DirecTV
Reviews and Complaints

Starting on nov.18, 2009 to today, dec. 11, 2009 I have been trying to get an install redone because it was sloppily done with wires zigzaging across the back wall of my house and have them placed under my house which has a large crawl space. After several attemps to have them come out and do the wiring through the walls they mess up and drilled holes through my hardwood floor. Before this happened I had contacted them probaly close to 10 times and they came out at least five or six before I then contacted the office of the precident as recommended by one of ltheir own imployeees. At the office to the prsident I talked to a fellow named david. Going over all the facts it was documented how I wanted it done and all the hassels and waste a time I had to go through including three missed apointments. It was even documented I wanted the wiring done through the wall while the case manager ashly pin #2443 was on the phone taking notes and repeating them to me. Next time they came out they drilled holes in my floor. They then tried to turn the tables and say if the customer wants special wiring the customer is expected to explain this to the installer and if he doesn't do what you said it is your fault in a pretty straiaght fowrward way. What is the purpose of the office or case manager taking notes, it is totally rediculous on the lack of communication and respect that lower management has torward their superiors. The day they drilled holes in my floors I called back to complain and another rep. Id number u1455 told me that the floor is considered a wall. Can you believe this. Then he retracted and said the floor cost the same as going through a wall. I was told by a supervisor on the third day after installation (Which was about 3 weeks earlier but not documented) by a supervisor after I threatened to cancil my contract that if "they can run a telephone wire under the basement they can run a cable wire at no extra charge." I was later corrected by the office of the president that this is not true and that it costs $49 to go through a wall if it is under the house as the floor is considered a wall. (In terms a price) then he protected himself by saying that the contracters can give you breaks if they like, but their policy was $49 to go through a wall. I was told everything under the sun in terms of cost for wiring as well as adding an additional box after installation. It was incredible. One said $49, another said $160, another said $190 and even gave my a break down. It is amazing of the lack of communication. Now here is the crazying thing, I was never concerned about price as I was just getting the job done the way I wanted it. They just kept talking about the cost and the price. I told them from my very first call I would pay what they want, just that they do it the way I requested. It seems the office of the president are more concentrated on saving a buck then what the customer is really complaining about. How crazy are these people I hope they learn to become more professional. Please feel free to post and share this with anyone, just leave my name off please.

Thanks for your help and sorry for the rush job,

Sincerely,

Paul a. Cereghino

Photos avail. Upon request. Just imagine 3 small holes in your hardwood floors about3/4 inch wide.

I haven't had Direct TV for even two weeks and my service went down, which I can deal with. I call for help and they tell me I have to wait a day and a half with out my tv. I don't like it, but I can deal with it. I wait at home for 4 hours and no technician shows up. I figure he's running late, but I can deal with it. I call the customer service line and they tell me "they" must have scheduled the wrong Friday or told me the wrong date--- so I'll just have to wait an additional week until next Friday. At that point I will have not had Direct TV service longer than I have had Direct TV service. They make no attempt to help schedule a sooner appointment. Evidently when you have problems you are in the same line/schdule as new customers signing up for Direct TV. So---once they have you they don't make it a priority to fix your problem. After speaking to a supervisor, nothing else happened. He just explained that fact, Brandon from OK customer service number V1859, to me. Basically "We are sorry, but we don't stand by our product and I will listen to your problem, read a script, but not help you." For those of you thinking of switching from Dish or cable --- DON"T DO IT, SIT TIGHT AND ENJOY YOUR TV. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Kim Johnston
(AKA back to playing board games in Wisconsin)

DirecTV promised up to $200 for if I disconnect my Dish Network service. Sure enough, I called Dish Networks, disconnected Service (their customer service was very rude threatening me with $175 early termination fee (I didn’t care about this much, but the guy tried to make it a huge deal)), and had DirecTV install their toys in my house. 5-6 months have passed, and I haven’t received the prepaid visa card till now (12/26/2013).
This is the story of the 5-6 months waste of stamps, gas to go to the USPS, energy and printer ink:
1. I sent 1st rebate mail to
DIRECTV Winback Early
Cancellation Fee Offer
Offer #361-85
PO Box 753725
El Paso, TX [protected]
2. I Got notification from DirecTV to say the initial rebate mail doesn't include Dish Network bill statement to say ECF (very basic paper to say this); the statement was sent, but they said it didn’t include the $175;
3. I Called Dish - they sent me the bill statement;
4. I sent a 2nd rebate mail to include early termination fee of $175;
5. I Got 2nd notification from DirecTV to say the initial rebate mail doesn't include Dish Network bill statement to say ECF;
6. I Called Dish again and after speaking with 5 representatives, they managed to e-mail me the last 6 months bill statements; Printed them out, put the rebate form again, and sent it over to DirecTV;
7. Called DirecTV – spoke with 2 reps (to include a manager/supervisor); they said that the statement (which I read them over the phone) is fine;
8. Sent 3rd rebate mail with statement that included the Early Termination Fee of $175;
9. Yet again, I got notification to say the initial rebate mail doesn't include Dish Network bill statement to say ECF;
10. I submitted complaint online through DirecTV; Spoke with Ismael P (ID U5632) DIRECTV Resolution Specialist who was quick to ask me to resend the form to the same address, emphasizing to me that I have to do this and that, as if I haven’t done that 3 times already. Hard to believe that. He even sent ma an e-mail with instructions on how to submit my rebate form. Unbelievable, again. I told the guy I’m a Computer Science Engineer – MBA in IT Management, not an idiot not to be able to follow their basic instructions through.
11. Resolution specialist sent me over to Cancellation department, after I insisted I’m done with doing business with them. I ended up begging the guy to send me over there.
12. Cancellation department wants to take their lovely 7-10 business days to get back to me with a solution. No thank you!
My wallet has an indentation of $515 to include $175 from Dish Network termination fee, and $340 early cancellation fee from DirecTV. Way to go, Dish and DirecTV. You both seem to be like Twins: bad customer service, poor management and unqualified employees to handle such problems (they were quick to tell me what to do, instead of listening to my initial problem).
After 4 months of being with DirecTV, I’m happy to be free from DirecTV and Dish Networks.
TV cable is gone from my house, and it will stay that way for my whole life. No more, no more, no more. Done and forever Farwell!
I can’t wait for that day when both of these businesses will find something else to do, but provide TV Cable services.

Like others, DirecTV charged my account over $300 after we cancelled our service (we switched providers to get a better deal). They never sent a final bill and we never authorized the charges to be paid from our account. We contacted our bank and they said it was totally legal and that any company with your credit/debit and/or bank acount number and routing number can submit charges to be paid by your bank (we live in VA so it may be different for other states). I was livid. Our bank said that we should file a dispute against the DirecTV charges and that Visa (since they are the label on our check cards) would follow up with the dispute and "see if they could get DirecTV to put the money back in to our account" and work out a payment with us. I just don't understand how a company expects people to pay for something when they haven't detailed the charges to the person or given a payment date. This is unethical at best and I just don't understand how the laws can be so against consumers. Very upsetting.

Our home is on Mackinac Island, MI. We arranged installation with Direct TV through AT&T. On day of installation we received a call from employee of of the 3rd party installation company they asked "where's our tickets to take the ferry over to your island?" We had no idea we needed to arrange this. He said we did and had to arrange a horse taxI to our home (no cars allowed on island). It was hard to arrange last minute but we did and it cost us $100. He came over to the house installed the dish but said there was a problem. He said we’re getting signal but the receiver was bad. We had to make another appt. but didn't think we should pay again for transportation. Direct TV said they’d book the 2nd trip and not charge us because they’d be on the island. They never showed up. We called back and they said we should have arranged transportation. We called to arrange another trip on and have arranged transportation at our expense. We are very unhappy.

Apon moving into my house I decided I'd try Directv. So After going online and seeing there free dvr upgrade for free I signed up online picked all the stuff i wanted and due to a deposit I had to physically call them. 200 dollar deposit with is fine long as i get it back... we'll see. Once I called them my setup date was for the 20th of November. The Tech guy comes out with 2 regular receivers no dvr's. He said just call directv and let em know and they will ship one out even swap. (no time span given) It is now the 4th of December and my 2nd receiver went bad in the bedroom last night (not even 2 weeks) after not even watching it 2 hrs since the 20th. Figured now's the time to call them and get the free dvr i was supposed to get. After talking to them 3 different times i was informed that since i didn't call that day that i had to pay an extra 100 dollars for the dvr. After speaking to 1 lost rep, 1 ignorant rep who just was there to charge me fees, and one that actually tried to help me i asked for a supervisor. Got the run round with that and was on hold forever. Was told i declined the dvr receiver so i said why would i decline a free dvr receiver that's why i got service with y'all? Long story short... its not possible for them to change a regular receiver with a dvr receiver because i didn't call that day... and there computers aren't set up to do that... what happened in the day when someone admits to there mistakes and does whatever it takes to make a customer happy and satisfied? I have to return the crappy receiver that took a crap after 2 hours of viewing and there shipping me the same crappy kind back when i originally was supposed to be a dvr receiver. Wouldn't recommend anyone use directv there just there to collect a buck anyway they can and now I'm stuck in a contract for 2 years after just 10 days of service I'm completely dissatisfied!

Second time this year now, directtv has taken away channels from my programming package. 6 month ago they took away espn classic and this time they took away the kids channel and a number of other children's programming. Their excuse for both was that the channel provider requested directtv to make that change and it was not in directtv's hands. But get this, those channels are available in the next package if I want to pay extra $5 a month. It seems like this is a great marketing scheme to try not to raise prices, but instead taking away programming and forcing you to pay extra by signing up for the higher package. I'm concerned that next year at this time, I will be paying more for my tv service with half of the channels that I am receiving now. Directtv's excuse is that their fine print states that programming is subject to change. Is there anyone that the consumers can contact to fight for this? I know that the better business bureau is worthless, but there has to be someone else.
Before you sign up for any cable, or for that matter internet service, my suggestion is that after you talk to them on the phone, follow up with an email and try to get everything you can in writing.

Direct TV - the worst mistake I have ever made in satellite/cable choices. Since November, I have had nothing but problems with Direct TV. Apparently the capability of posting a payment properly to one's account is not in their training materials. After faxing copies of cleared checks - made payable to Direct TV, PO Box 6414, Carol Stream, IL [protected] - I was told on at least 3 occasions that my checks were not cashed by Direct TV - but by Cingular One. Interesting since I have never had a Cingular One account in my life and since the checks were payable to Direct TV. Today after receiving a letter and again - really LOUSY customer service, I have cancelled my contract - and will be filing complaints with every consumer action/protection group I can. Would I recommend Direct TV or any other sattelite company to a friend? Not even to my worst enemy!

Direct tv is refusing to remove a credit card, so that it is holding it hostage, said if i cancel they will take early cancel fees out of that card the next day and they will not susp or cancel untill i pay 29.99 so, as i am an elder lady who has had medical hardship that occured two weeks after getting direct tv and have lasted so far half a year, and i was keeping up with bill untill now so every rep i talk to over and over and over will be so unreasonable and do not care about hardships, the only why i guess is to pass away, they are rude, and they must take lessons on harrasing the customer to get their money not matter what, i promise i have only had it for six months and i regret it and want out of it and will never never never ever have it again and will spread the word to family and friends about the worse service and uncaring and rude people and at christmas time too, bad people do not get direct tv you will be sorry!

I wished this would actually help but here we go. I have been a customer since 2002. I moved from Colorado to Atlanta in 2006 and used the “movers package”. When I arrived I discovered the waiting time was 3 months! Soon I discovered one of the first DirectTV stores was located at Discover Mills in Lawrenceville, GA. The owner was there and he seemed to be really nice. Anyhow I installed a regular dish and used the Tivo I brought from Colorado. I installed myself and everything worked great. About that time I saw HD TV was coming out and DirectTV would have soooo may channels. So I called up and they had a waiting list that I remember being incredibly long. I went back to the store and ordered a DH DVR unit paying 50% down. The unit arrived and I picked it up. It worked but my Tivo was much a better DVR. I did not know I needed to have a “special dish”. So back to the store. Because the “special dish” had to be mounted with extreme accuracy I was told I could not do it myself. By this time I have invested about 600.00 bucks for the HD received and dish. The installation was another 200.00 bucks. Two weeks later the installer came out and I was really happy. It was summer and Atlanta was experiencing a drought. When it finally rained even a drizzle the reception would go out. Then if the wind blew moderately it would go out. I call the installer from the store and said ‘it worked when they left”. I then called Direct TV and they said because I purchased a DVR and Dish I did not quality for installation and the wait time then was even longer! So I got on the list. A really long time later a technician came and remounted the dish and it worked great! So now I am happy and the service is great!
Yesterday I called to cancel service as I am moving. They tried every angle to get me to stay but my last experience was so horrible and time consuming I decided to go with cable which was virtually instant. So they cancel service. Next the fellow ask for my address because I have to send the receiver back. I told them I own the thing. They said because I paid a lease fee they believed I did not own it. So I tell representative the story which turns out to be a huge waste of oxygen. The just said I need to send them proof I purchased it. Oh get real! Three years ago? He insisted and with complete outrage I hand up. This morning I get up and guess what? Yep no service and error 726. Man these people really play hard ball. Anyhow I have an attorney friend and told me Direct TV has to prove I signed a lease agreement and produce it. The burden of me purchasing this not required. The burden of proof is on their side. I know where this is going. The are going to report the a credit agency and if I do not pay they sell the supposed debt to an agency then I get annoying calls for a long time. All that I have learned is after 7 years of service paying at least 1200.00 per year they want to guarantee I will never use their service again. Pretty stupid move. One just cannot change a leviathan the size of Direct TV.

Was hired by the MasTec/Directv company in Martinsburg, West Va. During multiple interviews and the training process I was very open about the fact that I had nonviolent felonies on my background history. I was told over and over again that it was not a problem. For several months I have been in the field doing everything from installations to fixing other peoples screw ups. I am not bragging but to give you a better idea of why I am so angry is that from the very beginning I was one of the top techs at this company. My customer satisfaction is very high. I was even getting to the point that customers were requesting me by name. After all of this, I was brought into the office and told I was being fired because of me felonies! Makes no sense. I was very up front about my felonies from the very beginning. I was only a few days away from receiving my benefits. Not to mention that I am the sole provider for my wife and three daughters. Any advice, email me. rj at [protected]@hotmail.com. Something should be done but can't get anyone to return my phone calls.

AFNI keeps sending me unknown bills for cable or direct tv that I do not owe.I am elderly and it is causing me mental distress.
I do not owe any bills to either and we have our services in my husbands name.I have never had any in my name.I have never lived in any other place for 42 years as they say.
I need my credit reports corrected and this mail harassment or phone harassment to cease and desist as of today 11/21/09. I can nolonger take this .I have paid some of the debts that were sent and now they continue to send more and more.I will not pay any more debt colletion agency anymore.At my age, credit is not an issue.

This letter is in regard to an assessment fee of $460.00 after “early cancellation” of services with Direct TV. Services were connected on 10/23/2009 shortly thereafter and within the 48 hr time period specified by sales agent and technician Direct TV was immediately notified of my dissatisfaction with its product / services and, in good faith, equipment was promptly returned.
They were notified that if issue with regard to Acct: #@%$&*& cannot be immediately resolved to my reasonable satisfaction the State Consumer Affairs Department, the Better Business Bureau, Local News Network and every personal associate will be notified of Direct TVs Shameful / unfair billing tactics and disregard of legitimate and/or complete customer satisfaction. In a 2009 business environment Direct TV should not underestimate the power of even one "little Person".

The installer never showed up on November 16, 2009 nor called to say that they wasn't coming to install my satellite. I called Directv and the only solution they had was to offer me a reschedule date. I called back 3 times and finally a Mastec office called my. The local manager asked me whether Wednesday, November 18th or Friday, November 20th would be good for a reschedule since I canceled Dish Network on November 11th. I told him that I could take the day off work on Friday, he said a tech will arrive between 12-4pm. Well I decided to call Directv to see what date I was scheduled for install, come to find out I am scheduled for November 23rd. So the Mastec rep had me take off work and lied to me abut my install on today (Friday). I called Directv back, they said if he doesnt' show up on the 23rd to call them back.

They really need to find another company to do their installs. They are lucky I don't like Dish Network or Comcast are I would FIRE them.

Terrell in Atlanta

I got satelite service because I saw the commercials and I thought I could save some money but I was wrong from the begining everything was wrong.

I ask for a DVR box i did not get it plus I got the same channels that I got with Comcast and I was paying $ 80.91 dollars a month with Comcast I was paying the same but with INTERNET, I called Direct TV to see how they can help me in times like this people is trying to save money not spent more money well they could not help me thanks to the poor CUSTOMER SERVICE and they told me if I cancel the contract I have to pay $ 565.00 dollars just for trying to get the service I wanted in other words I end up paying more when I was trying to save money.

If I have something good about DIRECT TV will be that they are good taking people's money.

Had Direct TV installed 2 years ago and 2 weeks ago I informed them I was cancelling my service with them. They informed me I still had 1 year left according to there records.
It seems that a year ago my DVR died and I replaced it with one I purchased from Ebay and that caused my contract to be extended fot two more years.
No one told me this and when I contacted them 3 weeks ago before canceling the service they informed me that they would reset my contract to it's original date and there would be no cancelation charge.
THEY LIED.
After getting off the phone with Mechall 8972 I was told that I was lieing and no one ever reset my original date.
TRUST nothing what they say,
My advise is stay away drom these thieving liars and always get emails don't take there work.

i have wires running through my bed room down the hall way - down side off wall to liveing room my family have triped more than once there is going to be a bad accedent. But they can take my money for service and (professional install.] but they used my old wireing that I had put in myself. they charged me for a add on box, then told me I would have to pay for wireing. they never wired the first box. they keep saying it is nothing wrong with the box I know its because they never ran new wire they used my old line that I had with my channel master dish.

I called on Thusday 11/5/09 and set up an appointment to have the system checked. Friday 11/6/09 the technician called about 6:00pm to confiirm appointment for Satuday 11/7. 20 minutes later a computer calls confirming an appointment for Sunday. Somehow in 20 minutes the company just arbitraily decided to move my appointment 24 hours later without notifying me in any way, shape or form. Then when I talk to a supervisor she gave some ###-in-nine excuse that that was the date that was originally set up. So in actuality she was calling me a liar as well. This company cannot be trusted and their customer service attitude sucks. I DO NOT recommend them for anything. Further when we have lightning in the area we can loose satellite TV for up to an hour and they bloame it on mother nature and refuse to credit my account for lack of service. Now is this piss poor attitude or what?

I ordered direct tv six months ago because i saw the deals for cable for $29.99 a month. I ordered that along with the cheapest internet they have which is $49.99 a month plus a $200.00 non refundable purchase of satellite equipment. They told me that came with wireless internet so i assumed a would be getting a router. Wrong. They don't provide or even let you rent a router so i had to buy one for $50.00. They said that i could receive up to four boxes for my house when i signed up (You have to pay in advance for everything) when the technician arrived he would only give me one box because i only had one television there since i had just began moving in. When i called the next day to get another receiver they said it would be $200 for another receiver and $50 to have it installed. Also, my first few months bills were for $130 because that $29.99 was a load of crap. You have to go online and request a rebate and it takes two months before the rebate starts being applied to your bill. Within the first two months with direct tv i spend over $700 to have basic cable and internet. Ridiculous. And it is the slowest internet i have ever had. I live in an area where they only offer direct tv so i had no other option but to sign a two year contract because that is the only way you can get service with them. This is the most screwed i have ever felt by a cable or service provider. ###. Beware!

I cancelled my service with direct tv april 30th, 2009. Found out in may they had not cancelled, so it was cancelled again. I was told by direct tv in may 09 i was owed a refund of $73.35 which i would not receive until after sept 4, 09 because it would take that long to process. Evidently direct tv has no personnel which is trained to give refunds & it takes 6 to 8 weeks to train them. Just my opinion. Have called customer service & billing 6 times since sept, each time i have been told my refund was being escalated higher up and i would receive my check within 10 days. It is now nov 5th, i have just called direct tv again and spoke with a supervisor named jacob and once again been told the same thing. It amazes me that each & every month i receive a statement from direct tv showing they owe me the refund, but they can't send the check and be done with it. I believe now all customer service reps and the entire billing dept. With direct tv is trained by direct tv to lie, put you off and then laugh their heads off when they get off the phone with you on how they just scamed you again. I also believe there must be something we can do as previous customers and consumers even if it means filing suit which will be a good bit more than what the refund owed, but now it has come down to the principal of thing. I realize direct tv assumes if they put you off long enough you will give up. Where are the laws put in effect by the lawmakers of this country against such blatant, arrogant dis-repect for consumers by direct tv?
It is time direct tv be taken to task in a court of law and i for one have the documentation & recordings to prove all i have stated.