Installers took old LNB

[jwfgeol]

It's been a couple of months since my install, but I started thinking about this when someone mentioned taking another satellite to a tailgate. When I moved into my house (been a couple of years) the old owners left a Dish 500 on the roof and an old receiver that they didn't want (I'm supposing they owned both). I had cable through work, but back in the summer I decided to go with E*. The installers came and said they could take the old dish off the roof but would have to leave the poll that was mounted (no biggie). They left the old dish in the garage and I noticed later on that they took the LNB. It didn't really bother me at the time, but I just started thinking about if I ever do decided to use it at a tailgate or something like that and add the receiver that the old owner's left to my account (have one 622 now). Did the installers take something they shouldn't have?

[Roadwarrior]

No. They didn't do anything wrong. It's most likely leased equipment to begin with. And while I doubt they actually R/A the old piece of crap, they definitely didn't steal anything from you. If you want to tailgate you'll have to buy the equipment.

[jwfgeol]

No. They didn't do anything wrong. It's most likely leased equipment to begin with. And while I doubt they actually R/A the old piece of crap, they definitely didn't steal anything from you. If you want to tailgate you'll have to buy the equipment.

It's really not that big of a deal, but it if was leased equipment, why was it on the side of my house for two years not being used. If I would have taken it down myself (which I'm glad they did because it's a two story house) they would have never known there was a dish there in the first place. Plus, why would they just take the LNB and not the dish or receiver?

[dennisinsc]

Yes, IMO they took something they should not have taken. The LNB does not belong to them. If it was a leased item then they should have explained this before removing ANYTHING.

[oldford]

Buy another used or new one from e-bay. Old LNBs are not worth worrying about.

[rcdallas]

Yes, IMO they took something they should not have taken. The LNB does not belong to them. If it was a leased item then they should have explained this before removing ANYTHING.

It's common practice to remove the old LNBs.

How are they going to know of the LNB was leased or not? They wouldn't, but as said it's practice to return the old parts, switches, LNB, etc.

Most of the time I tossed the stuff in the customers garbage can, one less thing I'd have to throw away at the end of the day. Especially anything to do with Superdish.

[mdwatt]

As a technician we are required to return ANY parts we find at the customer's home that are not being used for the current customer's system. If we get there for an installation and there is a dish already there, we have to put up new parts and return the old ones to the office for return and recycling by DISH. Regardless of age or condition. The only exception is if the customer says that he purchased the equipment and that he is the rightful owner and will not allow me to take it, in which case I have to notate his account as such when I close out the work order. If it were leased equpment by the previous owner, then it was THAT persons responsibility to make sure that those parts were returned to DISH after they disconnected. If they moved, then they could leave the parts behind and DISH would not charge them. But if they disconnected and didn't return the parts, then the customer would be charged. If they OWNED the parts, then they could do with them as they wished, sell them, take them, use them as skeet targets...whatever. Did your tech return the LNB to the office? I doubt it, since he left the receiver. It probably went into his personal stash for when his inventory comes up a part short, or he needs one for a return that he lost. Regardless, it's nothing to concern yourself over. If the person that left those parts at your house a couple years ago hasn't come back to get them by now, then they never will.

[Andrewwski]

You have to ask the customer though, right?

[mdwatt]

It's not required as per policy. However, it is a good cover your own ass policy to make sure that it does not "belong" to the customer before you take it with you. Now as a DISH tech, if we see a DirecTV dish/switch, we're not even allowed to TOUCH it, let alone take it off it's mount or take it with us.

[Roadwarrior]

You have to ask the customer though, right?

I don't think that's in the 'rule book'. Why would it be? If the customer doesn't mention it at the time, then the installer has no reason to assume they would need it. It's a very uncommon request. I'm sorry but this is stupid. I know it was just an innocent question by the OP, but anyone who would actually make a big deal out of this is just trying to get something for nothing. It's a damned old LNB that probably didn't work anyway. I throw away several on a weekly basis. I've never had a single customer that wanted anything to do with any old dish, lnb or reciever left at a house they just moved into. They usually try to unload them on me, even Direct TV eq they expect me to get rid of for them. This is not something that is first and foremost on our minds since the majority lease the equipment.