I see Uverse receivers on eBay for sale. Can these be used instead of renting equipment?

No not for TV receivers.  They are rented from AT&T and are the property of AT&T.  So if they are on ebay they are stolen.  If you bought one you could use it for a door stop.

There are hundreds listed for sale, so AT&T should call the police if they truly are stolen.

Well typically they will charge the subscriber for equipment that is not returned.  Do they get that money?........probably not all of the time.  Each box has to be provisioned for the site it's located at before it will work.  I don't work at AT&T, but I would assume that they have some way of tracking the box whether it be by mac address, serial number, or both.  So if you bought one and called in to activate it then they might call the police on YOU because YOU have stolen equipment.  If you want to give it a try go for it.  I can tell you that you will end up with an expensive door stop.

Just sayin....

For someone who doesn't work for AT&T, you seem to act like you know their policies and procedures.  I have not purchased a box off of eBay, just noticed that they were for sale which prompted my question.  If I had bought one off of eBay, the only way it would be illegal would be if I was aware it had been stolen prior to purchase.  I'm sure AT&T sleeps better at night knowing you've volunteered to watch their back.

Hey I was just trying to help YOU not AT&T.  I have seen others post on other different forums that they got taken for $50 or more for something they can't use.  I was trying to let YOU know the deal so YOU wouldn't be in the same situation.

I will not assist YOU any further from this point on.  YOU do what you want since YOU seem to have the answers on how to deal in stolen property on Ebay.  Good luck!!  See ya!!

Someone has their bloomers in a bunch.  I have no idea how to deal in stolen property on eBay or anywhere else.  Just have a better working knowledge of the law than you do.

You don't want to assist me from this point on?  Works for me.  I'd prefer to deal with an employee instead of a forum troll in need of a life.

Thanks.  A direct answer without drama.

I have a further question for you because I am not to sure about your answer.  So, if a subscriber is charged for their non-returned equipment, this makes the equipment property of said subscriber.  It should not be flagged further than being charged, and no stolen.  How could someone verify this in buying from someone else.  In this case there is not a way they can use this in the future?

Thanks,

Ryan

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@rpk2012 wrote:

I have a further question for you because I am not to sure about your answer.  So, if a subscriber is charged for their non-returned equipment, this makes the equipment property of said subscriber.  It should not be flagged further than being charged, and no stolen.  How could someone verify this in buying from someone else.  In this case there is not a way they can use this in the future?

 

Thanks,

Ryan

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It depends on the service that the RG was serving.  There are different model numbers for an RG used for internet ONLY (purchased) and one used for TV/internet/VOIP.

From what I understand, the internet only RG can be re-used and/or sold.  If you have or are considering Uverse TV service, you cannot use anything other than an RG provided by ATT.  It doesn't matter if the original owner of an RG paid the 'non-return' fee or not.  It is not useable with different account.

Thank you for the reply, but that is sad that ATT does that.  Financially for them I guess its what works, but not cool for people who have owned boxes.

That's ridiculous. At&T will not let you return your boxes after a few months, and so you are charged ludicrous amounts of money for those boxes. Now, They are MINE. They aren't stolen. And I should be able sell them legally as such.  

Once those charges (for equipment that is unreturnable) are paid, I should be able to use those boxes for further AT&T service without monthly leasing charges, then, EH?  

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@jmray69 wrote:

That's ridiculous. At&T will not let you return your boxes after a few months, and so you are charged ludicrous amounts of money for those boxes. Now, They are MINE. They aren't stolen. And I should be able sell them legally as such.  

 

Once those charges (for equipment that is unreturnable) are paid, I should be able to use those boxes for further AT&T service without monthly leasing charges, then, EH?  

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I don't know the legalities of ownership after you've paid the non-returned receiver fee. I think it is a penalty for not fulfilling your end of the bargain, rather than sales price. 

I don't think anyone's going to be charged with a crime just for selling the box; however, if they market it as an alternative to leasing the equipment from AT&T, then there might be repercussions for false advertising. 

No, AT&T will not allow any customer to use any equpiment (for Uverse TV at least) that is not leased from AT&T under that account number. That has not changed in the 3 years since this thread was started. 

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@jmray69 wrote:

Once those charges (for equipment that is unreturnable) are paid, I should be able to use those boxes for further AT&T service without monthly leasing charges, then, EH?  

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You can use the boxes...just not for any AT&T service. 

As we've discussed on these boards previously, they make dandy doorstops or lovely paperweights.