits of StarChoice over BEV is that you only pay 1 multiple receiver
cost instead of a multiple receiver cost for everyone single receiver that
you own

Isn't BEV's the same? one fe covers all additional receivers?

Post by Harry Eugene Ly
. BEV charges a multiple receiver cost for each receiver. StarChoice
only requires 1 charge for this no matter how many receivers you own.
Another benefit of StarChoice is that you get a limited transferrable
lifetime warranty of your dish and your receiver. With BEV, you don't get
any warranty outside of the standard 90 day installation warranty and 1 year
warranty of your receiver/smartcard. If you want a warranty with BEV, you
have to pay around $7.00 per month and their contract doesn't include normal
wear & tear or weather... so it is practically worthless.

Post by Brad

Post by LithiaSpgs
Why not try ExpressVu?

My hellish experience with Sympatico left a bad enough taste in my
mouth to make me avoid ANY Bell owned company. Besides, I don't think
ExpressVu's packages are any better than StarChoice. I have no
regrets at all about dumping Satellite TV. They can keep it.

[LithiaSpgs]

Post by Harry Eugene Ly
I've never been on StarChoice but I'm currently on ExpressVu and whenever I
call their support line or their customer service line, they assume that I'm
a tester/thief even though I'm not.

They might just be assuming that you are in the USA

[Harry Eugene Ly]

They can't assume that I'm from the USA since their technical support line
has call display and I'm calling from Canada. My number is also unblocked...
not that it makes much difference since calling if you call a toll free
number and use the * service to block your number, the company that is
paying for the toll free number still sees the phone number.

This is how BEV knows where your receiver is calling from when it is plugged
into the phone line.

BEV does have a paranoia about their customers. If BEV customers/subscribers
call for legitimate problems, they are asked questions that make them feel
like thieves. They are also told to do things that would obviously not fix
the problem.

Post by LithiaSpgs

Post by Harry Eugene Ly
I've never been on StarChoice but I'm currently on ExpressVu and whenever I
call their support line or their customer service line, they assume that I'm
a tester/thief even though I'm not.

They might just be assuming that you are in the USA

[LithiaSpgs]

Post by Harry Eugene Ly
They can't assume that I'm from the USA since their technical support line
has call display and I'm calling from Canada. My number is also unblocked...
not that it makes much difference since calling if you call a toll free
number and use the * service to block your number, the company that is

You can call their regular number and block. I do. And they know that there are
people like me and my wife who is a Canadian that are in the USA and watching
their service. Unlike the USA services, ExpressVu actively tries to discourage
USA viewers by cutting off the 800 numbers and not allowing credit card
payments from US based credit cards.

[Tom Morse]

Post by LithiaSpgs
You can call their regular number and block. I do. And they know that there are
people like me and my wife who is a Canadian that are in the USA and watching
their service. Unlike the USA services, ExpressVu actively tries to discourage
USA viewers by cutting off the 800 numbers and not allowing credit card
payments from US based credit cards.

Wrong yet again Kev. ExpressVu has happily accepted my US credit card for
since 1998.

Why post things that are not true?

Tom


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[LithiaSpgs]

Post by Tom Morse
Wrong yet again Kev. ExpressVu has happily accepted my US credit card for
since 1998.
Why post things that are not true?
Tom

If my name were Kev, I would tell you that on 2 separate occassions they have
refused my Visa because they stated that the credit card billing address and
the ExpressVu billing address must match- and they obviously don't. SO please
tell me how YOU get away with it? How you you have SPECIAL rights that I don't?
I am jealous and mad.

[Tom Morse]

Post by LithiaSpgs

Post by Tom Morse
Wrong yet again Kev. ExpressVu has happily accepted my US credit card for
since 1998.
Why post things that are not true?
Tom

If my name were Kev, I would tell you that on 2 separate occassions they have
refused my Visa because they stated that the credit card billing address and
the ExpressVu billing address must match- and they obviously don't. SO please
tell me how YOU get away with it? How you you have SPECIAL rights that I don't?
I am jealous and mad.

Well, I have never had my credit card billing address match my ExpressVu
service address, yet they still take the money and provide me wirh service.
My mailing address in Canada is different from my service address in Canada
as well. I don't know why I am "special", but it has been working for years.

Tom


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[Harry Eugene Ly]

I'm not sure about whether BEV accepts payments from American based credit
cards but I do know that BEV doesn't care if the ExpressVu billing address
doesn't match the credit card billing address (at least they didn't care
when I paid the bill for my parents). When I was taking care of my parents'
place and they went on vacation, I took over the payment of their ExpressVu
since I was watching it at their place. My credit card address didn't match
my parents' BEV billing address (both in Canada).

Also the BEV contract/agreement states that BEV is only available to
residents of Canada so it is possible that BEV won't accept payment from a
US resident using their service in the US.

Post by LithiaSpgs

Post by LithiaSpgs

Post by Tom Morse
Wrong yet again Kev. ExpressVu has happily accepted my US credit card for
since 1998.
Why post things that are not true?
Tom

If my name were Kev, I would tell you that on 2 separate occassions they

have

Post by LithiaSpgs
refused my Visa because they stated that the credit card billing address

and

Post by LithiaSpgs
the ExpressVu billing address must match- and they obviously don't. SO

please

Post by LithiaSpgs
tell me how YOU get away with it? How you you have SPECIAL rights that I

don't?

Post by LithiaSpgs
I am jealous and mad.

Well, I have never had my credit card billing address match my ExpressVu
service address, yet they still take the money and provide me wirh service.
My mailing address in Canada is different from my service address in Canada
as well. I don't know why I am "special", but it has been working for years.
Tom
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[Ken Finney]

Post by Harry Eugene Ly
I'm not sure about whether BEV accepts payments from American based credit
cards but I do know that BEV doesn't care if the ExpressVu billing address
doesn't match the credit card billing address (at least they didn't care
when I paid the bill for my parents). When I was taking care of my parents'
place and they went on vacation, I took over the payment of their ExpressVu
since I was watching it at their place. My credit card address didn't match
my parents' BEV billing address (both in Canada).
Also the BEV contract/agreement states that BEV is only available to
residents of Canada so it is possible that BEV won't accept payment from a
US resident using their service in the US.

< snip >

BEV is clamping down on US resellers: www.global-cm.net

[Tom Morse]

Post by Ken Finney
BEV is clamping down on US resellers: www.global-cm.net

That may be true, but in my case I have never used a reseller. I purchased
the hardware in Canada used Canadian addresses for service and billing, and
simply set-up the equipment in the US (NY and California). I have had no
issues with using a US credit card to pay my bill.

Tom


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[Harry Eugene Ly]

What is the local number that you are using?

Post by LithiaSpgs

Post by Harry Eugene Ly
They can't assume that I'm from the USA since their technical support line
has call display and I'm calling from Canada. My number is also unblocked...
not that it makes much difference since calling if you call a toll free
number and use the * service to block your number, the company that is

You can call their regular number and block. I do. And they know that there are
people like me and my wife who is a Canadian that are in the USA and watching
their service. Unlike the USA services, ExpressVu actively tries to discourage
USA viewers by cutting off the 800 numbers and not allowing credit card
payments from US based credit cards.

[LithiaSpgs]

Post by Harry Eugene Ly
What is the local number that you are using?

Their local 416 number. Dont have it right here now

[Warren Oates]

In article <***@posting.google.com>,
***@sympatico.ca (Brad) wrote:

:Well it's official. After three years of being a rather unhappy
:StarChoice customer, I disconnected today and went back to cable TV.
:The choice was rather an easy one. Beginning next month, the cost for
:the Gold Service on StarChoice will increase to $47.99/month, plus
:your additional programming fees. There's the multiple receiver
:charge, and a few other things on there as well which will make my
:bill about $70+ next month. I can have my Cable TV back with ALL the
:specialty channels for $43.99 a month, for digital service!
:
:The logic just doesn't prevail for me to stay with Satellite TV and
:the bullshit that StarChoice keeps feeding its customers. I have had
:two receivers go bad om me (both 301's) and have seen the rate
:increase every year since I've been a subscriber. I started out with
:the Platinum package, no additional receiver charge and all channels
:for about $45.00. Now, I'm only on the Gold package, paying nearly
:double the amount and I'm enjoying less and less. They've lost me as
:a customer as of today. The Cable TV guy is coming on Tuesday of next
:week, at which time I will sell my receivers and dish to whomever is
:interested. They can keep their shitty company and the shitty
:programming they provide. I've had enough.

You should forward a copy of this post to Starchoice, even print it out
and mail it. It's an articulate non-ranting message of unhappiness and
loss of confidence in a company that needs every customer it can get.
Starchoice absolutely need to know how you feel, and how their service
stacks up against your local cable company.

Umm, how much for the receivers?

And: In article <***@mb-m12.aol.com>,
***@aol.com (LithiaSpgs) wrote:

:Why not try ExpressVu?

Expressvu is _more_ expensive, forces illegal simsubbing, has crappy
picture quality, lousy customer service, and they treat every customer
like a thief. Expressvu isn't the answer to anything.

[n***@you.know]

Post by Brad
Well it's official. After three years of being a rather unhappy
StarChoice customer, I disconnected today and went back to cable TV.
The choice was rather an easy one. Beginning next month, the cost for
the Gold Service on StarChoice will increase to $47.99/month, plus
your additional programming fees. There's the multiple receiver
charge, and a few other things on there as well which will make my
bill about $70+ next month. I can have my Cable TV back with ALL the
specialty channels for $43.99 a month, for digital service!
The logic just doesn't prevail for me to stay with Satellite TV and
the bullshit that StarChoice keeps feeding its customers. I have had
two receivers go bad om me (both 301's) and have seen the rate
increase every year since I've been a subscriber. I started out with
the Platinum package, no additional receiver charge and all channels
for about $45.00. Now, I'm only on the Gold package, paying nearly
double the amount and I'm enjoying less and less. They've lost me as
a customer as of today. The Cable TV guy is coming on Tuesday of next
week, at which time I will sell my receivers and dish to whomever is
interested. They can keep their shitty company and the shitty
programming they provide. I've had enough.

Brad,
I admire you for standing up and saying enough. I wish more Canadians
would do the same but instead they gladly hand over bucketfulls of cash
for something they believe is a privilage. I know what you mean and
somewhat how you feel when you get your monthly bill and you compare
it to your services.
But don't put too much hope in cable either. As a Shaw customer I'm
unhappy
with what they offer. Shitty picture quality with a shitty channel lineup.
As you
could probably tell, i've been thinking about ditching cable and going
back to
peasant view. I had a quality picture and no monthly bill.
If you do write Starchoice to enlighten them with your level of
satisfaction
over the last three years, don't forget to cc the CRTC.
T.S.

[Nian2000]

I have same feeling about the StarChoice and I did the same thing as Brad
did.

Forget about the StarChoice forever!!! No choice at all.

[Nian2000]

I have same feeling about the StarChoice and I did the same thing as Brad
did.

Forget about the StarChoice forever!!! No choice at all.