My3cents.com - My special needs under age child was playing with TV and pushed buttons and ordered 3 movies. Called RCN to have them remove they

Posted by Ytropious on 2010-09-09:

The thing is, it's still your responsibility to watch your child to make sure these things don't happen. They have no way of confirming that what you say is the truth. Think about it. I'm sure every day they get someone saying "I didn't actually order that movie my kid was playing with the remote" or some other story from people who probably DID order the movie and are trying to get out of it. I'm sorry, but lesson learned I guess. I don't know what RCN is, but through my cable you can set a parental password for pay channels and movies that keeps your kids from ordering. I'd look into that....

Posted by MRM on 2010-09-09:

Ytrop, you have said it first, set up a parental password. Bravo!

Posted by DebtorBasher on 2010-09-09:

You should have an option for parental control on your cable box, TV or whatever. Do you have that set? I believe it would be up to the company whether or not to waive those fees. Many people claim their underaged kids does this, and it's odd that it's always the 'porn' and not regular pay per view type movies. I'm not saying you're one of those people, but you have to realize, just how many dishonest people there are that will try pulling this on these companies.
In my opinion, all you can do is explain it to them and request the fee be dropped. Maybe even talk to more than one rep...sometimes, one rep will do what another is not willing.

Posted by ript on 2010-09-09:

There is a lock channel feature that as others have said, requires a password, or unsubscribe to the channel or channels.

Posted by justcuz on 2010-09-09:

I can see how, if a person didn't know it was an option, something like this could happen. RCN probably won't issue a credit, but I agree with DB, it doesn't hurt to try again. As much as I hate DirecTV's customer service, I will say when they were setting up my service, they walked me through all the options of how to set up parental controls and even block those channels from even showing up in the menu.

Posted by ript on 2010-09-09:

Do not underestimate your underage special needs child.

Posted by werelucky on 2010-09-10:

Did they ask you if you actually see your son push the buttons to order these three movies. Were they ordered all at once or three different times? Special need carries a wide spectrum of issues, did they ask how old this child was? If they were ordered all at once then you should of been refunded, if they were ordered at three different times, well......

Posted by punxnotdead80 on 2010-09-10:

Special needs is no excuse for bad behavior.

Posted by jktshff1 on 2010-09-10:

What the others said. Parental controls was my first thought also.

Posted by PepperElf on 2010-09-10:

i'm now wondering if the movies were viewed or not.

saying that your "special needs son ordered it by accident" may work if the movies were not viewed but if they can tell that the movies were viewed the bill still has to be paid.

kinda like... if the same son was in a grocery store and grabbed a candy bar and ate it, it would still have to be paid for even if he didn't have permission to get the bar or if he didn't understand it.


as others have suggestion it may be time to add in parental controls.
depending on your son's age, it is possible that his body is sending out signals that he might not be prepared to deal with.

Posted by MRM on 2010-09-10:

Once you click the order button, it's done deal.

Posted by Venice09 on 2010-09-10:

That was my thought on this too, Pepper. If the movies were ordered accidentally by pressing numbers and were never viewed, then the OP has a point. If the movies were watched, that's a whole different story.

As far as RCN providing porn to underage children, that's not a valid claim. The parents provide the service in the house, and it's their responsibility to monitor their children's viewing. RCN has no way of enforcing age requirements of viewers, only subscribers.

I am curious how old this child is and if the movies were watched.