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Today, now more than before, it is illegal to modify a device you have bought with your own money. Except that most people these days are renting/leasing/amort
by bconway 14y ago
Today, now more than before, it is illegal to modify a device you have bought with your own money.
Except that most people these days are renting/leasing/amortizing a phone from a carrier and for that carrier, not buying it.
- georgemcbay 14y agoMost people are living in houses with a bank loan but it would be considered ludicrous for the bank to decide what furniture you can buy for it or what colors you can paint the inside walls.
- derekp7 14y agoBut I'm sure there is something in the contract that forbids you from making modifications that would drastically devalue your home. Otherwise they have no collateral for the loan. For example, I believe you can't just take a wrecking ball to your house and turn it into a parking lot.
- mikeash 14y agoI think you're right, but cell phones aren't collateral for anything. You can drop your phone into a vat of acid and your carrier won't care except to ask if you'd like to pay them $$$ for a new one. Cell phone subsidies are not loans and they are not partial transfers of property. I buy a phone outright, and I get a cheap price on it because I simultaneously sign up for a service contract. That service contract doesn't change the fact that I now own my phone outright.
- derekp7 14y agoThat is true (at least I hope), and is reinforced by the fact that carriers don't let you turn in your phone in lieu of an early termination fee.
- dredmorbius 14y agoNo. For that we have HOAs.