Rate increases while under commitment

[WillowTheDog]

A couple of times on this board, people have suggested that as long as you are under your original programming commitment, your DirecTV subscription rates will not increase. I started a new 2 year commitment last September and now my latest bill shows the higher rates that went into effect March 1st for new customers. Am I getting screwed or is this correct?

[Mavrick22]

In the past while under commitment your rates could be grandfathered but this time around the rate increase was for everyone they did not grandfather the rates for any customer. :(

[Jotas]

I complained about this as well (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=284868) and thought I was being taken. I too had a similar mentality that I'd be grandfathered in as in most cases with most business that make you sign any sort of agreement. But RAC replied and posted the following from the agreement:

"The haven't broken the agreement. Read it. You agreed to so many months of Package X or better, not a price.

This is a generic programming agreement but should cover most variables.

Within 30 days of purchase of your DIRECTV System equipment, you agree to activate and pay for 12 consecutive months (24 consecutive months for advanced receivers) of: any DIRECTV® TOTAL CHOICE® programming package (valued at $41.99 per mo. or above); or, any DIRECTV PARA TODOS® programming package (valued at $29.99 per mo. or above); ..... In certain markets, programming and pricing may vary. DIRECTV PROGRAMMING AND PRICING SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME."

Go figure....Now I said I was going to call and complain anyway, but I just never got around to it. Maybe if you try they may credit you for a couple of months?

[yakfish]

I called and politely complained and as a result managed to get a 6 months of showtime for free. not what I wanted but better than nothing :D

[newsposter]

they always cover their butts with general language and nice sweet canned replies like this

Thanks for writing us back and for asking about your annual commitment. Because you received DIRECTV equipment at no cost, or at a discounted price, you agreed to subscribe to up to 24 consecutive months of at least a TOTAL CHOICE programming package (12 months for standard equipment or 24 months for advanced equipment).This commitment does not guarantee that your pricing and programming will not change.

We sincerely hope that you remain a customer and give us a chance to show you the value of the service we offer now and will continue to offer in the years to come. If you would like more information, please call us at 1-800-353-4388.

Thank you again for writing and for choosing DIRECTV

---and since they are technically correct (250 self install credit plus other credits for messed up install for a net cost of maybe 50 or less for me, how can i argue that logic?

now for the people that paid list price, what ever that was at their time...i'd be POd

[Billy Bob Boy]

I called and politely complained and as a result managed to get a 6 months of showtime for free. not what I wanted but better than nothing :DWhy is it they always offer showtime for the freebies? That must be the least expensive premium channel(to D* that is) 90% of the time they offer showtime for free! In the six years or so at least for me they always offered me showtime! :confused:

[dhines]

250 self install credit

never heard of this credit before . . . is there actually a credit you can get if you elect to self install instead of letting the '3 stooges' come over and attempt to install? Personally i have just told the installers, "give me the stuff, i will do the install. where do i need to sign. thanks."

If i could by-pass all of that and get a credit . . . god that would be nice.

[TheBigDogs]

For those of you in California.

I submitted a complaint on the rate increase and subscription retention to the Attorney General @ http://ag.ca.gov/contact/general.htm

I just got off the phone with a person in the AGs office who said that on initial review, my complaint was valid and that DTV would have to either roll back the rate increase or drop the subscription commitment. This person is not a lawyer, but took some additional information and said the complaint would be forwarded for legal review.

May I suggest that all of you who live in California and are upset by this action go to the above web site and post your complaint. The AG will need to know the DTV address and that is: 2250 East Imperial Highway El Segundo, CA 90245

This is not a win, but it looks like there may be a potential for some relief.

[dhines]

May I suggest that all of you who live in California and are upset by this action go to the above web site and post your complaint.
Done. hopefully something will come of this, but i am not holding my breath.

[newsposter]

never heard of this credit before . . . is there actually a credit you can get if you elect to self install instead of letting the '3 stooges' come over and attempt to install? Personally i have just told the installers, "give me the stuff, i will do the install. where do i need to sign. thanks."

If i could by-pass all of that and get a credit . . . god that would be nice.

i'm relatively certain this was only in effect when they were 'giving away' the HDtivos last year. But it wont hurt for you to try it. I had a bad install from them and they didn't install actually....so they said if i self installed they would knock off 250. So i paid 500 for the tivo online plus the dish 50 and the MS 50 and also something for cabling but i forget. But i remember after the 250 self install, 120 for 6 months of 20 per month off TCP and something else (i'd have to search old posts), i recall spending maybe a total of 50 for my first HDtivo.

this one cost me 400 but i still feel it's worth it. Kicking myself for not just getting more last year when they were only 300 for the 2nd one.

sorry if you missed out on the 250.

[WillowTheDog]

OK, I submitted a complaint to the AG's office. Generally speaking, I am very pleased with my DirecTV service and I am not looking for something for nothing. I just think its unfair that DirecTV could indiscriminitely raise my fees time and time again and my only alternative to paying the higher monthly fee is to pay the $150 early termination fee. That's just not right.