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DirecTV

DirecTV • Billing Problems • Installation • Maintenance • Rebates • Sales Practices • Billing for "Adult" Shows • About those "Adult" Bills ... --- News • Class Action Says DirecTV Forces Consumers to Pay for Fraudulent Accounts • Washington Sues DIRECTV For 'Unconscionable' Sales Practices • 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.

Pedro Tosado of Brooklyn, NY April 24, 2009

When I subscribed for service no one told me that I was locking myself into a contract. I have had the service for 4 months and I'm not happy with the service and I want to cancel it. They tell me I have to pay a penalty to get out of the contract. I never signed a contract.

John of Collingswood, NJ April 23, 2009

I have been a steady and loyal customer of DirecTV, paying my bills less then 30 days since April 3, 2005 at this location. In addition I was a customer at my previous address for some 4 years. On November 29,2007 I bought a HD TV and also upgrade my service to DirecTV HD.... at that time I was never told that by doing so I would be entering a two year contract for this service. If I had, I would have never agreed on it. It was installed. Then as time went on after the installation of the HD service I would be informed and notice that the cost of my service would go up a few dollars here and a few dollars there.

I went online a few time, and talk with customer representatives a few times, they suggested that if I had a problem with the cost to terminate my premumin channel subscriptions.... but in order to do that I would have to leave the grandfather package that I had, and pick a new package, and oh by the way then extended my already two year contract that I did even know that I had.... so I didn't change anything.... then last month DirecTV increased my bill again.... again I researched different ways to lower my bill and nothing was available to me except to change sevice and extend my contract for another two years.

So, I did the only thing that I could, since I am working reduced hours now, not sure when I will get more hours, and my income has dropped and I can no longer afford these monthly bills from DirecTV , so I cancelled... only to be told that I would be breaking the contract that was put in place when I upgrade to HD service back in November 29, 2007. I was told there would be a 360.00 termination fee.... well I told the rep that I could not afford that at all... that it didn't make sense, that I was a loyal customer since 2003 paid my bills and what not, and that I was not informed about this two year contract when I upgraded...(she infromed me then that on the back of my paper work for the HD upgrade service that was part of what I signed when it was installed in very light print I might add, was the notice) I was able to get the termination fee lower to 140.00.

All the while I was being up sold, as what I should do, cancel my premium service, at which I responded that I would be starting another two year contract and ask that and on one, on one would answer my question.... so as it stands now, I just shipped back my equipment per the instructions I recieved from DirecTV and awaiting my final bill whick will have the 140.00 cancellation fee I am sure ... seems to me that by DirecTV increasing their cost of providing their service, not once but a few times since I up graded to their HD service with no way of lowering my cost with out going into another new two years contract is (the price increase)in some form or another breaking a contract

All of the consequences are economic in my case.... I have reduced income, and living on a limited budget right now, I can't afford the service, and have not signed up for any kind of TV service at this time, since I can't afford it. I could when I was working full time and when the cost of DirecTV service was a lot less.... and then to be billed with a termination fee of 140.00... just don't know how I will pay for this....

Betty of St. Charles, AR April 22, 2009

i called to report that my local channels were not coming in & asked them to send someone out to fix it. they sent a guy named Chris & he was here about 20 minutes & said he could not get a signal & someone else would call me to come out. well i never received a call so i called them back & the woman i talked to was not very helpful & told me that someone would call me back in 20 minutes. it has been2 hours & no one has called. i have been a customer for several years & i am not happy with the way i am being treated. i am about ready to cancel my service & go with Dish network. i really want to watch my local channels

Sally of Sylmar, CA April 22, 2009

Early January 2009 we requested service instalation with DirectTV. January 12 - The first time the technician came to install the cable it was the wrong equipment.Direct Tv withdrew 21.60 from our account. We called customer service and arranged for another instalation. Because of the error DirectTv made we where told they would provide another box at no cost to us. January 14 - The second time the technician came, AGAIN the equipment was the wrong one and did NOT bring the extra box we where promised. We then called customer service AGAIN and arranged for another intalation. January 16 - By the 3rd attempt the technician could not find our address and never came. Because we where experiencing so many problems with the instalation of the service we wanted, we then called DirectTV and cancelled the request for service. January 26 DirectTv withdrew 263.67 from our account-this was NOT authorized. Bank of America gave us a temporary credit while they disputed this with DirectTv. Later Bank of America made it a permanent credit after their investigation thus closing this dispute. March 3 DirectTv withdrew another 263.67 from our account-this was NOT authorized. I spoke to Mark/Manager DirectTV on April 21. He refused to attempt to investigate and insisted that we broke the contract agreement. After he was done he ended the phone call and hung up. DirectTV's customer promise printed on their flyers reads : "We strive to deliver the best television experience...out empolyees are determined to provide you with courteous and excellent service. We promise to do our best to resolve anu issues..." This is false advertisement. They did not fulfill the customer's request/order. They are penalizing the customer for canceling an order they did NOT request.

Jeramus of Meridian, MS April 21, 2009

When I first signed up for service I was told, by a direct tv customer service representative, that I could have a 6 month contract and my service would be 54.00 per month. When I received my first bill my service was 74.00 per month. I called direct tv to inquire about this and was told when I agreed to have a dvr that automatically upgraded me to a 2-year contract but I was supposed to be notified of this before being locked into it. I assured them that I had not been notified of this. They told me I would have to pay 350 + dollars to exit the contract. I have been told many lies by direct tv customer service representatives while trying to get this issue resolved.

Lori of Margate, FL April 20, 2009

Lori of Margate FL (04/20/09)
I had been a loyal customer since 2003. In September of 2008 I upgraded my regular box to a second DVR box. After a few weeks I started having problems receiving several channels in one of the bedrooms. These were channels I was paying for. I called the company a few times and asked to have a tech come out and look at it. They refused and said they wanted to try to resolve the problem by having me do a few steps over the phone. I did this twice, both times taking up to 2 hours of my time. Needless to say this did not resolve the problem.

I decided to cancel my service April of 2009 and was told that I was still had 17 months left of a new 24 month contact from when I received my new DVR and would be billed 340.00 to my debit card on file. I never signed a contract at that time nor was I ever told I would be bound to a new contract. I called them and emailed them several times trying to resolve this matter. I feel this company is extremely misleading and unfair. I hope something can be done about this, as I do not have the 340.00 and this charge will overdraft my bank account. Thank you for your help.

I am extremely worried that my account will be overdrawn due to this early termination fee that I was unaware of.

Linda of Palatka, FL April 20, 2009

Linda of Palatka FL (04/20/09)
On 4/7/2009 I called AT&T to bundle my services to save money.I talked to a Miss Joseph and she quoted me the following prices and information. I bundled home phone 21.69, internet 32.95 and Direct TV for 32.95 plus 5.00 month per extra TV. Equipment and instulation 19.95. She offered me a Free DVR. I asked her if the 34.95 for monthly service was a promo and if there were any other charges or monthly fees for the free DRV and she said no. I agreeded to all of this and signed up for DTV service and set up install for 4/8/2009. They installed on 4/8/2009 but I was charged 60.00 to install the free DVR.

On 4/9/2009 I checked my charge card transactions and there was a charge for 127.28 for Direct TV. I called DTV and talked to Mary Ann and Theresa who told me DTV didn't do the charge AT&T did. They also informed me that the 34.95 was a promo that lasted one year to which I need to to on line to fill out a rebate to take care of that offer (The first time I heard of this) and I was told there was a 6.00 per month charge for the free DVR. They switched me to AT&T and I talked to G. Edwards she couldn't do anything and switched me to DTV with AT&T and I talked to Sherrie (Badge #416277) she said part of the 127.28 I was charged was 99.00 for the free DVR to which she said she would credit me for.

Eleven days later I haven't seen any credit. As far as the differences in the monthly charges she says I was told wrong and there isn't anything she can do about it. I also talked to a Miss Walker who said I shouldn't have been charged the 60.00 to install the DVR that was part of the 19.95 install.She transferred me to their billing dept to help with the 60.00 DVR install charge and I was disconnected. She also gave me an AT&T Complaint Dept that I called but it is unavailable from my calling area.

I have called different services to get help like Business & Professional Regulations and FL Public Service Commission. FL Public Service Commission told me Direct TV is not licensed or regulated in the state of Florida. I did get ahold of Division of Consumer Services and filed a complaint with them on line but all they really can do is forward my complaint to Direct TV and AT&T.

I canceled my Direct TV service within in 24hrs and talked to Michelle (Badge #401926) who said there will be no charges to me and they will send me boxes to return the equipment at no charge. She transferred me to their canceling dept and I talked to Lisa #412231 who took care of the canceling order and confirmed what Michelle said. On 4/20/2009 I am still waiting for the credits to my charge card and the boxes to return their equipment.

I has cost me so far 176.28 to try and cut back on expenses sence. I am out of a job and we are cutting back every where we can. It has also cost me alot of time and stress.

Elyse of Middletown, NJ April 18, 2009

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