We have received a few calls very recently from customers who have successfully transferred lifetime service from DIRECTV TiVo DVRs to new Series3 units. We do not yet know whether this is a change in policy over at TiVo, but we suspect that, at the very least, supervisors have been empowered with the authority to grant these types of requests.
If you want to try to transfer service, you might want to mention that you are switching from DIRECTV to get a new Series3 and that you really want to stick with TiVo (assuming that is true–we are not advocating anything but the truth).
The customers we have talked to have been in that same situation: They have had older-model DIRECTV TiVos, have been unwilling to accept DIRECTV’s home-grown HD DVR, and have asked TiVo for leniency with respect to the $199 transfer.
HERE’S THE IMPORTANT PART: If you want to try to transfer service, we will accommodate. Simply call us or place your order for a Series3 online. Then tell us in the customer notes that you want to try to transfer lifetime service and that you want us to email your TiVo Service Number in advance. We will then EMAIL it to you (or provide it over the phone) so that you can try to transfer. If you succeed, we will ship. If you fail, we will cancel your order, without any charge. One caveat: If we don’t hear back from you within 2 business days after you order, we will ship.
Good luck!