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DirecTV review: directv sucks 820

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9:19 am EDT
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I had DirecTv at my last rental property. I had the service from June 2007 till I put the account on hold for 6 months, in October of 2009, with a $68 credit on my account. Even tho I spent big $$$$ on the 3 boxes I had at the house, one a DVR, I was told I had to send them all back or get charged for them upon cancelation. (thought I was already charged for them?) So March I called to cancel the account (making constant reminders so I wouldnt forget, cause they didnt call)

So I was on Vacation at the time and didnt get home for a couple of weeks. Called and asked if that was ok to wait to send the boxes and it was, according to the lady I talked to. They sent me return boxes, and when I got home, there was only a return box for one box. So I called. They said now I only owed one box, the DVR. (yay, small victory) So I sent the box when I got home.

In the meantime they charged me for a month of service at a house that I dont live at anymore. They also charged me $175 for the box I "never" returned. With FedEx tracking number in tow, I called, they finially reversed the fee for the extra month, and said that eventually the charge for the box would get removed. HA.

So then, I think because I had that pesky little credit on my account, they charged me $60 for an early cancelation fee. But I have had my account for 2+years you say?, even over and above the 6 month suspension? But that loyalty does not count. Cause in June 2008 I purchased another box and paid for another room and I canceled the account in October 2009, 2 months shy of the December contract which aparently got renewed with the new box. Now they NEVER told me I had a new contract, cause I had planned my move out date accordinly not to have these charges, with any of my uitilities. So after 3 years with DirecTv, they still wouldnt help me out.

"Well it is now our policy to inform our customers of that." said the lady.
"Well what about people who you did not tell?" Says I
"Well we should have told you." says the lady.
"Huh? So you should have?" says I.
"Yes Mamn." Says she.
"but you didnt?" Says me.
"No Mamn."
"So I still have to pay the fee.
"Yes mamn."

"Best in Customer Satisfaction" my rear end! So you pay if you do and you pay if you dont. Please look elsewhere for TV service. I know that DTV has all the good chanels, but you pay dearly. THey have sooooooo many fees, it is rediculous. Better yet, buy some books! Or some movies! Or a good internet connection so you dont need those greedy ### at all!

Update by Becky hates DirecTv
Mar 31, 2010 9:20 am EDT

PS: I was paying $120 a month for service. Which was not the best, if a bird flew buy or hevens to betsy it rained, NO service!

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The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

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820 comments
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panther21
, US
Feb 13, 2010 12:48 pm EST

Taking off XM Satellie Radio and putting on Sonic Radio. XM Radio ROCKS. Sonic Radio SUCKS DONKEY DICKS.

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DeniceE
, US
Feb 02, 2010 12:27 am EST

I called regarding my bill after my 3 months of having this contract my bill was gonna go down . Never did after 9 months my bill still the same and the worst I was on the phone for an hour cause the representitive Jaime kept on hanging up...it was just horrible

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Warens
, US
Jan 08, 2010 10:31 am EST

I'm very unhappy to discover that PPV is now only 24 hrs. and I want to know why. I hope somebody can clear this up for me. I used to order a lot of PPV movies mainly for the caption affect and was able to save on my TiVo till I was ready to watch it but now that is not an option.

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Jadee
, US
Dec 03, 2009 10:25 am EST

Direct TV is a thief and will con you into paying for service that is deplorable. Stay with cable. don' t buy into their cheezy commercial.

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DaveG39
Glendale, US
Sep 30, 2009 11:24 pm EDT

My friend's house burned to the ground in thhe recent Station Fire in California. DirecTV charged him a non-return equipment fee of almost $300. When he tried to explain about the fire, they told him they were actually doing him a favor because the fee for lost equipment was $400!

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slaing
Costa Mesa, US
Sep 24, 2009 9:12 am EDT

I closed down my Directv account in excellentstanding. 2 weeks later there is a charge for $267.13 from my cking account from Directv...no bill, no explanation, no authorization, NOTHING. DO NOT TRUST THIS ORGANIZATION.

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Louie
, US
Aug 09, 2009 6:05 pm EDT

Even after 12 years service, I was charged $145.00 when I tried to return the inferior DVR they replaced my TIVO with. Customer Service, an oxymoron with Directv. They will send the account immediately to collections. Pitiful.

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steve williams
Fanwood, US
Jul 07, 2009 9:02 pm EDT

No service time one whole week. Noone in the service detment is able to get me service that i am paying for monthly.

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ninny72c
Cedartown, US
Apr 16, 2009 12:28 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I like to watch certain shows on tv. I hate for the commercials to come on because some of them are too loud. Why? I know they want to sell their product but it's at the expense of my hearing. Some of these commercials are loud enough to wake the dead. There's no call for this. It is very irritating.

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Ryan
Chicago, US
Mar 25, 2009 9:48 pm EDT

I am getting calls from DirecTv for service, but I am on the Do Not Call List. I thought they were punished for this from the FCC. Do not do business with this company.

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Karen Scott
,
Dec 01, 2008 9:44 am EST

Misrepresentations made about installation, upgrades and charges. All my dealings with this company have been difficult and they don't do what they promise

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Ed
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Jul 10, 2008 4:55 pm EDT

While a monthly service payment for DirecTV service is due PRIOR to the actual billing period being over, when canceling services, a customer will have to wait six to eight weeks for a refund of any credit balance in the account.

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travis
,
Jul 10, 2008 3:45 pm EDT

I was mislead and told that this system would work with xbox live and it would cost 399 for the equipment and 29 dollars for processing fee they took 532.10 not 430 dollars. I called them and told them i didn't want their service and they seem unwilling to refund my 532 dollars and remove their service.

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wanda
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Apr 30, 2008 2:40 pm EDT

I would like to find an attorney to help all of us customers current and previous cancelled customers to file a class action lawsuit over Directv and there loop hole cutomer service practices, terms of there loop hole agreement, credit card practices, ect...And anyone interested in filing please email me!

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Jonathan
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Apr 24, 2008 6:25 pm EDT

Beware of the customer on the move program. If you move and the new house has no line of sight despite what they say they will still charge you the penalty fee. Beware!

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brianpb321
Philadelphia, US
Apr 14, 2008 11:01 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Directv service did not work properly. After 2 service calls and the problem remained I canceled. Directv sent me a $282 cancellation charge. I refused to pay and they sent me to collections. Filed a complaint with my attorney general's office and the cancellation charges were dropped!

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Foggy1955
Gladstone, US
May 14, 2015 3:23 pm EDT

I'm an older woman on a fixed income. I pay my bills the first part of the month, as they come in It is May 2015, and I got a bill from them saying I owe $174. I have had to talk to many people to find out why. It seems that in January, someone made a mistake and paid on my account and they didn't catch it until march. But, when I called to pay my bill the first part of May, they said I was plus $20 on my account and They didn't give me an option to pay any more. Then I got this bill for $174.(In May). I Asked about cancelling when my year was up. They said I had Directv for 2 yrs. I thought it was just 1 yr. Now I have to make extra payments I didn't know I was gonna have, and have something for an extra year and 3 months that I really don't want.

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ManSam
Las Vegas, US
May 03, 2015 3:45 pm EDT

Cox will take over DirecTv from our house effective tomorrow, May 3, 2015. How do we cancenl DirecTv withOUT penalty?

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Eppidrummer
, US
Apr 24, 2015 5:10 pm EDT

I have had Direct tv for a year now and I cant wait to cancel, Its all freekin infomercials. If you are thinking of getting this, dont do it, it totally sucks. Cable was way better!

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D Richter
St Martinville, US
Apr 24, 2015 10:05 am EDT

1. Deceptive advertising by mail and media. Also when disclosing; try enlarging the fonts or include a magnifying glass.
2. We've been a customer for years because there is no other options available. Since inception this $39.99 package has been in excess of $60.00. This is just for 1 television.
3. Your customer service hotline requires a 4hour window for scheduled repairs. In this time interval your automated service and tech tracking devices or people call every 15minutes for tech status. Perhaps you should have him wear an ankle bracelet.
4. Your tech arrives in an unmarked and rather used vehicle with no advertising or logos whatsoever. His id card and logo shirt is all he has. Yet the billing if from a 3rd party; apparently a sublet from an out of state "company".
5. These storms are common and frequent in nature in this state. Perhaps you should upgrade your devices and better train your personnel. This repair takes 15minutes; not 4hours of my time.

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Rip Swimmer
, US
Mar 07, 2015 5:13 am EST

SCREWED by DirecTV. I had a higher level package, but due to many factors I was forced to cut down to basic package and only on 1 single NON HD-TV. So they come out, with different receiver and put it in. Now I get the absic apckage, except I am shorted many channels. In other word I am paying the $49 a month, but am not getting all channels shown. Hell, I do not even get the NASA channel, and that is pretty much a freebee that you can get on the computer. Any and all HD listed channels are missing. Yes, I know I am not paying for HD, but it seems to me as they are shown as in the package, I should be getting them, just not in HD.
I also see, that since I made the change over, which was at the end of the first year, they have now tacked me into an additional 2 years of contract? SCREW THAT. Today is D-Day. They either resolve it or eat it, and I will be damned if I will pay early termination fees. This entire cable/satellite business is nothing but a shell game.

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SeahawksFan
Elma, US
Feb 16, 2015 2:47 pm EST

Direct Tv takes your money. I was set for Direct Tv service today. home is 150 feet away from DishNetwork Pole that was also used for service that I canceled to get the direct tv promotion. DishNetwork had no problems installing the post, underground wiring, and connecting it to inside the home were wiring was already there. Direct Tv Tech came out today looking inside our home, and outside, and they came to the conclusion that we cant get service due to tree's that's farther away than 150ft this tasks requires setting up a new post with the dish next or near to Dish Networks post, running wire approx. 150ft and connecting the wiring to the ones already in the home. The tech said we would lose signal. we told him well if that's the case, why was dish network able to install and has had no problems with service. It amounts out to, this tech just plainly doesn't want to put forth the work. Now we have asked for a refund, and now they are not willing to refund because it has to go to the billing department first. So what now? your ready to bill us for something that didn't happen or able to get? First of all, they say there is no installation fee's, connection fee's, but for some reason our $35.00 has to go through billing first, Don't waste your time with DIRECT TV, beware of Direct Tv, your wasting your money, because they will take your money and tell you they cant install . Go Dish Network at least they were willing to put customer first and went out of there way to get you service!

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Helene Katz
Lorton, US
Feb 03, 2015 8:14 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

What's the story here with this fake email address ? Why have a website when you can't even be contacted via email or phone ? Next step will be legal action against this corporation . Piss poor service especially when money is owed ! Never seen such a bunch of idiots !

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JulieLR
Carson City, US
Jan 28, 2015 8:59 pm EST

I just joined this group as I am in TOTAL agreement with everythig that is being said about Directv! Thank you for the 1st post as I was searching on how to send a complaint "higher" up with Directv as everyone knows that can't be done on the phone! If I could be paid $100.00 on how to NOT refer a friend or family, I would. I am going to be filing a complaint with the FTC in regards to my issues about Directv (almost a year of an on-going) technical issue of the DVR not working (Genie and now a older DVR box). I've been insulted by 2 customer service reps and so many other issues.

Let's all start filing complaints with the FTC (I will be soon) and see where that goes and see if some type of investigation will happn.

Thanks!

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mtinash1
Hermitage, US
Jan 16, 2015 1:39 pm EST

This is the worse experience I have had in my life dealing with these people. Direct tv advises to cancel maintenance coverage on 1/9 then sets up service call for problem I have had for almost a year with the service. Tech comes out on Tuesday replaces mini genie. Works fine on 1.5 days then Genie tells me that the storage disk is corrupt. Direct TV then wants to charge me to replace their equipment since their representative cancelled the maintenance agreement. Everytime you call them you get a ifferent story and they are the worse company in the world to deal with. I cannot wait until the contract expires in 4 months so I can get a service provider that will actually provide a service

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dogmanz
Titusville, US
Jan 08, 2015 5:31 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have made three calls recently to customer service, and in all three I got a man or woman with a very strong accent and poor English. I note that in Wikipedia of Directv it states that customer service is contracted out including Global. It appears to me that you are doing exactly what BOA, Capital One, etc are doing and that is outsourcing customer service to India, Malaysia, etc. Every time, you get a person who seems pleasant but can barely understand the questions and are difficult to understand. If you ask for a supervisor, guess what, more of the same, including a hang-up if you complain. I like your programming, but customer service sucks.

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bhkayy
El Segundo, US
Dec 31, 2014 6:26 pm EST

DTV is a AT&T company...They can't get it right. with your cell and home phones. and the billing. Why would you think, they get it right with, tv billing. but they are QUICK to turn you off. Thats how they make money.

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rtrevelline
Corry, US
Dec 31, 2014 10:28 am EST

Okay, jump on this, offer dish customers who want to switch because fox news is no longer an option a special incentive to switch. To direct. Thousands of people are blaming news stations when its dish that should be called out. Offer a decent incentive to get direct. I love mine. Any problem any time direct is there!

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Killer___B
Washington, US
Dec 27, 2014 6:34 pm EST

$100/mo x 12 mo = $1200
$1200 x 20, 500, 000 (subscribers)= $24, 600, 000, 000.00 (just in 1 year)
That's over 24½ BILLION for only 1 year.
Almost every night I have to search diligently thru the 300 channels
just to try & find ONE program worth watching.
We should be trying to choose between MANY programs we want to watch.

Is this money well spent?

I think NOT. I will be cancelling my membership right after the 2-yr contract expires.

Fool my once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me... I'm NOT an idiot...

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woulduno
, US
Dec 23, 2014 10:00 pm EST

I have been a customer of DirecTV since 99, however since AT&T came on board their customer service has gone from good to rude and condescending. They claim #1 customer service, but you have to look at what that is being compared to, it is not saying much. The customer service agent offered me Sunday Ticket for free, got me off the phone, and then Sunday when it didn't work I called back in. Turns out she put it on, then it got removed, but the kicker is they still billed me for it! Their HD is highly compressed, Dish Network does not compress as much. DirecTV's on-demand is terrible and uses your Internet, in an age where many Internet providers put monthly caps on your downloads. Xfinity offers a much better on-demand experience. So, if you are looking for higher quality HD, go Dish, if On-Demand is your thing, go Xfinity. DirecTV has nothing to offer at this point, so I recommend you stay far away from them... This coming from someone who was with them for 14ish years!

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ThinkEthics
Fort Myers, US
Nov 24, 2014 9:32 am EST

You all are terrible human beings.

You entered into agreements with a company in exchange for discounted service, then decided to reneg on the contract and are acting as if DirecTV is to blame. They are doing nothing unethical - all cancellation fees and everything is very clear upfront. Classic low class nouveau American sentiment of wanting everything for free.

You should all look in the mirror.

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KevinjDaniel
Coeur d Alene, US
Nov 05, 2014 9:55 am EST

So Directv always has a 24month contract, they give you a deal on the first year with the understanding that you will stay the additional year at regular price. You agreed to this and "claim" no one told you even though it is mentioned just about everywhere on their site, every call, every bill.

Now you want to quit and are mad that they tried to follow though on their contract that you agreed to. Riiiigggghht they are the evil corporation. Come on, just read your agreements and don't agree to something you do not want to be comitted to.

Agreements do not have to be signed to be valid in this online world. Take responsibility for your actions, this is nothing new. Just like Cell Phone contracts stop playing the victim.

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Sunny Kay
Saint Petersburg, US
Oct 20, 2014 9:22 am EDT

THIS IS THE WORST BAIT AND SWITCH I'VE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH! My brother is disabled and lives on a fixed income. The advertisement said $28.40. We were supposed to get the NFL Season ticket! We got nothing and when I called I got the big run around and ended up paying $47.95 for the local games only. HUGE RIP OFF!

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Andyr6
, US
Oct 11, 2014 4:49 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

OMG. I bought, not lease, a Direct TV HD receiver from Best Buy. This receiver stop working and a Tech from Direct TV came in to my apartment and switch it with one from them. He took my and I tough it was a clean exchange, I get yours you get mine, since there were the same. After I finish my service after 7+ years ( not one time late) they requested from me to return the receiver. Went I ask for a compensation from my or some kind of discount, since they acknowledge they recycle my, the answer was... NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU. I will try this link.

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Steph 143
Chelsea, US
Oct 02, 2014 11:46 am EDT

Direct TV SUCKS! I called to get service, was told my credit was good, and only needed a deposit of 21.00. Technician Was supposed to come out the following day and install my cable and Internet. When nobody showed up I called customer service. I was told that I have a previous bill from years ago of over $800. Meanwhile, I checked my bank account and found that they deducted $121. I was told I am not getting service and I am also not getting back my $121. I will see them in court!

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Laura Hooblet
El Paso, US
Sep 22, 2014 5:43 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I got my service with this so call Direct TV thief company back in 2012! I got it over the phone and of course I never heard anything wrong about these thieves. They told me that it was going to be only like 24.00 per month, and they asked me just for one simple thing; commitment for two years. Of course I wanted to pay that not only for two months but forever. At the end of one year after I sent my payment i received another bill for the amount of 57.00 that I supposed owed from the previous month. I called the thieves and argued about the new charges, claiming that I was never told the truth about the 24.00 per month. I was going through a very hard financial situation and their solution to the problem was that they will cut off the service but as soon as I could I had to start paying the 78.00 dollars from the past due months! Can you believe that iif I was struggling to pay for food and shelter I was going to pay them for a service I did not have. They are so stupid and they threatened me to get 250.00 dollars from my credit card. Fortunately I had lost my card and I had changed my card number other wise those idiots would of stolen my living money. I have refused to pay for something I was not properly and truly informed. They have send the account to collections and to the credit bureau, they calling me demanding that payment but I have refused to give my money to such thieves so my question is there anything I can do to stop them from calling me.

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Horacio Fuselier
New Iberia, US
Apr 14, 2013 2:33 pm EDT

Dirctv took 221.36 of mi card Nd said dey didn't I do hve my reciept

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mark100
Cedar Park, US
May 20, 2011 4:51 pm EDT

4 rooms installed free not.wanted to charge 150.00 falses adv.

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James G-E
Philadelphia, US
May 10, 2011 1:23 pm EDT

can not see my bill on line

e-mail:: garelj@verizon.net

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raul parra sr.
Miami Gardens, US
Feb 13, 2011 6:11 pm EST

i dont have adirectv account i have comcast cable