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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.

Donald of Townville, SC April 14, 2008

Donald of Townville SC (04/14/08)
I purchased a service contract with Direct Tv when I subscribed to the service. They told me this covered all repairs. But now I find out that it only covers replacement of the equiptment. I am leasing the equiptment from Direct on a monthly basis yet they tell me that if I donot have a maintance agreement and any equiptment goes bad that I would pay for the replacement. This is leased equiptment that they own. There is something wrong with this system. They tell you that because the equiptment is in your home we are responsible for its maintance. I guess it is time to look at other options. Cable sends someone out if the box goes bad but not Direct Tv. Bad service anyone who has it BEWARE .

Abby of Los Angeles, CA April 9, 2008
Directv's contractor shut off my pre-paid tv service on 01/14/08 in retaliation for my cancelling their internet service which did not work. Now Directv is trying to force me to use their subcontractor to turn my tv back on when I told them I will no longer use their service since they are unethical. They refused to refund my money from shutting off my service and send me harrassing bills now for 25.00 saying I chose to shut off my service. I did not shut off my service, their subcontract did. I want a refund and I will never use Directv again.

All the time and money I have spent the last three months trying to get them to refund my money and the penalties they have incurred by sending me harrassing bills - they owe me well over 1,000. I will settle now for 1,000 and to never deal with Directv ever again.

Ramiro of Paramount, CA March 26, 2008

Ramiro of Paramount CA (03/26/08)
They told me I had 30 days to change my plans to cancel their contract but when I called them to cancel they told me I only had 24 hours.

To cancel I would have to pay 20 dollars each month for 18 months. That has affected me beacause at the time I dont have a job. I dont think its fair that I should pay that money.

J. of Wichita Falls, TX March 24, 2008

J. of Wichita Falls TX (03/24/08)
I ordered the commercial choice package for my new sports bar on 2/26/08. I was promised 50% off the 151.00 commercial choice package for six months, Free Installation, and HD service if I purchased 3 HD receivers for 200.00 each. They billed my credit card 673.26 on 2/26/08.

When the installer showed up, he tried to charge my 400.00 for custom installation. I insisted on the free installation that I was promised. It took 3 heated phone calls, 1 week of time, and a new installation contractor until my service was up and running on 3/10/08.

Today, I received my first bill. I expected about 75.00 plus tax. The bill is 206.11. Once again, I called to inquire, and was told that my 50% discount had not been applied yet, and if I want HD service, they were going to bill an unexpected 49.00 per month.

Now, having my over a barrel, I have 3 choices. Pay the 49.00 per month for the HD service, discontinue the HD service, and eat the 673.26 that I paid for the HD receivers that are non refundable, or cancel the service all together, eating the 673.26 plus a 300.00 early cancellation fee.

Claudette of Bella Vista, AR March 24, 2008
In March of last year I signed a contract with Direct TV, as there was no other option but satellite at that time. I was told it was a 1 year contract.

A week ago I call to cancel since I now have the option of cable. I was told that the contract was for two years but the rep said they would refer it to their review board because I had returned the HD box that made it a 2 year contract.  However, they would not recend the two year contract.

It was never made clear to me that this was something I would be stuck with for two years unless I pay an unbeliveable amount of money to get out of it.

Krishnan of Belmont, CA March 16, 2008
Direct TV sales person sold a package mentioning a grace period of 9 days to cancel without any charge (mentioned multiple times) if we do not like for any reason. The package was for 24 months agreement. We were looking for more small kids program and did not like it. So we canceled it within a week (within grace period). However the customer representatives disagreed with the grace period we were mentioned by sales representative and are charging a heavy 350.00 as cancellation fee. They are neither ready to track the sales representative or waive the charges. They consider the wrong information mentioned by sales person as unfortunate and sorry but still wants us to pay the cancellation fee.

Rosemary of Wheatland, CA March 12, 2008
My Credit Card showed a 19.35 charge. When I called the Credit Card company, I was advised it was for either an Internet purchase or telephone purchase. I called the telephone number associated with that charge and reached Brenda, who said they are a 3rd party company that covers the Dish Receiver through Dish TV. I never authorized that charge and paid 5.31 each month to cover the cost of repairs. The Dish company received my credit card through a one-time payment I made over a year ago. They have now sold my credit card number to a 3rd party company to bill me bogus charges. I talked with Joseph at Dish TV, and all he kept asking for was my credit card number, like I want to give him that. Who knows what other charges I would get charged? What a rip off. Joseph wouldn't let me talk to a supervisor.

Who has the right to provide a customer's credit card number to a 3rd party company to bill bogus charges? This should not be allowed. Someone needs to be held accountable.

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