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DirecTV

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

It all seems so easy. You go to the mall and emerge with a highly-discounted DirecTV or PrimeStar satellite kit under your arm. It only costs a few hundred dollars and you get great reception. Cool. There’s only one cloud: Chances are you signed a binding multi-year agreement that basically commits you to pay off the rest of the cost of the satellite gear and installation. (That few hundred you paid in the store is just a deposit). If you cancel the service, you still have to continuing paying for the equipment. It’s all in the contract – and it’s a lot better to read it now than later.

Araceli of Phoenix, AZ July 16, 2009

I originally agreed to use Direct TV when signing up for Qwest services. Never in my discussion with the Qwest representative did he explain to me that I would be signing up for an 18 month contractual agreement. I have since discontinued my services with Qwest and come to find out I am unable to cancel my services with Direct TV. What I would like to know is how I can be in a contractual agreement when I did not sign anything nor did anyone explain the conditions to me directly. I do not want to be forced to continue to do business with a company if I don't want to. Also, explain to people what they are getting themselves into before you provide the services, don't sucker them into it. Have someone knowledgeable when we call in inquiring about this issue.

Marilyn of Villa Rica, GA August 12, 2009

I cancelled this service and was told a final bill and equipment return kit would be send to me. Never received final bill nor the kit. However, they withdrawal the money from my personal account without any notice and charged me for the equipment. I ctc them and they said they were acting per the agreeement and they would reimburse me upon receipt the equipment.

I requested the kit once again never received it. It took three request for me to finally get the kit. I return the equipment in good order upon receipt. Per their records they have received the equipment since Aug 4th 2009 according to Directv's agreement the refund should be done 72 hrs upon receipt of the equipment and I have not yet received the money back to my credit card/personal account.

By them not notifying me of the withdrawal of the money this cause for my account to be overdrawn since I was not counting with this expense. In addition I was clearly told by Directv that I was going to get a final bill. Also all the aggrevation I've gone thru to get my money reimburse is on call for and further more I have yet to received it.

Their customer service staff is rude and not helpful at all and they will tell u anything just to get you off the phone. They wouldn't even chk of the status of my account. I need my money back. I would never use this company ever again they are the worst cable company.

Brian of West Chester , OH August 11, 2009

Back in February 2008 I asked to get HD service for my current address. Before accepting to anything I made sure that there would be no contract or cancellation fee if I moved to somewhere that did not offer Directv as a service. The CSR said no there would be no problems. The reason I asked was because I knew I was going to be graduating from college in May and there was the possibility that I would have to relocate to an apartment. Well I was offered a job and had 30 days to move. So, obviously I had no time to look and purchase a house. I got an apartment that of course does not allow Directv because of the dish required for service. I placed a call to Directv to cancel my service and to send back the equipment. Well, needless to say, the other CSR lied to me. They told me I would be charged over 400 in early termination fees. I wrote a letter to fight it, but it got me nowhere.

Marcia of Thousand Oaks, CA August 10, 2009

After several months of customer no-service, my complaining that I've had at least 5 DVR breakdowns in 4 yrs. of service, and writing to the VP of Customer Service and the Office of the Pres., I'm worse off than before. Rather than working to keep the customer, they are all trained in the Art of the Take Away. They say "sure" then take away the previous offer.

If I signed a 2 yr. contract, (which they showed that I DID agree to on 7/09--NOT,) then I could get the DVR replaced with a current up to date new, DVR. I was given HBO for 6 months as a concession for all the problems, but in the final conversation with the Office of the DirecTV Pres., they took away the HBO free service.

It's hard to believe that the company can remain in business. I left CABLE TV due to outage problems. What can be done about such poor shoddy service practices in our community?

Jean of Branchburg, NJ August 10, 2009

I fulfilled my two year contract (06/07 - 07/09) and called to cancel, only to find out that when I updated my standard receiver to an HD receiver my contract was auotmatically renewed without my knowledge. It was not brought to my attention until I called to cancel. I have scoured the agreements and can find nothing regarding automatic renewal. If there is anything at all, it's sketchy and unclear what DirectTV is really trying to say and what they really mean. I have filed a dispute with the BBB of the Southland case # 98434174. DirectTV keeps trying to close the case and I will not accept that. I was mislead and deceived. Their customer service is rude and degrading. Making me feel like it's all my fault when really they are not being ethical AT ALL! Shameful. I am writing this complaint because I see that a class action lawsuit has been approved to move forward in the state of CA for the very same reason!

Lori of rock hill, SC August 7, 2009

I received a call that they were about to shut off my service and I asked for an extension since I did not get paid till 08/14/09. They said they could not do it since I already had an extentsion and they only do it once every six months. since I have heard about them charging peoples accounts without authorization I was unable to pay my full rent because I did not want them to overdraw my account.

But when I looked further into my bill I found out that they were starting to bill me for NFL sunday which I did not authorize. They said that they credited me for the NFL but when I looked at my account on the internet is still shows me being charged for it. This company has a habit of saying one thing and doing something else.

Lily of Oakridge, OR August 7, 2009

When our contract was up with Dish TV we decided to go with Direct TV because they advertised a cheaper monthly rate. It was installed and again we were promised the cheaper monthly rate by the Direct TV phone representatives and the Direct TV installers. They told us tha the first two months might come together and be a little bit higher but would all come out correct when the third month came. Also, the first payment would come directly out of our bank account and after that we would be billed each month.

The fourth month rolled around and still no bill so I called them. I was told (after the fact) that I had to call in after the sattelite was installed (a month I believe) and have my special activated and that now it was to late. The rep I talked to said she lowered it as best she could now but our special couldn't be used now. I tried explaining to her that we hadn't been informed of this "rule" and that we had also not given our permission for it to come directly out of our bank account each month. I told her their company was fortunate the money had been in there. She was able to reduce the bill some but nowhere near what was promised when we signed up.

Manuel of nitro, WV August 6, 2009

I got the service a year ago only because of the spanish programming they offer that cable does not. But I just moved to a new apartment with strict landlords, which forbid cables outside the home. According to the technician the only way to install the service was to run cables through the window. So when I called to cancel I was in the phone over two hours, DirecTV claims it is not their fault if the landlords have different rules and that I have to pay 274 to cancel. They even told me to put my account on hold for 6 months so I'd have time to save up for the cancellation fee.

Their customer reps kept saying that I was wrong that the installation could be done, as If they were not listening to what I was saying that I am not allowed to have satellite dishes here. After talking to three reps and supervisor which admitted that the only persons who will lose against directv is the customer I ended up paying the cancellation fee.

Denee of Garden Grove, CA August 6, 2009

My husband and I were excellent customers for over 4 years. We were lured one night by an offer that was (too good to be true) from Verizon and believed all would be ok. They promised to BUY OUT our existent contract and close the Directv account for us and save us 50 a month for comperable service. This all started in March 09- when I never received a close out bill from Directv

I called them at the end of April 09. I asked the representative if I owed any monies or equipment back and the rep assured me - my account was clear off all charges and i owed nothing back. By the middle of May 09 I started receiving PAST DUE amounts due in large sums from Directv. When I called to inquire they told me - that my account had never been closed and i DID owe the equipment back -totalled 728.63 after taxes?

It wasn't until June 3rd my account was closed - I spoke to 2 really nice reps 1 (courtney) then her supv (steven) who backed dated most of the fees and supposidly corrected this error. I had to explain my story in detail and they said said I didn't owe the equipment back and i would be cleared from owing -due to the documentation made by the rep in April - they agreed Directv had made the mistake. And they agreed I had made an honest attempt to return said receivers. (by the way i got rid of equip after my 1st call in April) Supv Steven was very kind and *cleared my account* OR SO I THOUGHT.

Approx 2 weeks later I started receiving demand notices from Directtv this time the bll is now almost 900. After several calls (hours) I reached a Supv (kendall) who in my opinion needs to be fired for the way she spoke down to me -was rude and lied about seeing any previous notes on my account made by the previous supv. She also refused to contact supervisor to clear the matter. She was rude, arrogant and demeaning.

I then wrote a certified letter as requested to the company in Colorado requesting that the matter be resolved. I received the most offensive poorly wrote response. Telling me that someone (reffering to themself as (I) am writing in response to your recent corresondence. *No name was ever associated to this letter or was there and ext or direct line to call - just the mass 1-800 #. It also stated that this ? individual tried to cntact me, but the # was no longer in service, there was no one there, or was busy so they were unable to reach me.

What kind of a MICKEY MOUSE operation is this? I listed a home # which has an answering machine (the same # associated to my account) on my letter of request. Then was sent another bill.

Outstanding bill of 728.63 (which I was told -WOULD BE CLEARED) I HAD TO PAY AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE 140.00. Several hours on the telephone trying to explain the situation and clear matters. Everytime you call - you have to tell your story to 3 different people to only be dissapointed again - and told to write another letter?

Kelly of North Hollywood, CA August 5, 2009

Hello, After four years of having Direct TV cable, I decided to cancel my service. On April 30th I spoke to Ronald M at Direct TV. He told me that I would be charged an early cancellation fee due to me receiving a new DVR. I told him that the installer had never told me about this fee and Ronald said I would have received notification on my ORIGINAL DIRECT TV CONTRACT. And I said "the one I received FOUR YEARS AGO"...and Ronald said "YES". He then told me that I needed to mail this DVR back to Direct TV. I asked to speak to a supervisor and Ronald said..."NO". He gave me a PO Box number to write a dispute letter to their corporate headquarters.

So, on April 4th I sent certified mail (and I have the signed receipt in my records) a letter explaining the above. I received no response. So, on May 12, 2008, I called the Federal Trade Commission and spoke to Liz. Liz told me that the only thing I could do was send Direct TV another certified letter.

I mailed two certified letters to Direct TV and filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Direct TV responded to the BBB and said that they left a message on my answering machine on April 7th. This was not true. They went on to say that they advised me when I placed the DVR order that I would be charged a late fee. This was also not true. After being told by Direct TV that they would turn me over to a collection agency if I did not pay the cancellation charge, I went ahead and paid the bill. Please let me know if I can be reimbursed. Thank you!

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