DirecTV review: very poor service and unacceptable contract 1397

I just got the shock of my life yestereday when I looked at my bank statement and Direct TV took 986.00 From my account. I now cannot pay my house or car. Do these people not understand budgets and that people usually live by them. The debit card company says there is nothing I can do until the boxes are in the companies hands and then maybe I will get 510.00 back. I do know now I will never ever ever do or recommend Direct TV

BE CATIOUS, they will damage your property during the install. Lie about their intentions to fix the damage. Make up some 2-yr commitment and charge a cancalation fee. POOR, poor, poor customer service. Unfriendlys awful experieince only surpassed by TimeWarner; it must be an industry thing :(

Direct TV Sucks... service sucks... charged me $1000 for unreturned equipment that I'm STILL using!

Direct TV has NO customer service whatever! When they installed my system, the punched holes in my walls, my roof and did the sloppiest installation EVER! To this day, I have fought them and finally I just had it disconnected. I'll wait until I find a decent company who can do this right. For now - Screw DTV - I'll watch DVD's and get my news via the computer. RUN don't walk - from DTV!

I ordered DirectTV after buying a plasma TV at Circuit City. After ordering the service and not receiving the installation or unit for over a month I called about the installation. I was told an error was made and an installation date was scheduled. The installer showed up (a subcontractor to DirectTV) with ONE HD receiver instead of the four ordered. The second time the an installer was sent out he showed up again with a single unit. A third time was scheduled and finally the two units showed up and were finally installed. Guess what happened then? DirectTV had the audicity to bill me for the service charges and the units after they told me I would not be charged for the units due to the numerous errors. This FREE installation was billed at over $600.00. After I refused to pay that amount they disconnected the service and billed me a $400.00 cancellation charge and turned it over for collection to CollectTech. I contacted CollectTech several times and spoke with Rachede Henry #3041119. I reached an (accord and satisfaction) a resolution with her and agreed on a correct amount which I then paid based upon our mutual promises. I was told that the service would be restored in fifteen minutes. After two hours the service was not restored so I contacted CollectTech again. I was then told that I would now have to pay another amount over $400.00 and said that the service would not be restored. I refused to pay any more since these errors were the sole fault of DirectTV. Today I had to cancel my debit card because of the behavior of both companies. Unfortunately for them I happen to be an attorney. Just to name of few of the grounds: Bait and Switch; Unfair Debt Collection Practices (usually allows for treble damages and attorneys fees; Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices (usually allows for treble damages and attorneys fees); fraud; negligence (misr;epresentation); prima facia tort (for States that have this remedy); Breach of Contract; just to name a few. I would also suggest that anyone injured by these deceptive practices report the behavior to the State Attorney General (they have been sued by an Attorney General and paid damages), and the FBI as this is not an isolated event but rather appears to be a practive of deceptive behavior and collection practices. Please contact me if you are interested in being a witness. I have every intention of suing DirectTV and CollectTech for these practices.

I would not get there service again if it was the last tv service on earth. I called them regarding cancelling my service and when my contract would be up. I was told 5-17-08 and would not get charged with any fees for cancelling if I returned my equeptment. I had already decided to cancel because of the poor install and when inquiring about a 3rd box was told I would have to drill another hole in the wall and string more wires thru my house not to mention they advertised they were cheaper than my cable company when I started service. Not to my suprise they are not cheaper they are much more than cable because you need to factor in cost of equeptment and service calls are not free even if its there fault. So I had cable installed and then called directv and told them I want to cancel my service. I was shocked that I was misslead to believe my contract was up 5-17-08 when infact it was not up until 9-09. I was then told there will be a 200 dollar fee to cancel and it would be placed on the card on file, mind you the card on file was to pay payments and I never signed up for automatic payments and this was going to happen in 3 days according to the rep. I asked if they could bill me instead and they said no. I told them I don't autherize them to use that credit card and they said too bad. Now I was very upset that I was mislead my contract was up and now I have to pay but I was even more upset they were holding my credit card as if I was going to not pay the bill. I went thru every avenue I have read about on here with there customer service and got no were. I finally gave up and agreed to pay the 200 dollars to end the issue and told them they just bought 200 dollars worth of the worst advertiseing as I am going to share this with everyone. I also had to cancel the card number as I was very nervious of them charging my account any amount they want and even having access to my bank info at this point. I just hope they don't try to bill me for more than the 200 dollars and as far as the contract I won't give them the new bank number so I am not sure were this will go but for god sake don't sighn up with these people they are the worst company I have ever done buisness with and won't even try to help you after that contract is signed.

The same stuff happened to me. I cancelled my servcie 1/6/08 (and promptly returned my equiptment)..because when I moved they could not provide me service in my new area...then they tried to charge me the early termination fee...I was like are you kidding me you cannot provide me the service and that is MY fault...so after 2 1/2 months of back and forth, hour and hours each day on the phone with a bunch of useless customer service people AND a complaint filed with the BBB they finally credited my credit card on file the fee...but wait it wasn't over...after 4 months since I cancelled my service...1 1/2 months since I received a "final" bill of $0...I recieved a call saying I had a balance of $43 for some PPV I ordered in October. WHAT? When I questioned the charges...I said I had a $0 balanice as 2 months ago...they said I could pay $1.75 per statement to get copies of my old ones to prove I didn't pay for it. WHAT? So I told them f*ck themselves...so a week later I received a bill for these charges in the mail (after the call)...and then within a week of that I started getting calls from a collections company for the charges. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!

I had been a Direct TV customer for 7 years in good standing. When I relocated to Atlanta, I used the movers package and had DTV installed in the little Town House that I rented. Ten months later I bought a house and called to have my service moved. The Service Rep on the phone told me that it would cost $200.00 to move my service. I told her that I would not pay that and get cable instead. She then told me that she would waive the fee, but if I moved again before 12 months, I would have to pay it. I said okay. I got my first bill at the new house with the $200.00 charge on it. I thought that it was probably just a “glitch” and paid my normal monthly fee. The next month the moving charge was still on my bill and I called Direct TV, and was told that it was a legitimate charge. I said, “Why would I agree to pay $200.00 so that you can keep my business? Only an idiot would agree to that.” The ludicriousy of the situation seemed to escape the logic that even a child could grasp. Everywhere, DTV’s competition was offering specials to draw business from DTV; more service for less money. DTV did not care to hear one thing that I had to say. They only wanted their money. I told them that I would never pay that fraudulent and ridiculous fee. Days later my service was cut off but DTV continued to bill me for an additional 2 months!

My name is Jeff Lorenzen and I have recently moved on March 18th, 2008 from California to Oregon and asked for my service to be transferred to my new location. When the technician came out to my new home I was informed that DirecTV could not provided me with the service I so desperately wanted. He then told me his supervisor would have to come out to verify his findings and 4 day later he showed up at my house and after going all around told me because of trees out of my control that I would not be able to receive DirecTV. He then informed me that this would be documented so that I would not be subject to any earlier cancellation fees.
About a month later I received a bill for a early cancellation I called in to explain the situation, and was told that it was probably a mistake but later was told that I should have thought about this before I moved that there was no service available and that I would be required to pay the earlier cancellation fee. I then asked to speak with a supervisor and was transferred. I explained again my situation and said that my intent was to keep DirecTV and that it was out of my control. I even offered and received another technician to come and look to see if that was the case, and again was informed that I cannot get reception. This supervisors also informed me that he would key in the notes the situation and have your upper management people revue again the situation to see about over turning this fee.
Now after 2 weeks I have been informed that you will not overturn the early cancellation fee, because of services you cannot provided. Not because I did not want your services and I have no choice but to take this situation to arbitration. I am some what confused by the way this has been handled I have been a valued customer for over 8 years and I cannot believe this is the way you would like to be treated.

I had direct tv for five years due to no cable service where I live at. when FIOS came in, I cancelled DTV, I was paid ahead by 2 months. I called DTV and told them I had cancelled this was at the end of January, February 1st was to start FIOs, I was billed in March for 70.17 from DTV. I was told I had agreed to another service with them which was totally false. I asked them to send the recording stating that I had excepted another two years with them when I had no reason to.They turned me into collections. I wrote a dispute letter to a pobox which I knew was a fake never receieved a response back.Anytime they call to offer you something tell them to take you off there call list.
contact by mail only.

when you have these problems i have written thr att. general of the state tou live in. direct tv tried to debit my visa, however my card expired.they sent me a100. bill, turned it into collection agency/bottom feeders.the comntinued to rise.4 mo. later the vice pres. of sleeze forgave the bill.so don't give up.i had direct tv fore 8yrs.they lost a cutomer over100.00 pmm

DIRECT TV SUCK CRAP!

I hate them!
And now I am stuck with a contract!

I let my little brother use my debit card to make a payment over the phone for his deposit when he was setting up his acct and somehow I was put into their system as the acct holder. Nevermind to them the fact that they don't have my social sec. # or anything of that nature, they just put my name as the acct holder. Then my little brother wrecks his motorcycle and cannot work so of course the acct goes negative and now their collections place is calling me saying that their going to put this on my credit. These people are the worst frauds ever. They're as bad as Compass bank!

I have to agree with everyone on the poor service Direct TV gives. My story mimics many of yours except Direct TV added a different twist to my problem with them. I was a loyal customer to Direct TV since 2004 and never once was late on a bill. I decided to cancelled with them about five months ago and go with another company because of their bundle service. When I cancelled with them I made sure they were paid in full for my services. The paid in full with $0 balance was confirmed by their representative that I cancelled the service with twice. He informed me that I needed to send two receivers back to them in a box that they would send, which I did. Both receivers were placed in the large box and sent FedEx. A month later I receive a bill saying I own for a receiver. When I talked to Direct TV they told me that they received one receiver but not the other. I asked them how that could be since they were both in the same box. The representative said that they made a mistake by only scanning one of the receivers and not both of them. She also assured me that the correction to my bill would be made. A month later I get another bill stating that I still owe for a receiver. When I call again I am told by this representative that a note was written to make the correction but the representative did not make it, but they would surely do it for me right then. The next month another bill comes in saying the same thing, only this time the representative told me that the problem was they had just found the missing receiver and that is why it was still showing on my bill, however since she knew it had been found she was correcting it right then and would send me out a bill showing no charges owed to them. I received the bill and it did state ($0 balance). However, this month I receive a bill that now states I own them $32.89 for PPV that they found on the received that they lost and found. When I told them that I do not do PPV and that the phone lines to order it were never connected, the supervisor told me sorry but the charges would stay and I had to pay them. I also told him how funny it was that my receiver came up missing for three months and you happen to find it with added charges on it. I told him that I believed they had someone else receiver and said it was mine, and how convenient it was that the receiver had extra charges on it right after I refused to pay for a so called lost receiver and would not answer your request to come back to Direct TV. I am in the middle of trying to contact their corporate office but from reading some of the other complaints that will be a waste of time, but I still plan on doing it and taking it further if necessary. Like I told the supervisor it may be just $32.98 but it is my $32.98 that I do not owe them.

This is happening today as I write this.

Direct TV is the very Worst Company I have EVER come across in my life. That company if filled with crooks and thieves.

First of all their service was lousy and their csr was even worst the many times that I've contacted them with any issue. Finally after a year of service I terminated my service with a credit of $58 left on the account. I had my debit card linked to my account at the time I terminated the service and had FedEx back their equipment to them. I did not realize that I even had a contract with them nor did I realize that there was a early termination fee for the SO CALLED contract. One week after I had cancelled the service and one day after they had received the equipment back (yesterday), without sending me a final bill Direct TV went into my bank account using the debit number on file and deducted an additional $100 without my permission. I had never been set up for automatic withdrawals, had always paid after receiving my bill each month. However I had always paid by my debit card and therefore Direct tv had access to my debit card information. As I said, without sending me a bill and without permission Direct TV took this money from my bank account. As soon as I realize this was happening (actually the same day the payment was being processed - today) I contacted my bank - WACHOVIA immediately and was told in no uncertain terms that WACHOVIA would not do anything to stop a debit card transaction and therefore they had to allow Direct tv's transaction to proceed. Have Direct tv proceed with stealing my money from my bank account.

I feel like I've been failed twice and most of all by the institute - Wachovia Bank who allowed Directv to proceed with taking money from my Bank account and not stop them even though I notified them before the money was posted to my bank account - it is still pending. They got me on the line with Direct TV (three ways) and decided to disregard their customer (me) and agree with the big institution Direct tv.

I thought as a consumer I had rights to my own money but evidently as far as Direct tv and Wachovia is concerned and anyone can come off the streets and take my money out of my bank account without any interference from Wachovia Bank. And even when they're notified that "hey someone is taking my money without my permission - stop them" All I got from Wachovia is "sorry, can't stop them we have to let them continue to take your money because they have the ability to do so"

Direct tv claims that last April they notified all their customers that when an account is terminated and Direct tv feels that they customer owes them money for what ever reason they have they right to take the money from whatever means necessary based on any credit card or anything else they may have on file.

Buyer, beware. Be very careful with your dealings with direct tv. If you have to do business with them, if possible, pay them using a money order because they have this in the fine print as of April 2007 and will take your money with or without permission if they have access to your information.

Direct TV are a bunch of liars and crooks. My fiance called to upgrade her service to HD and was never told anything about a 2 year contract. She knew she was moving in 6 months and would never have agreed to ANY contract.

When the installer came out to hook her up, he never gave her any paperwork that said anything about a contract. I went to the Portland, OR Direct Tv website and couldn't find anything that specifically mentioned a 2 year contract.

When she moved and canceled her service was the very first time they mentioned any contract or early termination fee. They told her she would be billed for $225 and gave her an address to write to dispute the charge, then immediately went into her bank account and stole the money. She had never authorized automatic funds withdrawals, but they were still able to grab the money from her account.

I called to complain and was told that although they have nothing she signed agreeing to a 2 year contract, it's their policy to tell people that on the phone or leave them some paperwork at the installation that informs them they just agreed to a 2 year contract, neither of which they did.

They steal people's money and then challenge them to try and find a way to get it back.

HZBitew@directv.com apparently is not only a "corporate climber" but will do and say anything to get ahead in the Direct TV Company - his responses show that! Ha, they apparently don't even care that people are complaining about them!
I, too, am having huge problems with Direct TV (like no TV a lot of the time) and they want me to pay them $281.00 to cancel their service - the one I'm not getting.
I have started a project (I'm retired and have the time) that includes writing about problems with Direct TV (with proof) about their criminal services-- I am writing to my State, Local, and Federal representatives; and their applicable Federal Regulatory Agencies. I'm also looking into "Small Claims Court" as a way of at least making them spend some of their own time and money!
I am also putting a movie on Youtube about their services, especially their customer services!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GIpu6YMufU

Horrible. I should have never bundled up. Direct TV keeps billing me $131 per month, after several phone calls EVERY month, suddenly, all records of my calls and the promises they made to me have "POOF"! Disappeared. I should not have tried to fix something that was not broken. Sorry Comcast! I miss you! -Hopkins, MN

Let me know if you have found a class action lawsuit on this issue please. I want in! They robbed me blind!

Directv shut me off on 4/18/08 my bill was due on the 9th. when I got the 2nd bill I just put in my desk until I was ready to pay it on the 5/1/. so guess what I not only did they not want to talk to me any time soon to talk to them about it I had to email them. I did chew their butts out big time and I plan on fileing this with the bbb. if anyone else reads this I ask you to file with bbb too.
Dawna Ddalgliesh
Lewiston, Id

DirecTV took out over $400 out of my bank account!
They will not help me and continue to give me the run around!

I filed a dispute with my bank and almost got my money back until it was "discovered" that the very first person I had talked to at the bank said I said that I did owe the money to DirectTV!
WTF!
They STOLE that money out of my account and nobody will help me get it back!
I need that money!

I tell everybody I know not to ever deal with DirectTV!

Sorry lady, you live in the country, learn the language

direct t.v. is a rip off...it was on my credit report i owed them money..i was living with my friend and the cable was in my name...when i moved i paid my last bill and called direct t.v. and had the service switched over to my old room mates name...i asked if i had to return the receivers or anything and they said no it would be switched into her name. She started receiving bills in her name...yet when i called them about my credit report they said that when i moved out she must had called and switched it back in my name...i said did you get my signiture, or my social security number or any proof it was me switching into my name and they said no i had my friend call them and tell them she had never switched it back into my name and they told her that unless she pays the bill it won't come off my credit report...how is this possible when i wasn't living there and it was switched into her name... wow they suck

c036Also e-mail clarkhoward.com if you live outside Atlanta GA or call him if you live in Atlanta GA -his number is on his website clarkhoward.com. I'm thinking of mailing a copy of their letter to attorney general Bill McCollum plus a copy of their bill to him to prove they are lying. Also according to an e-mail I paid an electronic funds payment around January 16. I'd like a company rep to tell me how I made a payment while in the hospital (1/8-1/18/08) and I don't want to hear a bullish story that my landlord and friend took one of my checks and read it to them. Why is it bullish I ran out of Suntrust checks in early December and didn't reorder until late January. If anyone can come up with Direct TV's picture logo send it to me and I'll relabel it and post it to the internet utube: "pissedofftv" Excuse my french but I'm quite angry and irritated when companies like Direct TV tells lies and allegedly commits fraud. Any disatisfied Direct TV customer with billing issues in Volusia County FL contact me by e-mail with your story and mailing address at
Fred.Sayin@gmail.com and my response will explain my strategies for dealing with Direct TV. Again try clarkhoward.com

I spoke with Tiffany in the Kansas Call Center this evening 4/8/08 at 927pm who advised me that there is a software issue with the two direct TV boxes that I have model R15. This problem prohibits the machines to perform series recordings correctly. I requested new boxes. Tiffany refused. I requested an ETA of when the software upgrade would be available - she did not know. I requested partial credit since I have been unable to consistently view series recordings Tiffany refused. I requested to speak with her manager/have her manager call me back. She also refused.
I contacted American Express case #GZ21935 to dispute this matter and to suspend any further charges until I receive what I am paying for. Please provide partial credit for all of these months and issue two new DVR boxes so that I may receive what I have been paying for all along. I can’t be the only one with this problem.

I am a TV Cameraman. I pre-paid 3 years of service with TiVo. I was told by direct tv sales that my TiVo will work. I is not even compitable. Since I use TiVo with my work, I canceled and went back to cable (which does work) and for many other lies told and promises never kept. I was charged a cancilation fee. I can not even get any resolution from the resolution department. Why is the FCC not getting involved?

We have a problem w/ Direct TV for taking money out of our account w/o authorization. How do we get it back? Small claims? I also would strongly urge anyone to spread the word.

Details: To whom it may concern, For a reason yet determined by either me or Direct TV's representatives I did not get an HD receiver with my installation. My ignorance with regard to this error is my own since I did not know that there were different types of receivers. However when my wife placed the order for service she was under the impression that since we have a 55 inch HDTV that an HD receiver would be installed. After speaking at length, actually over 40 minutes, with a company rep and her
supervisor earlier today no resolution was reached due to their claim that too much time had elapsed. Your reps both stated that the work order showed no notation re the HD receiver BUT also admitted that an oversight of this nature could have been the fault of the person taking the order. When I offered that we share the possible mistake and compromise on the additional charges I was rebuffed by the rep and while speaking with her supervisor the phone was hung up either by accident or plan. I am ascribing
no blame beyond accident for the disconnect but as well I did not get a return call either. I think that your rep must have had my number. I am no picnic and I am not an easy person to wear down or even respond to although I am calm and polite. I subscribed to your service as an alternative to Comcast which I felt had become pricey and arrogant in their dealings, at least with me. The response I received from your reps is in the same league. I am not interested in opening a can of worms or a dogfight. I
would like you to honor my request for the installation of an HD receiver and whatever other accoutrements are needed at a minimal or better no charge. I understand the argument with regard to the elapsed time but do not agree that as a customer I should have discovered the mistake within the fifteen day grace period given by your reps as the limit to correct an error. I trust that a reasonable and satisfactory agreement can be reached. Thanks, Ian
The first response I received was polite and satisfactory but the following (enclosed) is simply read from the same script read to me by the above mentioned supervisor before he hung up. Although the English written and perhaps spoken in whatever corner of the planet Gerquisha resides leaves a bit to be desired, the message of UP YOURS is loud and clear. You go girl!
"Your work order has already been signed and closed as an indication that you are satisfied with the installation and your equipment. If their was a mistake, we'd hope that you would contacted us prior to the technician leaving or signing the work order so we could revised your work order for the correct equipment. The New Customer offers are only available during the initial order, not after. DIRECTV will not honor your request for more free equipment.
You can upgrade your equipment for as little as $99 for an HD Receiver or $199 for an HD DVR (applicable taxes, shipping & handling charges may also apply). Depending on your individual equipment/system setup, an installation fee may apply. Installation fees range from $0 to $99. A representative can tell you what, if any installation charges will apply when you place your order. Or, if you choose to upgrade online, any installation fees will be presented to you prior to completing your order.

Our HD ACCESS package is automatically added to your account when you add an HD receiver. HD ACCESS is included in our Plus HD DVR package; in most other packages, it’s only $9.99 a month and it gives you access to your favorite HD channels."

Sincerely,

Gerquisha C. 404421
DIRECTV Customer Service My only response may be to simply let them go fish. I care less about these creeps and their credit reports. They can come and collect everything or it will simply collect dust in my garage. I'm too damned old for this crap.

W just got hit by Direct TV. We recently cancelled the service after having it since the late 90's. In October of 2007 our DVR quit working and we called Direct TV to repair. They said it was dead and sent a replacement. I specifically asked if there was a charge and was told "no". That our monthly fee covered it.

When I called to cancel I was told that I owed 320 dollars for early cancellation since the 'new' dvr carried a 2 year contract. I have talked to every service rep they have. The story is the same. A slip of paper in the box used to ship the new dvr to us said that it carried a two year contract. I am protesting the charge, however I just looked at my bank account and Direct TV has charged by check card with 75 dollars! I never gave them this debit card, however do electronic bill payment.

If someone has a class action suit going, let me know.

I agree with this posting. DirectTV has done the same thing with me and I'm thinking of starting a class action lawsuit to start in Volusia County, FL and then depending on a lawyer I may go national. Everyone if you haven't already file a complaint with two sites:
* consumeraffairs.com
*lawcash.com
I paid for the service to start using "check by phone". I have a 10 page folder to prove that they have lied to the state attorney generals of Florida and Georgia.
If you know of any dissatisfied customers in the Datona Beach, FL area please tell them to contact my e-mail:
Fred.Sayin@gmail.com . This also includes Deland, Deltona, Port Orange... Anyone means relative, friend, co-worker, collegue or even neighbor

I have had the same problem but my bill went into collection affecting my credit score. Here what happened.

Incident
This "Account" was terminated in September 2007 when I moved back to my home in another county in Mississippi. I never received another bill and assumed I was current. Somehow this account was continued without my knowledge and possible moved to another location. I am currently trying to contact CBE Group and/or Direct TV. I will pay their $678.00 blackmail in order to get this off my report. And if you ever see Direct TV on my report again I can assure you it will be fraudulent because I will never deal with them again. Note: I have contacted Direct TV's Costumer Support at phone number [protected] and after a hour they where unable to find my account. Isn't that a joke. They cannot find my account but they can screwup my credit report.

Damage Resulting
The action of placing this on my credit report has affected my credit score by 70 points. This can possibly have an affect on a property purchase planned for next week. The legal ability for these people to do this is total and outrageously wrong.

I cancelled their service after 4 days which was within their time frame for a refund. I asked how to get the refund and return the equipment, they sent me pre-paid UPS boxes and I sent the 4 recievers back to them. I didn't see a credit to my account so I called after about 2 1/2 weeks to make sure they recieved the equipment. They showed that they had the equipment, but that they would not be refunding my money because it isn't their policy the refund for equipment! Whatever! So I stopped payment through my credit card bank and called back again to talk to someone reasonable. I found the reasonable guy who said sorry for the hassle, it was fine that I stopped the charge, and my account balance was zero. And then I got a letter stating I would be sent to collections if I didn't pay the money for the equipment! They sent me to collections. I am now dealing with Riddle and Assoc. because DirectTV sicked them on me, but I sent them all the BS info from DirectTV that I have and told them I would be copying the BS claim to my own attorney to clear up my credit record due to this lovely company.

I too have been scammed by directv. I canceled my service because of poor quality with the equipment, and with customer service department. They lied to me and did not honor their end of the contract with me. They lied to me about the rebate, the discount I was to get each month off my bill, installation was from a old beat up pickup-truck and some guy that did not know what he was doing. I was promised a certified directv technician. I was charged for a pole to mount the dish which was never mentioned to me over the phone. I could go on and on about their horrible service. They deducted 421.00 out of my credit card account without my consent, and when I called, I also got the run- around. I spoke with Leann ID# [protected] in Tenn. trying to get help. I have sent a certified letter to their dispute center at P O Box 6550 Greenwood Village, CO. [protected]. I also sent to BBB and FCC. Directv knows they can get away with dishonorable practice , that's why they don't care what you say to them over the phone. I will spread the word to everyone or anyone I know thats thinking of getting directv ... run, run, run. I will keep fighting to get my money back and I wish someone would start a class action suit against them, I also would be the first one to sign up. I also wish our goverment would not allow companies such as directv to continue this kind of practice.

I too fell victim to Direct TV. When I ordered this service, I was told my installation was free. I had to pay a UPS shipping charge and could get a reduced price on a service agreement if I gave them a credit card number. When the installer got here, He said it would be a $200.00 charge. I immediately got on the phone for an hour and a half, being transferred around until I was finally told my UPS charge would be refunded to my acct to help offset the cost. I never was refunded my money.

I have spent countless hours on the phone trying to get resolution and voicing my opinion of how unhappy I am with their service. I finally got fed up with the whole thing and called to cancel my service. I was told they would send boxes for me to send my equipment in and I told her to send me a final bill and I would pay it. Not once did she mention hey don't worry, we are going to steal the money out of your account, but guess what...they took $501 out of my acct 4 days later. Imagine my surprise, when I was overdrawn the day after payday!

I talked to my bank who said this was the third time in two days, they had this problem. I have spent countless hours on the phone over the past three days (on hold, being transferred, listening to robots talk in circles) finally being told that the contract I signed gave them permission to do this: however they cannot produce a contract I signed!
I can write a bill dispute dept in CO, but they don't have a phone. How ridiculous is that?

The last witch I talked to told me boxes had not even been sent yet for me to return my equipment and that they took the banking info from my payments to deduct this money.

Since I was never given the chance to pay this bill, and they took it upon themselves to take whatever they wanted out of my acct, I am furious. This is robbery and it is no different than me using my card somewhere and them turning around and stealing money out of my acct.

This is wrong and it has left me feeling lied to, cheated, stole from raped, and hung out to dry! Is there any justice left in this world?

I want to do something to expose them as the crooks they are but I don't know where to go from here...Can someone please help? I'm thinking class-action lawsuit.

I have very bad experience with Direct TV. Their customer service is so terrible. Direct TV is cheating to customers. When I opened the account, the agent told me that there will be $10 credit in my account in the 2nd month of bill after sent the form back. I have sent the form back and I have never gotten the credit from my account. I called and the customer said they didn't get the form. So I sent it 2nd time, but the credit has never came to my account. Finally, the term for one year contract arrived, I canceled it at once. I have sent the receiver back to Direct TV in January 2008. Now I receive the letter from his collection company asking me to pay them $119 for two receiver. I called the customer service today, the lady is very bad. The customer service she provides is terribe. I said I am going to file a complain against your Direct TV. She said go ahead. My friend told me I should go to small court to file a small claim against Direct TV because it sent my acct to collection company for no reason. Does anybody have any good idea to file a lawsuit agaist Direct TV together? There are so many people like me feeling so upset and angry with Direct TV. Please provide good suggestion if anyone has. Thanks.

Not only did direct tv access my account unauthorized, they did it twice ! Instead of my account currently being at $554.00, It is now at $111.00 because of direct tv's neglegence. They are a fraudulent company with horrible reviews. What's even sadder, I never even had service from them. Very sad, but true.

This is absolutely the WORST company in the United States. They are a bunch of liars and there customer service is grade AA dog @#*%.
I called direct tv to recieve service since i kept hearing how they are #1 provider with the lowest price (no wonder they have the lowest price...they are a bunch of thieves). My first service call was "rained out" and had to be rescheduled (allthough it never rained here). At that time the tech CONFIRMED MY ADDRESS and rescheduled. The day came of the next appointment and after taking off work to wait for direct tv ..they never showed. I called direct tv and after an 11/2 hours they finally found me in the system and offered me a $15.00 credit for my loss (allthough i make 15.00 an hour X 8) and "promised me" that I would get service 2 days later on a Saturday. Saturday morning came and i was so excited to hear from a tech. However this is how the conversation went.
Tech: Hey this is so&so from direct tv. I was calling to find out how to get to your house.
Me: Ok. You go here and here and so on.
Tech: Well I am in Roanoak and it is sixty miles from your house.
Me: Ok well what time do you think you will be here?
Tech: Let me call dispatch and i will call you back.
That is the last time I heard from the "professional installer" as they say.
The tech had called a couple hours before my actual appointment so when i called direct tv they said I had to wait til after the missed appointment to call.
So...I call direct tv after the missed appointment to explain my problem with the faith of SURELY they would come out right away to fix it. But once again here comes the runaround. But this time i have to say was a pretty good BIG FAT LIE. She sais oh the tech went to the wrong city. "YOU" gave us the wrong zip code. Ok...I have two words..BULL ###. I have lived here for 2 1/2 years and payed my 12-15 bills a month , gived my address countless times. Never have I given the wrong "zip code" before.

So at this point I want to cancel. I dont want anything else from this JOKE of a co. and I am pissed. She informes me i can't cancel because i will be charged a cancelation fee. I HAVE NEVER FELT SO HELPLESS BEFORE. Usually you can get high enough in the company that someone can satisfy "the customer". That is what customer satisfaction is all about right? WRONG.
So I have to swallow my pride and reschedule.

Super Bowl Sunday! They are supposed to be there between 8-12am. Once again they never showed. I don't think i have to tell you my feelings around this event.

This letter can only begin to tell you of the NIGHTMARE I encountered with this company. Not including the hours of time i spent on the phone with them, the promises they made, the money they really owe me for all the credits they gave me before the service ever had a chance of being installed, the I'm sorry's , the I understand your frustration, Bull ### if you understood you would make it right. No wonder there is a lack of communication, you can't ever understand these people.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET THE CHEAPEST SERVICE...YOU REALLY DO!

Direct TV charged my father, who does not have Direct TV, a charge for $110.00. He disputed the charged so Direct TV turned it into a credit card payment reversal on my account and told me that I'm not allowed to make a credit card payment for 6 months. But one early Sunday morning I received a phone call from an outside Collections Agency telling me that I CAN make a credit card payment, so I used my debit card and I paid $354.00. After they took the payment, and after they removed the money from my checking account they said they couldn't turn my Direct TV on again because I had already been told that I wasn't allowed to make a credit card payment. So (1) they refused to turn my services back on, and (2) they also refused to give me my money back so I could make what they call a "valid" payment. So they said "it's not a valid payment", but yet they're keeping my money. They told me that the only way I could get my services back on now is I can do one of two things. I can either go to the bank and send them an additional $354.00 OR I can wait two months for the original payment to post.

Now, when I call Direct TV I get transferred to a call center in the Phillipines and all they do is apologize to me for this but they tell me that they can't help me and that no one can. I'm told that I can't contact the Corporate Office to file a complaint and my bank tells me that I can fill out a form and have them investigate but it would take up to 10 days for them to do this, so they stole my money!

I will send a copy of the attached letter to Direct TV, their board of directors, the better business bureau, and Qwest which sold me their services.February 10, 2008

Account Services
Direct TV inc.
Billing Disputes Department
P.O. Box 6550
Greenwood Village Co. [protected]

Dear Sirs or Madams:

January 21, 2008 I called Qwest to inquire about combining my telephone, and Internet services to save money. I spoke with a nice customer service representative named Jeff. Jeff spent a good deal of time with me comparing different packages and told me I would realize the best savings and most streamlined service if I dropped the Dish service I have been using for the last four years and went with the bundled billing package they offer which includes Direct TV. He said Direct TV offers the same programming options as Dish, and works the same way. He told me that I would have 30 days to evaluate the service and could cancel if I was not satisfied.

I agreed to let Jeff sign me up for the two-year package, which was the least expensive option, because I expected reasonable service and I am the type of customer that doesn’t make changes often. I kept one line of telephone service at the [protected] number, long distance service, and DLS service, which I purchased a $99.00 modem for instead of renting it at $9.00 per month, and a custom ring for my fax machine. I had the custom ring removed on 1/25/08 when I called quest to have additional filters sent to me for other phones in my home. My order # for these services is C04185295

On January 24, 2008, the Quest service representative came to my home and made the necessary changes to my telephone and fax line to install the DSL Service. The modem Qwest promised to send arrived on the exact date they told me it would. The telephone and DSL services have worked flawlessly after my son spent approximately 20 minutes with Quest’s courteous and knowledgeable technical services support line the evening it was installed.

My experience with Direct TV has been extremely disappointing:

On January 28th I cancelled my Dish service and made arrangements for them to send me boxes to return their equipment.

On January 28th Direct TV sent a service technician to install their service. He connected a DVR downstairs in the family room and put three black receiver boxes in the kitchen, bedroom, and upstairs family room televisions. I had arranged to work from home that day in order to meet him. When he left he asked me sign a work order that confirmed he had been there and I did so. He did not give me a copy so I presumed it was something for internal company record keeping. I askrd him about the remote controls and he said they worked just like my old Dish remotes. At that time we were standing in the upstairs family room and the TV volume was turned down, but the picture was clear. He left, and I went back to work. When my son came home 10 minutes later, he turned up the volume on the television and said the sound was full of static. The downstairs DVR TV worked fine, but the bedroom and kitchen TVs didn’t work at all.

My son called your technical support and after 15 minutes of phone menus and wait time he spoke to a tech who had him unplug the set, reset the receiver and other problem solving techniques which he had already tried. Your tech support said he could not help us further and that we would need to set up an appointment to have a technician come to our home. Keep in mind that this is the very evening of the day the system was supposedly installed.

On January 29, 2008, the next morning I called Direct TV, spoke to LaVar ,and he set up an appointment for service on 2/4/08. I asked him if I would be able to record on the upstairs TV when it was working (just like I could do with Dish) He said no, it doesn’t work like that and that I would need an additional DVR, which would cost me $99.00. I told him to connect me with the department that could cancel my service and he connected me to Faith.

When I spoke to Faith I asked her to cancel my service. Faith said La Var was incorrect that she could have one of the receivers removed and an additional DVR added for a one-time $19.95 fee. This would supposedly get my service working like my Dish service had worked in the past. I agreed to let them install the new DVR and get my service working correctly. This was order # [protected]. She said she would be mailing a box for me to return the receiver that would be replaced by the new DVR. I have not yet received that box.

On February 1, 2008, the one TV in four that had been working quit working. I called your customer service and spoke to Illene; she said I needed to speak with Ironwood at [protected]. She transferred me to Cindy. Cindy asked me to please hold while she looked into my account and then promptly dropped my call. At this time I had spent over an hour trying to reach your customer service, while listening to disgusting phone menus designed to sell me more services. I was also late for work.

On February, 2, 2008 I tried resetting the DVR and it worked for about three hours. The other three TV’s didn’t work, so I decided to be patient and wait for the appointment on Monday to get the service working properly.

On February 3, 2008 Super Bowl Sunday I tried resetting (unplugging DVR waiting 15 seconds and plugging in again) to see if I could get at least one of the TVs working, but this time it didn’t work, so I called Tech support to see if they had any suggestions. They could not help. The second Tech I spoke with, Andra suggested I wait for the appointment I had scheduled for the next day so the on-site technician would get every- thing up and running. My husband and son were disappointed that they could not watch the Super Bowl on our Direct TV at all. We had to set up an old rabbit ear antenna.

On February 4th, 2008 I came home from work at noon in order to be available for my appointment which was scheduled between noon until 5:00. My answering machine had a computer-generated message saying my appointment was not going to be on February 4th after all, but had been changed to February 7th, between noon and 5:00. I was not pleased. I called direct TV again and spoke to Linda. After that discussion I asked again to have my service cancelled. Linda transferred me to Angie. Angie checked the account, noted the problems and said if I would give them one more chance to get this service installed correctly she would credit me $10.00 per month for 12 months and credit my account from January 28th until it was fixed and working satisfactorily. I agreed to this one last chance.

On February 7th, 2008 I came home from work at noon for the tech appointment. The technician arrived at my home at 4:55. His name is Marlon Calero. He had the new DVR, but no orders to do any other installation work. He checked the DVR downstairs and said it had one component that was broken. He called his supervisor to see if there was some work order that had been lost. He did not have the equipment, work order, or time to take care of the install. He wanted to know if I was paying for the install directly and I told him no.

I called Direct TV again, waited, through those annoying phone menus, and cancelled my service. I cancelled my non-existent service and told him to send me the boxes to return your junk equipment. The representative informed that I would be charged an early cancellation charge. I asked to speak with his supervisor or your disputes department and he told me he didn’t have a telephone contact for anyone that could resolve this problem. I told him to note my account, and I would call my lawyer.

I then called Dish network and reactivated my services. They charged me a re-install fee of $99.00, and will re-install my original equipment February 11th between 8:00 and noon.

I keep detailed notes, but this letter will provide you with a brief summary of the events.

I will copy Qwest with this correspondence. I will continue to use their telephone, long distance and DSL service.

From Direct TV I expect to receive no later than March 30th, a letter of apology, stating that I owe you nothing, and a check for $99.00 to cover my re-installation fee for my Dish services.

If the letter and refund is not received my March 30th I will ask my husband, wh is a trial lawyer to take this matter to the next level.

Sincerely,

Catherine E. Bullock
Cc; Qwest, Better Business Bureau, Direct TV Board of Directors Neil R. Austrian, Ralph F Boyd Jr., Chase Carey Peter Chernim, James M. Cornelius, David F. DeVoe, Charles R. Lee Peter A. Lund, Rupert Murdoch

We have a similar problem and I agree that this company has the worst customer service I have ever seen. After getting completely fed up with their lousy service and junk equipment, I canceled our service, agreed to buy out the balance of our contract so we could switch to Dish (who we are very happy with by the way), then our bank account was also charged without authorization! They claimed we did not return two of the four receivers. Luckily, we saved the tracking #'s which they used to confirm that we had returned the receivers. The problem now is getting a refund credit issued for the $126 they STOLE from our bank account. After being assured that the money would be refunded, I've had to make a second call today because we still haven't received it. Considering all the problems we've had out of this company, I would love to see a class action against them as no company would deserve it more! I once told one of their service reps (when they were trying to convince me that because one of our receiver was defective and replaced under warranty that constituted renewing the contract for another two years!) that the mafia had better business ethics than their company, and that's the God's honest truth! This company does not deserve to have charter for a corporation and it should be revoked!