DISH Network Reviews

The next morning, I called again and told them I was very upset and they arranged to have a technician come that afternoon (Wednesday). They got it up and running, but it failed again come 8:00 p.m. that night. No TV reception that night either. So, I called again on Thursday and told them that I didn't want the Hopper because it was so unreliable. I was told someone would call me back to see what we could work out. I told them what I wanted to work out was to go back to the system I used to have. I never received a return call, so several hours later, I called them again only to talk with someone else who essentially told me that they could send another technician out but that I am locked into a 24-month contract and that I can't downgrade back to what I had. So I told them I wanted to cancel my contract because 99% of legally binding contracts have a 3-day cancellation clause.

I was then informed there was no cancellation clause, so I couldn't get out of it without paying an early termination charge. Mind you, I had already paid $200 to get the system to begin with. It wasn't working and now they are going to charge me for an early termination? And at one point in my conversation with the customer service person, I told him I was very unhappy and was seriously considering cancelling my service and pay the early termination fee. I asked him if that is what he wanted me to do and lose me as a customer. He told me, "I guess if that is what you want to do, then that is what you are going to do!" What kind of attitude is that?

Ultimately, I agreed to have another technician come and see if he could figure out what the problem was. He came and got it working and changed some of the electronic parts on the Dish and said he thought I would be okay. But there was one other electronic part he wanted to change which couldn't be changed until Friday as he didn't have the part. The Hopper worked okay Thursday night. Another technician came here on Friday and changed out the other electronic part and the Hopper worked Friday night. I am writing this on Saturday because I seem to have a lot of time on my hands because the Hopper is not working again and now I can't get any help with it until at least Monday some time! I am very dissatisfied and will probably pay the early termination and go to a competitor!

Before hanging up, I requested to be transferred to customer service to switch cards and was told they were unable to reverse the charges and I would have to wait 3-5 business days for reversal. It wasn't even thirty minutes after setting it up and they wouldn't reverse the charges! I contacted my financial institution and was told that it was already processed, but the person instructed me how they would help me out if they could get a fax with specific information from the companies and a signature from a supervisor requesting a charge correction.

Both Infinity and DISH Network refused! Both supervisors said they were unable and unwilling to reverse charges immediately and would not send any faxes. Both stated they would not under any circumstances do so. They agreed to refund my money in 3-5 business days, but they would not send anything to my financial institution to assist me regardless of the fact that it would impact my business or that their rep had processed billing on a card that I didn't agree to set up payment on. They refused to assist in any way despite knowing the exact information that my financial institution would agree to revert funds back to me for (and wait for the reversal from them). Unreasonable and unacceptable.

So, my business and my income will be null and void for the next 3-5 business days. I have no recourse but this and to instruct anyone I know to never do business with Infinity or DISH Network. They are unwilling to assist in any way to correct errors they made or help fix a problem and keep a potential or loyal customer! Unacceptable!

After the first week, I called them and after being transferred 3 times, they cut me off. I started over and finally reached a "supervisor" who informed me that she could not understand the delay, that their records showed everything had been mailed and I should just give it a few days "because the mail service is so slow". Four days later, still nothing. I phoned again and this time, I was told that I was only entitled to $11.00 because they had charged me a $100.00 fee for the move (which is stated as free in all of their advertisements) and they had not yet received the equipment back. I explained that I had not yet received the pre-paid box to return their equipment. Therefore, I had no idea where to ship it to. The man, Erin became quite insulting to me and hung up on my after telling me that they would just keep it all.

I want my $122.00 returned to me and they are more than welcome to pick up or make arrangements to get their equipment. Right now I am out $122.00 and have their equipment taking up space in my new home.

Since their visit, they have raised their prices and kept switching premium paid packages around that confused us and we began to feel that it was partly being done to help justify price increases. Recently we elected to look for another service provider. So I did so and felt the promotional offers and a new 24-month commitment with a different provider was in our best interest. So when I went to cancel my account this afternoon with Dish Network, they said that they would be willing to take off $10.00 a month if I would stay with them. When I said I didn't want to, they hit me with a $180.00 cancellation fee for an early cancellation, claiming that the DVR Box that they replaced was an upgrade and an upgrade is an additional 24-month contract commitment! What?

I never requested an upgrade! I simply wanted the sound problem fixed and their own service department made the request to switch DVR Boxes. I think that the old DVR Box was outdated (3 years) at the time they elected to switch it out and they no longer had another old/original DVR Box to offer in the exchange as an exact replacement, so they sent out another one and they upgraded it without my knowledge. This allowed them to manipulate an internal upgrade in their records in order to lock in the customer. I want to know where and how I can file a complaint on this matter. I am very angry and I believe that their actions are so wrong and it is nothing short of stealing from me.

I called back and spoke to a woman, again, barely understandable, spelled out what we needed. My 19 year old grandson witnessed the call. She assured me it would work the way we needed it to. Dish was installed today. If we record a TV program in the living room and try to watch another program at the same time, it switches my grandson’s TV downstairs, and vice versa. I spent the evening on the phone with Dish who basically brushed me off by saying that they could fix it but it would cost us about $300.00.

I rue the day I left Direct. I feel very stuck and taken advantage of, and when my two years are up, I will switch back to Direct and never leave again. Word to the wise for anyone looking to make a decision: go with DirecTV. You will so regret Dish. They will suck you in by absolutely out and outlying, and when you ask them to make it right, they will blame it on a contractor and they "can't do anything now because the work order is closed".

Do something for this friggin mess. You got us by the balls and you are showing it. There is no use in antenna anymore, so you say. Here idiots, take this **. I am insulted with this. You can't even protect me during a ** storm. I lost your best thing since sliced bread. In a storm, I just as well be in the 1800s. At least, they usually had a goose to keep you informed. Are you guys kidding? This is **.

According to him it's about location and I'm at $29.95. False advertising on the internet to make it worse it's $29.95 for 6 months and then goes up after that to $40.00! Talk about deceit. On the internet, $14.95 - $19.95 but when you talk to the Filipino Dish Network call administrators, it jumps all the way to $40.00 after six months. By the way, the internet by Dish is actually CenturyLink. My complaint is first, hire employees who speak in a language that an English speaking person can understand and most importantly, don't false advertise and have the person whom I'm talking to have no idea what the pricing is on the internet it shows incompetency. I'll get the word out about my experience. Facebook and Twitter is a wonderful tool!

I feel that Dish intentionally tries to deceive potential customers. Their customer service should actually be renamed the "brick wall" as they have no intention of trying to work out dissatisfaction among customers, but simply are hired to stand in the way of a reasonable resolution.

We called Dish Network today as our services were discontinued. Amanda with Dish Network heard the story but was not able to comprehend at all. Her supervisor Omar refused to give his position and his last name. Omar was insensitive and uncooperative and refused to do anything about it. Omar would not take any responsibility on behalf of his agent, who successfully defrauded us. He would not give us the visa card # or the bank’s name where the fraud occurred. Our issue is still unresolved with a loss of $550.

I spent almost two weeks on the phone, sometimes 3 and 4 times a day. Then I had to fax in my bank statement to prove I sent in the payment. I had blocked out all my info but the line where our bank had sent them a check for $150.00. We only owed $86 plus change. They wanted my bank statement with nothing blacked out. After 3 more phone calls, they finally looked where my money went. It was an invalid account number. I left off 4 or 5 numbers. Long story short, they put it in a miscellaneous account. They kept my money and shut off our service.

I have never been so frustrated and dealt with such a dishonest company! I have been hung up on, put on hold for over half an hour, and just outright lied to. If I had not kept calling them, they would have kept my money and kept calling me for a payment. They are now threatening to take $300.00 out of our checking account, if we do not pay $17.00 to send their equipment back.

I received a letter from Ana ** which said she will make an exception and send us our $17.00 for the cost of returning their equipment. She also stated our payment of $150.00 was applied to our account on March 5. Our bank did not even send them the check until March 6. They are not only dishonest, but they must also can predict the future that you are going to send them a check and how much. Ana also stated in a phone conversation that they owe us no compensation and it was our choice to go with another cable company and we could have chosen to have DISH Network reconnected for a charge.

So we were expected to go without television for two weeks and I had to talk to their rude employees to find out if they cashed my check and put it in a miscellaneous account. And they made me go through you-know-what. I cannot understand how a company in the US can get away with treating their customers like this and stay in business? I just wish some journalist or news reporter would investigate how DISH Network treats their customers.then let the president of DISH Network respond. I think we will be hearing a lot about DISH Network offering specials on their product, because one by one, they will be losing customers.

Just to let you know I will never forget how ** threatened my wife, ever! If they do have any intestinal fortitude whatsoever, Thomas Faust you’d straighten out your company and realize your customers are your bread and butter. Read on Tommy F. it gets worse.

I agree with everyone about how crooked Dish is. They have lied to me, cheated me, threatened me and stole my money. Their contract is worthless to say the least as it is all about what they can do anytime they want to make stupid decisions on how to steal your money. Things like $5.00 monthly maintenance fee for their equipment or DVR programming fee (what) or the promotion is over so $5.00 more per month or some other ridiculous charge. Liars, liars and liars! My original contract has gone up over $25.00 per month since I started with Dish and I had outrageous increases almost every month. To beat all, I have one of their locked in contracts that never go up, another lie.

Next month, May 2012 my contract is over with these deceitful liars and to beat all another $5.00 increase in my April 2012 bill for a promotion that has ended! What promotion? The frauds could not tell me what promo. They just told me to read my contract it’s all there and some more ** about I signed up with a retailer and that makes it different. Liars!

Their final screwing, then they wanted me to sign up for another contract, you have got to be kidding me Tommy F. You want me to continue getting screwed on a monthly basis by Dish Network? You don’t even kiss me! Wow! I don’t know what to say about that, you must think I like it or maybe your people will miss my monthly calls trying to get someone that speaks English there! I called your customer service and got, yeah, you bet, some bad English speaking off shore person that you cheap corporations force us to talk to! Baloney!

I was a Navy Seal from Nam and beyond for 20+ years. It just makes me sick to my stomach that after fighting for freedom so we would have a free country to live in, we have to deal with this crap? I happen to love my country and that’s why I went to war to fight for our freedom so our children will have a great country to live in.

Now these rotten companies force us to talk to some off shore bad English speaking persons on the phone. Dish doesn’t care. They are making a ton of money and the off shore person on the other end of the phone doesn’t have the power to do anything except say "read your contract" and tell you what they will do to you if you don’t pay their bill. Wow, customer service at its worse. What do you expect from a company that hires people from a communist nation to do their business! Dish tech support is a ruse!

One more thing for you Dish Network Big Wig from Colorado, yes, you Tommy F. If you are a real American, you would clean up your act, treat your customers with respect or send us a jar of Vaseline along with your monthly bill and threatening phone calls from supervisors.

By the way Dish, I had you removed from my auto pay from my bank. It cost me $20.00 (stinking banks) so I think I'm going to stiff you on my last bill. I think I will take out my frustrations and perform some martial arts moves on your junk DVR (I’m an old guy but I still kick butt) and then I think I will finish it off with one my BFGs and blast a bunch of holes in it. Then, I think I will have some pyrotechnic fun and then toss it in the dumpster if there is anything left. Watch for my YouTube video. I guarantee some real fun. I hope it goes viral. Keep a look out for “What to Do When You Get Screwed by Dish Network” on YouTube. I won’t forget to mention your name Tommy F. You should see what I did to the junk crap communist built computer system I had.

Well Tommy from Dish, I don’t feel like giving back your equipment and I don’t think I will pay you either. You see, I have decided to change my contract with you since it is one sided and unconscionable and worthless. Besides, you have breached it on a monthly basis. If you want your junk back send someone over to pick it up, please! I would really prefer to have a talk with someone in person! I would really like to talk to that idiot ** that threatened my wife. He said he was on the way to take care of me and I'm still waiting. Question is, does he want to beat me up or kiss me? Send the checkbook so you can reimburse all the money you frauds stole from me.

Stop and think, what is going on in our country? Why are we getting screwed by big companies on a daily basis, charging high prices for junk inferior items made in communist countries or services with worthless contracts and forcing us to talk with those people for support? Only in America!

No more off shore phone support American companies! Citizens, you are Americans. You have the right of free speech. Tell these U.S. corporations you will not do business with them. God bless America and remember old glory that’s what we fought for. I could go on and on about Dish but I will spare you any further agony and save my frustrations for the next corporation I have to deal with. Thomas Faust from Dish Network, your people is the worst. You are non-American!

Then the tech lied to us and told us we had a 15-month warranty on the receiver. After 3 months of service, Dish tried to charge us an extra $6.00 a month for "insurance" on the receiver. We told them that if their equipment wasn't good enough to trust past 3 months, then they needed to come and get it right then. They assured us that we could expect that the equipment would last through our 2-year contract and that the "insurance" was for my own "peace of mind". That experience obviously voided any chance for "peace of mind" with worrying about a $700 fee if the equipment did fail. Then, within a couple of months, our bill went up for the Outdoor Channel from $1.99 monthly to $3.00 a month.

After the first year, our bill went up the expected $15.00 monthly per our agreement. Within a month, there was another price increase of $2.00 monthly for no apparent reason other than that they could raise the price. Well, our two-year contract was finally up the other day, so we got Comcast cable installed on a great deal. It’s only a one-year contract, HD DVR service on all TVs, almost every channel possible including the premium movie channels, etc., all for about the same amount as Dish was charging us.

Now, today, when I called to cancel the service, I find that the tech had lied again at the installation. He told us that when we were done with the service or moved, Dish would send us "prepaid" boxes to return the equipment. As it turns out, they send boxes and charge us $17.00 per box to return the equipment. Plus, they want me to climb up on the roof and take apart the dish to return it to them. Oh, by the way, I am 100% disabled and will have to have someone else take the dish down. There is no option for returning the equipment locally. And then, the CSR had the nerve to ask me if I had family or friends that I would refer to them!

I am not a "hater," so there is no way that I would ever recommend Dish Network to anyone. Every time we got even a tiny dusting of snow, we had to have someone climb a ladder and wipe off the dish. The remote system for the bedroom TV was totally garbage - half the time we had to go out into the hallway to change channels. I would strongly recommend that everyone avoid Dish Network like the plague. Buyer beware: read everything and get every promise/statement in writing.

I called Dish customer service and told them I made a mistake, that I wanted them to cancel that payment so I could call in and make a payment from a different account. The "customer service" rep said they could not cancel a pay by phone transaction. I told her that I was withdrawing my authorization to use the account on tape and by law. They could not access the account. She refused to cancel the transaction.

I asked for her supervisor, she gave me someone in accounting. The accounting employee said they could not cancel the transaction. Again, I said, I am withdrawing my authorization to draw from this account. She stated it could not be done. She said I should contact my bank. This was not a proper solution. My bank was 100 miles away and I was telling Dish do not access the account. They refused. I lost my temper and said again, “I am withdrawing my authorization for you to access this account.” I told her that, “If there are late fees either from you or my bank, I will charge them to DISH.” I had to drive the 100 miles and deposit the cash to cover the payment because I did not want overdraft fees on my bank account.

Either the accounting employee or the "customer service" rep then scrambled my account phone number and put a NO PAY BY PHONE block. This month, the month following the screw up, DISH had retaliated against me even though by law they were required to reverse/cancel the transaction when I withdrew my authorization. They refused even though it should have been one computer entry to get it done. Then they made sure I could never pay by phone again.

When I discussed this situation with the customer representative today, she mentioned she would waive the $5.00 plus "access fee" for her service because of DISH retaliation. So not only does DISH refuse to follow the law and set up a simple cancel option, but it retaliates against its customers who want to cancel a transaction, then charges them for "access fees" when DISH refuses to allow a customer to pay by phone. Here I come DirecTV.

I called back to inquire about the internet and had the rudest customer service experience in my life. The first person I spoke with would not answer my question about my bill. She started getting loud with me, and she proceeded to just send me back to the recording. When I signed up with the service, I was told that I was able to have 6 rooms installed. I called today to get another receiver, and I am told that I have to pay $144.00 to get a basic box and have the cable hooked up to it. DISH network is horrible. I was with DirecTV and chose them. This has been the biggest mistake possible. I want to cancel my service and run.

Is this the way their employees contracted out representing their company? They attempted to harm my husband. Imagine if it would have been me alone with two men. It’s terrible that their company hires people like this and district numbers are the same as the 1-800 numbers. They never put anyone on the phone that you can talk to and nothing ever gets resolved. I am so disappointed with them. We have been loyal customers for over ten years and I have been a manager in sales for twenty years. If I ever treated my guests that way, I wouldn't have job.

We have contacted them several times and get the runaround each time. We pay them on time every month for services that they do not provide us anymore. The last email I got from them said we can cancel our contract if we want to, but we must pay the cancellation fee. The choice is ours. This is the worst cable company ever. I would suggest anyone reading this, contract with any other company besides this one unless you want to listen to lots of stupid music channels. It's a crappy company with no customer service.

I asked to speak to a supervisor Jake. After a lengthy and heated discussion, I asked for someone above him. He said no. I repeatedly asked and he continually refused. I asked if he was refusing to transfer me or allow me to speak to someone else. He said no. So I again requested that he transfer me. He said he would not do that. I asked for his supervisor’s name. He said it depended on what the issue was. I said a very angry dissatisfied customer. He said he wasn't going to give me the names because it was irrelevant to the call. I explained it was very relevant since he was refusing to transfer me. After back and forth on that issue, he hung up on me.

We waited until January and there was no unit. It is now March 2012 and Dish announced the new Hopper system that covers 4 rooms in HD at no cost for new customers. We contacted Dish and they told us we could upgrade for $400. We explained what we were told and Dish said the tech was wrong. We contacted the tech who said that if we were a 5-star customer (paying bills on time each month), then there was no cost to the upgrade. We called Dish back and were told that someone would be in touch within 24 hours. Two days later, there’s still no call. So we called back. My wife spoke with a CSR for about 5 minutes and asked for a supervisor. 1 1/2 hours later, she’s still on hold and no one ever came back. So, I used my cell phone and called Dish and explained we were on hold on the other line and got transferred to a CSR.

My wife then re-explained everything to the CSR who told us that they don't upgrade existing customers for free and that we were misinformed. We were again told that it would be $400, but she confirmed that new customers got the new DVR and 4-room HD coverage for no charge. She told us that the information we were given by the installation tech was wrong. She went on to say that in 4-6 months they might offer a better deal to existing customers, but there was no guarantee. She did offer to put another DVR-HD or a HD box upstairs for $17/$10 more per month. We did not cancel because of what we were told by the tech. We feel as though we were lied to. It appears that Dish cares little for existing customers. The CSR said we got what we paid for when we signed up and that's it. I'm going to do my best to share the experience in the hopes others will have better information that we did and make sure to get anything said in writing.

I contacted my credit card company to dispute the charges, so hopefully I'll eventually get them back. But the whole ordeal was frustrating, full of promises that wouldn't happen and impossible to find someone that could truly "help". I've been with Direct TV for 14 years and although their charges are slightly higher than Dish, at least they care about customer service and have the same programming. Go with any service other than Dish!

In December, I receive a bill for $68.32. Once again, I called Dish and asked why $68.32 when my monthly bill is $67.12. Their explanation to me was that a mistake (again) was done to my account and I should go ahead and pay the $68.32 and next month they would do an adjustment to my account. At this point I was very disappointed with Dish and didn’t want to continue their services. But, instead of canceling, I asked if I removed my DVR will that lower my bill? Their response was yes, so I did just that. In January, I get a bill for $53.78 due to the DVR being removed.

In February, I get a bill for $60.65. Again, I called Dish and asked why. This time they tell me that it’s because a protect plan I have for $6 on my account. My reaction was what!!? At this point, I should’ve cancelled but I didn’t. What I did was to remove the plan from my account and continue with Dish. In March my bills was $56.20.

My April bill arrived and to my surprise, the amount was $71.20 (wow). Once again, I called Dish and asked why. They informed me that because I changed my plan by removing the DVR and protect plan that I no longer qualify for the original plan. I did the contract back in July 2011 and on top of that, because I stopped my autopay, I no longer qualify for free HD for life. And now, I need to pay $10 for that service. At this point, all I could say was what the hell! First, I was never told that by removing the DVR and the protect plan I was breaking my agreement. Second, when I signed up with Dish, HD programming was free for life. At no time or nowhere in my contract does it say that I needed to sign up for autopay to get this service for free. I have always paid online myself with a credit card. On March 23, 2012, I discontinued my services with Dish.

I am asking Consumer Affairs to look into Dish Network’s ways of doing business. I’ve looked over my contract and it doesn’t say anything about the HD and autopay. Another thing I need Consumer Affairs to look into is the amount of years Dish Network is doing contracts. When I signed up back in July, I was told a one year contract and nowhere in the contract say two. Dish mailed me a contract on my requirements that now say, I signed up for two years. I’m looking forward to hear from you in a timely matter about this issue. I do have all my bills if need for review.

I called the company and spoke to five different people and then the supervisor who was extremely rude telling me there is nothing they will do unless I pay additional money. The sales re. knowingly lied to me and told me what I wanted to hear and guaranteed what I wanted would be installed and then changed my order without my permission and now I'm told I am locked into this agreement for two years and if I wanted to pay them an additional $200, they would install what I originally ordered. I asked to speak with the supervisor's (Shelly) boss and was told I could not.

There are two other companies in my area that I could have given my business to and I guarantee they would not lie or cheat their customers.That brings me to the point that if the sales rep had told me I needed to pay $424.93 up front, then I would have taken my business elsewhere and she knew it. How many other so called customers are they doing this to? If I have my way, I will find out through media coverage, internet, tweeting and every other source of nationwide coverage I can access and see if the the CEO/president of the company, Charles Ergen, actually knows what is going on within his own company. I would like to personally hear from you.

I agreed to sign up for the $29.99/month, 120 package, and have had differences in my bill ever since. Last month, my bill was $32.44, this month they charged my account $49.93. When I called to question, I was told $6.00 of that was for the protection plan, but this Riley person could not explain the rest of the charges. He just said he could cancel the plan and next month my bill would be $33.14. He never explained the rest of the charge difference! Also, I asked why the tax was different and he tried to say that the tax had changed and gave me a website "consumertaxissues@dishnetwork.com" to inquire about the raise.

I think I'm still being scammed and would like to know if anyone else has this problem, where Dish just backs down the price without explanation at my slightest challenge. This leads me to believe more and more that this is illegal somehow and that I have to babysit this poor service for the duration of my contract. Anyone, comments?

Recently, she was calling in to update our email and discovered that Dish Network had apparently raised the price and that we now owe them additional money. We still have several months left in our verbal contract to which the supervisor claims "they" don't make. She would not provide any sort of signed contract and cannot produce the "Quality Control Recordings". I asked several Yes/No questions to which I got long winded "explanations" that seemed in no uncertain terms crooked!

What kind of customer service is that? I will never refer anyone to Dish Network and I am appalled at their lack of customer service skills, and at the very least, don't waste our time making us wait for 35 min., when you knew you were going to do nothing. Absolute idiots! If it wasn't for my mother being inconvenienced, I would've called immediately and disconnected. I'm so glad I use Time Warner Cable as I now will never go with Dish Network.

Finally, I told them to prove it! A week later, they sent me a bill (way overcharged) for the month after they shut it off. Mr. Charlie if you read this, I think you need to remember the years when you was first starting out! That's when I gave you a chance. You need to get some perspective beyond your lust for power and money! I do see the change. And remember when you was begging us for help keeping your company alive when you had government problems because of the cable companies. As for the $90.00? When hell freezes over!

Never give them your bank account number or credit card number. In fact, their service is substandard to most cable services, including Comcast and Astound. So why even sign up with a company that requires a 2-year contract? Your bank will be not help because if you signed the contract, even if they take the funds without your permission, you gave them permission by signing the contract. So you are stuck with the hundreds of dollars they feel they are due for their equipment and there is no way you can get that back unless you agree to continue your service and pay them for reconnection fees plus pay in advance service fees. Then they still send your back balance to a collection agency.

If I didn't want any of and just wanted to cancel service, I would have to pay an early termination fee of $200. They got me coming or going. I'm trying to save money and move in with my daughter due to bad health and now, I can't because I can't cancel this high-priced TV with all the hidden charges that they are forcing me to keep or pay the consequences. Regular price hikes without being told too.

I'm greatly dissatisfied and really mad over all the hidden charges they have and poor customer service. It's like they are forcing their service on me or pay to get rid of them. I'm on social security. I'm just stuck.

I was asked to sign the contract on the installation tech’s tablet, even though he could not provide me with a copy of the contract and he had another call to go to. With my elderly mom's last illness, her death and funeral in another state, the repairs and upgrades were not accomplished until Feb. 22nd, 2012. At that time I discovered that the auto pay had been reinstated, my cc had been charged 2x ($96.99) for service that DISH knew I couldn't receive.

A few days later, I discovered that my new monthly bill was $127. Contact with the CSN produced only negotiations and an offer for a credit of about 2/3rds of what I was due. My perception is that this company will lie, cheat and steal, even from a grieving senior citizen on a fixed income. Talking to others at the local senior center reveals that it seems to be standard practice for DISH to charge customers considerably more than they were expecting, then to "negotiate" a rate much higher than what the person believed they had agreed to. Who can hold this monster to their word? Why is it a "concession" on their part to offer me 2/3rds of what I was charged for service they knew I could not receive?

If you experienced good service from any company that went above and beyond for you as a customer, do not expect such treatment from Dish Network. They are mean spirited and hide behind "guidelines". They made those extremely one-sided guidelines and will continually hide behind them as if they were handed down by G-D. The bottom line is: for your peace of mind, stay away from doing business with Dish Network. There are many other providers who will treat you with respect and provide better value for your hard earned money.

After a great deal of time spent on numerous calls, back and forth, we finally found out that it was Dish Network that screwed up after all and they had to reconnect something again! I dread dealing with them because the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. They are all a bunch of goofballs. How Dish Network stays in business is beyond me. I found out that I was being charged extra for the Outdoor Channel and the cheapest plan included it. What the heck is that about? They also raised the price of the Outdoor Channel through the years without telling me, so I was paying more than what I originally agreed to. Dish Network is a rip-off! Can you believe that one of the customer reps told me that they won an award for their customer service?

It is now over 2 years later and I just found out I have been charged $5 a month for not having a phone line connected to my box. For not having a line? Really? First, the woman said they could only go back 6 months to refund the money. Then when all was said and done, she admitted they will not refund the money but just give me a $5 credit for the next 6 months. Well, then give me my credit for the next 2 years, right? No...only 6 months.

Then one of the women on the phone was so ugly telling me that I should have seen it on the bill. I told her that if she was looking at my bill like she claimed she was, she would see that I have paperless billing and it is automatically taken out. I explained that the reason people have that, is so they don't have to deal with it and as long as the charge is the same, then why would I look at it. Also, the reason I called in the first place is that they are just now charging me for a service call that they claim was made in February but I know was in January and it overdrew my account.

I was refused to make a payment over the phone because they claim the charge had not hit my account etc., but now she was literally making fun of me, that they would never refuse money. Whatever! As much as I hate to, I just might go back to Comcast.

Needless to say, I told them what I thought about their $700 and their lies that they tell customers just to keep them. If anyone is thinking about Dish Network, think twice because I wouldn't recommend them for nothing. I also told them I was done with them forever.

We did call the sheriff and he said we would have to get the driver's name. But Dish will not give it out, says they can't tell us how he was in our area. Really?! I told them, “You don't keep records of where your techs are going?”. Kinda funny, I get charged for techs coming out. I wonder how they know who to charge if they don't keep records.

So I called several times and asked why was there no service then an operator said, “Sorry, we can not do anything today.” So I said, “I do not want this kind of service, I wish it was known at the time I spoke to someone from Accounting,” and they said I just need to return the two boxes. I wish I did, the next morning, I was charged $660. Wow, I was robbed.

Also, such an easy request went way out of proportion. This wasted a lot of my time and money. I had to pay in order to lift my credit. They probably don't have experience with people that freeze their credit. They should teach their people. I got my report from Equifax and indeed, someone did get into my credit file on 1/7/12 and 1/11/12. Dish was the only one that I gave permission to get into my credit. Someone did get into my credit and they are not admitting it. Equifax is correct. I spent literally hours and so many days concerning this matter.

I am totally sick over this. If I have any problems concerning my credit, Dish is responsible. I need to hear from a higher up management. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to inform the Better Business Bureau. Please get back to me ASAP. Thank you.

I paid their station for a safe family package. I am so angry they let this disgusting ad or what you call entertainment is vile **. So if that is their intention, their office needs to call my home and apologize. This is not what we invest in, Hallmark and cartoons a movie here and there. Not this garbage. Get it off the air. They take off God TV which was a great show and put this kind of product on. It’s sad and I want to stop my service ASAP.

Then my daughter's boyfriend went online and got the cordences and there were couple of different areas we could get reception. So, we called the office once again and explained that to them. They sent a manager out and we were told which limbs to cut. We did, we also ordered two more boxes. The tech came out on 2/16/12 and gave us basic cable and was supposed to come back the next week and mount the dish on the pole and install the other two boxes. We have been told that this was a transfer and then the other office said I had to commit to a two year term. We have lost channels that we use to get before. If I could go through another company I would.

In my opinion and looking at all the complaints, Dish is a devious outfit not to be trusted. They always give you a different answer when you call just to get you off the phone. Now I was told I have to wait 7 more days. I am sure glad I don’t have to deal with them. I hope they choke on the money they took from me. There is no customer satisfaction. They stink. I posted this so others won’t fall in their trap don’t give out any personal information when the agent states he need to give you a price it is a scam trap, etc.

I have contacted the Resolution Team three times now and no one there seems to want to work something out either. My mother states the signature that they say they have is not hers and I have had enough of this big corporation taking advantage of my 80-year-old mother who doesn't even have a computer. This company does not deserve to have a license to operate with false advertising.

He informed me that he would be sending me a new DVR and offered me 6 free movies. I agreed to this only because I understood that this was by no fault of his own. This is a service that I have paid for for nearly two years and I do not feel that six free movies is enough. Maybe reimbursement for the DVR service I have already paid for or free service for a certain matter of time would be more sufficient. I do not make it a habit to complain about things but as I stated before, this is the second time this has happened.This is actually the first time I have gone on a complaint page for any company and to be quite honest, I am flabbergasted by the amount of complaints I see before me. It really causes me to question whether I will have further loyalty to Dish Network after my contract is up in roughly 60 days.

I called and informed them that my bill is normally $89, the rep said no, that it's $17.15. Okay, but I still had all my channels. My complaint is, why should I have to pay an additional price today and then on the 15th, you still draft $17.15 out my account. I am very upset because half my channels are gone. I am really considering disconnecting services. I'm a very dissatisfied customer.

My son, Jason, paid $237.57 in fees paid from my checking account (for never billed charges, authorization number -**). The box tracking number was used to verify receipt on Monday, October 3, 2011. The claim is on all three of my credit reports, even though I've had no contact with Dish on the matter. Since my security clearance (currently under review) is imperiled by this action, I am most upset, but can get no acknowledgement from Dish. All of my information on the matter (except for the credit reports) is third hand.

So, after about 4 or 5 days, my son wanted to watch sports so I told him I would have them turn it back on, and I called them and told the agent that I wanted to drop Blockbuster and Starz and Showtime and have my other box turned back on. He said the computers were down, but I could call back in about 30 minutes, and if the computers were up, then someone would reactivate my box for me. So I did and I explained to the agent I wanted to cancel the channels I got a few days earlier so I could have my other box turned back on so my son could watch sports.

So he turned off the channels, but said he could not reactivate my box and I was upset because I was told there wouldn’t be a problem changing it back. So I called back again later and explained it to a girl agent and she really tried to help me and tried to turn the box back on several times, but was unable to so I asked to talk to a supervisor and she connected me. I explained everything to him and he said the system would not let him turn that box back on because it was not HD. I told him that the agent that had turned it off said I could just call back and have it turned back on when I wanted. He didn’t tell me that I couldn’t turn it back on because it wasn’t HD, because if he had told me that, I would have been unable to reactivate the box, I would not have let him turn it off in the first place.

I told the supervisor that they should be training their agents better because that was information I would have liked to have known before instead of later. I also told him that it didn’t make any sense that he had to turn that box off in the first place because I had those channels all year long and that box was on then, but then to get the channels back, he said he had to turn it off. So that made no sense to me. So now I’m stuck and I’m very dissatisfied with this issue and I’m planning on going back to direcTV or Comcast in the near future. I hope to hear back from you. Thanks.

He had the nerve to show up again with a ladder to take my equipment off my property. I wasn't home at the time, thus he put an unauthorized person on the phone after he called Dish to take my equipment saying they put a note allowing him to do so. I arrived home and called Dish, no notation on my account this ever occurred! The lady I spoke to had to open an investigation to be sure I don't get charged for the equipment. Never again will I deal with Dish Network and their extreme unsatisfactory service. I will be sure to let this be known of his unethical and unprofessional behavior!

At installation, I was told I would now have to pay more for local TV stations. I wrote the president twice - have copies and proof of promises – no reply. I either want the services at price quoted or to cancel and not be held to pay the 2-year cancellation penalty. It has been months now.

When I inquired about this, I was told I would have to pay an additional $149.00. I told him that I don't want this, and to cancel please. Well he put it through anyway and I was charged $156.00 for Dish and $236.00 for internet. To top it off, he hung up in my face.

In January, we lost Hallmark movie channel. It seems the past 4 years must have been a free trial. Then in February, we lost the Encore channels. Again, they tried to say it was a premium channel we had received for 1 year free, but we could add it back for an additional $16.00 a month. If you check all their offers, Encore is part of Starz and is not an independent premium channel. They also changed the appearance of the menu up, expanding it out to the point the writing is so small it's hard to read with getting close to the TV. Suddenly, the programs seem to have gained about a 4 inch black out border on all sides. Add these latest changes to the fact that more and more of the channels that aren't religion, shopping, or music, starting having increased "paid programming". Good deal on both sides of the coin for them. We pay for getting to not watch something they get paid to air.

Interesting that I was never made aware of this fact. I called Infinity Dish and heard some rubbish about how $10 of the $49.95 is nonrefundable. After about ten minutes of me blasting the customer service rep, she agreed to refund the full $49.95 in 3-5 business days. This was today. God help them if this doesn't happen in 3-5 days. I will do more than just complain. $10 or $1,000, you don't do what these people are trying to do. I wonder how many folks in my situation have paid the $49.95 simply because they weren't aware that it is not refunded along with the first month's charge. As the installation man told me, the majority of apartments are unable to install Dish due to the directional limitation. This has scam written all over it.

After the technician installs the right equipment, I questioned some of the channels. He told me I had to call tech support, that he was in a hurry and could not wait. My mistake was to let him leave before everything was satisfactory. After a while, I got a hold of a tech support, and they told me that Dish Network did not carry those channels for this area.

By this time, it was getting very late and I would take care of it the first thing in the morning. So I called Dish Network and explained to them my problems and frustrations. They shuffled me around to several different departments and ended up telling me that I had to pay a $420 termination fee plus the $260 that I had to put up front at a total cost of $680 for less than 24 hours of service. This is not right. Shame on you, Dish Network. The account number for this is ** if you'd like to verify any of the above. I'm also going to write to the Better Business Bureau and let them know of your poor practices--and any one else who will listen.

Firstly, I did not subscribe to Starz and I was receiving it and for the duration of that my bill was over $80.00 once I complained about it. I was informed that Starz was free, yeah right. Then I see that my programs were changed without my consent. I had only inquired as to the issue and had I not noticed my bill increase (which I am sure I noticed it late), it would have continued and for my issues with that. I was offered $10.00 of the bill due in February and as stated, the following month would be $10.00 off for 6 months and $6.00 removed from the second DVR when I only have 1 but it may have been stated for the access too. Nonetheless, Dish is ripping the elderly off and I am sick of it.

When I got the rebate form copy enclosed, it stated that my Visa card would be for up to $29.00 and not $50.00. When I called Savology they told me that the $21.00 difference was for shipping and handling. I said $21.00 is steep for a little card in the mail, but they wouldn’t change it. I called Verizon and complained. Verizon told me they had nothing to do with it or with any Dish questions. I said they advertised all-in-one so they should handle, but they refused. I called Dish and complained. Dish gave me a manager who was extremely rude to me. He was curt from the beginning of the conversation, somewhat businesslike at first and then downright insulting. He told me that Dish had nothing to do with the Visa card. I had to contact the marketing group. I said it was plastered all over the website as a promotion to get their package. He told me very sarcastically that if I didn’t want to send for the Visa card, then I shouldn’t do it and that’s my choice.

I told him I was trying to ascertain what my rights were based on their confusing, convoluted advertisement, and asked him why this was advertised as all in one yet I don’t have one point of contact, nor do I have one bill, (I received two bills one from Verizon and one from Dish). He told me we never stated that. I said I specifically googled Verizon all-in-one packages, that it is deceptive and the Visa card is also deceptive. He told me that’s just a promotional bundle.

I told him I want out. What is my disconnect fee? I was told $420.00. That’s $17.50 a month for 24 months. I said I already paid the first month ($57.00) so $17.50 should be removed from the bill. No, because I have only had the service for 20 days was his reply. I don’t care if it was twenty days--I already paid for the first month. He did finally agree to pro-rate that amount for the twenty days, but I don’t agree with that.

I said okay, so I pay you $420.00, you come and get your stuff and we are done. “No, you don’t,” he said, “You will pay a $99.00 disconnection fee to have the stuff removed.” When I acted astonished, he said, “When you are ready to act like a mature adult, you can call us back.” He then hung the phone up in my ear! I didn’t get his name due to his hanging up on me. I wanted to cancel within thirty days and feel I should get a buyout offer because: that advertising is misleading, nothing is all in one; the Visa card is a rip-off; I was treated rudely by Dish Network; Verizon claims no responsibility for anything and it is advertised on their website; also, they should be a point of contact for any questions; my two bills do not add up to $89.99--far from it; and when you DVR a program, you cannot watch any other TVs in the house and it cost extra to DVR and watch your TV.

After few days when I sent a reminder, they repeated the same and told me that you can only send the request with seven days after the renewal. This has been ongoing- very poor service from Dish TV. I will never recommend this company to anyone.

The personnel at Dish Network, do not communicate to each other, the supervisor blew me off when I complained about trying to reach them on the phone. The answering machine would ask if blah blah was my name, and then transfer me to a tech. During the transfer, the phone line would go busy and hang up on me, doing this several times. Finally, I just pushed 0 several times, to be able to reach someone. What is worse is, the music they play on hold. It is the worst music in the world. Where did they get that from, tinny 50's music over and over.

I then tried from my home later that day and it went through and I got a confirmation emailed to me that they got my payment. Imagine my surprise when on the 16th I went into my bank account and Dish Network took all three (3) payments out the same day! I immediately got online and had an online "chat" and the customer service rep assured me they were "very sorry" and filed paperwork to get it credited back to my account. I asked for and did not get a confirmation number from this rep; however, he assured me if I would receive this back into my account in 3-5 business days! Not!

As of today it has been six business days so I called and after almost 1 entire hour on phone (mostly on hold) I went through 3 people and was told the refund was on hold for 10 days and then it would be 3-5 business days after that! What the **. They did not have any authorization to take the money 3 times as I only got to authorize the completion of the payment one (1) time. I do understand mistakes happen; however, fix the error now! In the meantime I am out almost $200 and am through with this company! I have a name of Arvind ** at 1-303-942-8600 x ** to call if I need to. Not even an 800 number to call at no charge! He is going to send an email today to try to expedite the return of my money...asked him to let me know reply of email and guess what...it will be either next Monday or Tuesday at the earliest when he gets an answer on the email. Is this the stone age or what? I work daily with auto payments and have never seen it take this long to refund an error in payment even if the customer is the one who made it. Seems to me this is stealing. Surely there has to be some kind of action that will make a company be responsible for their errors!

On the call a number of times, I told this rep I needed to speak with my other half of this household before I would commit to this service. He assured me that only $1 would ping my card/account to test that card was valid (it actually pinged twice! - So 2 $1 charges) then was told all was pending, on hold until I called back and gave me a pin number for when I call back (the rep today tells me that pin meant I actually ordered the service! - the rep yesterday did not tell me this). I also find my card/Account was hit for a $49.99 charge. I was livid and called to find this is actually a processing charged through Go Dish! I said I was not told about this and the rep today was condescending in telling me I was informed of it through the disclaimer/disclosure at end of call by the rep and/or auto robot also at end of call.

I truly do not recall hearing this at all. Then, the rep said I should have told the person to slow down then. I also find today that the rep actually processed me as an order (even though I specifically said not to till I call back and say so) and I was also hit on my account/card for the amount of $43.93 for the first month service and this amount was done by Dish Network! A refund has been submitted by Dish for this, I am told although I am not happy that it will take 3 days to get that back when it went through immediately upon the rep going ahead and placing an order that should not have been placed.

I am on an extremely tight budget, and this also caused an overdraft in my account because unfortunately at this time, we are payday to payday (which is not until tomorrow) and instead of having $20 for gas, I now have a negative balance which of course neither company will reimburse me for that and I hope my bank will be paying & not returning my check. I did write at a store (and had enough money for) all thanks to this horrid way this company does business. Beware & I suggest if you decide you still want Dish that you contact the company directly and not an authorized retailer who will charge you extra for setting something up but they hide that very well in fast talking reps!

The package that was ordered spanned a few days time after we had called to notify of the fraud, but nothing was done by Dish Network to cancel it! The issue about the ordered packages were not even recorded in the notes on my account (I learned that today). They said that they cannot see the "pattern" of a fraud! They cannot do anything about these charges! I am angry at the fact that the Dish Network agents lied to me, saying it was taken cared of, when we spoke to them. I called Dish again 2 days later to make sure that what ever was ordered was cancelled, and something like this was not going to happen again. I firmly believe this was done by some one who has access to Dish Network database. In my account, this call I made was not even recorded. We are regretting our decision to try out Dish Network. No one should trust the service Dish network provides. They don't know how they should protect the consumers. We took every step to stop the fraud as soon as we found out, but what did they do? Nothing!

Do not get the service through Dish. They will let you down. You will be on your own when something like this happens! No values, except they want to make money.

Today, I spoke with one representative and three supervisors with the last one telling me he is as high as it gets. Still, they are telling me there is nothing that can be done. I informed him the next time that my service was interrupted, I would be changing my service. I anticipate this will happen again next week. This is discrimination of the disabled in my opinion. I wish I could work and receive a paycheck every week. They knew this the day I started service this is not new.

On 7/6/2010, without me being on premise of my address, Mr. ** had the Dish rep come to my home and install their product. I wasn't there, I saw no contract, I signed no contract, my name and address were placed on the contract merely as a place of service where the equipment was installed (without my authorization). Mr. **'s signature and initials are the only signatures and initials on the contract.

Mr. ** paid this account via his debit card or cash (which I'm still not sure of), for 6 months in advance for these services, meaning, I never received a bill until his funds and credit were exhausted. Dish screwed up that large, in advance payment and credited the funds to Mr. **'s current address on his (then) address on **.

Several months later, Mr. ** was banned from my residence on a permanent basis. Since it was detrimental separation for me to be in contact with him, I assumed he 'took care' of the Dish contract and I didn't understand why the satellite was not removed from my roof. I got service interruptions, but rarely noticed them, since I rarely watch TV. Once or twice, I made payment to Dish in the hopes that they would bill their contract holder, Michael **. When I realized that wasn't going to happen and me with no contact with Mr. ** whatsoever and no contract agreement with me and Dish, I called Dish to terminate the service, remove and return their products and make sure there were no further communications from me with Dish Network and Michael **.

I called Dish on 8/2/2011 and talked to a woman named Jody. She stated that I needed to order the "prepaid" boxes to be sent to my home and pack them according to the included instructions, otherwise, I would be charged for the receivers, remotes and sensors. When I asked her about the satellite on my roof, she told me to climb up to the dish and remove a specific part. I informed her that I am a 52 year old woman with serious health issues and this was not feasible or safe. She told me it was "okay to just send the boxes and remotes".

She then added that I was going to be responsible for paying a contract cancellation fee. I advised her that I had no contract with Dish network, but simply had my address used as an install, never received a contract, didn't pay for installation and never signed any agreement with them at all and in fact, had never received a copy of the original contract. I explained to Jody that contact with Mr. ** was compromising my safety. Jody advised me to send the equipment back so I wouldn't get charged for them on top of the cancellation fee and she would investigate and note her files of the details of our conversation.

The boxes arrived on 8/4/2011. I received email confirmation to disconnect. On 8/5/2011. I received the boxes and packed them as advised. I included a note with the shipped equipment that I was not to be billed the cancellation fee or the return equipment mailing fee (as was written in fine print on the packing instructions) of $15.00. I made it very specific (and have copies of my written request) to not charge me on an account I did not set up, authorize or involve myself with. Bear in mind, I still had not yet seen the original contract.

On 8/22, I finally received confirmation that Dish Network had received their equipment back in their possession. I thought that was the end of my Dish Network nightmare. I was very wrong.

On 9/1/2011, Dish Network, without authorization, without having any form of contract between me and their company, removed $210.00 from my bank account. Since I was unemployed at the time and finances were extremely tight, the $210.00 they removed created a shortage on my September 2011 mortgage payment.

I contacted my bank and was advised to attempt to work this issue with Dish. I then contacted Dish Network and spoke to 2 or 3 representatives, over a 3 hour period of time, to reverse the money they stole from me. I explained the situation, how their unauthorized removal of funds compromised my mortgage standing, who was the contract holder (Mr. **), an address of where to find him, and asked at least 4 times for any one of them to look at or produce the original contract, since I had never seen it.

Each representative argued with me, telling me that I needed to file a police report for ID theft (against someone that is already detrimental to my safety) or commanding that this disconnect fee is my responsibility. None of them offered to even glance at the original contract.

Finally (after 3.5 hours on the phone with Dish), I was transferred to Terry **, Customer Resolution Specialist. I again explained the situation and asked her to pull up the original contract. She did and confirmed that the only signature and initials on this contract were from Michael **. I asked her to send me a copy of this contract for my own records. I eventually was mailed and received the copy of the original contract and a letter from Ms. ** dated 8/29/2011. I again called my bank, filed a formal complaint for an unauthorized debit and was told that I had "done enough research". Because my bank was sympathetic to the hardship and potential detriment of credit with my 17 year mortgage lender, my bank forwarded me a credit of $210.00 so my mortgage payment could be satisfied on time.

Eventually, Dish Network refunded the $210.00 they stole from me so I could appease the outstanding credit the bank offered me and pay them back for their assistance in the matter. Again, I thought the situation was finished. Again, I was wrong.

On 2/17/2012, I received a letter from GC Services, a collection agency, stating that I now owe Dish Network $304.10. The notice states that they have not yet reported this to any credit bureaus but will do so if I don't pay this amount. Oddly, the letter also states that I still have the equipment in my possession! Even after 4 emails I received on cancellation of service, delivery of return boxes, tracking order and a confirmation of receiving the equipment! Even after Dish's own employee sent me a copy of the original contract showing I am not responsible. Even after stealing my money, then refunding it back to me via my bank account, Dish Network opted to list my name as account holder and attempt to extort invalidated funds, bad credit rating threats and incorrectly applied fees on me!

Again, after hours on the phone, returning equipment per their requirements, completed documents showing no liability, (finally) a copy of the original contract, now I am dealing with a collection agency on an account I've never been liable for!

Dish Network needs to be Dish-solved. They need to be sued on a grand basis. They need to refund the money that they have stolen from others such as me. Their "Customer Service" people need to take courses teaching them how to listen and research accounts before they steal money not due to them or ruin credit ratings. They need to be held accountable and compensate people like me that have spend many many hours on the phone trying to get someone to (at least) look at the original contract.

If there is an attorney that wishes to take on this case, I am more than willing to go that route. I have all the documentation needed that shows this "company" does not follow proper business protocols.

Also, since I (finally) got a copy of the original contract, their fine print states clearly that the account holder (aka the one signing the contract) is responsible for updating, removing and correctly having their 'dishes' re-installed, should a person move from original installation location (of course, with a fee to have the technician remove and install at a new address "correctly"). That is in a contract that I never agreed to, never signed for, and took months to review!

As it stands now, I am (again) dealing with a credit agency that has no original contract, is threatening to report this non-authored account as a bad debt, not to mention an eye-sore Dish satellite that will not only cost me to remove from my property but will also cost me to repair the damage that was done while installing. That doesn't even include the extensive wiring attached to it!

I still don't watch enough television to justify paying for any cable services, I'm happy with my little antennae TV. I don't go to movie theaters, rarely rent movies and simply can not believe how a company dealing with something so frivolous as television, has created such havoc in mine (and apparently everyone else's) life. Guaranteed, I will never have cable or any form of it and will completely do without, if Dish Network is even remotely involved.

Dish Network employees need to contact the IRS and local utility companies to learn customer service skills and contractual understanding. They keep coming back to taunt people they think they can bully. I am not one of them! For crying out loud, its flipping TV and Hulu is free, should I be so bored to indulge.

Seriously, if there are any attorneys out there, I have all the documentation you need to file suit. Lets go class action with punitive!

I allowed this to happen and everything was fine until suddenly my bank account was drained right before I was supposed to go on vacation. Something like $250 because my ex-roommate had stopped paying the bill. I got hold of Dish and they allowed me to continue the service and keep most of the $250. I allowed this because I did not have the money to pay for cancellation. My ex-roommate had apologized and agreed to make the payments again. Once again, this part was my mistake for trusting them.

Next thing you know a few months later in January, my account gets drained again. This time, it was for $250 for a cancellation fee. I called Dish and basically begged for help because my rent was late because of this. They agreed to refund the money and send me a paper bill instead. I was told by someone in their executive resolutions department that they would not draw out of my account again and that all I had to do was send money to pay the paper bill from now on. Of course as you know, it took five business days to get that money back and get my rent paid on time. As soon as the refund came back, my account was hit again a week later for $350 for equipment that had not been returned. Let me stress that nobody told me I had to return the equipment or they would take more money out. In fact, I was assured that no more money would come out at all. They said if I returned the equipment, I would save myself some money from the original bill.

I called them numerous times about this, dealt with about three different CSRs. One of them was just rude and actually ended up transferring me back to the main line. The other two assured me that the refund was being processed and apologized for the company's mistake.

Today I should have gotten the refund, and as it's only been a few days, I haven't been able to get off work to drop the equipment off to UPS. I called them and again received someone in executive resolutions that actually laughed at me at one point. I was counting on that refund and was promised it would be there by now.

I have no money to get to work or eat for the next week and a half. My car payment and rent payments are late and my bank account is completely drained of money. They refuse to refund the money until they receive the equipment now, even though I have been promised differently by multiple people that it would be given to me because of hardship. How can I be expected to pay them or get ahead when they continuously take money from my card? And how can i get a refund if I close it out? I just don't understand how they can repeatedly on recording promise me these things and then screw me over so badly. And how in the world can they freely draw money from my debit card? I even called my bank and they said there's absolutely nothing they can do to stop them from doing it.

Please, I feel like it's a futile cry but I need help. This is destroying my life literally. I am about to be evicted and my credit is being pummeled.

Year 2 of contract rolls around and now instead of $47.99 we are up to $57.99 per month. I called yet again and asked how could the difference be so high? Now my account protection has expired at 6 extra dollars a month. Finally, in November of 2011, we had all we could take. That month’s bill came and it now was $67.99, all the while there was a price freeze until 2013. I called and asked them, how much to pay out my contract, which was up in March 2012. $52.50 they say. When I called, which they insisted I do in order to close out the account, they refused to take the debit card payment from me because my name wasn’t on the card. I spoke to supervisors and supervisors of supervisors for over 3 hours and they still refused to take the payment, even though this is the exact same card they took the initial payment to set the account up with. Finally around 6 pm. that evening, after my husband got home from work, he called and the payment was finally accepted.

We cancelled the account and they told him to check their website to see that it had been. So as he's looking, and on the phone with them, he sees there is a remaining balance of $19.05. He asks what that is. She says ignore that as it will be deleted. They send the box to return the receiver and we send it back. The clerk at the drop off says it’s a paid label. We owe nothing. Never received or heard from Dish Network till now. Today (Feb. 21, 2012) we get a bill for $19.05. It took me over 2 hours to get through to billing, and once I was speaking to someone with the most broken English I ever heard. He tells me that that charge is for the label. I asked him why that wasn’t added on to the final bill and his answer was he is only customer service, he does not cancel accounts so he does not know what any other departments might disclose. I asked, “So each department can say whatever they think might make the customer happy?” His answer was, "Well, ma’am, yes, that’s how it works." I hung up and refuse to pay this bill. People, do not--I repeat--do not get suckered in to this racket. They will kiss your behind to get you as a customer, but once that happens they will stick it to you every chance they get. And might I add the channels are worthless. I may be paying more for my local cable, but at least I am paying for TV worth watching, not paid programming and church and shop at home channels.

On February 7, 2012, $129.42 was taken out of my checking account. I called the company and asked for a refund, because I had not authorized Dish Network to withdraw $129.42 from my checking account. I was told at that time that my money would be refunded. They owed me $89.88. Well, I did get a refund in the amount of $47.62 on February 13, 2012. So I called back to ask where the remainder of my money was and was told it would take another 5 business days to get the remainder, which in my estimation should have been $42.26.

Well, I called back today, February 20, to inquire where the remainder of my money was. I was told that they took and credited my money towards my next bill and that I wasn't due a further refund. I was also told that the reason they took my money was because I had their premium channels, and I was supposed to call in and cancel the channels. I explained that I had never asked for those channels and that no one ever told me that I had to call in to cancel. As a matter of fact, the young man who installed the dish never had a conversation with me. He came, installed, smoked cigarettes in his car a couple of times, came back in, and continued the installation.

Well, they are not going to refund the remainder of my money, but they did offer me some coupons. I would like a refund of my money; the amount they still owe me is $42.26. Is there anything that can be done to get my money back?

Their reply was, “Well, it’s in your new contract.” “Oh, what contract?” I asked. My contract ran out several years ago and HD is nothing more than an upgrade. I have a new contract under the conversion to HD! Now, to add insult to injury, they (DN) called and said I owe them that $75 and I was one month behind on my account. Therefore, I requested a copy of my contract. Two months later no disclosure and no contract. I checked with my attorney of which he said they are on the bubble of several legal violations work in progress!

No one at the company cares if you lose your job or your mom dies or can't afford it anymore. The people you talk to on the phone are profit motivated to sell you things you can't afford and brow beat you till you pay. They will also do their best to get off the phone in record time as they are graded on how quick they can finish a call, so lots of mistakes are made. They will send your bill to collections even if another retailer told you wrong. Too bad. If there is any way you can ever get service with any TV company by buying the equipment do that! Leasing equipment only will cause you grief since there is no way any one can anticipate what you'll need 2 years from now. And keep in mind this scenario:

5) You decide to stay and take a financial hit and opt for a really basic package that gives you nothing for 2 years. Even if you send some of the equipment back, it won't be free.

Be a smart consumer. There is no such thing as a free lunch. All of these things look nice but cost money. Really, decide if you can afford a high priced package just to get 14 religious channels or all cartoon channels. Ask questions and pay attention to what they tell you upfront about changing services, cancelling services, equipment fees, everything! Read all the posts following about trying to get a refund if they overcharge you. You better have lots of time on your hands.

I have called 888 337-3474 as well as 800 333-3474. The recording says the account is invalid and I am unable to reach a person or supervisor. I do not owe anything and have never ordered DISH. Please respond to this email clearing up this matter and resend the bill with a 0 balance. I have already spent almost an hour on this issue. Thank you.

I was never quoted any shipping label fees. I want this bill credited to a zero balance.

Not only did they mislead me, they never informed me I would have to sign an additional 2-year agreement. In 10 minutes, especially when I didn't sign anything (my friend did), shouldn't I have the right to rescind? I got into a heated argument with DISH who immediately shut off my service and sent me a bill. They also shipped 2 boxes for the DVRs I had (one old one and the new one they installed), also wanting me to climb onto my roof and dismantle the LNB for the satellite. I am returning their 2 satellite DVR boxes but will not climb onto the roof. If they want the LNB, they can come and get it. There is a 3-day right of rescission for most contracts in Nevada (5 days when buying timeshare). Isn't there also a right of rescission for this kind of deal? How can Dish lock me into a 2-year contract, or charge me a cancellation fee when I was not the one to sign the agreement on their digital tablet?

After we moved, we called them. They then advised us they are billing us $100.00 for the transfer of the new address. We have contacted their corporate office in Littleton, CO. They do not care, and have advised us to quote, "Take our problem elsewhere." So we are, to every legal office that pertains to their license. Do not trust Dish, they have also lied to us pertaining to, a bundle package for internet service. They promised us $14.99 for internet, the best price we have been quoted is $54.95 a month plus $5.95 for a modem.

I was shocked. A major corporation making a policy and honoring it, and not changing the story on me. That was sort of refreshing. Had I read the legal documents, I myself was signing upon my own free will, I never would have had to call in. It was easy enough to understand my 9-year old niece laughed, when she read it and saw me call in. If a 9-year old gets it, why can't you? Stop complaining about not getting your way. Honor your side of the deal before complaining about broken promises. Judge Judy references something quite a bit, "4 corner law". If it is not within the 4 corners of that legal document, it doesn't exist. And Dish honors every last thing within those corners, with no hesitation. Try it out, it's simple. It takes less time than reading my post here. Well, good luck to you people, knowing you will never stop.

They determined the date of payment debiting my account. They have not taken any money so far. I called to find out why and they said it was the bank's fault. I went to my bank and they said, all is setup correctly. They showed me where Dish went into the account, but did not take any money. Maybe a test? Customer service has no idea, but assured me that it was to be taken by midnight the day I spoke with them, still no action. I called again, spoke to customer service, I said that I don't want to pay late charges for them not to debit the account. Dan, in Colorado, assured me that I would not be charged. I wonder? I guess time will tell.

I was grandfathered in to pay $29.95 a month at this point that is not what I am paying. Yesterday, they gave me a $5.00 credit, which still does not get the bill down to $29.95 the grandfathered in thing their customer service people claim it does not exist. So, end of story, they lie to get your money and customer service... right! There isn't any, unless it is the "almighty dollar". To say I'm dissatisfied would be a step up.

I called another supervisor, Tamika in Virginia, who eventually connected me to Myra ** in Executive Resolutions. Myra said the best Dish could do would be to reschedule the installation for Sunday, Feb 19 between noon-5 pm and give me a have to sit a home for Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat and part of the day Sun with no television because of Dish Network's error. After being a customer for 11 years, tell me why I should remain a Dish customer?

We talked with an installer here in Tompkinsville on 3 different occasions about getting set up. We then picked out the package that best suited us. The rep/installer came today and hooked up our system. He (Richard) told James (my husband) that he was having difficulty setting up the system and needed to call Dish for help. James then left Richard to set up the system. When James returned Richard had the system set up and going. Picture was great and everything was working great. That is when the rep/installer informed James that he was wrong and that we could not get the package we had agreed on, that there was a mistake made when he checked on the package we previously agreed on. And that we would have to upgrade and pay for the next package up in order to get the service we wanted.

James and Richard discussed this and Richard said a mistake had been made, but that we would still have to take the package since he had it set up as well as signs a 2 year contract with Dish. Again, let me say we discussed this 3 times previously with the Dish rep., and had everything set up we thought. My husband even went as far as to get the dimensions of the box and have a special shelf built for the unit to sit into nicely. All this only to find out we had been misinformed and then was told we would have to take it since it was already set up. I don't think so. We had the installer / rep. remove the system and no we are not signing a 2 year contract for something we did not order, and at a higher cost than we agreed to.

As far as I am concerned this is a breach of contract on their part. We were misinformed and will not be forced to buy something we did not agree on. Also, we will be looking elsewhere not only for our new home, but our present home as well. Again, we are very unhappy with your service and feel like this was a scam on your part. This company had to know we could not get the package you told us we could get. This company misinformed us, hoping we could be squeezed into, or talked into taking a higher priced package of which we did not want or need. I have to ask how many customers do they do this way and they give in? I’m a very disgusted customer.

Now we are in the 2nd year. I will pay only $55 per month but that's not what the bills will be! They want to charge me for HD service because I stopped the "auto pay" because they were charging too much. I won't let them have access to charge me whatever they want. I see they are now being sued. The only compensation is $5 off the bill or a "free movie". I want out of the contract, but I'm told it will cost me. So I'm stuck for another year. I will never go with Dish again.

I went to her house on January 16th and we did the sale for Dish's TV package for what best suited her. I called the call center at the number above and told the rep that I was Bob from Doug **'s team in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We did a credit check and she had passed. I put the order in for the $29.99 package, auto pay and High Definition. She wanted to let her other provider Media-Com to complete its billing cycle and the phone rep said that she needed to have the money in the day before it is installed.

She said that it would be alright to set it up on February 4th and she would have her money in on the 3rd of February. I left that day and re-called the rep and told them to add High Definition because I forgot to add that. This was actually my first sales that I did in awhile because I was doing something else. The Rep on the phone said that everything was okay and it was all set up for the 4th of February to be installed. I called Sally ** on February 6th to see if she got Dish installed on the 4th and she said that it was installed on that day and she said that everything was okay.

4 days later I was trying to find out when I was going to get paid for it and my boss, Doug ** called the call center and the girls claimed that they tried to contact Sally on the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th. I guess on the 6th, they finally got a hold of her and she said everything was taken care of and it was installed on the 4th as it was suppose to be. They claim they were trying to get the credit card confirmed. Sally called Dish up on the 4th and asked when they were coming to hook her up. She told them that a door to door rep had come to her door and sold her this package They sent someone there that same day and hooked her up.

Somehow there was a big mix up and the order bypassed me and the order was not totally entered into the system. So I was not credited with this sale. The lady, Sally **, would have never have gotten Dish if she knew I was not getting paid for this. I can get you written documentation from Sally ** that I had sold this to her.

I am very angry about this whole thing and I have already wasted 6 days and a lot of time to try to get this resolved. My boss, Doug **, gets paid $200 and out of that, I would get $105. This whole thing has affected my sales, the money I normally make and all the time I have put into this. I had contacted Josh ** from your resolution team at ** ext ** and am still waiting on his reply. I called that number and not the same ext and talked to another lady and she gave me **. That lady said that even if they put the code in and it's already activated that they wouldn't know how to get it fixed where I would get paid. She gave me this e-mail address and said that they should be able help me get this all fixed.

I am so angry and wasting a lot of time on this and if I don't get paid soon for this. I will cancel my Dish. The customer, Sally ** will also cancel and I will have a number of friends that will work with me too in canceling, I will file a a lawsuit with Dish for the time I wasted and all the sales I have lost. I also will never sell for Dish again. I am a good sales rep and I build up a relationship with my customers and a lot of them are now friends of mine. I don't know why or what reason that this sale was not entered properly or why there was such a mix up. But I know that Sally ** got her service like she was supposed to on the same day that I set her up with.

I invested many days to get this sale and I am wasting a lot of my time, energy and a chance to make more money when I have to take time out in my day to write letters like this and call many people and all I do is get a runaround. So somebody needs to get back to me on this and pay me for this and really for all the time I have wasted. If you need a written signature from Sally or a phone call, whatever it takes, I need to get this taken care of as soon as possible with the money in my hand.

Dish stated I had a 2 year contract and I broke the contract so the fee (including equipment return fee of $15) was $167.50. I called again & cannot reconnect the service since I returned the equipment as stated. I also retained a copy of this contract and it states nothing about a time frame or cancellation fees. They have not produced a copy of my contract.

I also told them I had a problem with my service (not HD when it should have been) and was basically told too bad. And the services went up several times, not keeping to their contracted rate.

Dish & their collection company call repeatedly (for the past 3 months) & leave a recorded message at all hours. Very harassing. Again, when I talked to an agent about this or email, I get nowhere. I am not paying this money and am considering suing them for all the reasons stated above if they do not write this off and not ruin my credit doing so. I have no plans to reinstate my account now or ever. They lost a customer forever!

I would consider doing a class action suit and am surprised there's not one out there already with all the complaints you folks have filed. Good luck!

I spoke to a supervisor who advised me that Dish would not except my debit card but would accept a check? It's the same account, Dish has taken payments from my account using the new debit card number in the months of December, January and February. So, because Dish removed money from my account and in the subject matter did not advise me who they were, I do not feel that because DISH made a mistake I am having to suffer from their mistake. The young lady I spoke to was helpful and was only doing her job, but Dish is wrong, I reacted as a responsible adult and had the account cancelled due to a charge I was not familiar with by DISH Network.

I cancelled my service in Dec. 2011 because we moved. I sold the receiver on eBay. The purchaser emailed me and said the receiver worked fine but Dish wouldn't activate it because it wasn't cancelled on my account. I have just completed the call to Dish (45 minutes) and they have finally cleared my account. I hope. If I ever go back to satellite it won't be with Dish.

Misleading advertisements

When you see their packages, they offer a 250 (currently 260+) package. If you think you'll be getting 250 channels of television, you're only partially correct. You actually get 175 channels of TV programming, the rest are radio channels that you have no control over. Now, of those actual TV channels, 4 of the advertised channels belong to DISH. Only 1 is interactive, and mostly just links you back to other stations like CNN and MSNBC, although there are some games and stuff.

Also, you get about 13 religious channels. Great if you are into that, a waste if you are not. Home Shopping? You get about 14 of those. Then you get East/West channels, which are essentially the same thing, but the West channel has a 3-hour delay. So, when you get to it, you really are only getting 130 actual TV channels out of the 250 you think you will be getting. Yeah, if you look at their lineup, you can see this. But that's not how it's advertised. Most of the time you only see "Over 260 of America's top channels".

Local channels? Sort of, you won't get all your local ones, only some of them, and none of the HD variants. In my area, one of the local channels has 4 HD channels, one that does music, one that does weather, one that does 80's programming, etc. None of those are available, and DISH apparently has no plans to add them.

Ever Changing Guide

It's impossible to rely on your recording schedule, DISH is constantly moving channels around. And it's not close to logical on how they do it. You would think that a channel like Speed or Fox Soccer would be kept with the rest of the Sports programming. Nope, it's all over the place. Take Fox Soccer for example, it was at 158, with the rest of the sports, now it's sandwiched between movie channels up around 406, and it's HD Channel is somewhere in the 9000 range. It's moved three times since we've gotten DISH, and once right before a major game that I had set to record. When the channels move, the receiver isn't smart enough to move your recordings to the new channel, so you lose it. It seems like more of a minor annoyance, but not a week goes by when somewhere in the guide you see, 'This channel is moving!' And none of it makes sense.

Stupid Layout

This ties into the above, but the guide layout makes no sense. You have all of your normal Standard Definition channels (local ones 2 to 99), and right next to them, is their HD counterpart. Yet, up around 7000, there they are again, and also around 5000. What? Want a range like 200 to 210 where all your news channels should be? Sorry, you have to flip through NASA, CSPAN, and the weather channel before you get to the last one up around 215, plus all of your business channels. Want the educational channels all together, where they would make sense? Nope, look around the 190's, 121, 180, etc. It's stupid, and they move them often.

Hardware

Remember that 260+ channels? You have to have the right hardware for that. Some of those 250 won't come through on just one satellite, you need to point it at 2. If you don't have the right dish, you won't get what you are paying for. If you bought a house that already had a dish on the roof and want to activate it, you might need a new dish that can hit multiple satellites, that's an extra charge. Have more than 2 rooms? That's an extra receiver, and an extra charge. Want HD channels? That requires a special receiver, special charge for that receiver even though the HD is free, the hardware isn't. There's service call with special charge, and you get locked into a multi-year contract.

Oh, and if you don't chose to auto-pay with a debit from an account, you have a $10 per month fee added. Oh, and if you're lucky, your roof won't be completely messed up by the incompetent installers who drill holes, fail to seal it properly, and then leave it so water comes in and destroys your house. We already had to replace part of our roof thanks to rain damage from the dish install, and would have gotten rid of it, if not locked into a multi-year contract.

Awful Support

Want answers? Good luck. DISH will give you free preview channels, but won't tell you where they are. If you call and ask if this new channel that you've mysteriously stumbled upon is an addition to your lineup or a preview, the customer support people can't tell you for sure. That's if you even get to them. Most of the time, my call gets dropped after being transferred around. Having a problem with your signal? Never mind the clear skies, it's an interference problem and they can't help you. Or it's a local problem not on their end, and you would need to call the station to have them fix it. Plus, if there is a mistake in your billing, it's never their fault.

I had AT&T U-verse in Los Angeles, and loved it. I had Time Warner Cable in Ohio, and while they were awful to deal with, they aren't as frustrating as DISH is. I'd highly recommend either of these two over DISH.

When it stated I had to call to activate, we found out then that it was the wrong box. The lady I was speaking to gave me two options, send it back and they would send a non-DVR box, or we could keep it at no additional charge. We would only have to pay the extra $3.00/month for the difference between a DVR and non-DVR monthly fee. I agreed to keep this box if that was the only difference. She told me to send the old one back in the box the new one came in.

She could not get it to activate and had to send a technician out. There was a problem with the line outside and he activated the DVR. I just received my phone bill (I have a bundled package with Frontier). My phone bill was $300 higher because of "unreturned equipment charge". I called Dish and they explained that it was because I received the wrong receiver and they probably received my old receiver but it was not noticed because they sent me a DVR and did not receive a DVR in return. They said this would be resolved within 4 days.

I did not hear anything and after one week decided to call back. I was told that I would have to send back the DVR and they would send me a non-DVR like I originally had. I told them that I was not going to send a DVR back and go through another $300 charge. I spoke to many departments, and this was the best they could do for me. I did not want another $300 charge on my account. I could not afford to pay the first $300 and risked losing not only my television, but my internet and phone also because of this.

I finally called Frontier to see how to get out of my bundle package. The lady made me explain what happened, and then she made me speak to another representative at Dish. He informed me that if I did not have the tracking numbers, he could not verify that they received my old receiver, and could not credit me back the $300. I told him that after I got off the phone with him, I was going to contact the Better Business Bureau. He put me on hold and within 3-5 minutes, he found where my receiver had been received on Jan 3, 2012 (this was on Feb 7, 2012) and the paper work had not been done to credit my account.

I do not understand why I had to go through all this and get nowhere until I threatened them with the Better Business Bureau. This is poor service.

January 2012, Dish Network took out $36.89 as indicated on contract. Febuary 1 2012, $51.89. I did not rent movies, just the 120 premium. I called on Feb. 7th. He was rude and said Dish Network can add charges if they feel like it. This is not on my contract. When I politely asked to speak to a manager, the manager was rude and evasive, not cordial or compliant with my complaint. I need the $51.89 to be adjusted. Payment was to be $36.89, not 51.89. I'm sitting without heat and have to get to a disability office because of this illegal authorizations Dish Network did to me. This has caused me grief and suffering. On top of it all, the technician guy to put up my dish did not knock at my door, walked in the living room and proceeded to do his job. It scared the ** out of me. Not an apology. Please email back to me a confirmation email letting me know this has been adjusted back in to Chase debit card ending in **. Passcode is **.

Also, the $36.89 will resume back to its original price of $36.89. I pray this is resolved. I have no one else to turn to and looking on the complaint board with Dish Network. They are not professional and legitimate. They take advantage over the less fortunate. Thank you for your time and feedback.

After 1 month with Dish Network, we came to the cottage and had no TV at all. My husband called and the tech walked him through the process of having it work again (just what we want to do, spend over an hour on our relaxing weekend on the phone to a Dish Network customer service!). We got it working! I went up alone to the cottage after that and only a few channels were working! Surprise! Surprise! Our last straw was when we had a week off and were spending time at the cottage and about half way through our vacation, it went out again! We spent over 2 hours trying to figure out what was wrong after being disconnected by Dish Network customer service twice!

Finally, the supervisor and a tech said they would have to come out to the house and have it looked at for a fee of $100.000. To top it off, they stated that we had never called before with a problem. We ended up breaking the silly rental agreement and lost over $200.000. But we will never have to listen to their lies again so it was worth it - believe me! They are crooks! How they sleep at night is beyond me. Very, very disappointed! Do not and I mean it! Do not use Dish Network! By the way, they currently have a class action settlement against them.

Finally, they dropped it down to $6. I finally agreed to pay it, and get my satellite fixed, but I am legally blind. This isn't my first run in with Dish. I can't believe how their customer service is so rude, that I had to pay to fix something. Their service guy did. Oh well, DirecTV has offered me two boxes, for what Dish offered me on that one, a few years ago. I know how to solve this at the end of this month. I will be switching to DirecTV. I rate them number 1 in customer service. Dish is going to send someone out on Sunday to fix it, 2-5-12, the day of the super bowl. Now, Dish better hope they fix this before the super bowl, because if not, then they take their ** with them, while they're here. Dish, you need try treating your customers with respect.

When I fist got the service I was pretty satisfied but they kept removing programing and some of the channels I watched most were gone and in order to get them I would have to buy some ridiculously priced package. The final straw came when my rates went up. I had the service for over a year at that time and assumed incorrectly that the contract had ended. I contacted DirecTV. They offered a service similar to what I had when I started at a lower price and I was told when I called not to cancel my old service until the new service was installed. Now I know why. I thought my contract was 12 months, it was 24 months and disconnection fee of $190 approximately for early cancellation.

I was upset about the fee but became even more upset when a few weeks later, I received notification that they were going to automatically debit my bank account. I called and tried to stop them. They insisted that I signed something authorizing them to do this. I said even if I did I am revoking that authorization right now on your recorded line. After filing a complaint with the BBB and a subsequent phone call from Dish, I realized the only way to stop it would be through my bank. I called to find out what account they were going to draw from. I was given the wrong account #. I stopped payment on the wrong account at a cost of $30. I was able to call the bank the draw came from and have the debit reversed, at least for now.

What I was most upset about was the draw from my account, as they drew at the same time my rent was due causing problems for me and my landlord. Also in a free market, the consumer has a right to choose which company provides a service and Dish generally only has 3 to 4 competitors in any given market. Is it so hard to compete that you have to scam your customers?

Now my problem is why it is allowed that a company can force/blackmail you into doing something that you don't want to do, with all the complaints from other dissatisfied customers about The Dish Network taking more money out of their checking accounts that they owe, and not returning their money. That really has me concerned that they are allowed to do this and they get away with it. Why doesn’t our government do something about these issues? The last I heard blackmail and fraud was illegal. I have no other options than to go ahead and do auto pay.

I'm sure that a lot of people would agree that in some state these providers have a monopoly in certain states and these states that allow this is just as crooked as these TV providers. Here in Idaho, we have only 3 choices for viewing TV. We have Cable One, which is expensive. Then we have DirecTV, they are very expensive here and then we have The Dish Network that rips you off after a few months. I would really love Comcast to move into Idaho, but the state won't allow it. Now why is that? I think that they know that their precious local companies would suffer, because they would lose customers like me. I believe that if have a contract with a company that they shouldn’t be allowed to change on the contract, but it's allowed without consumers having any word in the matter of breech of the contract.

Something really needs to change to protect not only the consumer but the companies too. What I’m saying is, if I cancel or want to change my services, they charge us extra fees, but they are allowed to do whatever they want without any repercussions. I'm going to seek legal advice on these matters and maybe file a law suit against The Dish Network.

I was assured everything was okay, and my account would be refreshed within 15 minutes. Today, we have the same issue with mobile connect, our program guide only goes out one hour, and the DVR isn't recording anything. I called back to learn that the sling box I bought didn't go through, because the first debit card was rejected. I proactively contacted them about this weeks ago. Interestingly, I show a charge on my online bank statement but no credit back. I'll be watching for it. Bad policy number two: because I switched my debit card number at the exact wrong time, I am now banned from using any debit cards for the next 6 months, and of course, I am required continue paperless billing, so I have to remember when to pay Dish, and for how much.

Let me make sure I understand this. Dish is upset with me, because a charge was denied, even though I proactively contacted them about it, so they make me figure out how much I owe them, and when to send payment. The chances of missing a payment now are much higher, because of this dumb policy. I was planning on switching to DirecTV a month ago, but caught them in a lie during the installation. My cable company is unreliable, and has a poor DVR system. I'm stuck with the best of three poorly run companies. I can't wait until streaming TV through the internet is more viable for me.

A few months later, my HD Channels were getting worse and the picture was horrible. I contacted Dish and asked for a new box and explained what had happened. I was informed by a manager that I could not have a new box without purchasing a new one. When I told her that was fine, my contract had expired and she could send someone to come and get the satellite. She stated that she would send me the boxes and that I could pack it up myself (Rude! Rude! Rude!). She had no interest in satisfying me as a customer or keeping my business. She was horribly rude and disrespectful. But here is the best part! I made sure to return all the merchandise that they sent boxes for by the deadline that they had noted. Because if you didn't return the products on time, they would charge you.

So everything was returned the day after I received the boxes. About 2 months after my final bill, I received a bill stating that I owed $32.02. I was confused because my bill was part of my bundle plan with AT&T and if you don't pay the whole bill, then AT&T will keep rolling over the amount that you owe onto the next billing cycle. Surely, this was a mistake. So I called Dish (customer service) who said that they would look into it. I thought okay, they will see a mistake was made and if not, well I have all my payment stubs and billing documents from AT&T. Silly me! The next month, I received a debit collector notice from CBE Group. Yup, those ** turned me into a collection agency for $32.02 in which I didn't understand why I was being charged in the first place.

So I called the CBE Group and was told by Carlos (Debit Collector) that these charges were the freight charges for the merchandise that I had returned when I canceled my plan with Dish. That's right, I was told by their Technical Support Manager and Customer Service Rep to box up my 2 DVR boxes, my 3 remotes and 3 prongs from my satellite and return the merchandise by a given date or I would have to pay extra for the merchandise, just to be charged anyway for freight and then sent to a collection agency! What is the world coming to when well-known companies start to nickle and dime you for everything. I have warned everyone that I know not to sign up with Dish. If Dish is hurting so bad because they're losing all their business from rude Tech Managers, lack of respect for current customers and poor quality equipment then they can have my $32.02!

Another reason we hate Dish is because we tried 4 times to cancel service and finally had to call and get, it prorated. They sent us this statement to send back equipment, which we found out was too old to even qualify for "discounted shipping" so we'll just send off the memory card. Now we have to worry about disposing of the boxes and remotes. You will receive a return kit including boxes and discounted return labels in the next few days.

A $15 per label equipment return fee will be charged to your account should you choose to use the labels. This fee is significantly less than rates you are likely to find with UPS, FedEx, or the US Postal Service. A return kit will not be sent for purchased or obsolete equipment; instead, a postage-paid Smartcard return envelope will be sent to return Smartcard(s) for obsolete equipment. Really Dish? You guys suck so bad! I am so glad we no longer have to deal with them ever again!

I had several visits from technicians regarding this and was told that everything was okay with my system. The problem still arose a lot of the times. Finally, I cancelled my contract with them since I was never satisfied with their service. Now, they want me to pay disconnect feed a pro-rated monthly premiums.

I feel that I shouldn't have to pay this bill, since the provided faulty service and/or equipment. I purchased the equipment from them at their inflated prices, and now since I am in a dispute with them I've learned that I cannot sell the equipment because Dish Network has an unsatisfied bill attached to them.

What give Dish Network the right to not allow me to sell my equipment as working models? It's as if they're able to crawl inside homes and disable the TV. This is not right and I am going to litigate this with Dish Network until this issue is resolved. Nonetheless, I am a very unsatisfied consumer who feels victimized by a large corporation. This is not right!

Dish services were installed by their contract installer over three years ago and none of the complete package I have paid for relating to services or packages have ever worked and several phone calls have resulted in Dish hanging up on me and no resolving of the matters.

The contract was not signed by me. It was not my signature, and I called your office and spoke with Daisy ** at 303-940-8600 x52476. She asked me to fax a copy of my SS Card, my passport, and FL ID with my signature. I did fax all these plus a copy of the contract with a fraudulent signature to 303-723-2063 more than a week ago. I have not heard from Ms. Daisy or anyone else in your organization concerning this fraudulent issue.

If this issue is not addressed immediately, I will seek legal assistance and call the newspapers. Please get this issue taken care of immediately. We wish to transfer to DirecTV without an issue of $300 with you and to be allowed to terminate our service. Thank you.

Once the governor's office or BBB (in some cases both) got involved, these companies changed their story and their attitude over night! All of a sudden, they were cooperative and apologetic. I always got my money back, got contract's cancelled to my benefit, or whatever else I was demanding which was reasonable and fair. Always, in every case. In addition, I received an apology. I got refunds and cancellations of 2 fitness club contracts, which is nearly impossible normally, I got credit card refunds (Capitol One), and most recently a full refund from a very large corporation that initially refused to refund any money at all.

Get your government involved! You pay taxes and it's their job. I have even gotten Senators and Congressmen involved in disputes, which always, always ended to my satisfaction along with an apology from the company, even the IRS. Government officials have power. A company can lose their right to do business in a state if there are enough people complaining about them. I am not a lawyer, this is just my experience as a consumer and tax payer. My first experience was with a large insurance company.

They terminated my coverage due to non-payment. However, I did pay my premium. I contacted the Insurance Regulators in my state and I not only was reinstated immediately by the insurance carrier, but I received a letter of apology from a company VP. I also object to a fine from a local state office concerning my business license. I contacted the state regulator's office for that particular department, a director personally contacted me and the issue was resolved to my satisfaction! I have never lost a dispute when I involved the governor, BBB, senator or congressman. They always help and always to my satisfaction. Fight for your right to be treated honestly and fairly. Complain loud enough to the right people and you will win the fight.

Well, I did my part and called, Dish wants to charge me again for the install to these rooms. They see on the paperwork that the tech could not do it the first time, but it makes no difference. I decided to pull the contract as I had the tech write on the receipt exactly that he would do this for free. I have decided to get an attorney, cancel Dish, and sue them for the cancellation fees along with breach of contract.

I am also looking into when they have to renew the NV business license and submit a complaint to try and stop it, which would require Dish to stop doing business in this state. Although this never works, at least they have to jump through a few hoops with their high prices legal team. Of course, this is after multiple conversations with customer service-- all the way up to corporate level--and several other scheduled installs, which Dish did not show up for. I am also unhappy with the DVR service from Dish. Don't get it. It sucks.

A couple of weeks before the Christmas holidays, I notice a water stained ceiling and called the roofing company who had replaced my roof in February 2009 to come out and check his work. The owner of the roofing company reported that the dish had been removed but that the technician had not filled the holds left from the removal of the dish properly. Therefore, water was coming into the house. I contacted Dish Network and was referred to a regional manager. He referred the issue to a field service manager who came out to my home, looked in the attic and made a decision that stated he could not determine that Dish Network was at fault.

First, they implied that maybe someone may have stolen the dish from my two-story home. Then they claim that they could not find a record that any one from their company came out to remove the dish. I have tried to settle this complaint and have spoken with eight employees with Dish Network without any satisfaction. I have pictures the roofer taken by the roofer, because the Field Service Manager from Dish Network failed to get on the roof of my two-story home to make an evaluation, I will now refer this matter to my attorney for completion.

Dish Network has ruined my property, and do not want to own up to their negligence. They have destroyed my house and yes they enjoy take advantage of people like me and anyone else on social security.

With that said, I have been keeping up my end of the contract and have paid on time each month.

I am moving this month to Arizona and will not be authorized to install Dish at my future home. Since cable and internet services will be provided, I will have no further use for Dish services. I have been informed by the seven different customer service representatives that I owe varying amounts of money: $350.00, $550.00, and $332.00 to cancel my contract with Dish. Some of these representatives offered that I might send a Dish network installer out to my future home to check for a signal.

They offered that if they couldn't locate a proper signal I could potentially be released from my contract. As I indicated earlier, this was not a helpful suggestion as my future landlord had already stated that cable and internet are included in my agreement. And what if they were able to install without a problem? My landlord would then be forced into having a satellite dish after she clearly indicated she didn't want one at all?

Later, I was told I could place my account on hold and it was only after I agreed to do this that the representative explained that I would no longer be able to redeem my original plan once the account was reinstated because I had chosen to place my account on hold. The representative explained that he was doing me a favor by extending this offer to me since it was usually only available to people going on vacation. My train of thought here, whether I am paying $5/month or $65/month, I am still paying for a service that I am unable to use.

I am in the process of moving and I'm sure you can imagine how stressful it was to waste a full day when I needed to be packing and getting nowhere on the telephone. I just can't see how trapping unhappy customers into two-year contracts works for you. You have given your loyal customers no other way than to pay their way out. Dish is the best example of the grossest misrepresentation of what customer service truly means in this country and in these harsh economic times. I do not plan to ever sign again with Dish once I have been let out of this nightmare. However, I do plan on forwarding this letter along with a formal complaint to the BBB and every other organization/person/website I can think of.

I called them during the first week of December because I kept receiving phone calls from them saying I didn't pay my bill. They took $75.99 on November 14 when I didn't have service because I had the automatic payment. I called them again and told them I didn't have service and why did they take the money out on November 14. They said the computer made a mistake and they were going to refund my $75.99 and apply it as credit in my account. When we finally got our service connected again on December 14, I kept getting phone calls from Dish network saying I owed and I was going to be disconnected. I called them and they said they were going to take care of it.

I advised him who I was a customer with and informed him I was looking into switching but that I had questions regarding what my monthly bill would be. I told him which package and the additional features that I wanted. I asked what the monthly bill would be and he replied that he would need my Social Security Number because I may be eligible for free equipment if I have not been a customer previously. I provided the representative with my SSN at that point.

He then requested my credit card or debit card information. At that point I hesitated and asked why he would need that. He responded stating that I would not be charged anything but he would need it to proceed. I did not understand why he needed that information if I was just researching switching and I told him I did not understand. I asked if he was running my credit and he said he was. I responded saying that I just want to know what my monthly cost would be. I was still not signing up for service at this point and that I was not authorizing him to run my credit. He stated that he told me what the price was and that it would be $79.99. He screamed that if I didn't understand what $79.99 was, then I was "dumb". I asked to speak to a supervisor. He put me on hold for approximately 30 seconds and hung up on me.

I was absolutely astonished at the way I was treated. This was the absolute worst service I have received. I called the number back and requested to speak to a supervisor due to the disrespect of this representative. Once I received a supervisor I explained how this agent mistreated me and I expressed my feelings of what the appropriate reprimand should be. I informed her I also wanted a call back on the actions that were taken. I informed the supervisor that if my credit was ran I would be taking more actions. I am now waiting for a call back from the supervisor and will be running my credit next week to see if my credit was ran by Dish Network. I am in shock that a company would hire someone for this position with the lack of respect this agent had. Needless to say I am not switching from their competitor.

We ended up talking with their loyalty team, who informed us that there was nothing they could do. This turned out to be their error, and was corrected two months later. In my view, this was a breach of contract, and made it null and void. It was not a programming change, or any other loophole that may have been in the contract. In my view, I should be able to have the service disconnected, without the $240 penalty, due to them changing the terms without mutual agreement.

I called Dish and registered the issue. After calling multiple times, I was put in touch with their escalations group. The rep said that I had used a retailer for installation instead of Dish Network and it is not their responsibility to fix any issues related to this incident. I mentioned to the rep that the person who called offering satellite promotion referred to themselves as Dish and not as any retailer.

The preliminary estimate to fix the repair is over $600 according to the auto body shops. Now I am left helpless with a broken car just because I opted to sign up for dish service. I never expected this from a reputable firm like Dish Network.

Additionally, the service was offered before the bugs were worked out. When surfing for a movie title under, say, drama which has over 3,000 titles, you have to manually keep pressing the down button until you get to the title you want. Good luck if the movie starts with a T. I wish there were good alternatives to Dish. Comcast Xfinity does, but it is not compatible with my house wiring.

March 2010: When you put your service on hold at month six, they automatically revert to your previous service if you do nothing. Dish began charging me $10/month for service that I never used or accessed. Problem is that I didn't know they were charging me because it was being applied towards my credit. Had they cut me a check for the receiver, and I had no credit balance, I would've seen the charge on my credit card and immediately called to have it resolved.

December 2012: I see a charge for $0.26 on my credit card, which prompted me to call Dish. It took me a bit but I put the pieces together on what happened. Dish refused to refund anything outside of $0.26. When asked about refunding a credit, Paul said Dish's policy is to not refund any credits, even though the reason I even had a credit is because they charged my credit card for equipment that returned late. Had they credited my credit card instead, we wouldn't have this problem. Anybody knows if not refunding a credit is a deceptive practice that warrants any type of legal action? Couldn't any company put a credit on your account (vice issuing a refund) and claim they cannot give it back to you with a check? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

And they made so much waste. It leaked through the floor to the downstairs, ceiling, which now is producing mold that leaked and ruined my pool table cover! They did all of this last month. They sent the regional manager out to take pictures and file a claim. Now, I am on social security, and this is all the thanks I have gotten from them, and their unprofessional service.

The problem is this; Dish Network is a liar and deceiver. And they ruined my property, and do not want to own up for their negligence. But they do want to take advantage of people like me on social security, and destroy my house and my things, and still take money off auto pay willingly without my permission. For auto pay, I've had it! I am suing. See you all in court!

Sam from Satellite Works called me the next day, and I told him I opted for option-2, to pay for 4 months in advance so that I can go without any contract. He said he is going to credit my account for 4 months of service, and the credit will take few hours to show up. Next day, I logged in to my Dish Network account, and there was a credit of $267. I called Sam to ask about the credit, and he said $240 is for the next 4 months and $27 is pro-rated credit because I already sent a payment on Nov 10th.

I checked my Dish Network account couple of times after that and it was still showing zero balance owed.

Problem started on January 10, 2012, which was my original billing date. Later on that day, my Dish service was cut off. When I called Dish network, I was told my account was delinquent. I asked about the $267 credit from Nov 18, 2011. I was told the account was credited with a Discover card, but the merchant refused to pay that bill now. I was told that I had to pay for two months of service (Dec and January) to restore service. I explained to the Dish network customer service how the Dish network reseller was able to fix the HD programming, and how he knew my Dish network account number and that he knew the account was on my wife's name, etc.

So, the person I was dealing with was definitely an agent of Dish network. I was put on hold to check with their "executive department". They asked me about the phone number from where I got the call and the address I was given. As I was giving the phone number, the Dish network agent asked me "what extension did the give". Right away I knew, Dish network knows about the scam and that I am not the only one in this mess.

After several minutes of begging and pleading my case, I was transferred to the "retention department". I spoke to the person in the retention department for 20 minutes. Neither the initial agent nor the retention department of Dish network asked me to send them the email I had from "Satellite Works". After 20 minutes, the Retention Dept. person tried to connect me with the Executive dept and the call dropped. I called back and asked to talk to the fraud prevention department. The person I talked to was Grisel **, at 303-92-8600, ext: 81246. I spent another 20 or 30 minutes pleading to get some type of credit for the $267 I lost. She looked into my account and what changes were made to my programming on Nov 17, 2011.

What Ms. Grisel told me was the Dish network reseller was playing the game of terminating my service and re-activating it, and extracting commission from Dish network. The reseller, Sam, called in a payment on my behalf on some other Discover card (not mine). Reseller Sam also called into Dish network on my behalf and had them enable HD. Ms Garcia also told me I am not the only one scammed like this. I asked Ms. Grisel, how is it that a Dish network reseller has our name, account number, and phone number, and he also knows what programming we have. With all that information provided to us, how can we not believe the promotion we are being offered is legitimate?

Anyways, after all that time spent on the phone and pleading, all I was told was, I need to go file a police report and see if the local police will try do something for me. I asked what about their responsibility to pursue with Satellite Works, their reseller who is scamming Dish network customers. Ms Garcia and others at Dish network did not ask to see the email I had.

5 months went by with nothing until one day I checked my bank account seeing a 420 dollar transaction pulled out without my authorization. The transaction was processed by none other than Dish Network. After speaking to representatives, etc, I have found the same answer. Although you only received 3 days worth of tv service, your contract binds you to an early termination fee of 420 dollars. No heart, no apoligies there wasn't even a sign that the company or their employees cared as to how much they inconvenienced me. It's my problem, irreguardless of the little time I received their satellite services. I am paying ultimately 420 dollars for 3 days of satellite TV.

For all of you out there, go with DirecTV. Don't trap yourself with Dish. I don't know how rare my case is, but this should never happen. It's wrong in all ways possible.

If all else fails, do a little research online. Their corporate office phone numbers are listed on their stock website. Make the call, ask for Charles Ergen, CEO. I've called back in 2003, when I was told I wasn't eligible for their HD offer available at that time. His personal staff responded, checked into it, got back to me, and made sure I did receive the offer, and company sales staff understood existing customer could order the HD offer.

I've also always requested a company service technician, not a contract technician, be sent for any service call. Each time, they dispatched a company service technician. Neighbors who had the same problem (Dish movement after a major wind storm), had issues with the local contractor's staff and techs, with some waiting for weeks, and several return trips to get their service back to normal. I was up and running in 3 days. The answer is to know exactly who you are dealing with. Are you dealing directly with Dish Network, a reseller such as Radio Shack, or a third party contractor? Good service, by knowing who I bought the service from, and dealing with them directly.

Last week, I called and spoke with Camile about cancelling my services. I am moving in with my boyfriend, and well, dish is out - cable is in. So Camile clearly did not want to continue the conversation with me because I became heated instantly when she told me there would be a cancellation charge. So, she transferred me to their "executive supervisor."

Mark ** was his name. Still upset, I explained to him, I was not upset with him, but the fact I have been screwed into a contract which I never signed for. I did not mean to be so frank with him. However, I have kept the services well over a year + and it was just no longer a need because I would be moving. I then explained, there was no contract and if he was going to charge me a cancellation. I want a copy of that contract. He said he did not have one on file. Well, gee. I wonder why. He then proceeds to tell me that he is going to check into the field office and if he cannot find a copy, he will go ahead and credit the cancellation charges.

By the way, over 1 year ago, the attempted to tell me I needed to sign an additional two year contract to change services when I moved. Well, I never did, and they knew it.

I've already filed a complaint with the BBB. I am highly upset, but overall if I do not have this resolved appropriately. Guess there are other options out there.

When I called your customer service department last week, I was told by the DISH representative that I would have to pay an additional $200, and upgrade my monthly package. I am again disappointed that your representatives in the field seem to be saying whatever they want, to sign up new subscribers and then leaving the subscribers to discover their lies after the fact. I am currently looking at an ad for DISH that shows HD packages beginning at $19.99, but the very small print says that only certain packages have HD. I think this is misleading, and a bad, purposely-deceptive, business practice. HD service should not be mentioned as beginning at $19.99 if you don't actually have an HD package that is $19.99.

With that said, I am agreeable to upgrading my current package to Americas Top 100 in order to get HD service, but I do not believe that in addition to the increased monthly price, that I should have to pay an additional $200 for equipment. That is not what I was originally told by both the original salesperson and installer, and it is not what you require new subscribers to do. I want the same HD For Life package that people who are not your existing customers, are offered. I also wish to complain about Jason, a floor supervisor/manager in your sales department, who refused to connect me with your department, when I spoke with him on the phone. Despite my repeated request to connect me, he said he saw no reason to do so at this time, and hung up on me after I mentioned that I would complain to the Better Business Bureau. I may cancel and let them try and get a fee from me.

On December 6, 2010, I called DISH to transfer our service from VA Beach, VA to Jacksonville, FL. At which time, they told me I had to pay over 100 dollars to transfer my service. When I told them that was not the sales rep’s response, they said it was due to having a prepaid account. I told them I did not want to pay that money to keep service and it was not disclosed in my contract that there would be such a fee (and I read fine print). They are now reporting my credit and have debt collectors harassing me for the "cancellation fee".

I have filed with the BBB who said there is already a pending government action for non disclosure and charging bank accounts. I also filed with the FTC. I am being harassed by their debt collection agency.

I was then informed that if I wanted the fee waived, I would have to have a tech come out to prove my service was poor. Of course, they never bothered to send a tech when I was having problems, instead they came up with excuses and kept saying that it looked clear to them and they didn't know why I was having issues.

Stay away from this company!

I saw no signs of damage or webs or bugs at all when I removed the unit and packed it for return. The bugs could have come from their warehouse or the original packing box it was brought to our home in. This sounds criminal and it is my understanding that I am one of 1000's of consumers who have suffered the same fate at the hands of Dish Network. What can I do?

This past Sunday, 1 Jan 2012, I turned on my TV to have sound and no picture. I called Tech and spent 1/2 hr on phone. This "person" could not solve the issue and told me I would be passed on to an "advanced" tech which happened. This incompetent did the exact same thing as the initial tech. It was the same thing, same checks, same everything. So much for "advanced" tech. I was told he'd have to send out a tech to my home, 3 days later, and I would have to pay for it. In retrospect, it now appears to me this entire drill was nothing more than "revenue generation".

After I got off the phone, I thought about it for a while and broke out my old "voltmeter" and started checking, checking areas the tech never even brought up. Within minutes, I found a faulty wire, and replaced it. It worked.

On Tues am, I called and cancelled my appointment. I went on the internet and cancelled via email. I was beginning to realize the high level of incompetence and "give a **" attitude. I presumed stupidity was rampant so, again I called to cancel. 3 times the appointment was cancelled. Over the next 24 hours, I received 5 robo-calls from Dish TV, according to my Caller ID, all of which were hang ups as I answered. This is even more annoying as I am an amputee and it is a pain in the ** to going chasing after the phone, only to have the ** hang up as I answer.

I knew what was coming next and sure enough I was right. The Dish TV tech showed up at 8 am with not one word about cancel. I tried not to be too nasty but did inform him the Corporate "system" at Dish was run by mentally ** monkeys. I am now awaiting a bill for this "service call". I know it will happen. Plus, I am going to further research this, your bill is past due concept Dish appears to have when, if you read the bill, the customer is actually paying in advance for the service, so it cannot be "past due" until past the billing period. This sounds to me like a great lawsuit!

The next day, another tech came out and replaced the DVR box and put new cables in, but now no HDMI ports are working and still Xbox not working. The tech told me to contact damage department and they would take care of it. I called on Dec 30, 2011 and was told that a local supervisor would call me by Monday, January 2, 2012. This is now Tuesday, January 3, 2012 and no phone call. I am paying for HD channels and they can not hook HD up because their tech blew out my HDMI ports and Xbox.

Then I get the story on how this convoluted DVR system work. It turns out if you want to record a program in HD and then watch a live program in HD or SD at the same time on the same TV, you can't do it or I could set up all my recorded shows in SD then I could watch the live show in HD. I was told if I wanted to record in HD and watch a live show in HD I would have to go to another room on another TV to watch the live HD program. This is all because, in my opinion, they have junk technology.

When I asked to be released from the contract because what I was promised was not delivered, they said no way. They said I signed the contract for two years and that was the end of it. I said I was willing to negotiate on the $400 penalty to get out of the contract. They said nope, can't do it. Do not purchase Dish Network if you can help it.

The Dish 612 receivers need not only an active telephone line to order pay per view movies, they need a broadband link for authorization. The technician installed one "thumbnail" USB device into the Broadband slot and it fixed the problem on one of my receivers. The technician though is only authorized to install one of these thumbnail devices per account and Dish wants to charge $25 for a second one to allow the second receiver to be able to order pay-per-view movies.

Dish is out of touch with reality. There are many alternatives now surfacing for movies. I have been a Dish customer for over 20 years but am now considering all other alternatives.