On desktop: When I try to access SKY TV with M$ Edge on Virgin Media,
at some point I am asked for my KEY to plug into a USB port. How do I acquire such a key?
I do know that I can get access via my mobile, but still I would like
to know how to get a key, presumably on a thumb drive?
On 12/04/2026 16:20, Jim the Geordie wrote:
On desktop: When I try to access SKY TV with M$ Edge on Virgin Media,You need to buy them from Amazon for desktop access.
at some point I am asked for my KEY to plug into a USB port. How do I
acquire such a key?
I do know that I can get access via my mobile, but still I would like
to know how to get a key, presumably on a thumb drive?
<https://www.amazon.co.uk/fido-u2f/s?k=fido+u2f>
On desktop: When I try to access SKY TV with M$ Edge on Virgin Media, at some point I am asked for my KEY to plug into a USB port. How do I
acquire such a key?
I do know that I can get access via my mobile, but still I would like to know how to get a key, presumably on a thumb drive?
Jim the Geordie <jim@geordieland.com> wrote:
On desktop: When I try to access SKY TV with M$ Edge on Virgin Media, at
some point I am asked for my KEY to plug into a USB port. How do I
acquire such a key?
I do know that I can get access via my mobile, but still I would like to
know how to get a key, presumably on a thumb drive?
https://support.sky.ch/hc/en-us/articles/360011970679-Sky-TV-Stick-Installation-Configuration#:~:text=If%20TV%20has%20a%20powered,power%20outlet%20through%20power%20adapter.&text=Enter%20Settings%20%2D%3E%20Network%20to%20turn,Fi%20network%20with%20correct%20password.
That says the USB device plugs into a compatible TV, not into your
desktop PC.
https://support.sky.ch/hc/en-us/articles/115005432085-How-do-I-install-the-Sky-app-on-my-smartphone-or-tablet
That mentions how to use their app on your phone.
https://support.sky.ch/hc/en-us
More information there. Search on "usb".
Apparently Sky TV implements geofencing. If you're not in a region they permit access, you'll have to see if a VPN circumvents their geofencing. Choose a VPN that has an exit node in the UK. Sky blocks many free or
public proxies and VPNs.
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
In article <10rgogh$2od13$1@dont-email.me>, nospam@needed.invalid
says...
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
The BBC, like the NHS, is one of the reasons for wanting to live in the
UK. Independent, no ads, and an astonishingly wide range of content.
In article <10rgogh$2od13$1@dont-email.me>, nospam@needed.invalid
says...
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
The BBC, like the NHS, is one of the reasons for wanting to live in the
UK. Independent, no ads, and an astonishingly wide range of content.
The BBC, like the NHS, is one of the reasons for wanting to live in the
UK. Independent, no ads, and an astonishingly wide range of content.
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
On Mon, 4/13/2026 7:44 AM, Philip Herlihy wrote:
In article <10rgogh$2od13$1@dont-email.me>, nospam@needed.invalid
says...
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom >>>
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
The BBC, like the NHS, is one of the reasons for wanting to live in the
UK. Independent, no ads, and an astonishingly wide range of content.
We have similar here. One of them used to run Coronation Street :-)
That was a series they bought, and showed on certain days.
But the funding of such things, is subject to whim, so you
never really know how long it will last. And the state the
world is in today, there is really no money any more for
more than the basics ("potholes" and "food banks").
Paul
Snip <
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
In article <10rkt5n$3vfa7$1@dont-email.me>, wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com
says...
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom >>>
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
That's not true. Yes, there is a quantity of cross-advertising of
content, proabably because people may not realise the breadth of content
on all the many BBC channels (TV and radio). But programmes aren't interrupted, and you can watch a three hour movie without a single
advert. Then you get told about other programmes you might want to
watch.
Outside the UK it may be different, and I believe the BBC News Channel
is syndicated (particularly to the USA) and carries a small amount of commercial advertising (in the UK a rolling feed of news items is shown during these announced "breaks").
The UK also has commercial TV stations galore, and these do carry advertising; popular shows can be interrupted three or four times an
hour to sell you soap powder or funerals. And of course content, while strictly independent of sponsors, has to be chosen to attract a
marketable demographic. The BBC keeps standards high because of the competition it represents - we do very well here.
There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
On 12/04/2026 19:32, Paul wrote:
Snip <
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
In article <10rkt5n$3vfa7$1@dont-email.me>, wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com
says...
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom >>>
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
That's not true. Yes, there is a quantity of cross-advertising of
content, proabably because people may not realise the breadth of content
on all the many BBC channels (TV and radio). But programmes aren't interrupted, and you can watch a three hour movie without a single
advert. Then you get told about other programmes you might want to
watch.
Outside the UK it may be different, and I believe the BBC News Channel
is syndicated (particularly to the USA) and carries a small amount of commercial advertising (in the UK a rolling feed of news items is shown during these announced "breaks").
The UK also has commercial TV stations galore, and these do carry advertising; popular shows can be interrupted three or four times an
hour to sell you soap powder or funerals. And of course content, while strictly independent of sponsors, has to be chosen to attract a
marketable demographic. The BBC keeps standards high because of the competition it represents - we do very well here.
On 2026/4/14 9:16:57, wasbit wrote:
On 12/04/2026 19:32, Paul wrote:I don't think there's "as much" (certainly none _within_ programmes) -
Snip <
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom >>>
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
and, on the commercial channels I watch, there's plenty of
self-promotion (or promotion of programmes on other channels within the
same company), _as well as_ product and service advertising.
Which is for funerals and to an infuriating extent gambling. If you'd
asked me 20 or 30 years ago, I'd have expected gambling advertising to
have gone the same way as tobacco advertising (for much the same
reasons), but sadly no government has had the guts - and gambling has
now grown into a worse monster than tobacco was, with online.
On 2026-04-14 19:00, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
On 2026/4/14 9:16:57, wasbit wrote:
On 12/04/2026 19:32, Paul wrote:I don't think there's "as much" (certainly none _within_ programmes) -
Snip <
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom >>>>
-a-a-a-a-a "The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
-a-a-a-a-a "This applies regardless of transmission method"
There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
and, on the commercial channels I watch, there's plenty of
self-promotion (or promotion of programmes on other channels within the
same company), _as well as_ product and service advertising.
Which is for funerals and to an infuriating extent gambling. If you'd
asked me 20 or 30 years ago, I'd have expected gambling advertising to
have gone the same way as tobacco advertising (for much the same
reasons), but sadly no government has had the guts - and gambling has
now grown into a worse monster than tobacco was, with online.
Here they managed to prohibit gambling adverts before midnight,
I think it is the cut time. They are a pest. I feel tempted to call or something and say they are against the true religionrao and they will be burned in hell for centuries. Not that I have any religion.
Funeral adverts, no, I don't remember seeing any :-D
I'd like to be able, on fibre TV, to vote adverts (feedback). Or in things like Prime Video.
In article <10rkt5n$3vfa7$1@dont-email.me>, wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com
says...
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom >>>
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
That's not true. Yes, there is a quantity of cross-advertising of
content, proabably because people may not realise the breadth of content
on all the many BBC channels (TV and radio). But programmes aren't interrupted, and you can watch a three hour movie without a single
advert. Then you get told about other programmes you might want to
watch.
Outside the UK it may be different, and I believe the BBC News Channel
is syndicated (particularly to the USA) and carries a small amount of commercial advertising (in the UK a rolling feed of news items is shown during these announced "breaks").
The UK also has commercial TV stations galore, and these do carry advertising; popular shows can be interrupted three or four times an
hour to sell you soap powder or funerals. And of course content, while strictly independent of sponsors, has to be chosen to attract a
marketable demographic. The BBC keeps standards high because of the competition it represents - we do very well here.
On Tue, 4/14/2026 8:28 AM, Philip Herlihy wrote:
In article <10rkt5n$3vfa7$1@dont-email.me>, wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com
says...
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom >>>>
"The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
"This applies regardless of transmission method"
There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
That's not true. Yes, there is a quantity of cross-advertising of
content, proabably because people may not realise the breadth of content
on all the many BBC channels (TV and radio). But programmes aren't
interrupted, and you can watch a three hour movie without a single
advert. Then you get told about other programmes you might want to
watch.
Outside the UK it may be different, and I believe the BBC News Channel
is syndicated (particularly to the USA) and carries a small amount of
commercial advertising (in the UK a rolling feed of news items is shown
during these announced "breaks").
The UK also has commercial TV stations galore, and these do carry
advertising; popular shows can be interrupted three or four times an
hour to sell you soap powder or funerals. And of course content, while
strictly independent of sponsors, has to be chosen to attract a
marketable demographic. The BBC keeps standards high because of the
competition it represents - we do very well here.
On the public broadcasters here, the smaller one uses the "break"
method, where there is a ten minute gap at the end of the movie, and
they show upcoming items, or promote other of their content. There
are no Tide Pods for sale during that break.
The national public broadcaster on the other hand, is on more
of a commercial footing, and that's mainly because some day,
the funding will get cut. And the CEO there, aims to be ready
for that day. The last time the activities there were reviewed,
their CEO was defiant with regard to keeping the thing funded
by going commercial.
For a competing "commercial" broadcaster, they have cut back
on their news reporting staff,
On 14/04/2026 13:28, Philip Herlihy wrote:
In article <10rkt5n$3vfa7$1@dont-email.me>, wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com
says...
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom >>>>
-a-a-a-a-a "The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
-a-a-a-a-a "This applies regardless of transmission method"
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
That's not true.-a Yes, there is a quantity of cross-advertising of
content, proabably because people may not realise the breadth of content
on all the many BBC channels (TV and radio).-a But programmes aren't
interrupted, and you can watch a three hour movie without a single
advert.-a Then you get told about other programmes you might want to
watch.
Outside the UK it may be different, and I believe the BBC News Channel
is syndicated (particularly to the USA) and carries a small amount of
commercial advertising (in the UK a rolling feed of news items is shown
during these announced "breaks").
The UK also has commercial TV stations galore, and these do carry
advertising; popular shows can be interrupted three or four times an
hour to sell you soap powder or funerals.-a And of course content, while
strictly independent of sponsors, has to be chosen to attract a
marketable demographic.-a The BBC keeps standards high because of the
competition it represents - we do very well here.
You are missing the point. It is not about what others do.
We have been told for years that we either have to have a license or advertising.
I don't want, or need, to see what other content is available from the
BBC & I shouldn't have it forced on me.
Some days we never watch the BBC at all. But that also applies to ITV, & channels 4 & 5. Thank god for the other free channels & recordings.
On Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:16:57 +0100, wasbit <wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com>
wrote:
There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
"We interrupt this news program to bring you and ad for the news program"
I see this in the USA. What possible sense can it make?
On 15/04/2026 6:38 pm, wasbit wrote:
You are missing the point. It is not about what others do.
We have been told for years that we either have to have a license or
advertising.
I don't want, or need, to see what other content is available from the
BBC & I shouldn't have it forced on me.
Some days we never watch the BBC at all. But that also applies to ITV,
& channels 4 & 5. Thank god for the other free channels & recordings.
In one of my other newsgroups, one of the posters from Britain claims he doesn't watch the BBC but downloads all the BBC content he watches ....
so bitches that he shouldn't have to pay a License fee .... but does pay.
In one of my other newsgroups, one of the posters from Britain claims he doesn't watch the BBC but downloads all the BBC content he watches ....
so bitches that he shouldn't have to pay a License fee .... but does pay.
On 14/04/2026 11:33 pm, Paul wrote:
On Tue, 4/14/2026 8:28 AM, Philip Herlihy wrote:
In article <10rkt5n$3vfa7$1@dont-email.me>, wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com
says...
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_licensing_in_the_United_Kingdom >>>>>
-a-a-a-a-a "The television licence fee is collected by the BBC..."
-a-a-a-a-a "This applies regardless of transmission method"
There is as much self promotion on the BBC channels as there is
advertising on the commercial channels. Even the news isn't exempt.
That's not true.-a Yes, there is a quantity of cross-advertising of
content, proabably because people may not realise the breadth of content >>> on all the many BBC channels (TV and radio).-a But programmes aren't
interrupted, and you can watch a three hour movie without a single
advert.-a Then you get told about other programmes you might want to
watch.
Outside the UK it may be different, and I believe the BBC News Channel
is syndicated (particularly to the USA) and carries a small amount of
commercial advertising (in the UK a rolling feed of news items is shown
during these announced "breaks").
The UK also has commercial TV stations galore, and these do carry
advertising; popular shows can be interrupted three or four times an
hour to sell you soap powder or funerals.-a And of course content, while >>> strictly independent of sponsors, has to be chosen to attract a
marketable demographic.-a The BBC keeps standards high because of the
competition it represents - we do very well here.
On the public broadcasters here, the smaller one uses the "break"
method, where there is a ten minute gap at the end of the movie, and
they show upcoming items, or promote other of their content. There
are no Tide Pods for sale during that break.
The national public broadcaster on the other hand, is on more
of a commercial footing, and that's mainly because some day,
the funding will get cut. And the CEO there, aims to be ready
for that day. The last time the activities there were reviewed,
their CEO was defiant with regard to keeping the thing funded
by going commercial.
For a competing "commercial" broadcaster, they have cut back
on their news reporting staff,
On a similar but different situation ..... Our Regional T.V. Networks are, basically, re-broadcasters of the Capital City Networks with National/Capital City Ads replaced by Ads for Local Companies. And some provide Regional News Services as well.
Recently, one of the regional North-West Victoria Digital repeater service died .... so we were switched to a different repeater service which serviced North-East Victoria (where I had lived previously) so the programs are all the same but the News Service is for a different District .... but the Reporters and On-Screen Studio Staff are all the same as before ..... so do the one set of reporters/etc move from one district to another for each Story each AND EVERY Day??
What non-UK readers might like to be warned about is that nearly all >conversations about TV in the UK end up with someone or other bitching
about the License Fee, because that is a common right-wing propaganda
point. [The right wing don't like main stream media in general and the
BBC in particular because, whatever the failures of such sources and
they are many, often they do a reasonable job of debunking the lies of
the right-wing.]
On 2026/4/15 12:43:16, Daniel70 wrote:
[]
In one of my other newsgroups, one of the posters from Britain claims he
doesn't watch the BBC but downloads all the BBC content he watches ....
so bitches that he shouldn't have to pay a License fee .... but does pay.
I haven't kept up with the _legal_ situation, but _morally_, if he's
using BBC content, he _should_ pay - certainly shouldn't bitch about it.
Radio's a good comparison - there is nothing like Radio4 (speech and
drama) available from the private sector. Radio3 (classical) has at
least two competitors, but they tend to focus on more familiar and less stretching content, without the musical analysis, or full-length opera.
Take away the arms-length funding and replace that with ratings-
conscious sponsors and much of the edgy stuff would quickly vanish - and that's the stuff that makes listeners grow in understanding and
appreciation.
Sure, you could hide within your gated compound and let "the outside" go
to Hell, but publicly funded arts provision means higher standards, that
even our commercial offerings have to strive to match. The BBC license
fee is one "tax" I pay gladly, as it repays me over and over every day.
Here they managed to prohibit gambling adverts before midnight, I think
it is the cut time. They are a pest. I feel tempted to call or something
and say they are against the true religionO and they will be burned in
hell for centuries. Not that I have any religion.
Funeral adverts, no, I don't remember seeing any :-D
I'd like to be able, on fibre TV, to vote adverts (feedback). Or in
things like Prime Video.
On Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:29:29 +0200, "Carlos E.R."
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Here they managed to prohibit gambling adverts before midnight, I think
it is the cut time. They are a pest. I feel tempted to call or something
and say they are against the true religionrao and they will be burned in
hell for centuries. Not that I have any religion.
Funeral adverts, no, I don't remember seeing any :-D
I'd like to be able, on fibre TV, to vote adverts (feedback). Or in
things like Prime Video.
Speaking of Prime Video, I've had the ad-free option (billed monthly)
for the past year, but they recently introduced annual billing for a 23% discount. I had to cancel the ad-free monthly in order to sign up for
the ad-free annual. All is now well.
On 2026-04-15 12:43, Daniel70 wrote:
On 15/04/2026 6:38 pm, wasbit wrote:
You are missing the point. It is not about what others do.
We have been told for years that we either have to have a license or
advertising.
I don't want, or need, to see what other content is available from
the BBC & I shouldn't have it forced on me.
Some days we never watch the BBC at all. But that also applies to
ITV, & channels 4 & 5. Thank god for the other free channels &
recordings.
In one of my other newsgroups, one of the posters from Britain claims
he doesn't watch the BBC but downloads all the BBC content he
watches .... so bitches that he shouldn't have to pay a License
fee .... but does pay.
What non-UK readers might like to be warned about is that nearly all conversations about TV in the UK end up with someone or other bitching
about the License Fee, because that is a common right-wing propaganda point.-a [The right wing don't like main stream media in general and the
BBC in particular because, whatever the failures of such sources and
they are many, often they do a reasonable job of debunking the lies of
the right-wing.]
On 14/04/2026 10:28 pm, Philip Herlihy wrote:
In article <10rkt5n$3vfa7$1@dont-email.me>, wasbit@REMOVEhotmail.com
says...
The UK has a TV licensing scheme.
Sounds very similar to Our ABC here in Australia. Except WE don't pay
T.V. License Fees ... well not as a separate payment.
Our Federal Government has recently introduced Legislation to BAN
Commercial T.V. stations from showing Betting Ads from (I think) a half
hour prior to, during, or half hour after any Sporting Event.
Sounds reasonable to me.--
On 16/04/2026 11:20 am, Char Jackson wrote:
On Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:29:29 +0200, "Carlos E.R."WHAT?? They couldn't switch you directly over to ad-free annual?? Weird.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Here they managed to prohibit gambling adverts before midnight, I think
it is the cut time. They are a pest. I feel tempted to call or something >>> and say they are against the true religionO and they will be burned in
hell for centuries. Not that I have any religion.
Funeral adverts, no, I don't remember seeing any :-D
I'd like to be able, on fibre TV, to vote adverts (feedback). Or in
things like Prime Video.
Speaking of Prime Video, I've had the ad-free option (billed monthly)
for the past year, but they recently introduced annual billing for a 23%
discount. I had to cancel the ad-free monthly in order to sign up for
the ad-free annual. All is now well.
On Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:26:44 +1000, Daniel70
<daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
On 16/04/2026 11:20 am, Char Jackson wrote:
On Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:29:29 +0200, "Carlos E.R."WHAT?? They couldn't switch you directly over to ad-free annual?? Weird.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Here they managed to prohibit gambling adverts before midnight, I think >>>> it is the cut time. They are a pest. I feel tempted to call or something >>>> and say they are against the true religionrao and they will be burned in >>>> hell for centuries. Not that I have any religion.
Funeral adverts, no, I don't remember seeing any :-D
I'd like to be able, on fibre TV, to vote adverts (feedback). Or in
things like Prime Video.
Speaking of Prime Video, I've had the ad-free option (billed monthly)
for the past year, but they recently introduced annual billing for a 23% >>> discount. I had to cancel the ad-free monthly in order to sign up for
the ad-free annual. All is now well.
It might be different in other countries, but for me in the US when I'm
on the program, the only available option is to cancel, which then
becomes effective at the end of the current period. Once fully canceled,
I can enroll again, and only then do I see the two payment options:
monthly or annual.
On 17/04/2026 6:36 am, Char Jackson wrote:
On Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:26:44 +1000, Daniel70Ah!! So you did this On-line. I thought you might have rung up and
<daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
On 16/04/2026 11:20 am, Char Jackson wrote:
On Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:29:29 +0200, "Carlos E.R."WHAT?? They couldn't switch you directly over to ad-free annual?? Weird.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Here they managed to prohibit gambling adverts before midnight, I
think
it is the cut time. They are a pest. I feel tempted to call or
something
and say they are against the true religionrao and they will be burned in >>>>> hell for centuries. Not that I have any religion.
Funeral adverts, no, I don't remember seeing any :-D
I'd like to be able, on fibre TV, to vote adverts (feedback). Or in
things like Prime Video.
Speaking of Prime Video, I've had the ad-free option (billed monthly)
for the past year, but they recently introduced annual billing for a
23%
discount. I had to cancel the ad-free monthly in order to sign up for
the ad-free annual. All is now well.
It might be different in other countries, but for me in the US when I'm
on the program, the only available option is to cancel, which then
becomes effective at the end of the current period. Once fully canceled,
I can enroll again, and only then do I see the two payment options:
monthly or annual.
spoken to a real, live, human. ;-P
On 4/16/2026 6:04 PM, Daniel70 wrote:
On 17/04/2026 6:36 am, Char Jackson wrote:
On Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:26:44 +1000, Daniel70Ah!! So you did this On-line. I thought you might have rung up and
<daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
On 16/04/2026 11:20 am, Char Jackson wrote:
On Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:29:29 +0200, "Carlos E.R."WHAT?? They couldn't switch you directly over to ad-free
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Here they managed to prohibit gambling adverts before
midnight, I think it is the cut time. They are a pest. I
feel tempted to call or something and say they are against
the true religionrao and they will be burned in hell for
centuries. Not that I have any religion.
Funeral adverts, no, I don't remember seeing any :-D
I'd like to be able, on fibre TV, to vote adverts
(feedback). Or in things like Prime Video.
Speaking of Prime Video, I've had the ad-free option (billed
monthly) for the past year, but they recently introduced
annual billing for a 23% discount. I had to cancel the
ad-free monthly in order to sign up for the ad-free annual.
All is now well.
annual?? Weird.
It might be different in other countries, but for me in the US
when I'm on the program, the only available option is to cancel,
which then becomes effective at the end of the current period.
Once fully canceled, I can enroll again, and only then do I see
the two payment options: monthly or annual.
spoken to a real, live, human. ;-P
Afiak, like many other subscription services, an existing plan may
not be able to be converted (human or online) to a different plan for
the same account without cancelling the existing plan(per the TOS of
the original agreement) and its billing cycle end date before the opportunity arises to sign up for another plan.
In fact, by contract or other requirements, a new plan signup after cancelling an existing contract may have a waiting period for the
same person or residence - e.g. end of billing cycle, one month or
longer(3 months) after the end of the current billing cycle.
On 17/04/2026 6:25 pm, ...w-i|#-o-#-n|# wrote:
On 4/16/2026 6:04 PM, Daniel70 wrote:
On 17/04/2026 6:36 am, Char Jackson wrote:
On Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:26:44 +1000, Daniel70Ah!! So you did this On-line. I thought you might have rung up and
<daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
On 16/04/2026 11:20 am, Char Jackson wrote:
On Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:29:29 +0200, "Carlos E.R."WHAT?? They couldn't switch you directly over to ad-free
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Here they managed to prohibit gambling adverts before
midnight, I think it is the cut time. They are a pest. I
feel tempted to call or something and say they are against
the true religionrao and they will be burned in hell for
centuries. Not that I have any religion.
Funeral adverts, no, I don't remember seeing any :-D
I'd like to be able, on fibre TV, to vote adverts
(feedback). Or in things like Prime Video.
Speaking of Prime Video, I've had the ad-free option (billed
monthly) for the past year, but they recently introduced
annual billing for a 23% discount. I had to cancel the
ad-free monthly in order to sign up for the ad-free annual.
All is now well.
annual?? Weird.
It might be different in other countries, but for me in the US
when I'm on the program, the only available option is to cancel,
which then becomes effective at the end of the current period.
Once fully canceled, I can enroll again, and only then do I see
the two payment options: monthly or annual.
spoken to a real, live, human. ;-P
Afiak, like many other subscription services, an existing plan may
not be able to be converted (human or online) to a different plan for
the same account without cancelling the existing plan(per the TOS of
the original agreement) and its billing cycle end date before the
opportunity arises to sign up for another plan.
I would have thought whatever portion of that months payment remains
gets credited towards the Annual Fee.
So if monthly fee was $30 and annual fee was $250, if customer were
halfway through the month, create a $15 credit on annual account, then require $235 payment.
Something like that.
In fact, by contract or other requirements, a new plan signup afterWhy have a gap?? Surely that might incite the Customer to go looking elsewhere.
cancelling an existing contract may have a waiting period for the
same person or residence - e.g. end of billing cycle, one month or
longer(3 months) after the end of the current billing cycle.
On 2026/4/17 10:9:7, Daniel70 wrote:
On 17/04/2026 6:25 pm, ...w-i|#-o-#-n|# wrote:
Afiak, like many other subscription services, an existing plan
may not be able to be converted (human or online) to a different
plan for the same account without cancelling the existing
plan(per the TOS of the original agreement) and its billing cycle
end date before the opportunity arises to sign up for another
plan.
By no means exclusive to telecomm.s! The odd time I decide to buy a
year's Ancestry, the process (I always do it by 'phone, more chance
of offers) always ends with "anything else I can do for you?" to
which my reply is always "yes - cancel the sub. you've just set up
for me". I get the year I've paid for - but that's the only way to
turn off auto-remew. (OK, I can do it any time during the year, but
_I_ have to do it. So I do it on signup. No, there's definitely no
"loyalty discount" on renewal, unlike FindMyPast - if anything,
there's likely to be a rise.)
I would have thought whatever portion of that months payment
remains gets credited towards the Annual Fee.
So if monthly fee was $30 and annual fee was $250, if customer
were halfway through the month, create a $15 credit on annual
account, then require $235 payment.
Something like that.
Many companies don't, though.
The worst (though I _think_ it has been stamped on) is where there
are two parts to the contract (e. g. 'phones and broadband),
they stagger the expiry dates (e. g. one for 12 one for 18 months),
but the price they give you is discounted when you take both from the
same company. Thus stopping one when it ends means the remaining one
goes up in price, possibly to more than the combined was, and there's
an early termination fee.
In fact, by contract or other requirements, a new plan signupWhy have a gap?? Surely that might incite the Customer to go
after cancelling an existing contract may have a waiting period
for the same person or residence - e.g. end of billing cycle, one
month or longer(3 months) after the end of the current billing
cycle.
looking elsewhere.
Partly, to stop people taking advantage of "new customer" offers by cancelling existing. Again, I _think_ there are moves to stamp on over-discounted "new customer" offers.
On 18/04/2026 7:10 am, J. P. Gilliver wrote:[]
By no means exclusive to telecomm.s! The odd time I decide to buy a
year's Ancestry, the process (I always do it by 'phone, more chance
of offers) always ends with "anything else I can do for you?" to
which my reply is always "yes - cancel the sub. you've just set up
for me". I get the year I've paid for - but that's the only way to
turn off auto-remew. (OK, I can do it any time during the year, but
_I_ have to do it. So I do it on signup. No, there's definitely no
"loyalty discount" on renewal, unlike FindMyPast - if anything,
there's likely to be a rise.)
John, when your (cancelled) year runs out, can you then re-subscribe and
pick up (last years) Family Tree .... or do you have to start from
scratch again??
I do my Family Tree stuff on Tribalpages.com
I would have thought whatever portion of that months payment
remains gets credited towards the Annual Fee.
So if monthly fee was $30 and annual fee was $250, if customer
were halfway through the month, create a $15 credit on annual
account, then require $235 payment.
Something like that.
Many companies don't, though.
Or don't the companies tell "their" operators that they can??
The worst (though I _think_ it has been stamped on) is where there
are two parts to the contract (e. g. 'phones and broadband),
I still have a landline phone and my Internet connects wirelessly to the
box the hangs off my wall socket and feed the phone.
For a long time I would get a text/email from my landline phone company telling me that my phone credit had fallen below $10 so they were going
to automatically deduct $10 from my bank account/credit card to boost my balance.
Can't say I've received such a text/email in quite a time (twelve
months or more). I rarely actually use the Landline phone as a phone
.... just Internet ... which I pay about $40 a month for.
they stagger the expiry dates (e. g. one for 12 one for 18 months),Sound reasonably .... but how about some Customer Loyalty bonuses
but the price they give you is discounted when you take both from the
same company. Thus stopping one when it ends means the remaining one
goes up in price, possibly to more than the combined was, and there's
an early termination fee.
In fact, by contract or other requirements, a new plan signupWhy have a gap?? Surely that might incite the Customer to go
after cancelling an existing contract may have a waiting period
for the same person or residence - e.g. end of billing cycle, one
month or longer(3 months) after the end of the current billing
cycle.
looking elsewhere.
Partly, to stop people taking advantage of "new customer" offers by
cancelling existing. Again, I _think_ there are moves to stamp on
over-discounted "new customer" offers.
instead??
(SGB added)
On 2026/4/18 15:17:15, Daniel70 wrote:
On 18/04/2026 7:10 am, J. P. Gilliver wrote:[]
By no means exclusive to telecomm.s! The odd time I decide to buy a
year's Ancestry, the process (I always do it by 'phone, more chance
of offers) always ends with "anything else I can do for you?" to
which my reply is always "yes - cancel the sub. you've just set up
for me". I get the year I've paid for - but that's the only way to
turn off auto-remew. (OK, I can do it any time during the year, but
_I_ have to do it. So I do it on signup. No, there's definitely no
"loyalty discount" on renewal, unlike FindMyPast - if anything,
there's likely to be a rise.)
John, when your (cancelled) year runs out, can you then re-subscribe and
pick up (last years) Family Tree .... or do you have to start from
scratch again??
Yes, they retain your data (so far, anyway) - you can even access it
with a free "guest" account (you just can't access _other_ records); I
think they realised that if they ditched all the data of anyone who took
a break, nobody would come back, or at least a large enough proportion wouldn't.
I do my Family Tree stuff on Tribalpages.com
I wouldn't keep my master tree on _any_ company's site (Ancestry,
FindMyPast, My Heritage, ...) - both _in case_ they decided to lose it,
and because you could only access it while still paying (apart from
limited "guest" type access if any); I keep my master tree on this
computer, backed up once a week and month in various ways. I do upload a _copy_ (a GedCOM) every few years, but even that's a pain: if you use
(say) Ancestry's feature to link people in it to (say) records or
photos, there's no way to transfer those links to a new tree you upload (other than manually, which isn't practical if your tree is big [mine's
77xx people after 40+ years, and that's quite small as I only add what
I'm fairly sure of; some people have ones many times that]).
I would have thought whatever portion of that months payment
remains gets credited towards the Annual Fee.
So if monthly fee was $30 and annual fee was $250, if customer
were halfway through the month, create a $15 credit on annual
account, then require $235 payment.
Something like that.
Many companies don't, though.
Or don't the companies tell "their" operators that they can??
There's always _some_ latitude allowed to the operators, but it's fairly strictly controlled.
The worst (though I _think_ it has been stamped on) is where there
are two parts to the contract (e. g. 'phones and broadband),
I still have a landline phone and my Internet connects wirelessly to the
box the hangs off my wall socket and feed the phone.
For a long time I would get a text/email from my landline phone company
telling me that my phone credit had fallen below $10 so they were going
to automatically deduct $10 from my bank account/credit card to boost my
balance.
Can't say I've received such a text/email in quite a time (twelve
months or more). I rarely actually use the Landline phone as a phone
.... just Internet ... which I pay about $40 a month for.
they stagger the expiry dates (e. g. one for 12 one for 18 months),Sound reasonably .... but how about some Customer Loyalty bonuses
but the price they give you is discounted when you take both from the
same company. Thus stopping one when it ends means the remaining one
goes up in price, possibly to more than the combined was, and there's
an early termination fee.
In fact, by contract or other requirements, a new plan signupWhy have a gap?? Surely that might incite the Customer to go
after cancelling an existing contract may have a waiting period
for the same person or residence - e.g. end of billing cycle, one
month or longer(3 months) after the end of the current billing
cycle.
looking elsewhere.
Partly, to stop people taking advantage of "new customer" offers by
cancelling existing. Again, I _think_ there are moves to stamp on
over-discounted "new customer" offers.
instead??
I guess they find they get enough retention through lethargy (especially where automatic renewal is involved) that it would not be cost-effective.
At least UK legislation a few years ago made it compulsory for them to
show you what last year cost, in the renewal notice; I'm not sure if
that only applies to car insurance, though.
On 18/Apr/26 17:18, J. P. Gilliver wrote:[]
At least UK legislation a few years ago made it compulsory for them to
show you what last year cost, in the renewal notice; I'm not sure if
that only applies to car insurance, though.
Well worth signing up with one of the European Ancestry web sites, e.g.
DE, FR. Worldwide membership is a lot less than the standard UK site
cost and your subscription is valid to log in on the UK site
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