DISH Network
reviews and complaints

I have been incorrectly billed by Dish Network. After putting these charges in dispute, I have received no satisfaction, compounded by rude customer service representation and late charges. I have been given a website to register my complaint ([protected]@customermail.dishnetwork.com) which goes to a generic website that allows for NO feedback.

Dish Network Customers Beware!

Former 14 yr. customer here: I chose Dish Network TV over cable back when Dish Network was the just about the only provider out there. I had to drive 60 miles to find a retailer and then had to install and aim the dish myself using a protractor and compass because there was no installer network like there is today. One of the reasons I chose DIsh Network was the Dish pack was a purchase of equipment while the others were rentals, and I'm not a fan of perpetual renting. Purchasing saves you money in the long term. And when Dish converted to HD programming, I purchased the DVR instead of renting for that very reason. Purchase price: Approx. $500.

About a two years later, I had an unrequested visit from a Dish Network installer who said he was there to install an upgraded DVR to work better with the HD programming, etc. The price there? $150 upgrade. The installer told me the upgrade price was high because I was not a rental customer. Again, I paid it in lieu of endless renting.

Recently, after one of the many little $5 price hikes which Dish justified by adding a premium package (I didn't want or use) "free of charge", I found a better package for a cheaper price (saving $40 per month) through Direct TV. My network viewing had decreased considerably because of streamed video via Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, so I just couldn't see paying Dish Network $85 a month anymore.

Now the real character of Dish Network came through: When I closed my account, the Account Specialist told me that Dish had collected my purchased DVR during the "upgrade" and replaced it with a rental machine. Remember: the Installer had confirmed it was a purchase upgrade when he swapped it out.

When I disputed this, the Account Specialist told me that if I didn't return the rented DVR, worthless to me without the Dish service anyway - but at one time mine, my account would be charged $400. Their version of the upgrade was that they credited me $10 (TEN dollars) for my $500 DVR after they replaced it with the rental. The Account Specialist agreed that it wasn't a square deal but refused to credit me for the DVR purchase I'd made several years earlier. She even had the temerity to tell me that she hoped I would return to Dish and that I could leave the dish setup intact on the roof to make switching back easier. Fat chance.

Bottom line: Dish could have had a customer for life if they'd simply kept their prices reasonable (read: competitive), but they didn't. And the little move of switching a purchased machine for an "upgraded" rental machine, then shafting the customer for the difference, left an angry former customer and ensures that Dish Network has lost a customer - for life. Dish Network cost me $500 but I'd bet disseminating this information as far and as wide as I can costs them more.

I'm not recommending Direct TV over Dish Network (there are too many other entertainment options out there today), but I am advocating avoiding Dish Network. When you see the DIsh vs. Direct TV customer satisfaction commercials on TV, there is merit to Direct TV's claim of higher customer satisfaction.

Charles Ergen, you run a dishonest business.

On- authorized bank draft
When we had been signed that contract with Dish they promised us Movie channel for a year. We let them use our bank to draft the money. Then we noticed that they never gave us any movies in begin with. So we closed the drafting withdrawal from our account. Then, we called them to lower our package on devises which we no longer needed. They send us the package and we send the Box (devise) back. Next Monday we noticed that they went in our bank without any authorization and withdrawal 100$ from account. I called and was connected with a woman she did not speak English that well and she told us that they had the right because the devise was not received yet. I told her that i close the account month ago so you all will get billed and she [promised me that she will deposit the money on Monday. Well Monday came and she did not deposit it back to the account. Her name is Minnie Adoko, [protected] ext. 70838 and I like to complain about this company that had stolen money out of our account and never had really stand up for what they Advertised and now we still have no clue and we have no rights to be justified in this case. We have all documents and also recordings such as what I had been discussing with Ms. Minnie Adoko from Dish Network, and I will report this also to the B.B.B then we need to speak up with people like them we next few month will discontinue with them and therefore they lost another customer.
Tatjana Roland - Kevin Minnix

1. My supervisor:
a. raised his voice at me
b. explained very rudely that my shaking my head 'yes' all the time is inappropriate communication.
Ex. I have Tourette syndome, which means that I am constantly shaking my head 'yes', rolling my eyes, blinking, clearing my throat, twiddling my fingers, shrugging my shoulder(s) and flexing muscles in my neck. ALL the time! This is the guy who interviewed me for the job, whom was informed of this condition.
c. It is now eleven days after my check should have arrived and there is still no paycheck available for me.
d. I filed a complaint against my manager for his misconduct and the last phone call I got about this issue was from a woman with questions and her questions very much seemed to be centered around the idea that I was being too sensitive about this issue. I joke with my friends about Tourette's all the time. I informed her that my manager's comments were not humorous, but instead were very insulting.
e. Apparently, I'm fired.

Other issues:
a. Training was a complete JOKE. I was put out on my own way under-trained.
b. Nothing was done about this when I made several comments regarding not being well-trained and under-educated for the job.
c. I was written up for poor performance even after explaining that I needed more training. I guess that means it's my fault.
d. Constantly being 'ridden' about the length of time for job completion.

On 05/20/2011-I manually paid my dish network bill online. On 05/23/2011-Dish network did an auto pay out of my account for the same amount. On 06/06/2011 I finally was refunded for the $68.35 they took out my account for the second time. I am not the riches person in the world so this mishap caused me to have $140.00 in overdrafts. So I went to the bank (TCF) and the person rudely said I had too many overdrafts so they can't go by my word they needed proof. I even have shown that the $68.35 was returned. So I called Dish Network on 06/07/2011 and asked for a letter. I had to repeat myself 4 times and I was finally sent to the escalation department that stated that they do not have any letter to give me but for my troubles they would give me $60.00 I should see in my account in 3 to 5 business days. The operator suggested that they take me off auto pay for now so I could catch up and that they would give me until 07/01/2011 to pay my bill without interruptions. So on 06/22/2011, I found out that one I was not approved for the $60.00 they offered. The auto pay still was set for the 22nd. They guy I spoke to apologized and took off the auto pay and gave me Cinemax free for 30 days. So on 06/23/2011 they still went in my account took the payment and a 2:35 pm today an automatic system called me and told me that today was my last day for Dish Network. I called 4 times and was put on hold, numbers dial in my ear and was hung up on. So I am last call, I told the operator that I was filling a complaint all across the board. My situation is still a mess and i just found out while writing this complaint that my service is off...the service I paid for. Gee thank Dish!

I tried Dish Network for 5 days, and was thoroughly disappointed. My wife and daughter absolutely hated it, and the DVR did not compare to TIVO. So I called to cancel, and was told I would have to pay the full cancellation fee of $420.00. I had already paid all of the installation fees and had recieved a bill in the mail for the first month for $65.00. They did NOT tell me up front that TIVO Premier would NOT work with their system. (It requires a CableCard, which I called to try and get one, but they didn't even know what that was) I tried their DVR, but didn't like it. So anyway, the bottom line is; I wanted to try their product, I was NOT satisfied, I cancelled, but they still charged me the FULL cancellation fee, (after only 5 days) and a FULL 1st months charge. I know I would not win anything back in a court of law, but I CAN at least warn other prospective buyers about this company; They WILL lie to you, and they WILL charge you EVERY PENNY they can if you're not happy with their "Superior" products... BUYER BEWARE!

I have been with dishnet work more than 10 years. We do not have any contract with Dishnetwork. Recently we went to out of town and we cancelled the services. After two months one day the collections agency called me and told me that I owe $12.40. I was surprised. The company never send me any statement or bills and never called me. For that amount they went to collection agency. After so many years I had a dishnet and for only for that amount they went to collection agency..

We had Dish Network services for well over 4 years. Our contract had expired and we decided to switch to DirecTV since their prices were better. Over 3 months ago, the DirecTV dish was installed and we called that same day to cancel service with Dish Network. The Dish Network representative said we would have to send the equipment back and confirmed that there would be no charges for shipping. They said they would send us the prepaid shipping labels and boxes and we could use them. We offered to return the equipment to the local office that installed it, but they said, no, we can't do that. They said we have to ship them, but the labels would be prepaid and it would not cost us anything unless we did NOT return the equipment. They said if we did not return it, we would be charged for the equipment. We received the boxes with the prepaid shipping labels inside them and followed all the written instructions included and promptly returned the equipment. We received a refund from Dish Network for about $83 because we had paid in advance and had a credit on our account. Now, we are receiving collection letters for $31.80 which they claim is overdue on our account. I called the collection agency and tried to explain it was an error. They would not allow me to say more than 2 words at a time without interrupting me. I then did the same thing to them - boy they didn't like that much at all! They told me collection efforts would continue and I was to call Dish Network if I had any issues with the fraudulent charges. I called Dish Network and they said it's in my contract that I have to pay to return the equipment. I said I had received prepaid labels and they agreed that they had sent them to me, but said after I use them, my account is charged for the shipping costs. I explained that I confirmed with UPS that there is no charge if I use the prepaid shipping labels, as long as I don't take the equipment to UPS and give it to the driver instead. We followed every step to a "T". My husband flagged down the driver so we would not incur the charges. Now Dish Network says it's in our contract. We no longer had a contract with Dish Network, as it had already expired. Dish Network added charges to our account after it was closed AND we had been issued a refund for OVERPAYMENT. If shipping labels are "prepaid" and we are required to use them and if we don't use them, we will be charged the full price for the equipment we didn't return, and if we can't return the equipment locally, what choice do we have? Doesn't "prepaid" mean "paid in advance"? That's what it used to mean. I am not paying this bill and am filing formal complaints with every agency I can think of until the fraudulent charges are removed from my account. The Dish Network return policy I have does not say anything at all about being charged after using "prepaid" shipping labels. It only says Dish Network "may, at its discretion" charge me for shipping. When they sent me the prepaid labels, they lost any discretion they may have been entitled to - at least in my opinion. I am not the only person with this same complaint issue when dealing with Dish Network. Their policy apparently is to tell us one thing so we send back the equipment and then they just add charges to a closed account. They have no authorization to re-open my account and no right to add charges AFTER they've issued a refund for "OVERPAYMENT". HEED MY ADVICE: DO NOT EVER USE DISH NETWORK! (I intend to file many more formal complaints. This type of bad business practice needs to be stopped. Consumers have rights and I intend to exercise my rights.)

I have never been a customer of DISH Network, yet we have been getting harassing calls from an automated system for the six months we've lived at our new address. The former owners of our new telephone number apparently aren't paying their bills on time. When I called DISH Network to ask them to quit bothering us, they tell me they can't change anything in the customer's file without the customer updating it. That's bull! That means we'll keep getting harassed, while the former owner of this number has no motivation to make any changes! They refuse to remove the phone number from the customer record! When I asked to speak with a supervisor, I was put on hold for 15 minutes, and it was clear no one was going to talk to me.

I began service with them nearly a year ago but still have some time to go on my contract. How does that work? Anyway, one month after starting service, they took away all the premium channels that were "introductory" and said I would have to pay twice the $39 a month to have "s0me" of the channels back. I said no thanks. This year they "gave" me Starz channel for a year (which I don't want and didn't ask for) as a "gift" and doubled my rate so I'm up to the $69 they wanted me to pay at the beginning. There is no canceling it or trading for another channel. Coincidentally, I am moving at the end of this month and the new landlord doesn't want a dozen satellites on his roof from every renter (I don't blame him). Since Dish can only use their own dishes, and would have to put up a new one, my landlord said no satellites anywhere on the property. I called Dish to cancel my service and they are charging me $140 to cancel my contract! They argued that Federal law states everyone is entitled to a satellite (lobbying in Congress?) and that I should challenge my landlord. I like my landlord and don't want Dish's service after the Starz episode anyway. So after they insisted I HAVE to pay the cancellation fee, HAVE to return their equipment via shipping ($30 to use their labels because they go to Colorado or Texas - no local stores) and that they would be going into my bank account and taking their $140 and that there is nothing I can do about that, including making arrangements to pay it off. Anyone who uses DISH NETWORK might as well take their money and hand it out on the street corners.

I hope the Federal and State Government Officials / Represntatives are no bought off by Dish Network and really Nail this company, its executives from all the abuses its committing to the public and getting away with it. They cheated and stole from my Senior Citizen father in his 70's. This is excerpts from my Senior Citizen Fathers Complaint

"In July, August of 2010, I, a senior citizen, in good standing within our community and a longtime Time Warner cable customer was targeted by Dish Network and their Marketing Network for their Promotion of $24.99 / month for Americas Top 120 channels (for 12 months) and the remaining 12 months the price being locked in at $39.99. (Copy of Ad available)
On August 20th 2010
Dish Network installed /started services. (Copy of contract available)

On January 5th, 2011
As a new customer, under this promotion, contacted Dish Network for advice as their client and new customer if there was any option that I could freeze my account by holding it while we were on vacation( a Hindu Pilgrimage in India), and resuming it when we got back. Dish Network advised us on Dish Pause stating that it would only cost us $5.00 monthly charge for Dish Pause duration. The account would remain active and resume back when we returned. (Transcripts available).
(NOTE: dish Network did not advise us, that it would forfeit our $24.99 rate and our lock in rate for the remaining 24 months of resumed service). They knowingly omitted this key piece of information.

On March 11th, 2011
I Contacted Dish Network for resuming my services and I shockingly find out that my previous promotion was forfeited due to Disk Pause and the terms of the promotion had been changed. My monthly bill now was almost doubled from 24.99 now to 44.99 for Americas top 120 package.
I Protested to Dish Network why they did not disclosed to us on January 5th. They were apologetic but the situation was not resolved. They did not resume my original service due to the situation not being resolved. (Transcripts available)

On March 12th, 2011
Again I Contacted Dish Network in verifying and stating my original pricing before service is resumed, the issue was resolved and my original service was resumed at that original promotional pricing of America top 120 package that I had before. (Transcript available).

On April 6th, 2011
After checking my bill and noticing that prices were doubled and overcharged. They have removed my 24.99 monthly price ($15.00 remaining monthly credits from the $39.99 per month) and started charging me $44.99 per monthly charge, plus advanced monthly charge for the same amount which is locked in for the remaining term of the 24 months of the promotional months without the promotional pricing that I had signed up for. I Contacted Dish Network. They stated that my original agreed upon promotional price was forfeited. Again complained and protested. (Transcripts available)related to the current dispute of overcharged billing and what the current bill should be. Please also be advised that the future automatic withdrawals if not corrected with the promotional pricing that was agreed upon will also be overcharged and be in dispute every month.On April 9th, 2011
I sent a letter of Complaint to Dish Network, and their Corporate Officers via email system. (email transcript available)
On April 9th 2011
I received short email back stating that the complaint has been addressed without any proper explanation in their deceptive trade practices against senior citizen consumer in wrongfully charging me. (Email transcripts available)"

My Rights were violated, I am a victim and I expect the Government to defend and protect us Senior Citizen / Minority Consumer Cardholders users from predator corporations. Customers especially Senior Citizens expect the Government to protect consumers card users using its full weight/ and protections of the from any fraudulent and deceptive trade practices by predator corporation such as Dish Network and Crooked Executives who direct criminal policy fo defrauding the Consumer"

After returning my equipment to dish network, using their prepaid shipping label, I received an undisclosed charge of $15 for return of the equipment. As if this wasn't upsetting enough, the bill included a charge for florida sales tax! Huh? A sales tax charged for me to pay to return equipment. I have confirmed with the florida department of revenue that this transaction obviously does not qualify for a sales tax charge. Of course when I called to complain to dish about it, they tried to say they had no control over this, and that the state of florida is responsible for the charge. Yeah, right! I run my own business so I know how and when to charge sales tax and it is up to me to submit or not submit the charge to my customers. So hopefully, dish will now begin to locate all other customers who have been inappropriately given this charge and begin the process of reimbursement. We had planned to use dish at our new location but after seeing their covert methods, we will no longer use them,

I tried to cancel my 92 year old aunt's service when she went into a home in March 2011. I faxed a copy of the power of attorney that gave me the right to do this. They didn't stop service. Got another bill. FAxed another POA, got another bill. Then this past week they called the home that she is in and harassed her about her over due bill. After over 4 hours on the phone with them, not including 1 hour today, they say that the account is finally closed, but they were going to send a box to MA where I live to send the receiver that is in AZ back. I have been telling them that my aunt says she bought that unit, just like she and they said she did the 1st one, but they say no, but cannot prove that she signed anything that says she leased it. The stupidity of the people I have had to deal with there is amazing. And it really hurts that most of the time I was supposedly talking to CO, USA. I am contacting Elder Affairs, the BBB in Phoenix and the FCC in AZ. How can this company continue to exist?

I cancelled my Dish Network service today. As expected, they'll require the return of my leased equipment. Much to my surprise there would be a $15 fee assessed for each return label I had to use. I was told that this was clearly stated in the terms and conditions I signed for my service.
However, Dish Network's RCA Page 7, Item 5, Part B: states you must "contact our customer service... to schedule the return of your leased Equipment...". It says nothing about the customer being repsonsible for return shipping charges. Nor does it say anything about Dish Network paying the return fees.
Obviously there is nothing criminal about this policy. What it does is provide Dish Network with the leverage they need to bully clients into keeping their services. If you wish to refuse to return your leased equipment, Dish Network will simply place an over-inflated replacement fee onto your credit card they keep on file. It should be noted that your credit card information is kept on file even after you request it to be deleted. The public needs to know what of company Dish Network is. Buyer beware and remove your support by cancelling your own services.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/downloads/legal/RCA.pdf

I have been billed for almost 15 months depite a lack of service for most of that time and repeated requests to have my subscription dropped. I want a full refund and an apology from Charlie Ergen. Early 2010 I purchased a Dishnet satellite system from the Satellite Guys(?) and signed up for a Dishnet subscription. After two months the service stopped and several calls to support failed to find the problem. I believed and was encouraged to believe that the problem was at my end. Throughout 2010 I tried various things at my end and made calls to support without success. Finally in Dec./10 I spent 3 hours on chat until I was finally passed up to Corey at Level 3. He immediately determined that my box had been dropped from the list (DP311) and if I paid $7.95 it would be restored. I did and it was. Annoyed at the fact that I had paid almost 1 $1, 000 because of the failure of Dishnetwork I made three attempts to have my subscription cancel each time being given assurances that this had been done. On 3/12/11 I had a long online chat with Mark (LQ3) and I was again assured that my subscription would be canceled and he suggested I print the chat transcript as proof. This I did but my credit card is stil being billed as of this month. In today's high tech world I realize that things can fall through the cracks but this is rediculous. For starters fire the programmers. If someone's box is dropped obviously he cannot receive the service so it should be automatically suspended along with the billing.

i called dish they didnt tell me about hidden fees we had the system installed when the installer came here and hooked up everything he said you signed a 2yr contract i said no we didnt he said if you dont sign this i dont get paid and ive been here for 5 hrs you have 14 days to cancel with no fees. so i called the next day and tried to cancel dish said you dont have any grace period and if we cancel we will charge you $400. i told them what the sales rep said and they were like well that is a sub contractor for us we cant control that i said but they are representing your company and you condone this procedure? the reply was im not saying that but if you cancel you will be charged and we have no grace period. its been less than 24 hrs since we had this installed. everyone lied to us and this is suppose to ok? its not right and should be a law against this.

Halunen & Associates is a class action law firm investigating Dish Network’s practice of charging early termination fees
(cancellation fees) to customers who terminate their service. We believe this practice violates the law. If you or someone you know has
been charged this fee, please contact Shawn Wanta at: [protected]@halunenlaw.com or call at [protected]. Thank you.

I had dish network install service in my home approx. 6 years ago. Never had any problems.
a friend of mine needed a place to put his trailer, unable to find a trailer park. I allowed him to park his trailer on my property. approx. 2months goes by and my friend calls dish network to have them install a dish and service in his trailer, no problem. dish network sends someone right install all the parts, service is good. about 1 year later i lose all my unemployment benefits, no more money. I call dishnetwork and cancel my service, promising to turn my service back on, as soon as i get on disability. I hayve started to get my disability .nowwewant our TV turned back on. I talked to several different people, they all told me that you can not have service at two houses with the same address and different name. I guess we will have to go to direct tv.

signed up for their international packages 3 years ago and recently they removed 5 of 11 channels and still charge me the same price.My wife speaks russian and it is her only cultural connection here in the states.The internet is getting better so soon we will drop them for good.Do not slap your customers in the face dish and if you have stock with them SELL IT NOW...