Roku TV bricked until agreeing to new terms of service

See title - very frustrating. There is no way to continue to use the TV without agreeing to the terms. I couldn't use different inputs, or even go to settings from the home screen and disconnect from the internet to disable their services. If I don't agree to their terms, then I don't get access to their new products. That sucks, but fine - I don't use their services except for the TV itself, and honestly, I'd rather by a dumb TV with a streaming box anyway, but I can't find those anymore.

Anyway, the new terms are about waiving your right to a class action lawsuit. It's weird to me because I'd never considered filing a class action lawsuit against Roku until this. They shouldn't be able to hold my physical device hostage until I agree to new terms that I didn't agree at the time of purchase or initial setup.

I wish Roku TVs weren't cheap walmart brand sh*t. Someone with some actual money might sue them and sort this out...

ofcourse ,

I reached out to Roku support regarding this. The rep told me “why are you complaining. You are the only one.” He then disconnected the chat. I’ve reached out to my state’s AG to report this. No action so far but waiting. If there are enough complaints, that might help move the needle.

What Roku is doing should be completely illegal - bricking the product after purchasing it for full price if you don’t agree to waiving your rights.

Itsamelemmy ,

I also got this on my stand alone roku. And it's forced arbitration. Only way to opt out is by sending a written letter saying you don't agree. If I can be forced into an agreement with a click of the remote, opting out should be just as easy.

Aarrodri ,

Send this to leuis rossmann.

Ghostalmedia ,
@Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world avatar

That sucks, but fine - I don't use their services except for the TV itself, and honestly, I'd rather by a dumb TV with a streaming box anyway, but I can't find those anymore.

Search for monitors, not televisions. For example, you can get an 48in and 55in OLEDs dumb monitors with multiple HDMI inputs.

Worx ,

And where do you plug in the aerial to watch TV? Or doesn't it work like that where you're from?

ReallyActuallyFrankenstein ,

Hisense did this to me and my TV, but in fact actually broke the TV's wifi when it forced an update that I didn't want and couldn't decline. I argued with them and escalated it for 4 months and nothing came of it. I reported them to my state's attorney general and the BBB. But this is definitely a class action lawsuit that will happen sooner or later.

grue ,

Report Roku to the FBI for violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by hacking into and sabotaging your property.

That's a sincere suggestion, by the way. This shit should literally be a crime.

Varyk ,

I just stick with computer monitors these days.

"Smart" TVs are f****** ridiculous now.

zoostation ,

Roku is the worst thing to happen to television since motion smoothing.

BombOmOm ,

Sucks this happened to you. If it is still under warranty, you should return it for a replacement or store credit. Complain that it has ceased to function.

A good set of advice is to never connect your TV to the internet. A cheap streaming box or HTPC does the same function, and doesn't open you up to issues like this. Your TV is also almost certainly selling your viewing data if you have it connected to the internet.

DaleGribble88 OP ,
@DaleGribble88@programming.dev avatar

Almost certainly - but that is what I agreed to when I bought the TV.

Like I said in the post, I'd much prefer dumb TVs, but they I can't really find them anymore. Best I can do is buy a smart TV that'd won't let you do anything (including selecting inputs) until you connect it to the internet, agree to their horrible anti-consumer licensing agreement. Only then to open up a different smart device product that will still steal my data and force me to give up my legal right to a class action? The current system is scam.

Do you have any recommendations for dumb TVs?

0110010001100010 ,
@0110010001100010@lemmy.world avatar

I've had LGs for years (just got a new C3 OLED) and they don't require internet access to function. My current OLED isn't connected and works perfectly fine. I use a standalone Roku for streaming.

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