About a fortnight ago, I had an accident with the remote control for my Virgin Media set top box. To cut a long story short, it had ended up getting very wet, but I hadn't realised this until several hours later. Although there are buttons on my set top box that enable me to change channels, access to other functions and features requires the use of a functioning remote control.
Just to confuse matters, I had (incorrectly) thought my model of set top box was being phased out, and had been under the illusion that requesting a replacement remote control was no longer an option. During recent months, I have been on the receiving end of e-mails informing me that my model of set top box is old and needs to be updated (replaced) with the latest model. Now, although the upgrade would be free of charge, they make it clear that the upgrade would effectively be like starting from scratch. I've held off upgrading because there are recordings on my set top box that I've not yet got around to watching. Also, unless I'm mistaken, I would need to activate something on my current set top box first, which I obviously can't do without a fully functioning remote control.
After spending several days procrastinating and trying to decide what to do, I ended up ordering a replacement remote control off eBay. Unfortunately, when I received delivery of it this morning, I soon realised it was for a different model of set top box and was incompatible with mine. I decided there was no alternative other than to phone Virgin Media and explain my predicament.
Initially, I felt like I was going round in circles and getting absolutely nowhere. Eventually, I finally managed to speak with a human being... an actual human being who wasn't talking to me from a call centre based in Mumbai. Much to my relief I was told that my model of set top box isn't being phased out (or at least not yet), so it's still possible to order replacement remote controls. Phew!
Feel free to add your own technology-related grumbles.
