DirecTV

I have been a qwest and directv customer since october 2008. I just received my bill for december and to my suprise it was $100 more than it usually is. When I checked out why it was so much higher, (I have phone, internet, and tv bundled), I found that directv had billed me for two months at once! For the 14 months that I have had directv, I have received a monthly bill through qwest from them for every month, and paid it. I have always paid my bill in full every month, although I do usually pay it about 5 days late, but I don't have a balance forward on my bill. I get paid on the 1st and the bill is usually due around the 26th to 28th. And as an added bonus for the holiday season, the bill is due december 24th. Merry frickin christmas!

When I called qwest to find out what was going on, they called directv and verified that the charges were valid. Apparently directv had been behind in their billing before and now they are catching up. No advance letter. No sorry about the problem. Just, we were behind. However, qwest did say they might be able to offer payment arrangements. I live on a fixed income. Again - merry frickin christmas!

Yes, to all of you out there who know your utility law, if I refuse to pay my tv portion they supposedly can't disconnect my phone. However, in the real world, even if you notify them ahead of time that you will be doing that, the disconnect notice will get automatically generated. Then, even if you call to straighten the mess out, someone along the way will drop the ball and your account will never get unflagged from the disconnection list. Then you will have to pay the disconnect fee, reconnect fee, and what ever else kind of fee that they can come up with for every service that you have with them. It's no wonder the whole world needs prozac! Alas, i'm afraid I will just need to take this one up the butt, it is easier.

Ps: in august, directv bills me for the deluxe football package out of the blue. I didn't order it, I didn't even push the button on my remote to order it - they just billed me for it. I complained the day I received the bill, but I had to pay the charges for two months before the credit got through on my bill, just so I wouldn't have my phone disconnected. The qwest representative recommended that I pay all the charges to avoid disconnection, because any balance forward would trigger a disconnection before the next billing cycle. Then, on top of that, when they credited my account for the services I didn't ask for, they raised my normal charges by $15.00 a month. No this wasn't a discount that disappeared, this was the regular charges.

As an update to this, directv is now blaming qwest for being behind on their billing and causing the problem. Plus I just found out I got signed up for a 24 month contract not the 12 month contract that I thought I signed up for, which would have been over with in october 09. So now even if I cancel my service with them I have to pay a cancelation fee of $480. They would prorate it, however, for the nine months that they say I have left on the contract. I didn't even know that I had a cancellation fee on my tv service until I started reading these complaints on the internet and found out about the california lawsuit. I'm too scared to ask about the fee that they will charge me after I cancel my service and until they receive my receiver back.

I have been a direct tv customer for over 5yrs and have an account with good standing. We usually rent movie off the tv. We have to call and order the movie on the phone and then the movie usually plays. However we rented a movie on sat. And the movie did not pay and we still got charged. The offices were closed as the automated system says so I waited to call monday which I worked late and was not able to call so I called monday and they wer of no help at all. I was just asking for either a credit or for them to play the movie so wwe could view it. I have never called in the past and I would not have wasted my time calling had the movie played properly. I told them all the steps we went through.. Like resetting the box, trying other stations that played the same movie and nothing worked. They suck at customer service and I am very upset with them. They just kept repeating I should have called in when the movie didn;t work.. However their automated system says that there offices are closed so I fingured I would wait till they are opened.. But I guess this I should have know that doesn;t mean for the movies and I could have called technicial support.. But there system just says they are closed. They have issues! And we we no longer be renting any moves.. Ever from them. Beware! Tori zirpolo #6015

I purchased a DirecTV receiver from Walmart on special - $99 and added it to my service by purchasing a $20 DirectTV card with it.

DTV bills me $5 "lease" fr the receiver every month. When I called them they stated I had to pay the "lease" fee even though I purchased the receiver. In other words I *own* it but I have to pay them for the "lease"!

Hope this info is of interest to you.

DirecTV has a great channel lineup and awesome sports packages. That's the good news. More good news, if you have no problem sticking with a long term contract and paying your bill each month, you will most likely be satisfied. The problems come when you change your mind before your service even starts or if you try to cancel before contract expiration. I went through a tedious battle with the company when I tried to cancel a contract. I understood and was willing to pay the cancellation fee because even with that I was still going to save $200 over the balance of the contract by switching to cable. The company then offered a retention deal that essentially wiped out any savings I would realize and I decided to simply ride out the contract and re-evaluate at the end. My decision was to switch and DTV then tried to charge back all credits given to me because I didn't stick with them for a year from the date the retention offer was accepted. When I explained to them in writing and in recorded calls that I never agreed to those conditions of the retention and that the conditions were never disclosed, they responded by apologizing that I was not informed yet insisted that they made the offer with the belief and expectation that I would honor the "undisclosed conditions." No one I spoke to seemed to care that they were holding me to terms they never disclosed and that I never accepted. I called in and cancelled the card DTV had on file to insure they would not charge me money I did not owe. Then, I diligently called and wrote to them over the next two weeks. I filed a BBB complaint, made a demand for arbitration (per DTV's contract) and wrote directly to its legal dept. (P.O. Box 915, El Segundo, CA 90248). DTV resolved the dispute in the most cowardly way possible. After I paid the amount I believed was due (the last month's bill), DTV responded to the BBB admitting that they had no record of the conditions ever being disclosed and agreeing to cancel all remaining charges. This company is used to bullying people and because the dispute usually involves the customer trying to get a refund, they get away with these tactics. My advice is that once you decide you no longer want the service, cancel the credit so no charges will apply and/or immediately dispute with the credit card company any charges that have already posted. That reverses the table. If you make clear to DTV that they are going to have spend money to get money (which in my case was four times the amount in dispute), they will check their own records to verify they can prove their claim and necessarily be more reasonable. This company is notoriously bad at documenting. After the initial contract, it never sends anything in writing and verbal statements/promises vary from person to person. It will never be able prove any verbal contract but as long as you are the one trying to get money back rather than fighting the legitimacy of a due and payable bill, the company will take a sanctimonious attitude and bully you despite being in the wrong. I hope this helps give people guidance.

Direct TV is promoting rebates and $100 visa gift card. Beware this is a scam. They tell you they will send you links via email to two sites and then they never do. When you call them back they tell you that you opted out on the initial call and no longer are eligible for the card. Their customer service and ordering website are horrible. I very very strongly am against their unethical practices and do NOT and would NEVER recommend them.

I'm confident I'm not alone. Please make my voice heard.

Thanks

Starting on nov.18, 2009 to today, dec. 11, 2009 I have been trying to get an install redone because it was sloppily done with wires zigzaging across the back wall of my house and have them placed under my house which has a large crawl space. After several attemps to have them come out and do the wiring through the walls they mess up and drilled holes through my hardwood floor. Before this happened I had contacted them probaly close to 10 times and they came out at least five or six before I then contacted the office of the precident as recommended by one of ltheir own imployeees. At the office to the prsident I talked to a fellow named david. Going over all the facts it was documented how I wanted it done and all the hassels and waste a time I had to go through including three missed apointments. It was even documented I wanted the wiring done through the wall while the case manager ashly pin #2443 was on the phone taking notes and repeating them to me. Next time they came out they drilled holes in my floor. They then tried to turn the tables and say if the customer wants special wiring the customer is expected to explain this to the installer and if he doesn't do what you said it is your fault in a pretty straiaght fowrward way. What is the purpose of the office or case manager taking notes, it is totally rediculous on the lack of communication and respect that lower management has torward their superiors. The day they drilled holes in my floors I called back to complain and another rep. Id number u1455 told me that the floor is considered a wall. Can you believe this. Then he retracted and said the floor cost the same as going through a wall. I was told by a supervisor on the third day after installation (Which was about 3 weeks earlier but not documented) by a supervisor after I threatened to cancil my contract that if "they can run a telephone wire under the basement they can run a cable wire at no extra charge." I was later corrected by the office of the president that this is not true and that it costs $49 to go through a wall if it is under the house as the floor is considered a wall. (In terms a price) then he protected himself by saying that the contracters can give you breaks if they like, but their policy was $49 to go through a wall. I was told everything under the sun in terms of cost for wiring as well as adding an additional box after installation. It was incredible. One said $49, another said $160, another said $190 and even gave my a break down. It is amazing of the lack of communication. Now here is the crazying thing, I was never concerned about price as I was just getting the job done the way I wanted it. They just kept talking about the cost and the price. I told them from my very first call I would pay what they want, just that they do it the way I requested. It seems the office of the president are more concentrated on saving a buck then what the customer is really complaining about. How crazy are these people I hope they learn to become more professional. Please feel free to post and share this with anyone, just leave my name off please.

Thanks for your help and sorry for the rush job,

Sincerely,

Paul a. Cereghino

Photos avail. Upon request. Just imagine 3 small holes in your hardwood floors about3/4 inch wide.

I haven't had Direct TV for even two weeks and my service went down, which I can deal with. I call for help and they tell me I have to wait a day and a half with out my tv. I don't like it, but I can deal with it. I wait at home for 4 hours and no technician shows up. I figure he's running late, but I can deal with it. I call the customer service line and they tell me "they" must have scheduled the wrong Friday or told me the wrong date--- so I'll just have to wait an additional week until next Friday. At that point I will have not had Direct TV service longer than I have had Direct TV service. They make no attempt to help schedule a sooner appointment. Evidently when you have problems you are in the same line/schdule as new customers signing up for Direct TV. So---once they have you they don't make it a priority to fix your problem. After speaking to a supervisor, nothing else happened. He just explained that fact, Brandon from OK customer service number V1859, to me. Basically "We are sorry, but we don't stand by our product and I will listen to your problem, read a script, but not help you." For those of you thinking of switching from Dish or cable --- DON"T DO IT, SIT TIGHT AND ENJOY YOUR TV. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Kim Johnston
(AKA back to playing board games in Wisconsin)

DirecTV promised up to $200 for if I disconnect my Dish Network service. Sure enough, I called Dish Networks, disconnected Service (their customer service was very rude threatening me with $175 early termination fee (I didn’t care about this much, but the guy tried to make it a huge deal)), and had DirecTV install their toys in my house. 5-6 months have passed, and I haven’t received the prepaid visa card till now (12/26/2013).
This is the story of the 5-6 months waste of stamps, gas to go to the USPS, energy and printer ink:
1. I sent 1st rebate mail to
DIRECTV Winback Early
Cancellation Fee Offer
Offer #361-85
PO Box 753725
El Paso, TX [protected]
2. I Got notification from DirecTV to say the initial rebate mail doesn't include Dish Network bill statement to say ECF (very basic paper to say this); the statement was sent, but they said it didn’t include the $175;
3. I Called Dish - they sent me the bill statement;
4. I sent a 2nd rebate mail to include early termination fee of $175;
5. I Got 2nd notification from DirecTV to say the initial rebate mail doesn't include Dish Network bill statement to say ECF;
6. I Called Dish again and after speaking with 5 representatives, they managed to e-mail me the last 6 months bill statements; Printed them out, put the rebate form again, and sent it over to DirecTV;
7. Called DirecTV – spoke with 2 reps (to include a manager/supervisor); they said that the statement (which I read them over the phone) is fine;
8. Sent 3rd rebate mail with statement that included the Early Termination Fee of $175;
9. Yet again, I got notification to say the initial rebate mail doesn't include Dish Network bill statement to say ECF;
10. I submitted complaint online through DirecTV; Spoke with Ismael P (ID U5632) DIRECTV Resolution Specialist who was quick to ask me to resend the form to the same address, emphasizing to me that I have to do this and that, as if I haven’t done that 3 times already. Hard to believe that. He even sent ma an e-mail with instructions on how to submit my rebate form. Unbelievable, again. I told the guy I’m a Computer Science Engineer – MBA in IT Management, not an idiot not to be able to follow their basic instructions through.
11. Resolution specialist sent me over to Cancellation department, after I insisted I’m done with doing business with them. I ended up begging the guy to send me over there.
12. Cancellation department wants to take their lovely 7-10 business days to get back to me with a solution. No thank you!
My wallet has an indentation of $515 to include $175 from Dish Network termination fee, and $340 early cancellation fee from DirecTV. Way to go, Dish and DirecTV. You both seem to be like Twins: bad customer service, poor management and unqualified employees to handle such problems (they were quick to tell me what to do, instead of listening to my initial problem).
After 4 months of being with DirecTV, I’m happy to be free from DirecTV and Dish Networks.
TV cable is gone from my house, and it will stay that way for my whole life. No more, no more, no more. Done and forever Farwell!
I can’t wait for that day when both of these businesses will find something else to do, but provide TV Cable services.

Like others, DirecTV charged my account over $300 after we cancelled our service (we switched providers to get a better deal). They never sent a final bill and we never authorized the charges to be paid from our account. We contacted our bank and they said it was totally legal and that any company with your credit/debit and/or bank acount number and routing number can submit charges to be paid by your bank (we live in VA so it may be different for other states). I was livid. Our bank said that we should file a dispute against the DirecTV charges and that Visa (since they are the label on our check cards) would follow up with the dispute and "see if they could get DirecTV to put the money back in to our account" and work out a payment with us. I just don't understand how a company expects people to pay for something when they haven't detailed the charges to the person or given a payment date. This is unethical at best and I just don't understand how the laws can be so against consumers. Very upsetting.

Our home is on Mackinac Island, MI. We arranged installation with Direct TV through AT&T. On day of installation we received a call from employee of of the 3rd party installation company they asked "where's our tickets to take the ferry over to your island?" We had no idea we needed to arrange this. He said we did and had to arrange a horse taxI to our home (no cars allowed on island). It was hard to arrange last minute but we did and it cost us $100. He came over to the house installed the dish but said there was a problem. He said we’re getting signal but the receiver was bad. We had to make another appt. but didn't think we should pay again for transportation. Direct TV said they’d book the 2nd trip and not charge us because they’d be on the island. They never showed up. We called back and they said we should have arranged transportation. We called to arrange another trip on and have arranged transportation at our expense. We are very unhappy.

Apon moving into my house I decided I'd try Directv. So After going online and seeing there free dvr upgrade for free I signed up online picked all the stuff i wanted and due to a deposit I had to physically call them. 200 dollar deposit with is fine long as i get it back... we'll see. Once I called them my setup date was for the 20th of November. The Tech guy comes out with 2 regular receivers no dvr's. He said just call directv and let em know and they will ship one out even swap. (no time span given) It is now the 4th of December and my 2nd receiver went bad in the bedroom last night (not even 2 weeks) after not even watching it 2 hrs since the 20th. Figured now's the time to call them and get the free dvr i was supposed to get. After talking to them 3 different times i was informed that since i didn't call that day that i had to pay an extra 100 dollars for the dvr. After speaking to 1 lost rep, 1 ignorant rep who just was there to charge me fees, and one that actually tried to help me i asked for a supervisor. Got the run round with that and was on hold forever. Was told i declined the dvr receiver so i said why would i decline a free dvr receiver that's why i got service with y'all? Long story short... its not possible for them to change a regular receiver with a dvr receiver because i didn't call that day... and there computers aren't set up to do that... what happened in the day when someone admits to there mistakes and does whatever it takes to make a customer happy and satisfied? I have to return the crappy receiver that took a crap after 2 hours of viewing and there shipping me the same crappy kind back when i originally was supposed to be a dvr receiver. Wouldn't recommend anyone use directv there just there to collect a buck anyway they can and now I'm stuck in a contract for 2 years after just 10 days of service I'm completely dissatisfied!

Second time this year now, directtv has taken away channels from my programming package. 6 month ago they took away espn classic and this time they took away the kids channel and a number of other children's programming. Their excuse for both was that the channel provider requested directtv to make that change and it was not in directtv's hands. But get this, those channels are available in the next package if I want to pay extra $5 a month. It seems like this is a great marketing scheme to try not to raise prices, but instead taking away programming and forcing you to pay extra by signing up for the higher package. I'm concerned that next year at this time, I will be paying more for my tv service with half of the channels that I am receiving now. Directtv's excuse is that their fine print states that programming is subject to change. Is there anyone that the consumers can contact to fight for this? I know that the better business bureau is worthless, but there has to be someone else.
Before you sign up for any cable, or for that matter internet service, my suggestion is that after you talk to them on the phone, follow up with an email and try to get everything you can in writing.

Direct TV - the worst mistake I have ever made in satellite/cable choices. Since November, I have had nothing but problems with Direct TV. Apparently the capability of posting a payment properly to one's account is not in their training materials. After faxing copies of cleared checks - made payable to Direct TV, PO Box 6414, Carol Stream, IL [protected] - I was told on at least 3 occasions that my checks were not cashed by Direct TV - but by Cingular One. Interesting since I have never had a Cingular One account in my life and since the checks were payable to Direct TV. Today after receiving a letter and again - really LOUSY customer service, I have cancelled my contract - and will be filing complaints with every consumer action/protection group I can. Would I recommend Direct TV or any other sattelite company to a friend? Not even to my worst enemy!

Direct tv is refusing to remove a credit card, so that it is holding it hostage, said if i cancel they will take early cancel fees out of that card the next day and they will not susp or cancel untill i pay 29.99 so, as i am an elder lady who has had medical hardship that occured two weeks after getting direct tv and have lasted so far half a year, and i was keeping up with bill untill now so every rep i talk to over and over and over will be so unreasonable and do not care about hardships, the only why i guess is to pass away, they are rude, and they must take lessons on harrasing the customer to get their money not matter what, i promise i have only had it for six months and i regret it and want out of it and will never never never ever have it again and will spread the word to family and friends about the worse service and uncaring and rude people and at christmas time too, bad people do not get direct tv you will be sorry!

I wished this would actually help but here we go. I have been a customer since 2002. I moved from Colorado to Atlanta in 2006 and used the “movers package”. When I arrived I discovered the waiting time was 3 months! Soon I discovered one of the first DirectTV stores was located at Discover Mills in Lawrenceville, GA. The owner was there and he seemed to be really nice. Anyhow I installed a regular dish and used the Tivo I brought from Colorado. I installed myself and everything worked great. About that time I saw HD TV was coming out and DirectTV would have soooo may channels. So I called up and they had a waiting list that I remember being incredibly long. I went back to the store and ordered a DH DVR unit paying 50% down. The unit arrived and I picked it up. It worked but my Tivo was much a better DVR. I did not know I needed to have a “special dish”. So back to the store. Because the “special dish” had to be mounted with extreme accuracy I was told I could not do it myself. By this time I have invested about 600.00 bucks for the HD received and dish. The installation was another 200.00 bucks. Two weeks later the installer came out and I was really happy. It was summer and Atlanta was experiencing a drought. When it finally rained even a drizzle the reception would go out. Then if the wind blew moderately it would go out. I call the installer from the store and said ‘it worked when they left”. I then called Direct TV and they said because I purchased a DVR and Dish I did not quality for installation and the wait time then was even longer! So I got on the list. A really long time later a technician came and remounted the dish and it worked great! So now I am happy and the service is great!
Yesterday I called to cancel service as I am moving. They tried every angle to get me to stay but my last experience was so horrible and time consuming I decided to go with cable which was virtually instant. So they cancel service. Next the fellow ask for my address because I have to send the receiver back. I told them I own the thing. They said because I paid a lease fee they believed I did not own it. So I tell representative the story which turns out to be a huge waste of oxygen. The just said I need to send them proof I purchased it. Oh get real! Three years ago? He insisted and with complete outrage I hand up. This morning I get up and guess what? Yep no service and error 726. Man these people really play hard ball. Anyhow I have an attorney friend and told me Direct TV has to prove I signed a lease agreement and produce it. The burden of me purchasing this not required. The burden of proof is on their side. I know where this is going. The are going to report the a credit agency and if I do not pay they sell the supposed debt to an agency then I get annoying calls for a long time. All that I have learned is after 7 years of service paying at least 1200.00 per year they want to guarantee I will never use their service again. Pretty stupid move. One just cannot change a leviathan the size of Direct TV.

Was hired by the MasTec/Directv company in Martinsburg, West Va. During multiple interviews and the training process I was very open about the fact that I had nonviolent felonies on my background history. I was told over and over again that it was not a problem. For several months I have been in the field doing everything from installations to fixing other peoples screw ups. I am not bragging but to give you a better idea of why I am so angry is that from the very beginning I was one of the top techs at this company. My customer satisfaction is very high. I was even getting to the point that customers were requesting me by name. After all of this, I was brought into the office and told I was being fired because of me felonies! Makes no sense. I was very up front about my felonies from the very beginning. I was only a few days away from receiving my benefits. Not to mention that I am the sole provider for my wife and three daughters. Any advice, email me. rj at [protected]@hotmail.com. Something should be done but can't get anyone to return my phone calls.

AFNI keeps sending me unknown bills for cable or direct tv that I do not owe.I am elderly and it is causing me mental distress.
I do not owe any bills to either and we have our services in my husbands name.I have never had any in my name.I have never lived in any other place for 42 years as they say.
I need my credit reports corrected and this mail harassment or phone harassment to cease and desist as of today 11/21/09. I can nolonger take this .I have paid some of the debts that were sent and now they continue to send more and more.I will not pay any more debt colletion agency anymore.At my age, credit is not an issue.

This letter is in regard to an assessment fee of $460.00 after “early cancellation” of services with Direct TV. Services were connected on 10/23/2009 shortly thereafter and within the 48 hr time period specified by sales agent and technician Direct TV was immediately notified of my dissatisfaction with its product / services and, in good faith, equipment was promptly returned.
They were notified that if issue with regard to Acct: #@%$&*& cannot be immediately resolved to my reasonable satisfaction the State Consumer Affairs Department, the Better Business Bureau, Local News Network and every personal associate will be notified of Direct TVs Shameful / unfair billing tactics and disregard of legitimate and/or complete customer satisfaction. In a 2009 business environment Direct TV should not underestimate the power of even one "little Person".

The installer never showed up on November 16, 2009 nor called to say that they wasn't coming to install my satellite. I called Directv and the only solution they had was to offer me a reschedule date. I called back 3 times and finally a Mastec office called my. The local manager asked me whether Wednesday, November 18th or Friday, November 20th would be good for a reschedule since I canceled Dish Network on November 11th. I told him that I could take the day off work on Friday, he said a tech will arrive between 12-4pm. Well I decided to call Directv to see what date I was scheduled for install, come to find out I am scheduled for November 23rd. So the Mastec rep had me take off work and lied to me abut my install on today (Friday). I called Directv back, they said if he doesnt' show up on the 23rd to call them back.

They really need to find another company to do their installs. They are lucky I don't like Dish Network or Comcast are I would FIRE them.

Terrell in Atlanta

I got satelite service because I saw the commercials and I thought I could save some money but I was wrong from the begining everything was wrong.

I ask for a DVR box i did not get it plus I got the same channels that I got with Comcast and I was paying $ 80.91 dollars a month with Comcast I was paying the same but with INTERNET, I called Direct TV to see how they can help me in times like this people is trying to save money not spent more money well they could not help me thanks to the poor CUSTOMER SERVICE and they told me if I cancel the contract I have to pay $ 565.00 dollars just for trying to get the service I wanted in other words I end up paying more when I was trying to save money.

If I have something good about DIRECT TV will be that they are good taking people's money.