Beware of Dstv's new decoders

[Goodlucktoyou]

(Sorry if you have seen this post before - previously posted under the wrong heading/section)

Did you know that Dstv no longer allows you to use your smart card in other decoders (e.g. when on holiday)?

We finally made the leap and joined Dstv in April this year having purchased a decoder shortly before that. In June we went on holiday and found that our smart card could not be read by other decoders. When we called the call centre, we were told that the new decoders (DSD 1110) are 'paired' to their smart cards and can not be used in other decoders. This little amendment to the way they operate had not been pointed out to us by the retailer or by Dstv when we signed up.

I called the call centre, I registered a complaint and provided feedback to Hellopeter.com -all to no avail. I still don't have a sensible explanation other than - 'it reduces fraud'. I am so glad it helps them so much, but for the rest of us suckers we get a less flexible service for the same monthly subscription and they seem to think this is all ok!

By the way, those of you who have the older model of decoder, you can still shift your smart card around. Those of you who have a a Type DSD 1110, I suggest you get yourself an older decoder if you want the flexibility because Dstv sure ain't going to provide it!

 

[SYNERGY]

Er you know this is old news right?

 

[hoegh]

hmmm...interesting, i never knew this, i always thought you just smsed the smart card number and they sorted it out, only thing is, you have to have the 1110 for the xtraview

 

[ToxicBunny]

I'll repost this from the OTHER thread that MarionS decided to create on EXACTLY the same issue.....

They've done something with the 1110...

They were pretty blunt about it in the SmartCard adverts they've run for the last year or so....

If you have a 1110 you need to take the decoder with you when you go on holiday.. otherwise just re-marry the smartcard to the new decoder...

Like always it irritates me when people jump on their highhorse and attack a company without actually having a clue... MC were very forthcoming about this whole process, and that you have to take the 1110 decoder and smartcard with you on holiday if you want to watch DSTV. Yes its carp, and its totally unnecessary if you ask me, but they weren't secretive about what they were doing.

 

[hoegh]

people jumping on the high horses is quite a common occurance on this forum

 

[ToxicBunny]

Yeah... we all seem to own VERY high horses..

 

[Dolby]

Tons of annoying adverts at the time about it actually!

But remember she didn't have DSTV at the time - how was she to know?

By the same token, the retailer wouldn't have even thought to have told you unless you asked. I know I wouldn't have - not out of nastiness or deciet, but merely could I'd have no idea.

 

[sand_man]

It's to counter fraud and justified as far as I'm concerned.

 

[avr-rulez]

Yeah "Major Fraud"

Can I stick my legal subbed card in your box - wheres the fraud in that - MC crapper?

oooh Sorry -I forgot - you could have stolen the box ....

 

[R13...]

the rate at which lazy whiners are running to Hello Peter will surely start to cost him business. people run there at the earliest sign of trouble. the internet has made people real lazy...

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Yeah "Major Fraud"

Can I stick my legal subbed card in your box - wheres the fraud in that - MC crapper?

oooh Sorry -I forgot - you could have stolen the box ....

And all the counterfeit smart cards? That's why they did it

 

[semiautomatix]

the rate at which lazy whiners are running to Hello Peter will surely start to cost him business. people run there at the earliest sign of trouble. the internet has made people real lazy...

Good gracious man! How did you manage to turn this thread about Multichoice into another one of your Peter Cheales personal vendetta threads?

Stay on topic.

 

[bex.cpt]

This has been the case since 2008 if you decide to buy the cheaper decoder then you will have to move WITH the decoder

 

[bekdik]

Beware of Dstv

Title corrected.

 

[R13...]

Good gracious man! How did you manage to turn this thread about Multichoice into another one of your Peter Cheales personal vendetta threads?

Stay on topic.

WTF?
Are you drunk!

 

[Goodlucktoyou]

I'll repost this from the OTHER thread that MarionS decided to create on EXACTLY the same issue.....

They've done something with the 1110...

They were pretty blunt about it in the SmartCard adverts they've run for the last year or so....

If you have a 1110 you need to take the decoder with you when you go on holiday.. otherwise just re-marry the smartcard to the new decoder...

Like always it irritates me when people jump on their highhorse and attack a company without actually having a clue... MC were very forthcoming about this whole process, and that you have to take the 1110 decoder and smartcard with you on holiday if you want to watch DSTV. Yes its carp, and its totally unnecessary if you ask me, but they weren't secretive about what they were doing.

Yes I DID post the same topic on a different thread. I realised afterwards that I had made a mistake and posted under the wrong section. I DID apologise at the top of post. I will do so again - SORRY. I'm new to this.
It IS an opportunity to ride hobby horses - you are absolutely right and I confess to having lots of them - particularly ones about monopolies who think they can do what they like and don't at least have a go at listening to your concerns.
I didn't see the adverts because I didn't have DSTV at the time. I don't want to fly with a decoder and I don't think it is unreasonable to expect DSTV to make it clear how their smart card 'remarrying process' works depending on which decoder you have. Here comes another hobby horse - I think they suck!

 

[ToxicBunny]

Shame for you then...

Granted the salesman SHOULD have told you when you got the 1110 that this was a limitation with that specific decoder, but it is NOT Multichoices fault that he/she didn't, its the store that sold you the solution that you should be k@king on.

Please direct your anger at the right place. The smartcard marrying process has been in place for probably over a year now.. its never caused me any grief, yes it is a slight irritation, but thats about it.

 

[Captain Beer]

Great, take the decoder with you. Better make sure you take some RCA cables too cause the 1110 is the only singleview decoder that uses F-connectors for the RF output

 

[Goodlucktoyou]

Shame for you then...

Granted the salesman SHOULD have told you when you got the 1110 that this was a limitation with that specific decoder, but it is NOT Multichoices fault that he/she didn't, its the store that sold you the solution that you should be k@king on.

Please direct your anger at the right place. The smartcard marrying process has been in place for probably over a year now.. its never caused me any grief, yes it is a slight irritation, but thats about it.

Who the best person to k@k on is a matter of opinion!
Is your understanding also that this means the smart card for a 1110 can not be moved?

 

[semiautomatix]

Who the best person to k@k on is a matter of opinion!
Is your understanding also that this means the smart card for a 1110 can not be moved?

However, we do know that they can swop the smart cards and re-marry them to the decoder. However, I'm guessing this will have to be done at MC.