cable television

[curious]

When we moved into a new house, the previous owners had a cable subscription (we assume). The cable was still hooked up. Our tv is cable-ready, so we automatically received the signal. We have never ordered it, received a bill or paid for it. We have watched it. We've heard that if the cable company discovers this, we could be charged for it. Is this true? If we wanted to subscribe to it, could we be required to pay back charges, even though the cable company is the one who has left it hooked up in the first place?

Location is Chicago.

 

[Charley C]

Whew. I feared they had charged you with "theft of services", a crime. My guess is that as you know it is not free and yet take advantage of it legally you may be liable, but that you could say I didn't know that and I did nothing and its your mistake and I never watched the premium channels and never had ordered them before. Don't lose sleep over it.

 

[poeticheart]

I have heard that ignorance cannot be used as a defense in most states. Claiming ignorance regarding your cable is unlikely to help you avoid problems with your cable company.

I would like to think that honesty might be rewarded by the cable company. I have known people in similar situations that have been honest with the cable company and have not suffered any retribution by them.