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.
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Yeah these fools!!! I can't get the service to work correctly in my condo building and they aren't doing anything about. So I need to cancel and they are pulling the threats on me. I will take legal action.
I'm pissed also! I plan to fight the cancellation charges. My story is the same as everyone elses. my fees are $420.00, but they will let me pay $20.00 per mo. until paid in full... They are crazy.
DirectTV did the exact same thing to me. I've been a customer for three and a half years and haven't signed anything since dat one. They swear that when they sent me an upgraded DVR a year and a half ago, it automatically enrolled me in a two year agreement. BS! Isn't there an attorney out thee that wants to file a class action lawsuit for people that are getting screwed by this company?
On 4/7/08,I called DIRECTV to cancel my account and much to my surprise, I was told that I was still under contract. The rep stated that if I cancelled my account, a cancellation fee would apply. I was told that my contract was extended for 18 months, starting last December. He stated that I would have to pay $20 for each month of the contract, that was not completed. In my case, that total would be $280.00. My first issue is that last December, I called DIRECTV because one of my standard boxes was malfunctioning (through no fault of my own). The rep stated that it sounded like a manufacturing defect. She said that she would send me a replacement box in the mail. Now, I pay for the Protection Plan for all of my boxes, every month. So if anything went wrong with any of the boxes, I'm entitled to a replacement box, with no cost to me. So THAT coupled with the fact that I wasn't signing up for additional service or boxes for a different room, there was no reason to extend my contract. My second issue was that the rep NEVER informed me that she was extending my contract. Had I known, I would have continued to use the defective box, seeing as how I was considering leaving DIRECTV for Verizon anyway. Under NO circumstances would I have agreed to extend my contract. I was told that I should email DIRECTV to dispute any cancellation fee that I may incur. I sent an email to them, only to get a response saying that when I agreed to have them send me a "replacement" box, I was agreeing to an extended contract. Apparently, ethics have gone down the toilet with DIRECTV if they have to stoop to this level to maintain customers. I am disappointed at their lack of integrity. I will bite the bullet and pay the cancellation fee. For it is a small price to pay for ending my business with such an unethical company such as DIRECTV. I hope Verizon claims ALL of DIRECTV's customers.
I signed up with direct tv about 2 month ago on the phone and i asked the sales person that i am going to move is that gonna be any problem and he told me that no direct tv cover the whole country. So one week after i got the service i moved to this new apartment and i got charged $ 50 from direct tv to install the dish at new place but there was no signal in my new apartment and they said you have to cancel it. Direct tv charged my account $ 480.00 right away for early cancelation fee. I tried to call them so many times and emailed them after all they said that my dispute is not valid. I don't know what does a contract mean when there is no service provided. I had dirct tv for one week only why should i get charged for the whole 2 years. Its not my fault if there is no signal in my apartment. I really want to get my money back and fight them. they just charged me another $ 260.oo for the reciever. It is being very frusterating they are buch of thieves. If anybody has an idea how can i fight them or where can i complain to get my money back please let me know. Maybe we should all collect the evidences and take an action on it , take it to the court ,news or something. I just graduated from school and i don't have a job yet, $ 800.00 is alots of money for me.
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When i signed up for dircect tv I didnt realize I was signing up for a new job.....basically a full time bill disputer. So much fun? Every month or sometimes bi- monthly....I am on the phone with dircect tv about my bill....I am canceling and not paying a cent...I belive i will take them to small claims court..Is this a good idea?
When i signed up for dircect tv I didnt realize I was signing up for a new job.....basically a full time bill disputer. So much fun? Every month or sometimes by monthly....I am on the phone with dircect tv about my bill....I am canceling and not paying a cent...I belive i will take them to small claims court..Is this a good idea?
I recently had Direct TV installed. Before I even signed up I asked if I would be able to get the local channels, i.e. CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX. They assured me that I would be able view all those channels. After speaking to several people in my area, I learned they were told the same thing, but after the installation they were not able to get the local channels and couldn't cancel without paying a $400 cancellation fee. Therefore, I made 4 separate calls to inquire about the availability of local channels and every time someone assured me that I would be able to view those channels. Well sure enough, now that it is installed they are telling me they don't offer local channels in my area. The very same day I asked to cancel my services due to misinformation on their part and sure enough they want to charge a $400 cancellation fee. I am seeking the legal advice of an attorney and contacting the better business bureau.
I have direct tv and it is a rippoff. You have to go under contract but all the time they can raise the fees and you're stuck because you're under contract. Then when something goes wrong, it's your equipment and they want to charge and arm and leg to repair it. I have already decided if my bill goes up again I'll get rid of it and go back to the antenna.I don't watch that much tv anyway and even with satellite there is never much on worth watching.
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