Complain about a product or service

American Satellite

Jody of Woodland CA (6/10/01):
In early December of 2000, I looked Primestar up on the Internet, because my husband had mentioned that he would like to try satellite instead of cable. I ordered two satellite dishes (1 for our living room TV and 1 for our daughter's bedroom), and also ordered the RC-Pronto remote control, Model #TS1000 (this remote alone cost $299). I was instructed to telephone a number and "set up the service as American Satellite only provided equipment".

When I called the number, I discovered that I had reached Direct TV. After going through a tremendous amount of conversation and information giving (certainly not receiving), I was told that I had to place my order through my telephone company, PacBell. I called PacBell and they said to call back when my dishes arrived. I told them they were due in just a couple of days. They actually did not arrive for two weeks, but PacBell would not make an appointment until the dishes were received.

The appointment was made and when the PacBell technician arrived, he told my husband that we did not need the American Satellite dishes, as PacBell furnished them for us, and installed them as well. He did indeed install them and our Direct TV account was activated.

It was also an incredible joke, as trying to even get anything on the screen, let alone something one wanted, was nearly impossible. Our VCR would not record PBS channels any longer (and we were assured by both PacBell and Direct TV and American Satellite there was no problem in being able to do that), so my husband could not watch his Saturday morning woodworking/cooking/etc. shows, despite hours on the phone with Direct TV, PacBell, and the VCR's manufacturer.

Soon after that, I received a hand-addressed photocopy of a letter from American Satellite telling me they were going to bill my credit card an additional $500 because we had not activated our Direct TV account. I wrote back, telling them we most surely did, but did not use their dishes. I had not returned the dishes because I do believe I purchased them. I told my credit card company not to honor American Satellite's charge should they attempt this.

On March 1st, I cancelled our account with Direct TV (I thought) and went back to our local cable company. The VCR records perfectly. I do not have a clue as to why American Satellite believes it can sell products to consumers who desire a service from a separate entity, and then charge the consumer if they don't use the product purchased, whether or not they use the separate entity's service or not. If this is okay, it should not be okay. Direct TV is still charging us a monthly premium, even though it has turned our account over to a collection agency, and never credited a payment of $156.

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