2nd Hand Eero

[AnUrbanPenguin]

Good Evening All,

There are mixed reports online about this subject so I wanted to ask directly.

I am an ex talktalk customer and absolutely loved the Eero routers.  They work fantastic and are simple to use. I am unable to get a talktalk service in my current house.

I have recently purchased 2x 2nd hand eero pro 6 routers for a very reasonable price and created a Mesh network with a wired Ethernet backhaul in my house.  I believe the routers are ex talktalk as the eero splash screen has the talktalk logo in the app.

For the absolute avoidance of any doubt can someone from talktalk please answer the following question clearly and concisely: Do TalkTalk remotely block / brick / deregister these routers if they are not used with a TalkTalk connection?

I am not looking for heresay or "ive heard this" or "joe on Reddit posted this" I would like a clear and concise answer from TalkTalk directly.

Thanks.

[nomfezeko-TT]

Hi there, thank you for the update regarding your situation. I appreciate you taking the time to speak with our full fibre team.

It sounds like they have provided some helpful information regarding the router. Since your router's serial number is not associated with a TalkTalk account, it’s good to know that you can continue using the app as normal despite the branding. If you encounter any further issues or if anything changes, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. 

-Fez. 

[AnUrbanPenguin]

As an update.

I have spoken with the full fibre team who took my router serial number and checked it on their system. It is not associated with a talktalk account on their records.  Due to this they have advised me to disregard the talktalk branding in the app and use it as normal. They see no reason why it would be blocked / bricked / deactivated.

Will report back if this changes. 

[fr8ys]

As I mentioned, if the seller failed to mention they were ex TalkTalk routers then they are not as described and you should seek a refund.

You obviously had doubts hence posting here.

There is nothing that staff here can do for you unfortunately. The issue lies, and any remedy is, with the seller.

[Gliwmaeden2]

Some people are sent them as a replacement in case of a fault with their service, but don't return the equipment if the fault is otherwise resolved - or are sent one to use with their service but prefer to stick to using their Hub2, @AnUrbanPenguin.

So it could actually have been received by the seller since last October etc.

Best to steer clear.

[AnUrbanPenguin]

As you said this is part of the problem. The circumstances are unknown. It may very well be that someone has had the device for 2 years then sold it on. The eero pro 6 has been out since 2020. 

There needs to be a way to check these devices with serial numbers. They are completely retail boxed and look no different to one bought from Amazon. It is only once setup in the app that talk talk appears anywhere. 

[Gliwmaeden2]

@AnUrbanPenguin, you don't know the circumstances of the seller having the Eeros to sell on. 

Talktalk does list the Eeros among the equipment they expect customers to return, and mentions that parts are sometimes reused. Customers sometimes receive refurbished routers, so it's not all merely recycled but also reused:

https://community.talktalk.co.uk/t5/Articles/Returning-your-TalkTalk-equipment/ta-p/2348381

Talktalk's Ts&Cs can sometimes be hard to follow, but, on balance, I'd never risk buying any from a third party. It may be a complete waste of money for you and you might as well return it Talktalk for recycling if it does get "bricked".

As you are a former Talktalk customer, staff will be able to send you a returns bag - your account will be visible from your forum profile information. However it will be after the weekend before you receive a reply. 

[AnUrbanPenguin]

Do you not think it's a bit flawed if you are allowed to keep them after the end of the contract but you can't use them?

If after the end of your mobile phone contract the device suddenly didn't work any more you'd be a bit annoyed? Don't see the difference here.

Either eero or TT need to provide a way to check if these devices are still part of a contract to address the grey market and if they are not there should be a way to remove them from the ISP network to avoid generating more ewaste. These are perfectly serviceable devices, why condemn them to the landfill for the sake of a firmware / register update?

[ferguson]

To be honest, your argument is with the seller from whom you bought at "a very reasonable price." As a non-TalkTalk customer I don't know what help you were expecting here?

And if I may be so bold as to slightly demur from what @fr8ys said, my understanding is that after leaving TalkTalk you do not have to return equipment if you have fulfilled a minimum contract, but eeros remain locked down in any event. 

[AnUrbanPenguin]

If that is the case then that goes against their own terms and conditions assuming the contract was issued before 4th October 2024.

"before 4 October 2024, all such equipment will be owned by us apart from the following

equipment which you will own:

(i) any router, mesh networking device, set top box and/or digital voice adapter

that we send you as part of a new service with us; and

(ii) any equipment that you have paid for,"

If they do lock / brick perfectly serviceable hardware then that seems pretty poor from an environmental standpoint. Why create ewaste that isn't needed?

[fr8ys]

The answer is yes, they will eventually be blocked.

They remain the property of TalkTalk and should have been returned by their customer to be recycled. The customer who sold them will receive a fine for not returning them

How soon they will be blocked is not known, but every so often a sweep is done and if a router is found that is not on a TalkTalk network, they will be locked.

I suggest that if you are able to do so, that you return them for a refund.