Dish Network — dishonorable business practices
(I've sent this to the BBB, Attorney General's office and a few newspapers. I want to get the word out)
I have been a customer of Dish Network company for over five years. I telephoned them on February 21, 2007 (yesterday) and asked if I had a standing commitment to continue service with them. The employee I spoke with put me hold, checked my records, came back on the telephone and informed me that I did not. I asked again, “Are you sure? I need to positively verify this as I am planning to enlist the services of another satellite company and intend to cancel your service.” The employee further assured me that I did not have any commitment with them any longer.
With that information supplied to me by Dish Network, which I trusted to be truthful and correct, I arranged for another satellite company to come to install their system, which they did today, February 22, 2007.
After the other company finished installing their satellite equipment and left my home, I telephoned Dish Network to cancel my account with them. The first person, with whom I spoke, verified apparent notes on his computer, that indeed I do not have a commitment with them. However, they needed to transfer my call, or so they said, in order to cancel my service. I was put on hold for a very long time, approximately 30 or 40 minutes until they caused the telephone to disconnect.
I called back. After waiting on hold for what seemed an eternity, listening to repetitious music, they then informed me that I have a commitment with them for another six and a half months and if I cancel, I will owe them $13.33 per month remaining in that time frame, which amounts to $86.65.
I objected, naturally, informing them of my telephone conversation yesterday with one of their employees. I went through the whole story again with someone else. (You can never talk to the same person twice) I asked to speak to a supervisor and was put on hold again for approximately twenty minutes. Altogether, I was on the telephone for approximately an hour and a half and all to no avail. I was told, point blank, that no supervisors were responding.
Therefore, I explained the whole story again to yet another employee. This time, they denied having any notes that someone told me that I was not under any obligation to continue their service.
I again reiterated that they should honor the information that one of their employees gave me, regardless of whether I have six and a half months left of obligation to them. They refused to honor that. I explained that had I been given accurate information, I would not have arranged to connect with this other company yet. And still, they held fast.
They also demanded that I pack up their receiver boxes and satellite dish in boxes that they will send me by UPS. Then I am to take them to the UPS office and mail their equipment back to them. If I fail to do this, there will be an exorbitant monetary penalty. I am dumb struck as to why I should have to do their work for them, using my time and effort to package these items. I am a senior citizen and I am appalled at their aggressive behavior.
To sum it up, although I may have had a commitment with them and I had nothing in writing about the telephone conversation, (big mistake that I should know better than to make)I feel that Dish Network displayed very dishonorable, immoral and despicable business practices. These practices clearly manifest themselves in this company’s mistreatment of customers, with untruthful, incorrect and inconsistent information, resulting in my having to pay for two services for another six and a half months. Had I received a straightforward answer yesterday, that I am indeed committed for another six and a half months, I would not have signed up with the other company until those six and a half months were past. I am extremely displeased with this ineffective and dishonorable company.
Hi there Disappointed with DISHNetwork! I happened to read your post & I'm extremely sorry to hear about all these issues you have experienced with
DISH Network! I'll introduce myself, my name is Michael Hurst & I work for DISH Network, in our
Executive Resolutions Department & I would be more then happy to help you get this resolved. Since this is a public
forum you can e-mail me if you'd like with any additional information & then you & I can work together and definitely make sure
we get this all fixed for you! My email is [email protected] Take care & Hope to hear from you soon! –Michael
greg195inc, our guide does download at 3 am to keep up to date with what is being played. Our guide should be for 7 days, if you are only getting 2 days you may have to let the receiver update. You can change the time for the updates so its not at 3 am. If you are looking to use a VCR you can do so. There is a way to setup a timer for a VCR in the receiver menu. Here are the steps to get there: Menu, Daily Schedule, Create timer. Here you will be able to pick the type of timer you are looking for. I understand that you would like to have standard definition receivers there are a couple of factors that would prevent you from having SD equipment. For example if you have an Eastern Arc installation HD equipment is compatible and SD is not. If you would like you can email me your account information and I can look into this for you. [email protected]
I came across your post, lyn elrod, and would like to assist you in getting that cleared up! Could explain what exactly the issue you ran into was? What is the situation with the $26.00? Let me know so I can look into it and help you further!
greg1951nc,
I'd like to help you with the issue you posted! Before the concern with the cancellation fee arose, what exactly did you notice about the service that differed from what was stated in the contract? Also, please email me your account number so I can have a look at it. My email address is [email protected] I look forward to hearing from you!
Aggravatedjo,
I found your situation interesting and would be more than happy to look into that! What's guaranteed for the first 12 months of service is the dollar amount of the discount from the regular price of the programming package. If you could email me your account number, I can go over the information with you to get this straightened out, as well as get a copy of your contract ordered and sent to you! My email address is [email protected] I hope to speak with you soon!