If I have free cable, can I get free internet if I already have a modem?

Question

This may be a dumb question, there's probably something really obvious I am missing here, but...

I recently moved to a new apartment in the same building. I cancelled the cable/internet bundle at my old apartment, but have yet to set something up at my new place. However, yesterday I set up my TV just to see if it worked, and I got cable TV, despite the fact that I am not paying for it. I still have my old cable modem from the same cable company. If I plugged it in, would I be able to get internet as well?

My building is pretty poorly run, and I doubt they would send someone out to come shut off the cable.

Will my modem work? If it does, will connecting to the internet alert the cable company to the fact that I am getting service without paying?

Answer 1

It wont work, if it is really cancled. If not it will be shut off eventually.

Answer 2

Your modem has to be registered to an account to do anything...if you don't have an account, it won't work.

As for canceling it, I know when we canceled our cable it took until the end of the billing cycle before they came out.  Until that time, we had all the features that we were paying for previously...minus the rented boxes we had to return.

As for the modem, I assume you purchased it instead of renting?  Otherwise they'll want it back sooner or later...depends on the carrier, Verizon rents out the modem and Cox just makes you buy it at the beginning (ends up cheaper) so that's not a big deal.

Answer 3

First, I am suprised the cable company didn't charge you for the equipment that was not returned. At least in OH, Time Warner Cable charges for equipment not returned. Now, in regards to your question, the reason it probably worked was because the previous apartment leasee must have not had the cable shut off yet.  The connection will probably turn off in a few days if they told the cable company to push back the deactivation date.  Until then, yes your equipment should work, but if the company finds out, you can get in trouble for what they call stealing their connection.

Answer 4

You can get internet through cable, but you need to pay for it separately. If you're not a subscriber, you can't just plug in your computer because you won't receive any signal.

Answer 5

No..you cannot get free internet. The cable company has to assign you a number that corresponds with your modem.

Answer 6

kmmm, I dont really know-When we bought our house, we did the same thing, plugged in the tv and it was already hooked up to cable, that was cool-then we called to get internet and come to find out-the cable we were gettin in the house,was hooked up illegally!!!!!  OMG what an issue-they wanted us to pay all these fines, etc. we fought it and won-so be careful