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After my cable service monthly bill went sky high, I decided to switch to Direct TV. I signed up online and got basic package which I was told it was going to be $49.99 plus tax per month. They promised me a free gift as a new customer. I got my first bill and it was $84.75. I called and talked to one of the employees. Apparently I was not told about half of the charges they raked up. He kept saying how sorry he was for the mix up, but there was nothing he can do about it.I finally had enough of his sorrys and went right to the manager. He was a little more understanding and discounted all the "mistakes" when they were finished my bill was $24. I wasn't sure how he got to that figure, but wasn't going to question it. For the next year my bills fluctuated from $65- $79. Every time I called and questioned it, they gave me some line like " It's because of different quarterly taxes". I wasn't sure what exactly that meant, but let it go.
I got HDTV and decided to get a HD reciver from Direct TV. To my surprise I was told that if I wanted it I had to pay $199 for regular reciver and $299 if I wanted a DVR HD reciver plus $9.95 monthly fee. Hmmm.. and I thought they wanted me as a customer. Finally my year contract ended. After all this I decided to return to my cable company. I called Direct TV and told them that I want to cancel my service. They asked me why and I told them the whole story. To my surprise they offered the HD DVR to me, free HBO for 6 month, all kinds of discounts. I guess all I needed to do is tell them I wanted to disconnect a long time ago and I would have had all this!!!! I stuck to my guns and told them that I still wanted to cancel. They checked my account, told me they were sorry to loose me as a GREAT customer, and all of a sudden there was a "Oh by the way, you have a DVR receiver." Ok, what does that mean? Apparently when you get the DVR you sign up for a 2 year contract. "They should have told you that when they installed your service, the girl said". Because of this if I was to cancel I have to pay a cancellation fee up to $300 for the DVR. Now, I'm no gineous, but why would you sell a service for 1 year, and DVR receiver for 2 years???? What do I need a DVR for with no service??? I was a little confused by the news, and decided to find my contract to see where it states that and when did i sign this. I couldn't find it and when I questioned the lady on the phone, again to my surprise her answer was " Oh, we do not ask for customers signatures, its a oral agreement." So for it to be a oral agreement, I need it to be told about it, and if I was not told about it, then there was no agreement, right? So you think. Well according to Direct TV, I was told about it, and it also states in my contract, which they DID NOT have me sign because they do not ask for a signature. Still after about 2 hours of arguing and going back and forth, they put me on the phone with a dispute specialist, who told me the same thing as the lady I spend 2 hours arguing with before her. It almost sounded like they where reading off the same list word for word. There is nothing they can do and if I want I can Email claims department to see what they say, it could take anywhere from 24-48 hours for them to respond. I emailed them, once again explaining myself to them. 2 hours later I get a response stating " we're sorry to hear about your situation, unfortunatly there is nothing we can do and have to charge you the cancellation fee up to $300." By the way I never got my free IPod for the activation gift!
I will fight them, and I'm not intending to pay for this fee. If you have any stories similar to this please let me know cause I know there a few people out there being screwed by Direct TV.
Email me at
 Comments (43) |  |
| 1. Written by resale1, on 04-11-2009 13:43 My advise is to report your credit card lost, that will cancel the one Direct TV has on file THEN cancel your service with them. They can report a bad debt with the credit reporting agents, BUT you can file a dispute of charges with the same credit reporting agents. a lot of unnecessary work on your part but Direct TV want get your hard earned money. |
| 2. Written by tom, on 04-11-2009 12:07 i had direct tv in charlotte ,nc for 6 mos before moving back to ohio at that time i up graded to hd service much to my dismay i founnd that upon my move i was making a new 2 yr comittment. i have tried to get them to honor the orginal 2 yr commitment date to no avail. i will be done with direct tv when my time is up .thanks for nothing direct tv |
| 3. Written by skurno, on 04-11-2009 10:58 Direct TV Corporate Office Ms. Ellen Filipiak Sr. VP, Customer Care 2230 East Imperial Highway El Segundo, CA 90245 I am urging everyone to bombard Ms. Filipiak's office with their complaints |
| 4. Written by Barb, on 03-11-2009 18:02 Same problem with the cancellation fees..only they took them directly from my account before I even recieved a bill and had the opportunity to pay it myelf....they are the biggest rip off.. I think we need to get some investigative reporters in on the scam of Direct Tv..from the installation and repair techs.. they did not want to get a connectiion for mine and used duct tape to connect..needless to say that didnt last long after a couple of rains... somebody has to be in charge or regulations for these companies dont the.. the FCC maybe... we need to all stand , I did file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, although Direct TV even makes that difficult by not providing accurate information. |
| 5. Written by Rodolfo Rivera, on 27-10-2009 22:03 Hi i got the same problem with direct tv they should call them rip off tv i been with this rip off company for over 8 years making them rich payng for basic service my biil is never less than 100 dollars a month one time they want me to pay them 400 dollars whe i saw that bill i went off the roof i call them rigth away and ask wy you charging me 400 dollars for basic when is supose to be 29 plus tax and the explanation they gave me was that i had two difrent programing and i said wath the *** you talking about two difrent programing who told you to add a programing i dint authorise nobady to do that so you better fix BS on my bill and they fix it but like i said before still my bill is over 100 dollar so if can get to that law suit agains direct tv let me know. my email thanks |
| 6. Written by Rodolfo Rivera, on 27-10-2009 21:58 Hi i got the same problem with direct tv they should call them rip off tv i been with this rip off company for over 8 years making them rich payng for basic service mu biil is never less than 100 dollars a month one time they want me to pay them 400 dollars whe i saw that bill i went off the roof i call them rigth away and ask wy you charging me 400 dollars for basic when is supose to be 29 plus tax and the explanation they gave me was that i had two difrent programing and i said wath the *** you talking about two difrent programing who told you to add a programing i dint authorise nobady to do that so you better fix BS on my bill and they fix it but like i said before still my bill is over 100 dollar so if can get to that law suit agains direct tv let me know. my email thanks |
| 7. Written by DoubleA, on 26-10-2009 20:02 Direct TV is the worst company I have ever dealt with. Just got off of the phone with them for the fourth & final time this month. We have had an issue with one channel that happens to be the one that my wife watches 4 nights a week. I was told by Direct TV that it was a broadcasting issue from the channel provider. I proceded to tell Direct TV that I did not pay the channel provider to provide me service. I paid Direct TV to provide me service which they were unable to do. After being informed that I would be charged a $380 cancellation fee and repeatedly told that it was not a Direct TV issue and being cut off while trying to speak, I was hung up on. After 2 more calls and nothing being done they finally closed my account per request. I was also told by "the supervisor" that he was not a broadcasting engineer and that even if they stopped carrying the channel that I would still be charged a cancellation fee. To anyone thinking about getting Direct TV, do yourself a favor and punch yourself in the face. It will be a lot less painful. |
| 8. Written by Jennifer I tried to cancel Di, on 25-10-2009 10:31 I'm soooo upset. I am a newly grad...just got my first apartment and went over the "verbal" contract tooth and nail with the service rep. Well, I signed up for a 29.99 a month service...with tax it would be about 37.00 (I live in Boston). Well I got my first bill for 79.32!!! I called immediatly and was told that I got stars for free but they added showtime...how does that make sense? After a few more days I thought about it and called today to cancell. It's been 9 days! Well when I called they told me I could cancell but they would debit 480.00 out of my account within 3-7 days! It's been 9 days! AND they screwed up my account! The thing is I never gave up my credit card number...they harassed me to but I never did...Direct TV wanted me to go "Paperless...EFT billing" which means I would not get a bill..they would just deduct the amount per month...thank god I didn't do that because apparently they are adding channels such as Showtime (which was never discussed only Starz was listed as being free for six months and I cancelled that after 5 days). I don't know what to do! I'm really in a tight financial situation right now and I can't afford the monthly bills! The other thing is I signed up for a rebate for the 29.99 per month over the internet while on the phone with the service rep...he told me it went through and I got a confir. number...well this morning they are telling me it didn't so now I am stuck paying 77.00 per month...I don't want to ruin my credit but I really can't pay! I don't know where to turn. My father is telling me to call the better business beu. about this matter in Mass. This is such a scam! Please help! =( |
| 9. Written by lizandg, on 11-10-2009 18:36 Hi, the same thing happened to me with cancelling my direct tv. They want me to pay a $400 cancellation fee & I talked to 4 different people before being referred to a supervisor & they all said the same thing = nothing they can do about it = they can't waive the cancellation fee. They also told me to email corporate, which I did & I got the same bullshit!! & the whole reason I was cancelling it was because my apt building no longer allows us to have satellite, but they didn't care about that!!!  |
| 10. Written by kristine, on 02-10-2009 22:53 I have spent the past month trying to get 190.00 dollar refund after Direct Tv took this amount out of my bank account after I cancelled my service. When I called them to find out why they told me that it was because of the "equipment upgrade" from the year before. I pointed out to them that the reason for the new equipment was not an upgrade but a service call and a defective box. I also had the product protection on my account. They agreed and then told me that it would be six to eight weeks before I would get my refund. I point out that they reached into my bank account and got my money immediately so I wanted it return in the same fashion. And this is were the fun began. Since 9-16 I have been told lies by several customer service folks who gave me their id numbers. As it stands now I should have seen the money returned by the 30th but that day has come and gone. Customer service tells that it my problem and they do not have a way to contact Financial Services. BS. And they don't have to follow up on it, it's my baby. After venting to a Supervisor today I told him "Fine, you will be hearing from me everyday" If there is a class action suit that I fit in let me know! |
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