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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: maginvizIZ on November 10, 2018, 05:39:17 PM

Title: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: maginvizIZ on November 10, 2018, 05:39:17 PM
Hello!

I just moved into an apartment... And it crossed my mind to ask some neighbors if I can give them $20 or so a month to have his wifi password.

Have you done this? Do I simply knock on his door and ask? Slip a note under his door?
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: Gronnie on November 10, 2018, 06:17:48 PM
This would be illegal.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: Zamboni on November 10, 2018, 06:18:38 PM
Why would it be illegal?
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: bacchi on November 10, 2018, 06:35:40 PM
It's not illegal. It's a civil matter between two parties and is more of an ethics issue.

Sharing internet is probably against the contract the subscriber has with the internet provider. If your neighbor cares, she can look into it.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: Gronnie on November 10, 2018, 06:40:06 PM
How is it not stealing if the contract is for a single household? Last time I checked theft of service is illegal.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: maginvizIZ on November 10, 2018, 06:43:42 PM
Isn't MMM himself sharing wifi with his neighbor?

http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/05/16/internet-sharing-how-to-get-revenge-on-the-cable-company/
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: bacchi on November 10, 2018, 06:47:15 PM
How is it not stealing if the contract is for a single household? Last time I checked theft of service is illegal.

"Illegal" implies a criminal court. No cop is going to arrest someone for using a neighbor's wifi with the neighbor's consent unless they're actually, like, breaking the law with kiddie porn or something.

It's a contractual matter. A contract has remedies for breach of contract.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: chasesfish on November 10, 2018, 06:56:47 PM
100% - I would ask.  I'd go a step further and put a repeater in the closest outlet to his/her apartment.  Just tell them you'll venmo half the cost every 30 days.

Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: Sugaree on November 10, 2018, 07:01:46 PM
I pay for 600 GB each month.  I hardly see how it matters to the cable company who uses that data.  I would be concerned both about some random neighbor being involved with kiddie porn and running my data usage up.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: ketchup on November 10, 2018, 07:33:05 PM
Isn't MMM himself sharing wifi with his neighbor?

http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/05/16/internet-sharing-how-to-get-revenge-on-the-cable-company/
He uses a municipal fiber option now, I believe.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: marty998 on November 10, 2018, 07:51:45 PM
I pay for 600 GB each month.  I hardly see how it matters to the cable company who uses that data.  I would be concerned both about some random neighbor being involved with kiddie porn and running my data usage up.

Yes posting to say this.... And when your neighbour starts looking at terrorism material or child porn and they point the finger at you....?

Or if s/he is a fraudster and steals your banking passwords...

Fuck... could be a very bad idea.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: Khaetra on November 11, 2018, 04:38:44 AM
It's not legal...

https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/wi-fi-connection-laws.html

I would tell you no.  If you want WiFi then you pay for it.  I would not put myself in jeopardy just to lower my bill by sharing with someone else, especially a neighbor that I don't even know.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: me1 on November 11, 2018, 05:39:01 AM
We did this a few years ago when we lived somewhere we couldn’t really afford to live. We were on great terms with our neighbors and they knew we were poor students. The only problem was when the internet died a couple of times when they were out  of town and we had to wait for them to reset it. I would totally do it again.

I also remember in the earlier days of the internet you didn’t have to have a password and I never did.

I don’t see how it’s anyones business who I give my password to and how it can be illegal.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: Case on November 11, 2018, 06:07:34 AM
How is it not stealing if the contract is for a single household? Last time I checked theft of service is illegal.

"Illegal" implies a criminal court. No cop is going to arrest someone for using a neighbor's wifi with the neighbor's consent unless they're actually, like, breaking the law with kiddie porn or something.

It's a contractual matter. A contract has remedies for breach of contract.

Illegal implies breaking the law, not criminal court. 
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: JLee on November 11, 2018, 06:33:15 AM
It's not legal...

https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/wi-fi-connection-laws.html

I would tell you no.  If you want WiFi then you pay for it.  I would not put myself in jeopardy just to lower my bill by sharing with someone else, especially a neighbor that I don't even know.

Did you read your link?

Quote
Is it Legal for me to Share my Wi-fi with my Neighbor?
It might not be legal to share your wi-fi connection with a neighbor.  This depends on the wording that is found in your individual service contract with your internet provider.  Most wi-fi companies prohibit the shared usage of wi-fi for unsubscribed and non-paying users.  If this is the case, you could be in violation of contract laws if you share your wi-fi with a neighbor who is not authorized to use the services.

Wi-fi internet companies have acknowledged that they can recognize “inordinately high usage” of a single account, which usually happens due to illicit sharing.  Thus, your wi-fi provider will be able to monitor your account and can tell if you are in violation of policies.

On the other hand, some wi-fi contracts actually encourage the shared usage of the wi-fi connection.  It all depends on what type of contract you have with your wi-fi company.

We have one internet account for two units in the same building -- there is wired ethernet to both locations.  How 'bout those wifi laws now? :P
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: TomTX on November 11, 2018, 06:38:05 AM
It's not legal...

https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/wi-fi-connection-laws.html

I would tell you no.  If you want WiFi then you pay for it.  I would not put myself in jeopardy just to lower my bill by sharing with someone else, especially a neighbor that I don't even know.

Your link actually contradicts your claim that "it's not legal"

Doing it without permission of the neighbor is probably illegal. Which is not what we were discussing.

Whether or not it's a contract violation to do consensual sharing depends on the contract. I would think it would be hard to write a usable contract that limits wifi sharing to legal residents of the contracted household. What happens when your brother visits for a couple of hours? Is it a violation to let him on the wifi on his phone?
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: JLee on November 11, 2018, 06:39:50 AM
It's not legal...

https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/wi-fi-connection-laws.html

I would tell you no.  If you want WiFi then you pay for it.  I would not put myself in jeopardy just to lower my bill by sharing with someone else, especially a neighbor that I don't even know.

Your link actually contradicts your claim that "it's not legal"

Doing it without permission of the neighbor is probably illegal. Which is not what we were discussing.

Whether or not it's a contract violation to do consensual sharing depends on the contract. I would think it would be hard to write a usable contract that limits wifi sharing to legal residents of the contracted household. What happens when your brother visits for a couple of hours? Is it a violation to let him on the wifi on his phone?

Verizon's setup guide for their Quantum Gateway FIOS router tells you how to set up a guest network: https://www.verizon.com/cs/groups/public/documents/adacct/guest-wifi-setupguide-smb1502a.pdf
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: jim555 on November 11, 2018, 06:44:11 AM
I would be worried about the neighbor doing something like copyright infringement and then they come back to you.  Also it violates the ISP terms of service.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: TomTX on November 11, 2018, 07:28:35 AM
I would be worried about the neighbor doing something like copyright infringement and then they come back to you.  Also it violates the ISP terms of service.

Please link to your copy of the OP's TOS, indicating or linking to the section in question.

You spoke authoritatively, thus you must have this information available.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: ketchup on November 11, 2018, 09:27:47 AM
It's not legal...

https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/wi-fi-connection-laws.html

I would tell you no.  If you want WiFi then you pay for it.  I would not put myself in jeopardy just to lower my bill by sharing with someone else, especially a neighbor that I don't even know.

Did you read your link?

Quote
Is it Legal for me to Share my Wi-fi with my Neighbor?
It might not be legal to share your wi-fi connection with a neighbor.  This depends on the wording that is found in your individual service contract with your internet provider.  Most wi-fi companies prohibit the shared usage of wi-fi for unsubscribed and non-paying users.  If this is the case, you could be in violation of contract laws if you share your wi-fi with a neighbor who is not authorized to use the services.

Wi-fi internet companies have acknowledged that they can recognize “inordinately high usage” of a single account, which usually happens due to illicit sharing.  Thus, your wi-fi provider will be able to monitor your account and can tell if you are in violation of policies.

On the other hand, some wi-fi contracts actually encourage the shared usage of the wi-fi connection.  It all depends on what type of contract you have with your wi-fi company.

We have one internet account for two units in the same building -- there is wired ethernet to both locations.  How 'bout those wifi laws now? :P
It's *really* hard to take something like that seriously when they keep saying things like "wi-fi contracts" and "wi-fi company."
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: Loretta on November 11, 2018, 09:42:40 AM
No, that’s tacky.

Unless you’re already buddies with this neighbor.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: RWD on November 11, 2018, 09:45:48 AM
Packet sniffing is way too easy. There's no way I would share a network with my neighbor.
Title: Re: Ask apartment neighbor for wifi and split payment?
Post by: jim555 on November 11, 2018, 09:46:06 AM
I would be worried about the neighbor doing something like copyright infringement and then they come back to you.  Also it violates the ISP terms of service.

Please link to your copy of the OP's TOS, indicating or linking to the section in question.

You spoke authoritatively, thus you must have this information available.
I don't have the OPs TOS available, but Verizon and Altice in my area both have clauses prohibiting sharing your service.