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I don't "own" a car I buy on loan until I pay that off. That doesn't preclude me from replacing seats, putting in a turbo, etc. Why should a phone be different?

res0nat0r 14y ago
You can do many of those things to your car, but some of them might nullify your warranty.
- sukuriant 14y ago
  Warranties are unrelated to cell phone unlockers. You can modify your car to comply with different company requirements. Volvo (or whoever) is just going to not honor their promise to fix things.
- Sanddancer 14y ago
  Yes, they may void the warranty. That's not the same as a federal crime.
- betterunix 14y ago
  Yeah but I can still go to a mechanic and do those things. When it comes to phones, the businesses that might unlock them are now gone by law. A handy position for cell phone companies: their loss leader strategy is given special legal protections.
forgottenpaswrd 14y ago
You do, the car is yours. But you also own obligations to pay back a loan and interest to a bank. Technically you have a credit and debit sheet, a new asset plus a new liability.
rayiner 14y ago
Since an auto-loan is secured by the vehicle, your lender can and does put conditions on your use of the vehicle. E.g. they may require you to carry full collision & comprehensive insurance on the vehicle even if your state doesn't require it. In this situation, the lender is your carrier, and attaches a different set of conditions.
- derekp7 14y ago
  Based on the first couple Auto Loan agreement contracts that popped up on a Google search, one of the terms is that the borrower agrees to keep the car in good repair and marketable condition. So you aren't allowed to enter it into a demolition derby, I guess.
- AnthonyMouse 14y ago
  >Since an auto-loan is secured by the vehicle, your lender can and does put conditions on your use of the vehicle. The distinction is that those are contractual conditions. If you fail to carry comprehensive insurance on your vehicle, they may repossess it etc. according to the contract, but the police don't come to arrest you.
  - rayiner 14y ago
    FWIW, I don't think this should be a criminal issue. I support the right of the telcos to put in whatever twisted and crazy terms they want into their contracts, but their only recourse should be a civil suit.
    - wnight 14y ago
      Why should they be allowed to write onerous contracts? This isn't a freedom issue - they're specifically choosing to bid for handling a limited public resource. Every minute of hassle and every unreasonable fee holds back the rest of society like broken windows.
  - walshemj 14y ago
    I think if you get caught driving with out insurance the cops will arrest you.
    - AnthonyMouse 14y ago
      1) Not for violating the contract with the car dealer. 2) It's not the same insurance. The law typically requires you to carry liability insurance, which covers third parties you harm. The car dealer wants you to insure against damage to the car, which the law may not require you to insure against.
fnordfnordfnord 14y ago
Funny that you should mention cars. http://www.righttorepair.org/about/why.aspx http://www.righttorepair.org/about/why.aspx http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/01/saab-pulls-the-plug-on-repairs/ http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/01/saab-pulls-the-plug...

res0nat0r 14y ago

You can do many of those things to your car, but some of them might nullify your warranty.

sukuriant 14y ago
Warranties are unrelated to cell phone unlockers. You can modify your car to comply with different company requirements. Volvo (or whoever) is just going to not honor their promise to fix things.
Sanddancer 14y ago
Yes, they may void the warranty. That's not the same as a federal crime.
betterunix 14y ago
Yeah but I can still go to a mechanic and do those things. When it comes to phones, the businesses that might unlock them are now gone by law. A handy position for cell phone companies: their loss leader strategy is given special legal protections.

forgottenpaswrd 14y ago

You do, the car is yours. But you also own obligations to pay back a loan and interest to a bank. Technically you have a credit and debit sheet, a new asset plus a new liability.

rayiner 14y ago

Since an auto-loan is secured by the vehicle, your lender can and does put conditions on your use of the vehicle. E.g. they may require you to carry full collision & comprehensive insurance on the vehicle even if your state doesn't require it. In this situation, the lender is your carrier, and attaches a different set of conditions.

derekp7 14y ago
Based on the first couple Auto Loan agreement contracts that popped up on a Google search, one of the terms is that the borrower agrees to keep the car in good repair and marketable condition. So you aren't allowed to enter it into a demolition derby, I guess.
AnthonyMouse 14y ago
>Since an auto-loan is secured by the vehicle, your lender can and does put conditions on your use of the vehicle. The distinction is that those are contractual conditions. If you fail to carry comprehensive insurance on your vehicle, they may repossess it etc. according to the contract, but the police don't come to arrest you.
- rayiner 14y ago
  FWIW, I don't think this should be a criminal issue. I support the right of the telcos to put in whatever twisted and crazy terms they want into their contracts, but their only recourse should be a civil suit.
  - wnight 14y ago
    Why should they be allowed to write onerous contracts? This isn't a freedom issue - they're specifically choosing to bid for handling a limited public resource. Every minute of hassle and every unreasonable fee holds back the rest of society like broken windows.
- walshemj 14y ago
  I think if you get caught driving with out insurance the cops will arrest you.
  - AnthonyMouse 14y ago
    1) Not for violating the contract with the car dealer. 2) It's not the same insurance. The law typically requires you to carry liability insurance, which covers third parties you harm. The car dealer wants you to insure against damage to the car, which the law may not require you to insure against.

fnordfnordfnord 14y ago

Funny that you should mention cars. http://www.righttorepair.org/about/why.aspx http://www.righttorepair.org/about/why.aspx http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/01/saab-pulls-the-plug-on-repairs/ http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/01/saab-pulls-the-plug...