Is accepting free cable a sin?

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Stella_Matutina

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My husband and I have the basic cable channels 2-20 as part of a package deal with the internet. A few months ago, our TV was staticky and we called the cable company to fix it. The tech guy said, “You’re wire was very old and I replaced it. I might have accidentally given you a few more channels but whatever.” We’ve automatically programmed our remote to skip channels we don’t get so I didn’t notice that the tech guy really did give us extra channels until yesterday when I was just fiddling with the remote and hit some numbers that changed the channel to an extra cable channel that we’ve never had before. Turns out we have way more channles- like 2-100 than what we thought. BUT we are only paying for 2-20. The tech guy said, “But whatever…” but does that mean it is okay to accept this free cable? Should we call the cable company first thing Monday morning?
 
Stella_Matutina said:
My husband and I have the basic cable channels 2-20 as part of a package deal with the internet. A few months ago, our TV was staticky and we called the cable company to fix it. The tech guy said, “You’re wire was very old and I replaced it. I might have accidentally given you a few more channels but whatever.” We’ve automatically programmed our remote to skip channels we don’t get so I didn’t notice that the tech guy really did give us extra channels until yesterday when I was just fiddling with the remote and hit some numbers that changed the channel to an extra cable channel that we’ve never had before. Turns out we have way more channles- like 2-100 than what we thought. BUT we are only paying for 2-20. The tech guy said, “But whatever…” but does that mean it is okay to accept this free cable? Should we call the cable company first thing Monday morning?
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I can see it from either side- by accepting them and using the channels you are receiving a service you are not entitled too. Perhaps this may strain the network of the cable company and increase their expenses (albeit by a fraction of a penny.)
On the other hand, the cable guy made a mistake that is not harming anyone- why should you be responsible for fixing it?
 
As tempting as it is to take free cable, it is theft if you are not paying for it and the company isn’t aware you have it. The technician should have been more thorough in his work (it’s a simple filter that should be on your cable line, sounds like he removed your filter altogether rather than fix the actual issue with your line). He’s made you an accomplice to his poor job performance. Not only is he giving away cable without proper authorization, he’s also taking pay for jobs he is not completing properly. You should call the cable company. They may not even bother to send out another tech, but at least they will be aware of it and you won’t tarnish your reputation as an honest customer.
 
Actually, I was just thinking about it and I think we should call the company. I understand your point about not being held responsible for someone else’s mistake and if for some reason to correct this mistake I had to pay a bunch of money or risk my safety or something like that, I wouldn’t bother, but picking up the phone to notify someone is hardly “going out of my way” to fix someone else’s mistake.

I was thinking about a time that one of my coworker’s received the wrong amount of money on her paycheck and she notified the agency and they asked her to pay the money back. I would have done the same thing if that happened to me. I wouldn’t accept money that I didn’t work for because of someone else’s mistake. So, I think in this case, the same rule applies.

What do you all think? If the bank accidentally cut you a check that was way more than it was supposed to be, would you accept it? Would it be morally wrong to accept it?

Like the time that guy received a 2 million dollar check by accident and turned it in. [abc4.com/news/local/story/Utah-man-mistakenly-gets-check-for-two-million/F7PeoXoFuk2Djr09fODnoA.cspx](Here’s the article)
 
Pious prudence would have it that you call the cable company immediately and inform them of the error in your favor.

But I would have a very hard time doing that. 😊
 
I agree with TamM. If the company itself is not aware of your extra channels and you knowingly continue to accept them, it would be the same as stealing. Of course, you could simply continue to block those channels through your TV and, using a little self control, refuse to watch those channels. But that would still leave open the occasion of sin. Not to mention, the cable guy did a shotty job, and by not reporting the problem you are like an accomplice in his sin. If it were me, I don’t think I would tell them exactly what the guy said, but simply report the problem. If they have other similar reports, they will eventually figure out where the real problem lies. Plus, who knows, they may even respect your honesty and allow you to keep the channels! Then it would be totally moral to accept them!

Hope this helps!
 
I have to be honest with you guys- even though we plan to call the company tomorrow, I have been watching the extra channels in the mean time. That brings up a new moral question- is it a sin to watch the extra channels until the problem can be fixed/ company be notified?
 
Stella_Matutina said:
I have to be honest with you guys- even though we plan to call the company tomorrow, I have been watching the extra channels in the mean time. That brings up a new moral question- is it a sin to watch the extra channels until the problem can be fixed/ company be notified?
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Yes, it is.

Maybe you can inquire when you call about how much the upgrade would cost. If it’s not that expensive, then maybe you can keep them! 😃
 
Stella_Matutina said:
I have to be honest with you guys- even though we plan to call the company tomorrow, I have been watching the extra channels in the mean time. That brings up a new moral question- is it a sin to watch the extra channels until the problem can be fixed/ company be notified?
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When you call, ask if you can watch the channels in the meantime to see if you like any of them. You can also inquire about cost at the same time. They will most likely say sure, and ask you to call back right away if you change your mind and want to put the channels on billing. Once they know you have them you won’t need to feel so torn over all this. They will appriciate your honesty 🙂
 
I think this is the cable guy’s problem. He knew he possibly gave you more channels, but he dismissed it. It was his responsibility. Unless you want to get the guy in trouble. I wouldn’t complain. Just recently I ordered a small tossed salad at a pizza restaurant. The guy made me a large instead. Told me he made a mistake, but said he wouldn’t charge me for it. I took the salad and didn’t complain to the boss. Why would I want to get some guy in trouble for an honest mistake? Does that make me a thief?
 
If they are still getting my money, then I think I am paying them for the channels.

It’s different if you were stealing the channels for free purposely. At the end of the day, where is the money going to? It’s not going back to you.
 
Nicollle said:
I think this is the cable guy’s problem. He knew he possibly gave you more channels, but he dismissed it. It was his responsibility. Unless you want to get the guy in trouble. I wouldn’t complain. Just recently I ordered a small tossed salad at a pizza restaurant. The guy made me a large instead. Told me he made a mistake, but said he wouldn’t charge me for it. I took the salad and didn’t complain to the boss. Why would I want to get some guy in trouble for an honest mistake? Does that make me a thief?
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I agree with you. But I think food is different because you can’t return it. I don’t think you were a thief in that situation and I don’t think that I would necessarily be a “thief” in my situation either. But I do think that accepting something I didn’t pay for that I can easily return is not honest.

Has anyone seen that King of Queens episode where the cashier makes Carrie take that iPod?
 
The fact that you can physically access the extra channels doesn’t cost the cable company anything. Why not just refrain from watching the extra channels? That way, you won’t get the repairman in trouble, and you won’t be using anything you didn’t pay for.
 
cam100 said:
The fact that you can physically access the extra channels doesn’t cost the cable company anything. Why not just refrain from watching the extra channels? That way, you won’t get the repairman in trouble, and you won’t be using anything you didn’t pay for.
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I agree! Does even watching the extra channels cost the company?
 
Nicollle said:
I agree! Does even watching the extra channels cost the company?
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No, it doesn’t; the channels are being transmitted regardless. The cable company doesn’t know if you’re watching them or not. They use a filter to block channels you are not supposed to get, but if a technician opens the filter, you get the channels. However, from a moral perspective, one can argue that since you are supposed to pay extra for the extra channels, you shouldn’t use them even if you get illegal access. One thing I would NOT do, however, is to call the cable company because you might make the technician lose his job.
 
Update: So I called the cable company and the guy didn’t get in trouble. They set up an appointment to put the filter back on today- and no one showed.🤷 Back to the drawing board.
 
Stella_Matutina said:
Update: So I called the cable company and the guy didn’t get in trouble. They set up an appointment to put the filter back on today- and no one showed.🤷 Back to the drawing board.
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I’m not surprised, my friend had the problem. She called a couple of times and told them she had too many channels and they never did anything about it. At that point, I don’t think you are responsible anymore. It isn’t like you can drag them out to fix it. :rolleyes: 😃
 
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