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DirecTV - Billing Problems

DirecTV • Billing Problems • Installation • Maintenance • Rebates • Sales Practices • Billing for "Adult" Shows • About those "Adult" Bills ... --- News • DirecTV Takes Disputed Fees Out of Customer Accounts, Suit Charges • Major League Baseball, Cable Operators Reach Agreement • Major League Baseball Extends TV Deadline • Senators Object to DirecTV Deal that Shuts Out Baseball Fans • DirecTV Settles Do Not Call Charges • DirecTV Telemarketers To Pay $75,000 Penalty • Fired DirecTV Contractors Say They Refused To Lie To Customers • Outbreak of DirecTV Porn Charges Hits Philadelphia • DirecTV Fined $5 Million for Do-Not-Call Violations • DirecTV Will Reform Ad Practices, Pay Millions in Refunds • DirecTV Abandons Satellite Internet Plans

Megan of Orlando, FL October 14, 2009

I am extremely frustrated with their HD billing practices. In addition to paying for the HD receiver, I am also being billed for the HD signal, HD programming and HD NFL package signal. This works out to be 4 seperate charges simply for HD programming. Because I am locked into a contract, there is no way around it other than losing the HD programming I desire. The charges are in excess of 50 per month, on top of my regular programming subscription.

Belle of Birmingham, AL October 14, 2009

In July 2009 I contacted Directv to get the monthly fee lowered. It was too high and kept being different amounts each time I called but would then go back up the next month. I told them I couldn't afford the 60 odd dollars a month charge and I'd have to cancel if we couldn't get it lower. They told me to go ahead they couldn't do anything for me. I cancelled and then I received a statement from them on 8/15/09 saying I owed them 145.50 for an early cancellation fee.

I called them. They clamied they sent me a copy of an agreement I signed with a time frame and I owed this. I told them I didn't remember signing an agreement, I knew nothing about a time frame, and I wasn't going to pay them the 145.50 because I had no way to do so. They kept sending me statements and I contacted the Attorney General of Arizona and received a letter back with copies of documents showing an agreement form and a Directv check list.

I had never seen either form. They sent a copy of a reply letter from this Betsy Blackburn saying I had to pay the early cancellation fee. I wrote her and asked that she send me a copy of the signed agreement and if I had indeed ageed to it I'd try and pay the 145.50. I never recieved a reply from her but did get a letter dated 10/3/09 from the Directv Collection Department saying they didn't have to have my signature. I have my complete file on everything that I received from Directv from the very first and I do not have anything stating a time frame or an agreement.

I did get a rebate form and on it it says I have to have it for twelve months. I had it for twelve months. Of course this was to get the rebate. On 10-13-09 I received another statement but this time is was from some place called CBE, The CBE Group, Inc. It was another statement saying I owed the 145.50. It was asking that I forward a written dispute to P.O. Box In Waterloo, IA 50704-2635. I have to reply within 30 days.

I think this charge is illegal and that Alabama should follow the actions of several other states and start a class action law suit against Directv. I haven't had a loss yet because I haven't paid them. I'm not going to pay them unless I'm instructed to do so by a judge or other legal identity. I need all the help I can get. If I have to pay this excessive bill I'll not be able to eat for a month or so. I'm 70 years old and on social security. I don't have the money and I don't feel I owe it in the first place.

Erica of Colorado Springs, CO October 13, 2009

On 10/6/2009 Direct tv took 444.36 I am currently fighting this with my bank, my account is severely over drawn and my account is now locked and I can't do anything with my account. THey were never authorized to take the funds from my account. When I asked them to put my money back they told me to dispute it with the bank. I am trying to dispute it with my bank and they are not budging. It's been difficult. I have once last attempt tomorrow. Direct TV reason for the withdraw realy cancellation fee. I had no contract with them it was actually ended and on 8/06/09 it was voided as they had extended my contract a year prior due to defective refurbished receivers that were sent and numerous technician calls to my home to resolve the problem. It was then suggested by the technician, his supervisor and a Direct TV rep to get a new replacement receiver. So that's what I did, and then come to find out my contract was extended by 2 years on me. I called on 8/06/09 to get it reversed was told by the rep they would do so, and it wasn't. So now here I am fighting this.

Robbin of angels camp, CA October 12, 2009

I was overcharged on my bill, and charged for packages I never received/or ordered. I was double billed for the same packages. Normal fees should be about 70, but they automatically charged over 300 on my visa one month. They finally corrected this and gave me a refund of 5.00 a month for 6 months. This was not a gift, it was part of their refund of my money.

I called them over a tech problem about the 5th month, and asked if they were having any promotions in order to save money, and they said I couldn't get any promotions due to the fact that they were already giving me the 5.00 a month refund.

I have been so frustrated with direct tv, at every turn. I have had several technical problems, several calls, and now today I called again with a problem and asked about my cancellation date of 3/10 and was told no, it is now 9/10 or even 6/11 because we ordered a new box. I was never told of the 9/10 date or 6/11 date. I just want to cancel them and be done with them...but can't. I have heard of a class action suit, and would like to be involved. Please help. Thank you

john of gaston, SC October 8, 2009

I,m having the same problem as thousands of people with early termination( 3 days never got tv picture). 557.54. Are all these people lairs? NO we all know who the lairs are. You would think that with all these thousands of complaints(google complaints DIRECTV ) One of the many agencys that are suppose to protect us citzens would look into this losey company? But we know they watch tv also and quess what they watch? Its a crying shame that the best country in the world would let scam like this company cheat ten of thousands of hard working customers. Now you know why DIRECTV had a huge profit this last 10 years. DO NOT GIVE DIRECTV ANYTHING but a law suit. If any lawyer would start a case action suite he could thousands of clients,all have been cheated by DIRECTV!!

eugene of colorado springs, CO October 8, 2009

There is a class action lawsuit in CA. Direct TV took 508.00 out of my checking account without my permission. I am on disability. My checking account was overdrawn by 508.00 plus overdraft fees. They keep promising to put back 297.05 in my account. They haven't yet. I am looking for a class action lawsuit in CO. This needs to stop.

Julie of Canal Fulton, OH October 6, 2009

We found that by changing satelitte providers we could save nearly half on our bill. Prior to cancelling with DirectTV, we contacted them and confirmed that we would NOT be charged a cancellation fee, and then changed our service to another satelitte provider. On 9/24/09, I discovered that DirectTV had made a 385.16 charge to our bank account on 9/23/09. This caused an overdraft in our account, since I was unaware this was going on and continued to stop for gas, stop at the pharmacy, etc, causing overdraft fees of 100!

We contacted DirectTV's customer service department multiple times, and the customer service agents always acknowledged that DirectTV had MISTAKENLY charged us 385.16, but further advised it would take at least 6-8 weeks to refund this money.

Upon learning of the 100 in overdraft fees to my account, I then called DirectTV again, asked to speak with a manager, and She again acknowledged this was THEIR mistake, but then indicated the best she could do at returning our money would be 20 business days! I further questioned her about the overdraft fees, and she provided me with a phone number to fax verification from the bank of those charges.

I received that information from the bank on 9/26/09, and faxed as she had instructed. Today I learned that I was provided the wrong fax number, as my bank information was returned to me via mail from Farmer's Insurance indicating they had received my bank information.

I again contacted DirectTV, asked for their fax number, and information on how to contact their legal department. I was then told they have no fax and no contact information for their legal department! They further informed me that that they may NOT refund the overdraft fees, and that it would have to "go for review" to determine whether they would pay.

I recently had surgery to remove cancer, and have been off work for 10 weeks. In fact, I just returned to work the day this bank withdrawal occured. My husband is a self employed contractor and in this economy, is not faring well. Given our current financial situation, this could not have happened at a worse time....As such, I have skipped payment on the gas bill, which is due for shut off. Although I understand human error on their part, I don't understand their failure to immediately return the money, putting us in financial straits, while they get to use our money for a couple of months!

Dan of Williams, CA October 6, 2009

Direct TV debited my bank account for 1127.34. This transaction was NOT authorized by me. I have called to try and resolve this issue several times to no avail. Direct TV maintains that I "canceled" my service. I am told that when service is canceled they can immediately charge the current credit card on file for any past due or cancelation fees. They also have stated that I am being charged for unreturned receivers. I received empty boxes for their return on 10-02-09, The contents of the boxes stated i had 7 days to return them, so i thought I would call them on Monday 10-05-09.

Direct tv debited my account on 10-03-09. When i called them again to advise them of their error, I was now told that the charges for the receivers where legitimate, it must have been a mailing error, it was not their fault I received the boxes late. I NEVER canceled my service to begin with. Direct TV was not authorized to debit my account, I was never told my account was canceled, I was never given ANY opportunity to dispute anything. They took my money literallly overnight for absolutely no reason.

Direct TV should not have the ability to make unauthorized transactions with out notifying the customer of intentions...regardless of what Direct tv states their policy is. The only reason our account has even had any trouble is because of their error to begin with that they have repeatedly failed to correct.

Do to the unauthorized transaction of 1127.34 I will suffer many bank NSF fees,I will be unable to provide for my kids and family intil I get paid again. This transaction will put me and my family in extreme financial stress and The reprecussions from this can will likely be imeasureable.

aston of west palm beach, FL October 5, 2009

i recieved a bill for 97.51of which49.95 isfor a service call i didnt have the use of television for 6 days it wasnt diducted from the bill my complaint is the dish is at someone else apartment they attached my cable on that dish there is a lot of people passing by i am not responsible for someone bouncing off cable off the dish so i shouldnt be charged for that service call if they want me responsible it has to be on my premises.

Casey of Floyd, VA October 5, 2009

I have been charged 44.99 per month since July 2009 for a subscription service (NFL SUNDAY TICKET ) I did not order. They refused to credit the money and said I will be charged for 3 more payments and she will not cancel the service. I said I did not order this. They said that when I signed up for DirecTV a year ago that this package was included for free and that it was up to me to cancel it if I did not want it. To my knowledge I never order this and I was not aware that I had to cancel this since I did not order it. I do not receive paper bills and failed to notice this on my statement on the DirecTV web site until now. I am waiting for someone named Mathew from DirecTv to call me back who is apparently the next one up in the chain of command at DirecTV. I am requesting assistance on getting this money credited to me.

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