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When we called Direct TV initially, we were quoted a price of $69.95, and were told that for the first year we would automatically get $20.00 off - making our monthly payment $49.95. Then, we would pay $69.95 for the second year. I asked for the quote in writting, like an e-mail, and I was told that there was no need because I was being charged a flat fee and an automatic discount would apply. - Nonetheless, as new customers we would have 30 days to cancel our service from the time of installation, if we were not happy with the service.On Februray 19, 2008, Direct TV installed the dish and receivers. On February 21, 2008, we received our first bill for $75.95. When we called in to clarify this mistake (on the 23rd) we were then informed that we had to pay the bill in full, complete a rebate form and that the rebate would be effective in a couple months. After spending one hour on the phone with customer service, we needed to get back to work & figured we'd call back later when we had more time. Meanwhile, Direct TV blocked some of the channels that we were promised as part of our initial package and had been receiving prior to this phone call.
Today, on February 29,2007, my husband and I called again to figure out what the heck was going on. After speaking with several customer service reps, we were finally transfered to a Supervisor Ryan who explained that there was nothing he could do (after all, why would you call customer service and expect that department can resolve any issues) and if we wanted to cancel our account that we would be charged $430.00 as an early cancelation fee because we didn't cancel within the "3 day period" - Keep in mind we've only had Direct TV for 9 days now, and we were originally told that we had 30 days from the date of installation to cancel. And, inorder to have the cancelation fee waived, I needed to submit a written request to a PO Box in Greenwood, CO - Att: Billing Dept - and conveniently enough, that department doesn't have a phone number or live person to speak with.
Now working for an attorney over the past five years, I've learned a thing or two - and what Direct TV was telling me just didn't sound right. So I asked to speak to Ryan's Supervisor - and he gave me some joke of a woman named Pam. (Yes I have both their Employee ID #'s for a formal complaint.) She was probably one of the RUDEST people I have ever spoken with - she obviously doesn't like her job (who can blame her) nor is she in anyway qualified to speak with, address, let alone resolve customer service issues. The long/short of my unpleasant phone conversation with her, is that pursuant to Direct TV policy, new customers have 24 HOURS to cancel their service before being charged $430.00 early cancelation fee - and that it would be automatically charged to the credit card we provided them at set up- which we were told would establish our credit so they could waive any activation fees.
I asked her for a copy of our contract as we had never received "a contract" explaining the three day cancelation condition, nor any authorization from either myself or my husband to apply any charges or fees to the credit card. Of course, my friend Pam didn't have access to any of that - but somehow she was certain that I was out of line for suggesting the facts were anything other than what she was saying. In fact, she directed me to the Direct TV website - which by the way, in NO WAY DEFINES ANY TIME PERIOD FOR CANCELATIONS. After wasting even more of my life on this rediculous call, Pam herself said there was nothing she could do, but direct me to write to the legal department - which is the same address as the billing department - and once again doesn't have a phone number or real person to speak with.
I am absolutely fighting this 110% - and filing as many complaints against Direct TV and "Pam" as possible. I am interested to know how many other customers have fallen victim to the scam known as Direct TV - if we can get enough of us together we could possibly have a class action law suit. The suit wouldn't be for the money, but to have some sort of justice for those of us getting ripped of by Direct TV.
 Comments (30) |  |
| 1. Written by Sam, on 14-03-2010 15:52 All we have receeived from DTV in the last few years are PRICE HIKES! No new channels (at least none most people would be interested in), blackouts on sports even though DTV doesn't carry the alternate channels for these games, and NOTHING TO WATCH even though there really are, on the surface, 200 channels. Of these, however, there are 40+ PPV; 40+ Spanish language (we don't speak Spanish) and about 100 others of little interest to most people. I'm getting a HUGE DVD collection. |
| 2. Written by Gail Taylor, on 21-02-2010 23:20 You are correct Direct TV has very poor coustomer service. I spoke with a Charles who took my order told him I was referred how dow the other person get credit he told me only one promotion at a time that I would receive a Hundred dollar visa card. But after I sign up in order to receive the 100.00 you have to do auto pay. I called back becuse it didn't sound right about the referral fee and I spoke with a James he told me I should have had a referral telephone number. I call back because I noticed I only had two Starz channels and four Showtime channels because I didn't have HD TV but I do and I was to have the upgade HD DVR on February 21,2010 I realized I didn't have the upgrade that I requested. Spoke with Beth, I was told in order to get the HD DVR I would have to pay 50.00 dollars because it has been over fourteen days. With Comcast they maybe expensive but customer service out waive any amount of dollars. |
| 3. Written by southern mrs, on 05-02-2010 09:07 Maybe we should ALL cancel,eat the fee for early cancellation and watch direct tv go down the tube.(no pun intended) |
| 4. Written by Steve, on 01-12-2009 16:25 I have had nothing but problems with Direct Tv . Our service works maybe 50% of the time. Over the last two months I have spent over eight hours on hold and sent several emails and Direct Tv still has not tried to fix the problem, but they continue to bill me. I canceled service today and was told that I would have to pay a $430.00 early termination fee. I tried to explain that the service did not work and that no one from Direct Tv would return my phone calls but the rep did not care. He offered to send a tech out next week. TO *** WITH DIRECT TV. Not only will I not pay this fee but I am going to put signs on all of my companies vehicles that warns people of how terrible Direct Tv is. |
| 5. Written by Todd, on 06-11-2009 13:15 I have gone as far as to attempt to contact the President of DirectTV. My issue is a result of supposedly getting the NFL sunday ticket package for free from qwest when I signed up for their package deal. The problem is I joined in June and football did not begin for a few months, it was then I discovered that I had not been given what I was told. After much arument they supposedly took care of me. When what they did was charge me for the package, but give me the Premium channels for free for 90 days, you know just like they give out to everyone when they sign up. I ended up paying over $600 for their *** up. Well 30+ phone calls later, angry comments, etc.. I am now sitting here without service, the reason. These *** automatically renewed my Sunday ticket, without my knowledge or Consent. They expect me to pay what amounts to extortion in order to get my service back, or they will turn me into credit. I might need to take time off work and DRIVE to their corporate Headquaters, and have WORD with their managers. what a bunch of ***, I am contacting my states attorny generals office on the matter. if you are putting a class action suit together please let me know. I want in... |
| 6. Written by A family, on 18-10-2009 19:29 My family bought DirectTv because we were sick of our old service. I don't appreciate everyone on here saying we're stupid for thinking they are a scamming company. No one is more honest than my mom and dad. My mom bought it, thinking it would be cheaper and help our family make it through these times. We hardly even wanted tv anymore... She was told several times on the phone that we had a 30 day period to try the service and disconnect if necessary. We called shortly after to disconnect because WE dislike the program and they said we owed money. Obviously we were told something different then the contract, but as i look this up, it seems that many other people have faced the same issue... much more than other companies. So rude people who are saying we are in the league of Satin for feeling frustrated with this company.... you need to realize that DirectTv did a bad thing by telling all of these innocent customers that they had time to cancel, when they in fact do not. What does it cost DirectTv to disconnect? Surely not the 400 dollars they are charging us. Please be kind. We are all trying to make it through these hard times and dishonest people and hurtful words do not do this. If you don't dislike DirectTv, it's probably because they didn't lie to you, but they have lied to many many other people. Luck you i guess. |
| 7. Written by realist, on 02-05-2009 22:07 First of all no company, and I do mean NO COMPANY is required by any way shape or form to give you any sort of time where you can cancels, ALL SALES ARE FINAL. CRY CRY CRY TEAR, someone gave you the wrong information, oh no its not like people are human or anything and make mistakes because after all we are all perfect and can walk on water right??? Directv is a more the fair company and they work off rebates, that means you have to do something to be proactive to get any new customer discounts, like send the rebate form in with your first bill, yes this may mean that you will have to wait for the discount, heaven forbid, but you will still get it for the alotted amount of time i.e 12 month discount will be for 12 months. And wow someone was rude to you, because even in writing you sound like a real charming person. I a sure you would be just a much of a pleasure to have at a dinner party as Hitler and Satin. If you want someone to be nice here is an Ideal concept, BE NICE, again I agree with drew |
| 8. Written by realist, on 02-05-2009 22:06 wow someone was rude to you it sounds like you are just as sweet as Hitler or Satin. I mean really if you want someone to be nice to you BE NICE. Furthermore directv is not a scam so you got some incorrect info, because people are perfect and can walk on water they should not ever give incorrect info right. Directv works off of rebates and you got that in the mail. But I am sure you just looked at it and said hey I dont have to send this in I wont call to make sure or anything I will just complain if I dont get the discount. I have to agree with Drew on 01-03-08, I am with directv on this one you sound like a complete idiot. It must suck that you refuse to be an informed consumer before you make and "Educated" decison because who would ever do that, besides someone who has a brian |
| 9. Written by Retarded I guess, on 03-02-2009 18:31 (b) Your Cancellation. You may cancel Service by notifying us. You may be charged a deactivation fee as described in Section 2 and issued a credit as described below. Your notice is effective on the day we receive it. You will still be responsible for payment of all outstanding balances accrued through that effective date. In addition to any deactivation or change of service fees provided in Section 2, if you cancel Service or change your Service package, you may be subject to an early cancellation fee if you entered into a separate programming agreement with DIRECTV in connection with obtaining Receiving Equipment, and have failed to maintain the required programming package for the required period of time. Once again from the user agreement. Basically broken down this means if you sign up for a contract and want to cancel it at anytime before the end date, even after an hour... You have to pay for that unused part of the contract which includes all programming fees for months incompleted and all receivers. I can't defend them but I can't deny this either. If you don't like this, don't sign/get the agreement. If its on paper there is nothing you can do |
| 10. Written by L.Tablada, on 21-08-2008 22:00 3 month with a service that is interrupted every 5 minutes, I call,complaint about and they said they are going to send somebody; the thing is we are paying for a service that don't exist, our money is going to the pockets of the CEO's, those gangsters w/ties are robing us, we, of course living in the paradise of the freedom market, no government to protect us, who can help us? |
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