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Direct Tv Watch out if you cancel service! Internet

I had Direct TV satellite service for almost 10 years. I cancelled service for a less-expensive tv service on March 17th. When I cancelled, the cus.service agent advised me of a $100 cancellation fee (which was fine because my new tv provider was giving me that $ to switch to them). I had a $12 credit on my direct tv account so the cancellation fee charged to my credit card was $88. This is not the end of the story.

Over a week later, I recieved the fedex box and shipping label so that I could return to them an HD reciever. No problem yet. I put the unit into its box and dropped it at a Fedex location. April 8th I recieved an email from directv saying that my account was past due. I called directv to ask what the late fee charge was. They told me that I hadn't returned the HD reciever. I quickly logged onto fedex.com and advised the customer service agent that fedex.com had a signature confirming receipt on April 6th. (signature from a J.Yohe). She thanked me, told me that it may take a few days once recieved in the warehouse for the records to reflect that I had returned my HD reciever. Fast forward to April 30 when I recieved a text from my bank that my credit/debit account had been overdrawn. Overdrawn? I logged onto my bank website to find out that directv had charged me 267.51. When I called directv, they told me that charge was for the equipment that they hadnt recieved but did see that they HAD already recieved it on April 26th. So why would they go ahead and charge my account on April 30 if they had the equipment already? The customer service person would not answer that question. They would have to do an investigation before they could refund my money and it would take 3-5 days.

Over a week later, I called back since there was still no credit. My problem had been turned over to "escalations" and now it would take a few more days to get my account credited. The key here is that they meant my "directv account", not my credit card account. Once my directv account is credited (remember i dont use directv anymore so having a $267.51 credit on my account does me NO GOOD), it takes 6-8 weeks 6 TO 8 WEEKS! for them to actually refund any money. They would not admit any mistakes at all and refused to give my money back immediately because that wouldn't be following "procedure". Oh, but I guess it is procedure to charge somoeone a load of money for equipment that is sitting in their warehouse already.

The worst thing about this whole situation is even if you catch their mistake, they will not correct it right away. They are quick to charge you, but are not quick to give the money back. They will hold your money for 2 months (even when it is clearly their fault). Does directv pay interest on that money? yeah right.

In the end, I have filed a complaint with my bank for a fraudulent charge. My bank gave me my money back right away and they will go after directv for it. I have also changed my credit card number so directv can longer make any more whimsicle charges.

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14 comments
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Allen Eagle
, US
Jun 24, 2023 12:04 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

They are terrible. We had direct TV for years. When the weather bad we lost the signal. My wife went to the store and they sold her cable boxes. They told her she would have to upgrade her internet. The crew came into our yard botched trees, ran wires from the awning. Looked terrible. Went by the store Supervisor came by could not do anything. We got the Sunday ticket they kept billing after the season. Always had a story final payment, final billing payment, final payment after billing cycle. Went to store told Manager we returned the boxes and they informed us we were good. Went to Xfinity and started serving. Went to direct TV website and canceled never showed balance. We canceled direct TV in March 23. On June 23 my wife received a email bill from direct TV claiming we owe $385. I called they told me it was a cancelation fee. I asked for Justification they told me we canceled to early. I asked what they considered early we had been with them 20 years. He was the rudest Indian I ever dealt with and told me the fee must be paid and hung up. Later a lady from California called me and explained that the amount was $94 for the final month and the fee was $289. I offered to pay the $94 as a good faith and waive the fee. She said that it is not possible. It is their policy that when we purchased the equipment for the cable a new contract starts. I told her to send me the contract we signed, the final bill and breakdown and how they came to $289 as the fee. She said she is sending it now. Two weeks we heard nothing. Now we get a call from a Miami collection agency representing them. I asked how they came up with the $385. She said I should know it is a fee we agreed to. She was rude condescending and hung up. Apparently they are an unethical money grabbing organization.

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H. E. Smith
Tucson, US
Jun 03, 2016 8:34 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

We tried to return a DirecTv box when a subscriber had a stroke and was admitted to a nursing home. They refused to tell us what address to bring it to. They claim they can only speak to the person that is in the nusing home. We left the box in his apartment and now he gets bills from a bill collector. We will never pay this. Perhaps they should adopt a policy where stroke victims don't have to talk on the phone.

Valerie
Valerie
, US
Jun 03, 2016 8:34 am EDT

I upgraded to a DVR in 10/07, I recently got a better deal with another company after paying such extreme prices with DTV. So when I called to cancel them, they informed me that I signed a 2 year contract and that I was informed about this when I got the DVR. Now if they would have told me this I would have said no, but that’s how they get you. So now they want me to pay them 187.00 on top of my last bill. Well they informed me that they would take the finally fees out of the credit card I have on file, well one problem that card has expired, so it suck to be them uh. I refuse to pay for a fee that I was not informed about. I also called back and requested the contract that I signed, the lady told me it would be 7- 14 days. I only signed a work order. I really think we should get a class action law-suit going, because there full of it.

Valerie
Valerie
, US
Jun 03, 2016 8:34 am EDT

My receiver crashed and they wanted to charge me for a new one. I said no let me cancel my service since my contract had expired. The customer retention person told me that she could send me a receiver with out charge and no new agreement. She also said I could bundle with Embarq. When I called later to bundle they said they don't do it with embarq so I said cancel my service. They then told me I will have to pay an early termination fee. I said for what. They said my extended agreement when I got the replacement box. They are the best cons in the satellite business. The reps are super rude. They are excellent in the business of being rude to customers and not giving you vital info and lying about everything.

Valerie
Valerie
, US
Jun 03, 2016 8:34 am EDT

Beware when signing up for Direct TV. I recently signed up for Direct TV. Two days later, I called to cancel because the service turned out to be inferior to my cable service. When I spoke to Direct TV, they informed that service could only be cancelled within the first 24 hours. After that, I would have to pay a two-year commitment fee (over $400) if I wanted to cancel the service. Additionally, although I initially signed up for the service by calling Direct TV directly, they told me the service was actually installed by a third party, and therefore the cancellation issue out of their (Direct TV's) hands.

First, I was never informed of the 24 hour cancellation policy, nor of the two-year commitment when I signed up. Nor was I informed that the installation service was being performed by an independent third party not directly affiliated with Direct TV -and whose business name I don't even know - which means that any issues outside of the satellite service itself are between me and the unknown third party installation service provider.

This is a crooked business practice that makes you a slave to Direct TV, leaving the consumer with no other options once he/she is trapped in their web. Buyers beware. Direct TV is inferior to cable service in every way possible!

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martha cook
ponce de leon,fl, US
Jun 03, 2016 8:34 am EDT

from day of installation of our directv it never worked properly.directv sent tech. to fix, worked for one day and went out again.canceled service after only three weeks-on the 1st of the next month directv took app. $600, 00 out of account, 63 years old and on a $638.00 fixed disability income. By doing this directv not only wiped out account but caused all checks for reg. bills to bounce, costing $35 per check. At no point that we are aware of, did we sign a contract, and even if we had, why can they charge for an entire year of service then take away said service? We have been violated no matter how you view it!directv is wrong and should make this right-seeking legal advise on how to proceed...

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TedE51
, US
Dec 30, 2009 2:59 pm EST

They claim to be #1 in customer satisfaction? What a joke. The majority of their reps are extremely rude and they talk to you like you work @ Directv and should know what they are talking about? Are you serious? I am sick of them and I am not going to pay to be abused anymore.

This is a lesson in checking your statements closely. I almost paid my bill with an overcharge of $64.59 for premium channels that I have not had since July of 2009. I called billing and you guessed it I had to be transferred to another department&then I would be transferred back to billing for the adjustment? Are you kidding me? No he was serious.

Long story short I was transferred to a "specialist" and she offered me a 1 time inconvenience credit which was less than my overcharge or I could get $20 over the next 6 months? I wanted the 1 time credit because I plan to cancel my service. However, it should not have been called an inconvenience credit because there is no such thing so why call it that? I do not like a play on words or trickery.

I asked for a supervisor because of this reps confusing offers. I spoke with an unpleasant Ashley who told me we were on the same page about the overcharge credit but we weren't. I wanted to talk about the offer of trickery that is apparently how they attempt to keep their customers but I am not stupid and not going to fall for it. After she continued to be rude I asked who her manager was and she told me "nobody is higher than her"? When I inquired on canceling my service she told me "she would be happy to help me with that all she had to do was hit a cancel button".

Now I am pissed. I am shocked at the behavior of a supposed supervisor? I did not say cancel my service I asked about the procedure. They claim to have 1 million new customers in the past year so I guess they do not need me but I have been a loyal customer since 2003 and I have had 6 or 7 defective DVR's in that period. Talk about an inconvenience but I have remained loyal until now.

I do not care that they claim Dish has lost 180, 000 customers. Now they have only lost 179, 999 because I am done with Directv.

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CarK84
, US
Feb 03, 2010 8:40 am EST

I too am a victom of Directv's contract scam. I have been a customer with directv for five years.I called to cancel reciently because of the cost of service for a additional room. I was told that because i've been suce a long and loyal customer they would give me a reciever and instalation for free.Only after installation, when I was presented with a new contract, did I discover the catch! I refused the new contract, so they fired off a email stating that i'm under contract with them anyway!Really?, So I called to dispute, and was told, too bad, the 24 month agreement you signed five years ago states that if you recieve new equiment you will be under contact again.And that if i cancel the service i will be charged a heafty penality to my credit card. This is obvisally a scam.If your thinking about Directv dont! Thier scame artists. Beware.

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LeoP89
, US
Jun 23, 2010 12:56 pm EDT

Direct TV screwed me.

I was getting a broken signal and no picture at all.

I called Direct TV and they sent out a team of two people to check my equipment which I owned. They said I should have an upgrade that was FREE.

They had me request authorization by phone; while, they were there.

The woman said the upgrade was FREE.

Upgrade was done and I purchased equipment protection insurance and got HD

capability.

When I got my bill, I was shocked.

They replaced my Direct TV purchased equipment and had installed leased equipment which I have to pay a fee on each month.

I tried to cancel and was told I could not; my system would be shut off and I would not get service on three of my four home receivers.

FREE ? Direct TV lied.

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Mooney Bird
Charlotte, US
Oct 28, 2010 3:30 am EDT

My elderly parents on a fixed income have unknowingly had the most explensive DirectTV plan for 15 years. Out of the blue, DirectTV contacted them and told them their architecture / infrastructure needed to be updated so they could continue to receive quality TV and they would send someone out to update the equipment at NO CHARGE. Of course my sweet Dad said sure, whatever you need to do, not knowing because they neglected to tell him, that DirectTV would increase his already enormous bill amount for $15/mo after upgrading. I am furious that they would take advantage of old people this way, I am trying to get them to drop DirectTV now due to being lied to and taken advantage of but they are scared of what DirectTV might do next regarding the new equipment they installed, like try to charge them $1000's for it like I've read about on this website. This kind of theivery should be a crime and DirectTV's unsavory business practices and extortion, illegal.

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Jamesj3006
, US
Feb 17, 2011 4:23 pm EST

Direct tv once again gains access to a bank account charging outrageous fees . someone needs to stop this! no one told me of a 300 dollar early termination fee when i upgraded! canceled my account and was charged over 700.00 dollars from my account . they did this without my permission.if there is a class action lawsuit against these underhanded poeple someone let me know, i will join today. also their product is horrible.again if anyone knows of a lawsuit pending for their conduct.

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Used0Abused
, US
Feb 19, 2011 3:03 pm EST

When we signed, we were promised at better deal. What we got was a bigger bill. Customer Service accused us of ordering the NFL Program, which we never even recieved. When they told me what channel it was on, we found we didn't even get the channel! yet it was thier word against ours, and even when we showed them we didn't get channel, they would no reimburse us. they were so rude, we canceled, then were fined over $700.0 for it. No justice, we were scammed, and forced to pay or risk bad credit. Never again.

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kyro.anubis
san diego, US
Feb 04, 2010 10:17 pm EST

the next question to ask is how many signatures on a petition do you need to force change? then go to iPetitions.com

kyro.anubis@gmail.com

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cathy
Hoffman Estates, US
Jun 03, 2016 8:34 am EDT

i have also been lied to or scamed buy dtv, ive had them for 10 years my tivo stoped working i called to ask for a replacement, well they dont make the one i had anymore, so the lady on the phone said we can send you a dvr its the exact same thing as tivo i would just have to pay shippihg, i said thats fine. ive had nothing but problems the past 3 and a half months with the box and the tech they send out, due to finacioal reasons i cancelled my service and they tell me i agreed to a 2 year agreement and i now owe them $366.34 for early disconnecting and was told i was sent out a agreement from dtv, lies and more lies now they are saying they sent me a email on the agreement, the box is a refurbashed box that isnt even worth more then 50.00 bucks. they need to get there storys strait at that place. i will be taking this matter as far as i can.