DirecTV review: very poor service and unacceptable contract 1397

In April (the Monday after baseball's opening day), I attempted to cancel the MLB package which was automatically billed to my account. I was informed that once the season began, there was no way to cancel. I had apparantly been informed of my obligation in one of the many throw-away pieces of mail I had received from DirecTV. At that time, I promised that I would quit and the Customer Service Representative along with her Supervisor could not have cared less.

I did find another service provider and informed DirecTV that I would be leaving at which time they informed me that I am liable for a pre-cancellation fee of $180 for the two Hi-Def receivers I purchased myself for $200 each at a local electronics store. Also, if I did not return both of those recievers within 45 days, I would be charged an additional fee. It was my understanding that I owned these two pieces of equipment! When I asked Sarah for some sort of proof that I was informed of this additional pre-cancellation fee, she suggested that I contact the outside contractor DirecTV hired to install the equipment. DirecTV is an example of all that is wrong with customer service today and I will tell everyone who will listen to avoid them no matter how appealing their marketing strategy might appear.

Directv is right on one thing in that, the recievers are leased, they are not owned by you. It sounds like you got their hd-dvrs, which are leased at $199 a piece. If you look at the receipt from when you got the recievers (if you still have it) you will see that it says they are leased. Had you purchased them to own you are looking at $600 a piece.

I am currently dealing with these thiefs. I cancelled my service and asked for a box to return the equipment. I finally recieved the box 3 weeks later on Thursday June 11, 2009. On Sunday June 14, 2009 they pulled $675.80 from my account for not returning the equipment. I called them on Monday June 15, 2009 and told them I had just received the box. I was then told as soon as they received the equipment I would get my money back within 72 hours. I asked if I reinstated my service if I would get it back sooner. They said yes within 72 hours from Monday. So I did. I called back on Thursday June 18 and was told the request had never been put in for me to get my money back. This employee said he was doing it at that time. I called back on Monday June 22 and I was told that the request for my refund still had not been put in. They said they did it at this time. WE WILL SEE ABOUT THAT. I spoke with a supervisor and he said it would take 8 more business days before I will get my money. My suggestion is to stay away from these crooks and do not give them your debit card number or bank account number. I recorded my coversations with a cheap recorder I got from Radio Shack. I will be bringing my tapes with employee names numbers and call center locations to court with me if the money is not back in my account by July 1, 2009.

contact Scamshooters

shootthescam@gmail.com

list to this. maybe scamshooters would like to hear from you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkLLJFdUTH0&feature=channel_page

contact Scamshooters

shootthescam@gmail.com

What they do is quote a price and length of the price quote like $54.99 for a year, but NEVER tell you on the phone that it is minimum 2 year contract . Then they give you a form letter and at the bottom with a small blurb about being a 2 yr contract and if the contract is broken you are subject to a charge of up to $480.00 All of this with a bunch of other paper work thrown at you at time of installation. Talk about a RIP OFF!
Then when I finaly quit them. I had to call 5 times to get them to send me a recovery kit. Each time saying it would be fed ex'd to me.
Good thing I was keeping track of it. The 4th time I finally got a tracking no. only to find out they opened an account for it but never called in to Fed Ex to have it delivered! I don't know what the outcome will be, but I am sure they are going to charge me for late fees for the return of their equipment.

Have any of you tried to take legal action against direct tv, because I am in the same boat. they took over 800.00 out of my account because I cancelled their service and now I am fighting with them to get 435.00 that they owe me, but they keep giving me the run around and transferring me to diff. dept. to talk with some one else. I have waited their 8 weeks it has actually been 9 weeks now and I still don’t have my money.

I just got direct tv installed 3 weeks ago, today I received a bill for 144. dollars, I called to ask how I could owe so much money after I already paid for the first month & installation fees, she mumbled something about paying for July and August, I told her I was only supposed to be paying 44. dollars a month, she said since they didnt receive my discount coupon they would be charging me 71 dollars a month. The service is extremely poor.no technical support, my friend told me to close my bank account before they take any money out like they did to her brothers account. How is a consumer supposed to protect themselves ? From a company that spends millions widely advertising a product and doesnt deliver anywhere near what they promise. how do they continue to operate so decievingly fraudulently. I quit Time - Warner when they charged me for ppv movies I never got, now this I seriously dought that there are any reputable companies left out there.

Directv, like most companies base their rates on credit scores...if you hadn't sent in your rebate information yet, then until it is processed you do get the full charge, on top of that. If you paid any fees before the installation (maybe 200 or 300 for equipment) that is due to your credit rating.

Direct TV is one of the Crappiest I ever have come in contact with when I signed up biggest mistake of my life they told me that I need a 225.00 deposit which I paid well I live in Texas any time the wind picks up the satellite quits working if it rains it quits working if its too sunny it quits working it is a JOKE! well I decided when I moved into my new home Not to continue so I called them to cancel and to find out if they would credit my DEPOSIT towards my final bill they said oh well that was not a deposit it was a fee! I said a fee to be a customer of the ### company out there? had I known that I would have NEVER signed up on top of that they want to charge me another 250.00 for cnacelling the service plus my last bill so I owe these ###ERs 600.00 then she had the nerve to tell me she was going to charge my credit card on file for these charges well I informed her that I had cancelled the credit card and she would not be charging ### so FYI do not sign up for automatic credit card payments and if your going to cancel service make sure you cancel the card on record well DIRECT TV KNOW THIS I WILL BE REPORTING YOUR FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES TO THE BBB AND TELLING EVERYONE I KNOW NOT TO SIGN UP WITH YOUR ### ### COMPANY AND ALSO I WILL NEVER PAY THAT BILL I WOULD RATHER FILE BANKRUPTCY THAN PAY THAT BILL YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A COMPANY AND ANYONE EVEN CONSIDERING SIGNING UP""" DO NOT DO IT"""" Please stick with cable I actually got all the movie channels DVR, unlimited local and long distance phone service with voicemail, three way calling, caller ID call waiting, call forwarding etc.. and high speed internet for ONLY 110.00 dollars per month through COMCAST NO CONTRACT! AND IF THEY REQUIRE A DEPOSTI THEY REFUND IT! I paid 120.00 for only satellite no dvr no phone no internet and when you really need to watch tv for example BAD WEATHER TORNADO of SEVERE THUNDERSTORM! THE SATELLITE WILL NOT WORK! EVERYONE SHOULD CALL AND REPORT DIRECT TV TO BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU.

You all should just ask for a copy of the agreements with the company before signing up, every comment I've read so far is related to something covered in there.

I am not defending DirecTV but I do believe you should be more informed before you go and file complaints and lawsuits for things DirecTV covers their ### for in the first place.

Just my 2 cents.

I to am having trouble with Direct TV, but I went from Dish to Direct and now I am going with the cable company. I have been in business since 1967 and I WOULD NEVER TREAT MY CUSTOMERS SO SHABY. We are called liers, and are treated as if we have cheated them. I for one am tied of it. When you pay $140.00 a month for sat service you damn well expect to get it. But you don't and in the long run they tell you " OH YOU SIGNED A 2 YEAR CONTRACT ( like the phone companies)

Well NO ONE TOLD ME THERE WAS A CONTRACT AT ALL.

I didn't have one with Dish at least no one said I did. Direct said I signed the paperwork when the two guys hooked everything up. The guys told me it was paperwork showing they did there job on the installation . I was reluctant to sign it because they didn't even have time to show us how to use the remotes. Or how to use the DVR we got. We haven't used it because we don't know how. They were in a hurry.

I told the guy at Direct 'No one said I had a 2 year contract or any other contract.' I talked to Direct TV and they told me to sign up online. ( I figured out that way they have your credit card number for there use.) ( Anyway I canceled that card today... )

I ask the guy where online it says I am signing up for 2 years and he said it shows " more info " by the DVR and I would have to click on it to see where the 2 year contract is required. Well if I didn't want or need more info on the DVR guess what I didn't click on it. Therefore I did not see where it said a 2 year contract was required. So I got screwed.

Is this legal what these companies do like hiding information or deiberatly not telling you that is vital to the whole signing up process?

Now I want out I was mislead and misrepresented and I'm mad.. I got tied up in the contracts with the cell phone companies and I swore I wouldn't do it again.

I was tricked into this and want to know if anyone out there knows how to get out. My daughter-in-law got out of nextel by stating she didn't accept the administration and regulartory fees. Is there anything like that out there. This is not right to mislead and treat us so bad. Then make it look like we did something wrong. HELP

I signed up for Direct TV in early May 2009. I was promised a rebate of $21 a month for the first year. The installer did tell me that I had to go online to sign up for it, something I wasn't told when I originally signed up.

Following his advice I went online, signed up, only to be told by the website that at this time no rebate was available to me.

I called Direct TV, explained the problem and the customer service representative assured me he had taken care of the problem and it was resolved.

Three months into the bills from Direct TV I still have not received a rebate so I called again 7/9/09. I was told nobody could access my account even with my password, that the IT department would send me an email with a generic password so I could access my account. No emai was ever sent.

Yesterday I emailed them again to report the problems I was having, no response.

This is very frustrating, it as though if they make it difficult they will never have to pay these promised rebates out. I have read online several complaints of the same nature.

Thank you for your time.

Sandi Boyd
PO Box 1065
Cripple Creek, CO 80813
Direct TV account # [protected]

I was billed a fee of $176 for earlier termination after being with direct TV for 5 years.
They state it was becuase I upgraded to a high definition receiver a year ago, I was never informed of this particular automatic contract renewal and even when it might be in the user agreement ( I do not see one signed by me during the upgrade) it is on my opinion, a very dishonest practice.
I called directtv and tried to work the issue out with the financial department, but they did not have the cortesy to refund the fee.
I am not going to get the money back, but I want to warn people on being very carefull when dealing with these sharks.
ah...and direct tv will not have me as client never again!

Thanks,
Jose

I have found this company to have the following problems: the sales associates on the phone are rude, the wait times to speak to someone on the phone are unacceptable, they have hidden charges and they overbill you, they give you the incorrect information, and are to put it bluntly the most incompetent company I have ever been unfortunate enough to deal with. I would be very surprised if I was the only customer out there having these specific problems with this business and would be interested in hearing from other consumers in relation to this issue.

Would anyone be interested in trying to take legal action against this company and its unacceptable and unusual incompetence?

I posted a complaint on July 13, 2009. Please feel free to mail me from that post if interested.

I was astounded to find pages and pages of complaints from other customers so I know I am not alone with my problems with them.

Businesses should not be allowed to run like this without any consequences being assesed.

Thank you.

Would anyone be interested in helping me possibly attempt to take legal action against this company? I was astounded to find over seventy pages of complaints so I know I am not the only one with an issue here. Please posta reply on this board or feel free to mail me directly if you would be interested in organizing a consumer action team. Thank you.

DirectTV locked me into a 2 year contract with out my consent. The customer service lady specifically stated that I WOULD NOT have a contract with their service. The installers went to the wrong address 2 times, requiring my husband and I to take time off from work, before they FINALLY showed up at our address on the third attempt. DirectTV then stated that we have a 2 year contract per the paper work that was sent to the wrong address. Their customer service people are ill prepared, will tell you what you want to hear just to get your business. No one in the company will take responsibility for their mistake and the supervisors are EXTREMELY RUDE. How can a company lock you into a contract with out verbal or written consent? Why would anyone take on a 2 year service agreement when they can go to DishNetwork or Comcast with out one. Plus, DishNetwork and Comcast have better customer service, better DVRs, and better tc service. DO NOT TAKE DIRECT TV's SERVICE!

Carollee I sent you a message.

Thanks for the reply!

I agree 100% that DIRECTV does nothing but scam unsuspecting people into a contractual agreement. I just recently found that I was in a 12 mo contractual agreement and this without even signing one paper. No wonder they're paying their own customers to scam their friends, family, co-workers into signing up for services with them. I went so far as to report them to the BBB and as one would expect nothing was done. These are a bunch of white collar con artist and what can little people like us do but sit around and complain to each other because we don't have the money or the resources to fight back.

Also, at this point in time I have no stations...In Phoenix AZ...What kind of weather would prevent the satellite from working?

This company has horrible customer service. AT&T messed up totally in ordering this service for us. My specific questions in switching from Dish to Direct TV was that I would be able to continue recording movies (DVR) and be able to pause a show. YES, DEFINITELY, everything will be exactly the same. When Direct TV came out they installed a "standard" box. This was the wrong equipment that AT&T ordered and Direct TV installed. NOW, they want me to pay $181 in order to get the correct equipment in my home.

Their policy and customer service s u c k ! They can't get around this policy and are unwilling to wave the fee for their error all the way up to the office of the president. I am sure that is just a name! There is no reason for the customer to pay for the company's error.

The AT&T customer service agent supposedly used a credit card that I never gave her to get the sale. I am screwed all the way around and am ready to cancel AT&T and Direct TV and they can get their fees from that credit card the rep used to begin with.

cancled Direct Tv Service because I moved in with family and they took $509.86 out of my fathers bank account. They did not have the authorization from him to with draw it out. That in my eyes is grand larcney. The bank told us to contact direct tv and have them refund it back or to file a police report. We have been working for a week to get the money back into my fathers account.

I do understand your anger, but the fault does not belong to directv. Directv will ask you to pay upfront to get the correct equipment, this is to recoup their losses for the wrong equipment in the first place, they will credit that entire amount back to your directv account. AT&T placed the order for you, and yes you do need a credit card or debit card to sign up for services for Directv (as with most cable, satellite, and phone providers lately). In this case the error falls on AT&T for the incorrect equipment ordered, though you could have helped yourself by calling Directv and having them pull your order info to verify all equipment is correct, on top of that I'm guessing that you were installed within 72 hours of your order as companies such as directv will usually send out a confirmation letter about your order with details on what is going to be installed and your programming package

I have had this service three months and have been paying for HD service I don't even have. The guy didn't install the correct cords and when I called customer service for help thye said they can send a guy out for $49.99 to help assist THEIR MISTAKES!

I canceled my service today and a lady named Amber informed me of an early termination fee that leaves you bound to this company "by law." She proceeds to tell me they can debit any card I have on file with them $400 the cancellation fee of course at any time. Is this ethical? Is this even lawful?

This company has given me nothing, but problems from day one and I met my last battle today and I do not recommend them to anyone EVER!

ANGRY CUSTOMER

AS WELL...

Direct TV over billed me, did not charge their advertised rate, charged my credit card without my permission, then extended my cancellation date by adding a month and a movie, and now is charging me an added cancellation fee. I have written 6 letters and nothing has changed. They continue to ignore the fact they themselves do not adhere to same agreement they would expect you to adhere to, which by the way I still have not seen to date. I have asked repeatedily for them to produce this mystery agreement and receive nothing. These people are bad news and continue to prey on the unsuspected. I changed to Direct TV for a better value and it ended up being a huge nightmare between fighting these ###s, to being without serviced for 2 weeks waiting on new service to be activated, etc. This has been an inconvenience beyond belief. For those unsuspecting souls who read this note, beware of Direct TV. If you want satellite TV, go somewhere else. These people are out to steal and rob from you given every chance. They do not honor their own word. They remind of a snake in the grass waiting to strike.

Realist: Putting the renewal notice inside of a box that most people won't look at isn't an ethical or acceptable way to legally notify customers of a change in service. Direct TV is obligated to notify customers in a manner that is clear and open. Hiding it in the back of the receiver is pretty shady.

As for the DVR, you can certainly purchase one for as cheap as $130 that is completely your own. Yes, there are lease agreements with some purchased from Best Buy, but many DVRs (even some offered at Best Buy) are not part of the Direct TV or any other company's package and are completely and totally your own after purchase. You don't know what kind of DVR he bought so why would you assume that?

Also, NonnieMouse, many individuals apparently do have copies of their agreements and yet their contracts do not contain the information that Direct TV is citing and claiming allows them to do what they are doing. Customers who have lost or misplaced their contracts are not being provided copies, despite the fact that DTV is required to provide it if so asked.

I would imagine that people insist their cards were charged because they were. Quite a number of people both on this forum and others have complained about Direct TV not only charged their card when they think they shouldn't, but charging their other cards, bank accounts, and even accounts of any friends or family who graciously covered a bill one month. These other accounts are sometimes ones that DTV did not even have on file.

Worst company I ever came across in U.S.A, all my collegues are using Dish right now after they got tired of Direct TV, they switched to Dish. I still can not switch yet, you kown, if I want to cancel right now, $480 charge will be post immediately!

I get Direct TV ordered, and found an un-authorized charget for more than $200 on my credit card, 4 days after I ordered online, even before I install and activate them, Are they just crazy for Money only?
If I still can be given another chance, I will choose Dish, even comcast, instead of Direct TV, or I just stop watching TV if this is the only brand left in the world!

We had DirecTV service for many years and didn't have any problems with them until we terminated service with them last year. We moved and were not able to take their service with. We terminated it and requested a FINAL bill be sent. We began getting phone call after phone call but no one would leave a message. Suddenly they stopped...about a month after we terminated our service we happened to check our bank account balance online and found out DTV had withdrawn the ENTIRE balance of the bill WITHOUT our permission, without ANY notice, and of course never sent us a closing bill showing it had been paid. We had no idea and they DID NOT have our permission to take any money. Upon calling them and complaining they said they had the right to do it and would send the document to prove...of course we NEVER received that document. She was very rude and we are VERY upset. I thought it was against the law to take money out of an account without permission...I guess they are above the law. Is there any recourse?

Why hasn't the FCC pulled Direct TV license? Their "rebate" is a joke because their web site only shows "errors" when you attempt to file for one. If you do a "paper transaction" rebate they say it could takes months (if ever) to get the rebate. Meanwhile they can continue to overbill you monthly because you haven't supplied them with the rebate! Am being charged for two TV connects - when I only have one. Was never given my "free DVD player" and I could go on and on. My next steps will be to the AG offices and FCC. Pam

Direct TV also took $221.85 out of my account without authorization. It overdrew my bank account and my bank gave the money back. Direct TV said they didn't take it but the bank looked and said they took it out and also had their phone next to the transaction. I called and they told me to call Qwest because we bundled our phone with the tv. When I called Qwest they told me that I needed to call Direct Tv. They went back & forth for 45 minutes while I was at work. Finally I talked to some from Qwest in the resolution dept and the person we had originally talked to didn't disclose any of the information that they should have (deposit, contract, etc) she said it was called cramming and offered us $200 credit on our phone bill to compensate for everything that we had been going through. Not to mention, he went ahead and started the process before we even approved it. We think he was fired or was severly repremanded. We have only had Direct TV for 2 months and our bill came a few days ago and it was for $327. They said the bank took the money back from them and now Qwest wants to take it back from me because I was given the credit. They gave me credit for all the hassles not the money that Direct TV took. Now Qwest wants us to pay the $221.85 back plus $106. It was supposed to be 39.99 a month. I have kept calling and everyone just keeps giving us the runaround and they won't call back. I told them to cancel the services and pick up their equipment and I won't pay a penalty for cancelling. They still haven't called me back. I was told that there is a lawsuit against DirectTV right now for fraudulant charges among other illegal things. We are fed up with all of this. It has been nothing but a giant pain in the rear since the day I called them. If anyone knows about the lawsuit, I'd like to find out. They are the worst company I have ever dealt with and Qwest isn't any better. They are both terrible.

i canceled my account back in Dec 07 and in Jan 08 send back the reciver by FED EX, for about 8 months now i have been getting letters from collections asking for me to pay for the reciver i sent back already in Jan 08. I called today and the excuse was we will scan it in when we can and the charge will drop off? It was sent in Jan 08 this is the end of 09 it takes that long? I gave them a fed ex tracking number and now they said they will research it? very bad customer serive.
HORRIBLE!

DIRECT TV IS BY FAR THE WORST CABLE COMPANY OUT THERE. IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED W/THEIR SERVICES YOU ONLY HAVE 24 HRS TO BREAK YOUR 2 YR CONTRACT.
THIS, OF CORSE, WILL NOT BE DISCLOSED TO YOU AT THE TIME OF YOUR CONTRACTURAL AGREEMENT.
BUYER BE WARE, THEY DO NOT PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICES AND PACKAGES AVAILABLE AND IT IS A PAIN IN THE GLUTES WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO GET RID OF THEM.

Direct TV agreement was for a two yr contract at $39.99 per month, to include 156 channels, two recievers, and free installation. Also, agreed was a $100.00 rebate to the friend recomending them to me, as well as a $100.00 rebate to myself.
As I do not have a bank account, we used my mothers American Express account to process the agreement, of which there was a $35 dollar charge to initiate the service.
When I called to get the promised rebate, I was told that they would not let me get the rebate or take the information for a 30 day time period. I even thought this was irregular, and indeed tried to start the rebate again, one week later, again, they would not let me file for the rebate.
Now, they have charged my Mothers American Express account the amount of $35 dollars, and ALSO have sent me an additional bill for the amount of $61.48. I called them and asked if there perhaps was a billing mistake, and was told, "NO", as the rebate had not been started, and that I could do that over the internet. I told them this was not right, and that I had agreed to pay the monthly charge of $39.99, and that I would not pay the higher amount they now wanted. They said that after NOW filing for the rebate, that it would take about 8 weeks, and I would be billed again for another $61.48, until the rebate came into effect. Also, they also told me that the rebate would be over a 10 month time period of a reduction in cost of $10 per month.
I then told them this was NOT what I had signed up for and agreed to, and that they were not honoring the agreement, and that if this was how their service was to be, that I indeed wanted to cancel the service. They then told me that I would be charged $480.00 for early termination. With this I have not applied for the rebate, as for fearing if I do, that I will be further putting myself and my Mothers credit card in jeopardy. What should I do?

Haha Let me know if you figure it out because we are going through the exact same thing. The cancellation charge will go on automatically, and they keep your credit card/bank number on file. The only way to get rid of your mom's card is to give them a new number. Do consider, though, that after reading many of these complaints, quite a few people who fulfilled their contracts were still charged cancellation fees. Somebody needs to organize a class-action suit against this company. I don't know how they get away with it.

Floyd Deloney has been a loyal customer since the onset of Direct TV satelite service. EVERY TIME it rains or we have a thunder storm, the satelite service cuts off. Also, they play the same shows on the all the time for years. We are unhappy and therefore we are changing satelite servicr and will no longer have Direct TV.

All satelites do that when raining hard. We have satelites at work, not for tv but for our computer system. When it rains hard we lose connection.

How do they get your checking account numbers?

Can I ask everyone how they got your personal checking account numbers?

http://www.directv.com/see/pdf/backofthebill.pdf

Read the bold print.

They are tricky a word of advice, Before you cancel anycontract which involves a direct payment, cancel the credit card, report it lost, or call your bank and tell them not to honor any debits from that company if possible
cable companies do the same thing