|
|
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.
Jarrie of Camby, IN July 3, 2008
I have been a customer with DirecTV for many years. Always on time. I moved and wanted it back. Installer damaged house. Drilled hole in brick. Didn't receive DVR as promised. Rude customer service. Tried to cancel within just a a week. DirecTV customer service rep told me I would be reimbursed and no longer responsible and mailed me the boxes to return the equipment.
Started receiving bills after returning equipment. Tried to talk to customer service rep and they hung up on me. Now collections are calling my work, home, harrassing me to pay for a service that wasn't even used for more than a week. Along with damage to the brick on my house.
Brick on house was damaged. Harassing phones calls from CBE Group and DirecTV. Colette of Lincoln, CA June 27, 2008
I entered into a two-year agreement with DirectTV on March 23, 2006. I fulfilled my end of the agreement, and discontinued DirectTV service on March 25, 2008 (have contract for documentation). In April 2006 (only a week after the service was installed), I called DirectTV several times troubleshooting their defaulty DVR player. On three separate occasions, and two months later, representatives tried troubleshooting and finally came to the conclusion that this particular DVR player was defective (his exact words) given the fact that it didnt record and never did since the day of installation on March 23, 2006.
I requested disconnection as of March 25, 2008 (two years and two days after my contract has been fulfilled), I was told that my contract isnt up until July 2008 and DirectTV will be charging me an early cancellation fee. Apparently this was the implied new two-year contract date from when the new working DVR arrived that replaced the one that never recorded. DirectTV has charged by credit card 37.47 without authorization and was able to processes this charge without the correct expiration date.
I requested a refund in writing for the early cancellation fee and their response to my written request was a message left on my answering machine that they will not be refunding my money. A month later, they sent me another bill stating erroneous movie charges totally 68.00. I now have to fight a collection agency.
Collection agency has affected credit report for 68.00. Dan of North Royalton, OH June 26, 2008
I am very unhappy with my service from Directv. Their system is not what I expected and very unuser friendly. I just dont like it. I called about 2 days after I received the service and requested to end my contract. They told me that I had only 72 hours to cancel. Well in my calculations 72 hours is 3 days and not 2. I told them that I received the service on Friday and I called on Sunday. They told me that since I had it installed on Friday afternoon that counts as one day.
I was upset and just dealt with the issue. I find out from a friend that Ohio law states that you have 30 days to void out of a contract (not sure if that is true). I called the other day because I am just disgusted with their service and their representatives. I talked to someone who was no help to me and told me that I signed verbally to a 2-year contract by sending in my 1st bill. I wasn't sure how you verbally sign something by paying my 1st bill. I asked to talk to a manager and he said that he could help me. I asked again and he told me that it wasn't necessary. I had to raise my voice just to convince him to let me talk to a manager.
I never talked to one because I was already on the phone for 10 minutes and I was frustrated so I hung up. They want to charge me 400 to get out of my contract!
Pawan of Broomfield, CO June 26, 2008
I have been having so many problems with DirecTV, it's just outrageous. Since I switched from Comcast to DirecTV because of a promise of a lower cost per month, I have been paying almost twice what they promised me. I keep on calling them every month and they keep on moving me to the resolution center. They promise me a lower price and then it's the same again. I get another bill and it's the same story again.
Robert of Amarillo, TX June 25, 2008
I started my service in 1996 with Primestar that included a 10.00 equipment rental fee. DIRECTV purchased Primestar in February 1999. The bill I received from DIRECTV maintained the 10.00 equipment rental fee. I continued paying the rental fee believing it remained applicable. I have since signed an Equipment rental conversion addendum to customer agreement in May 9, 2000 with DIRECTV.
I just discovered on June 18, 2008 after upgrading to a HDTV system, that the equipment rental fee for one receiver is zero. Equipment rental only applies to additional accessories such as VCR and additional receivers. The information DIRECTV has provided varies from one supervisor to another. It seems all of the former Primestar customers are paying the 10.00 equipment rental fee or more. Unless they have discovered that the charge is unnecessary. This mistake cost to me is 1,071.68 over an eight year period. I hope this information will inform others of DIRECTV practices.
Veronica of Aptos, CA June 22, 2008
Because of the constant misinformation I get from Direct TV customer service representatives, I am not getting problems solved and I feel like there is nowhere to turn. I was told by at least 4 different DirectTV employees that I could switch out my old tuner and upgrade it to a new HD tuner with tivo-type capabilities for no extra charge. Each of the 4 reps. said I could keep the channels I had, and not choose the HD package at this time, but still get the new apparatus.
Since I had been misinformed in the past, I called Customer Service and spoke with 4 different individuals, on different days to be sure the information was correct. But when the installer arrived, he said the opposite. He said I MUST get the HD package with the new machine. I asked to speak to the customer service rep,. and also her supervisor who told me I MUST get the HD package. I told them I was informed by 4 different people on their end that I could choose to have the apparatus installed now, but not get the HD channels until later. So I asked the man to reinstall my old equipment and leave.
It seemed to me there was some sort of planned missinformation with possibly a commission bonus that would make for such consistant problems. Although it didn't cost me anything this time, it was not the 1st time I couldn't get a straight answer from thier people.
Last year Direct TV caused me to loose my East Coast ABC and PBS feed through wrong information. At that time I was told I could get the local HD channels, along with my east and west coast major channels. This I later learned was not correct, but by the time I had them switch it back, I was denied the ABC Eastcoast feed, and PBS. I do miss those channels, but value having the option of Tivo-ing programs hours earlier from the Eastcoast. I am aware that the laws are such now that local stations can deny me service from the East Coast, but the way Direct TV handles things makes a consumer feel very helpless. I happen to live in a pocket where both antena and cable TV reception is unclear (Aptos alsong the coast.)
I can no longer get ABC East Coast and PBS, which I had for many years before they began their customer baiting. Maria of Harrison, NY June 20, 2008
After the Direct TV Tech came to fix the dish on June 17, my TV competely shut down after the first stor,. I called customer service on June 16. The customer service representative told me that since I am having recurrent problems with the signal, she is referring me to case management. She said that they will call me in two hours. Since I was leaving that evening, we arranged that they will call me on June 19 between 8 and 9 in the morning. I specifically asked wheteher or not I should be in front of TV, otherwise they could call me on my cell. Yes, she said, you should be in front of TV.
The next morning I called again and asked to schedule the call on June 18 in the evening. Ogf course-another customer service rep said-they will call you. I will make a note of it. To make lonmg story short-nobody called me on June 17, 18, and 19. On June 19 I missed two hours of work waiting in front of my TV. And you know what? I called twice, -I was promised that case management will call be tonight, tomorrow, or right away; that I don;t have to be in front of my TV, then that I have to be in front of my TV; then that they were sorry, they were making notes, they were sorry again. I strated feeling that I am loosing my mind.
Finally I spoke to a superviser. She said that case management will call me on June 19 between 7 and 9, and that she personally will check with me whether. While I am writing these notes somebody called from Direct TV asking me whether everything is OK?
Half day missed at work, no TV for a week, for which we are paying monthly fee, and finally FRUSTRATION! Beverly of Richmond, VA June 17, 2008
I signed up with Directtv and was installed on 03/29/08--everything worked fine(my fault-I did not realize it was until 2010) A month later I could no longer get my local channels--after two visit from the Directtv techs I was told that a tree-which has filled out with leaves-is now blocking the reception of my local channels. I cannot get any (NONE--not even a foggy screen)reception of the local channels-so the suggestion by a tech (who offered 60.00 for me to buy them) of getting an antenna is useless. I asked for the other channels that could provide the local programs to be allowed but was told that I needed a waiver to get them and--if approved--I would have to pay a fee--no way!
When I signed my contract I was receiving the full service - now that I am no longer getting what I contracted for and feel as if the contract has been broken and that I should be allow to move to a provider that can provide the services I want--I'm sure I would end up in court if I stopped paying them. What can I do legally? Please help.
I am not receiving the service (local channels) I thought I would be getting and cannot get it elsewhere due to having service with Directtv. Florence of Bensalem, PA June 17, 2008
We had an existing account with Direct TV and reopened it in March 2008. The reception of picture is unreliable and goes out on a daily basis when cloudy or rainy. WE canceled the account yesterday and was told that we would be responsible for a 283.00 early termination of contract. We didn't sign a contract and wasn't advised of a commitment of 18 monthes. I am on a fixed income and don't have 283.00 of disposable income to waste on unreliable TV service.
In jeopardy of bad credit rating if not paid. Shelia of Diamond, OH June 17, 2008
I purchased a R10 TiVo satellite receiver in August 2005 with a 12 month contract. My contract was up in August 2006. In October 2006 I started having problems with my receiver. Direct TV promised to send me a replacement DVR receiver at no charge, but I had to return my R10 unit (which I owned). I accepted but was sent a R15 model (which is not TiVo branded). I had to have this R15 unit replaced 4 times as each new unit would not work.
I asked to cancel my service in February 2007 due to on going service problems. I was told that Direct TV had started a new contract with out my knowledge or consent & that they now owned the receiver in my home. I was told to write a letter about having the commitment removed. On March 6, 2007, Montoya in Direct TV customer service agreed to reduce our contract date so that it was fulfilled in August 2007. I was not at all happy that they stole my property & started an unauthorized commitment but I gave my children the new receiver (that only works so-so) and purchased myself a used R10 TiVo unit from a local Direct TV installer in June 2007. I called Direct TV 3 times to ensure that this could be done and was told yes. I then had to purchase a 20 card to register the R10 unit to me & turn on my service.
Due to very poor customer service on Direct TV's part I have called to cancel my service on May 30, 2008. Direct TV is now telling me that they started yet another commitment on my account with out knowledge or authorization, and say that I am leasing the R10 unit (which I purchased cash on my own). Further more, both Gary (Retention Department) and Julia (Disconnection Department) agreed that they there NEVER should have been a lease or contract started on used equipment bought by the customer (myself). Having admitted to Direct TV's error, I was told by both Julia and Gary that they could not fix the problem and I would be charged 150 early termination fee.
Direct TV has started not one, but two contracts on my account with out my knowledge or authorization. I have never signed anything stating I agreed to a contract or commitment and have never received a copy of a contract.
I am unable to cancel my service with out paying fees on something I never agreed to and was never informed about. Direct TV also is stating that they own the R10 unit, that I bought used from a local installer. This unit is currently worth 200! I want all contracts/commitments removed from my account & acknowledment that the R10 receiver is owned by me & will not be returned.
Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.
|
|
|
MOST-VIEWED PAGES
|
|
NEW COMPLAINTS
- Etsy.com
- Fashion Bug
- Shoprite
- US Loan Assistance Center
- Tavern On The Green, New York, NY
- All American Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Midland, TX
- Atlantic Auto Mall, West Islip, NY
- Route 280 Auto Group, Orange, NJ
- Classic Ford of Columbia, Columbia, SC
- Vanderstyne Toyota, Rochester, NY
|
|
|
Print This 
Email This
