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We purchased Direct TV at Sam's Club from what we thought was a Direct TV representative instead he was a Smart Circle International employee. The package was totally misrepresented and the information given to us was a complete lie. Fortunately we called the actual Direct TV customer service in time to cancel. We were told by Direct TV we had only 24 hrs to cancel without cost. They however, would not replace our DISH satllite back on our roof. Steer clear. It appears to be a scam.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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I also signed up for Direct TV at Sam's Club from what I thought was a Direct TV employee. After no one showed up at the installation time, I called Direct TV and discovered that it was a Smart Circle International employee. When I called Smart Circle International to complain about the installation no-show they said that they could not locate my acount number. I supplied the account number I received from Direct TV and was told that it was not valid and could not be used because their rep had entered it wrong. I was told that I would have to sign up for another plan and schedule a different installation date. When I called Direct TV back I discovered that they had cancelled my account while I was on the phone with them. Someone owes me the hours of my life back I spent waiting for them to show up on a Saturday afternoon. Avoid this company if at all possible.
I did the same thing, i just found out yesterday that it was not a Direct TV employee. I was lied to by the salesman. I only purchased it becuase he told me we were getting WLOX in April, i signed up the end of March. I still do not and according to Direct TV will not have WLOX becuase of my zip code! Everyone with a complaint should file it with the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney Generals Office. I am, i also feel that Sams and Direct TV are to blame so i am including them. We were mislead in Sams, becuase we trusted this to be legitimate.
I also had the same problem and have been on the phone between Sam's Club, Direct TV and Smart Circle International. Smart Circle redirects you to call [protected], DirectTV and Direct TV asks you to contact Sam's Club and lastly Sam's Club gives you Smart Circle International phone number. I have spent a couple of hours trying to resolve this over pricing and misrepresentation of the price on the contract. I plan to file a complaint to the BBB on two of the companies and the state attorney's office.
There is no reason to waste so much time trying to resolve the existing problems with the promised services. Stay away from Direct TV and Smart Circle International. I just talked to the Sam's Club Manager and he is trying to contact the store rep himself and promised me that he will try his best to resolve the issue.
Same deal but through Costco. They promised AT&T Internet 50, but could only deliver half the speed... at the same price!
I think we should all file a complaint and we should be able to terminate our contract. My problem is not with the pricing, it is better than cableone, I only signed up because the salesman told me i would have WLOX in April, and that is what i expect to get, not New Orleans channels. New Orleans is farther way from me than Biloxi, it doesn't make sense! I was lied to to make a sale and i have a big problem with that.
Thanks to all the people on this site that shared their experience signing up for Direct TV through Sam's. I was in one of their stores this past weekend and went through the sales pitch...and it was Waaaaayy to good to be tue. All those channels...low monthly payments...free equipment...free HD for life... I was ready to sign up right there...thinking I would be protected by Sam's if it wasn't what they said, but I invoked my "48hr rule"...don't do anything for 48 hours or until you do some research". I chose NOT to move forward with the Dish. THANK YOU ALL for saving me a major headache. I hope you are able to work everything out in your favor. Good Luck
I signed up with Direct Tv at Sam's Club also, and I too was misinformed. I was under the impression that the sales representative was an actual Direct Tv sales person. No one showed up for the first scheduled appointment and I did not receive a call from them until 6pm the day of my appointment to let me know they needed to reschedule my installation. The second appointment the same thing happened and I rescheduled again. The third time I called to make sure they were coming to the appointment so I would not be wasting my time sitting around waiting on them only to find out that the installer had called in and said that they had already been to my house and no one was home and when they called me no one answered the phone. I informed the customer service representative that I was home and no one called me nor did anyone ring my doorbell. The customer representative basically called me a liar, not once, but several times. When I asked to speak to his supervisor he told me there was no one available but he could transfer me to their voicemail and I could leave a message. He then told me he would call the tech's office to find out what happened and he would call me back. He called me back a few minutes later and told me he could not get a hold of anyone at the tech's office but there was a supervisor availble to speak with me. When I spoke to the so called supervisor she gave me the run around and basically called me a liar also. I was so livid by the time I got off the phone so I emailed customer service at Direct Tv about the situation only to find out that it was not a representative from Direct Tv that I was speaking with it was a Smart Circle International Representative. This is misrepresentation of a company and Sam's Club is a big enough coorperation that they should not allow this to happen to their paying customers!
I have suffered the same as most of your correspondents above. I also believed that I was purchasing a system from Direct TV and the installation was done on Saturday, the installer charged me an extra $80 for "extra work" when the installation should be free. I called Direct TV to complain and only then was I informed that I was dealing with a sub-contractor, Smart Circle International. It is my intention to take this up with Sam's Club and insist that this sales booth should have some form of identification showing that you are not dealing with Direct TV. Everything about their display makes you believe that you are dealing direct, even the shirts with the Direct TV logo on them just adds to the illusion.
The person on their booth has promised to call me back but so far I am still waiting.
This is very true of Smart Circle, Direct TV, and Sam's. It is like a conspiracy. I was lied to to get me to sign the 2 year contract in 2010. I was told I could get another promotion for 2011 by calling Nov. or Dec. or 2010 ahead of time. I have been trying to get another promotion for 2 months now and can't from any of them. I finally got a DirecTV referral credit that had been due me from 06/10, and my Sam's membership credit that was due at time of installation. The Rep knew that I am on social security and could not afford the big cost of the second year without another promotion price, so I was definitely lied to, mislead, etc., to get the contract signed.
i just had the direct tv guy here from the service i ordered a week ago from the sales guy at sams club. He didnt have three out of the five receivers. Also on top of that the sales man at the sam's club told us we could do the referral thing and get ten more dollars off a month for a year which turns out was a lie. So now after the tech has the satellite on the roof he couldn't finish cause we called direct TV to complain about the missing receivers and they told him to stop that it is against regulations to hook anything up without having everything. This has been the worst service i have ever received and i didn't even start my contract with them yet. I've been on the phone all morning and they basically told me "nothing they can do". I took off work and sat here all day waiting for this clown to get here and now i have to take off work again three days for him to finish. Oh and on top of that we got five receivers so of course we had to pay for the fifth which is understandable all together it was ninety some dollars twenty some of which was shipping and handling. I have bought stuff with over night shipping that was cheaper then that and its been almost a weak and a half and they still don't have it. So far i am disgusted with direct TV.
Just to let you all know, Directv is fully aware of these promotions. They actually hire smart circle for this and that is why the sales people introduce themselves as directv employees. That is what directv requires of them. So if you need to take an issue with anyone I would recommend directv, the whole promotion is entirely their idea.
As a former Smart Circle rep and manager, I will tell u that most of the promos that they offer thru Sams and Best Buy are better then what you get thru Directv corporate. The reason they are better is bc Sams and Best Buy offer this on top for they're customers only. The problem is that there are promotions that you can't get with smart circle like the friends and family referral discount. Custom installation will cost you way more with smart circle then directv bc there is more hands in the cookie jar. Directv pays the retailer an amount. Directv pays smart circle an amount that is then devided 5 or 6 times between reps, mgrs, install company, and installer. The other problem is that these reps are under so much pressure from day one and threatened from day to perform asap or be fired, that your gonna get reps who will tell you what you want to get u signed up. I advise anyone that is thinking of signing up to make the rep put everything your promised in writing on the worksheet. One last bit of advice, if u do feel screwed over by them don't complain to directv or smart circle. Only complain to your local best buy or sams and also complain to corporate best buy and sams. That is the only thing they fear is losing those retailers. Directv doesn't care about complaints but best buy and sams do. Smart circle is a guest that pays no rent to the retailer. Ive seen customers get the hook up and I've even seen smart circle have to pay for a customers cancellation fee of $500. So don't got to the BBB, directv, or smart circle to complain bc it's a waist of time.
I have orange cords dangling from the outside of my home and a satelite three feet off the ground on the side of my house! Orange cords in my house all laying around...looks like a construction site! Awful installation! DO NOT USE!
I worked for them for a year. They pressure reps to get a certain average every day, dock wages, and don't even document hours on anything but time cards, which now aren't even used, but docked even more for everything from bathroom breaks to five minute breaks. Hell, we weren't even given tax forms! We are technically independent contractors, yet adhere to a schedule, without overtime pay and no benefits ever. We get no breaks after four hours if there is a queue (people waiting to sign up for DirecTV service), even if we ask because we are entitled to a fifteen minute break every four hours by state law. We get paid in personal checks from someone who was fired from Dish Network. In all honesty, you'll most likely get the same or better deal from DirecTV themselves with a cleaner and more thorough installation, unless you go to Best Buy for a TV and get a $250 gift card if you go through Smart Circle as a retailer. In this economy, it's hard to find a job in California or Florida and these ### sucking ### manipulate and use young, desperate people to no end. With any luck, they'll take themselves down before the year's end. Though I may just shut them down myself. -Former Anonymous Smart Circle Jerk/"Customer Service Rep"
I work for Smart Circle. This company just offers what most sales positions offer and that is a draw. There are some shady employees that work for them but also some hard working good folks too.
Customers who sign up for Direct TV through one of these reps usually end up saving the potential customer quite a bit of money over the two year promotion over their current provider. It seems that everyone is gaining in this except the one who showed you all the benefits of canceling your current cable service. The retailer makes $250 a install and the manager of Smart Circle local marketing team makes $200 which he is supposed to give anywhere from 120.00 to 100.00 a install. This is where it becomes a mission nearly impossible for the sales rep. Managers frequently do not pay their reps week in and week out what they initially are told they are going to make. Either their install dates are so far backed up or they just don't get the minimum amt of needed installs to validate commission. The worst thing about this is if you work there for more than a month you basically pay back loans you were given due to their draw system. I've seen managers not give a hoot about their employees or their needs. The product however is fantastic for 90% of those that sign up. Just be honest to the customer and in most cases you are able to not only upgrade their service from what they have but I've saved people over $500 on their 1st year of DTV service.
Some of you complaining customers need to have a reality check on the issues you want addressed. If your sales rep lied to you that's one thing. I've found customers lie just as much. At least after all is said and done you get everything in writing. If you only were going to sign up for the friends and family discount then you wouldn't of received the retailer discount. Most reasons people sign up in the store is all the additional savings or benefits thanks to the retailer. The fact they are locked in at prices they know over the next two years and cap on their 3rd year and beyond. They are not receiving that in most cases at the present. I tell everyone I sign up to take a day or two and research DTV and ask folks how they like it. I'm not scared to tell them that I work for a 3rd party neither. At least Smart Circle and the retailer have teamed up to save their customers money. Since the recession places like Smart Circle have given people a chance to save money while switching and upgrading their TV services. In reality the only loser in the long run is the employee who took the time to show you what you could have and how much you could save.
All you complainers last year they signed up 250, 000 folks across the country. I read about 10 complaints so I guess DTV through a 3rd party can't be too bad. No one is perfect but if there's more pluses than minuses over what you had then stop whining and be grateful for the aggressive salesperson who is trying to help you help him/or her.
My complaint is that - evidently - their right hand doesn't know what their left is doing.
They researched my location, told me (the person on the ATT line - they phoned them while selling the product) that I'd be getting Internet 50. When it was installed, the ATT people said they could only deliver half that. Fine, but where's the price reduction to match? Oh, it's a one-price-fits-all arrangement. Wish I'd known that when I was signing up.
Also, AT&T is the most inept, corrupt, disinterested company I've ever run across. Ironically, the "phone company" has the worst phone "help" service on the planet, sending you around and around from person to person who can't seem to help and often can't speak fluent English.
I agree with the posting above. The customers seem to blame the rep more than anything, when in most cases the rep is just trying to save them money while making also making some money themselves. The sad thing about it is that if these reps don't make the minimum sales for the week they will never finish paying off the loans the employed gave them. The sales person really doesn't get paid hourly its all based on commission, but smart circle doesn't clearly explain that when they are first hired. They don't get paid for over time, even though they work more than 48 hours a week. Most of the reps work over 12 hours a day, they are not happy about it but don't complain because smart circle keeps promising them their own office. The dream of having their own business takes over the injustice of not getting paid what they deserve. I wish smart circle would change their policy and pay them the hours they work for. It really breaks my heart to see how hard they work and still not being appreciated.
Yes, the reps are paid on commission, so they either lie or exaggerate what they're offering. For instance, promising "Internet 50" when that isn't possible, they give you half that speed for the same price. ATT sez it's just the way it is.
I ordered DirectTV for my new apartment through Smart Circle at Best Buyat the beginning of February. Unfortunately, when I moved in I found out there were no phone jacks in the apt., so I had to wait 2+ weeks for AT&T to set up my internet access and thus did not have it when the installation tech arrived. First, he said I needed to pay $75 for "custom installation" (because my roof is flat, or something ridiculous like that). Ok, fine. Then I told him that I did not have internet access yet, which is apparently required in order to set up DirecTV's On Demand service (Cinema Connection). He told me it would be no problem, that he would complete the installation and then when I get internet access I could just call to get a tech to come install Cinema Connection AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. Am I sure I heard him correctly? YES. I re-confirmed this with him multiple times; I had already payed $75 for what was supposed to be a "free" installation, " and I was not about to pay any more. The tech gave me his direct contact number and said if I have any service problems at any time, I should call him and not DirecTV.
Cut to this morning. My internet is all hooked up, so I call Smart Circle to set up Cinema Connection installation. They tell me that the cost to send someone out to install it is $79. I tell them what happened and what the tech said and they claim that when I deferred installation of CC (because I had no internet access), I was essentially agreeing to cancel the free installation of CC, which was part of the package deal I purchased at BB. Angry and frustrated, I immediately tried to call the tech at the number he gave me, only to receive a computer message saying, "the mobile customer you are trying to reach is not available at this time. please try again later." Positively livid now, I call DirecTV to see if they can help me. They tell me they would be happy to order me a CC wireless, self-installation kit- for $31. Oh, and since I didn't place the initial order with them, they consider this a service "upgrade, " so I'll have to pay another $50. And should I have a problem with the "self" installation, it will cost me $50 to get a service tech to come out to help me.
When you go through Smart Circle, you are indeed buying DirecTV service, but you are actually ordering Smart Circle hardware installation. DirecTV has nothing to do with these 3rd party installations, but they will be happy to clean up the mess they make- at the expense of the customer. So basically, not only is there zero incentive for DirecTV to qualify or even approve these resellers, the more resellers there are and the crappier service they offer, the more money DirecTV makes. And what does Best Buy (or Sam's Club) care? They're not the ones doing anything wrong, the poor service doesn't reflect negatively upon them and clearly DirecTV doesn't take issue with them over it. The whole thing is totally sketchy and, ethically, highly suspect at best- which makes it entirely unremarkable. That's just the way business is done now. The only thing we can do is remember what Mike Brady taught us- caveat emptor.
Sounds to me you all should have READ THE PAPERWORK YOU WERE GIVEN AT THE TIME YOU SIGNED UP!
Most of us rely on sales reps being honest. I guess that's where our expectations fall short.
Like you really read all the fine print on every deal you make. Riiiiight. Stop covering for dishonesty.
I completley disagree with the last post on this page by "Im an american" I did read the paper work, I still have it, I have read it over and over, it says what it says. The problem is Direct TV will not abide by the pricing agreed to for the services provided on the sales sheet. The sales work order page is the only contract I have, it is the only contract they have but they continue to ignore it. They refer me to the Direct TV contract that I was told I could download on a computer, I did so a day later, it completely nullified the provisions of the sales agreement. I intend to dump Direct TV ASAP, I would not recommend them to anyone, thier offer was deceptive from the outset. Any agent available on the phone willnot give their full name, never talk to same one twice I have filed a consumer complaint with the State Attorney s office in Jacksonville, Florida. rlbarrymar1ne@comcast.net.
I happen to agree with Ron Barry. I have not had run-ins with Smart Circle, but found this blog while searching for people with similar problems as mine. I ordered Direct TV through Samsclub.com because there was an offer to receive a $200 Sam's Club gift card if qualifications. I met them all, ordered and had installed and now over 8 weeks later still no card. i have been on the phone with every Direct TV associate there is and no one can tell me why I haven't received it, just keep putting me off on someone else instead of JUST ENDING ME THE DARN CARD! If you can see I qualify and know I by right should get the card, why not just send it? My service so far is good but essentially, they are lying and being dishonest. You can still see this offer if you go to samsclubcom.