Frustrated DirecTV subscriber

[Coldmiser]

I've been a DTV subscriber for 11 years now and very happy until today.

My wife and I used our tax money to buy a HD LCD TV.

I called DTV today to get info on HD and they are telling me it will cost me $300 just for the box and they will still own the box. :mad:

I was hoping they would have some kind of offers available, but I was told no, only for new subscribers. After 11 years, and several people refered to them for service I'm a little frustrated.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[hiker]

Call back and politely tell them you are unhappy and want to speak to the retention department who should be able to make you a better deal.

[jimb726]

I've been a DTV subscriber for 11 years now and very happy until today.

My wife and I used our tax money to buy a HD LCD TV.

I called DTV today to get info on HD and they are telling me it will cost me $300 just for the box and they will still own the box. :mad:

I was hoping they would have some kind of offers available, but I was told no, only for new subscribers. After 11 years, and several people refered to them for service I'm a little frustrated.

Anyone have any suggestions?

First off, any HD reciever that D* has activated since last March is a leased unit. The only way around it is to buy a unit outright, the current going rate for their HR20 is around 750 dollars and there really is no reason to own it unless you really just need to own one. As far as negotiating down the price you may have some luck dealing with Retention instead of the front line CSR's. When you call in and get the automated voice say "cancel service" that should transfer you directly to customer retention, then I would politely explain to the representative that you have seen Dish giving away their HD Dvr, Cable has been offering you HD equipment, etc. Inform them that you really would like to stay with D* but with those deals, what can they do for you?? Depending on how things go, it should not be difficult to get one for 199 or even as low as 99 dollars. The problem now is, there seems to be a big run on the units and depending on geography, there are shortages of the units, pushing installs back as much as a month or more. Another option is to buy a used HR10 and get up and running, but be advised that the unit cannot decode MPEG4 signals and that is how HD locals are currently being delivered. Unfortunately I dont think that there is anything you can do about the lease thing unless you want to lay out serious cash. Hopefully whatever you decide, you will be happy with your decision.

Good Luck,
Jim

[okoaomo]

About 3 years ago they gave me the same old song and dace
about the good deals being only for new subs.
So I canceled my service.
One week later I had my wife call and get the new sub deal in her name.
It's worth a try if the customer retention thing doesn't work for you.

[bidger]

Anyone have any suggestions?

Well, this one comes a little late, but seeing as how you registered here nearly three years ago, it's a good idea to stop by at least once a week to see what's happening. I've found that one of the benefits of being a member here is you're aware of good deals when they become available. In Aug. 2005 I saw a thread where D* was making the HR10-250 available for $299-$100MIR. I didn't have a HDTV at that time, but I knew that was too good to pass up. If TiVo did the same with the S3, I don't think I could pass up that deal, hint, hint. ;)

Last Summer there were threads where people were getting them for free, IIRC it was for Sunday Ticket subs, but others probably got it as well. I used that to get the HR20 for free, even though I knew as a result of being a member here (again) that D* was leasing units now.

From coming here (once more), I know that Retention is no longer a directly dialed number and that D* is pretty much in lock down because of the ownership transfer as far as giving out deals. However, since E* (Dish Network) is aware of this, I hear they are giving their HD DVR for free to new customers. If cable or FIOS is available to you, it would behoove you to call and see what kind of deal you might get for switching.

Armed with that info and being prepared to switch if you don't get a price point you want, call D*, ask for Retention and tell them here's what the competitors offer, make a similar offer or I'm gone. That assumes you have no current commitment. Like I said, make sure you're ready to leave. If you're not, don't bluff. And don't be gruff, but calm and assured.

As far as the whole "owned" thing, you should have bought before March last year or used equipment if that's a priority. Once again, if you threaten to leave make sure you're fully prepared to follow through and if you're under commitment now, it lessens your bargaining power. Good luck.

[kblgy]

hi, i just read your post and well.. call directv and when it asks what you want just say cancel service. it will ask again.then it will direct you to the retention group..i have had directv for a short time. on my current acc. i told them that dish was willing to give me free hd-dvr and free install on all my sets if i switch to them . iasked what could they do for me, so they offered me the hd-dvr for $199 plus 10 off a month for the next 12 months so i save $220..now it all goes by how long you've been a custamer so 11 years may brind you a deal like 99$ or better i would think...just give it a try i have heard alot about the retention group giving alot away like free premiums and ect... also ask for them i did and got some...and like i said i have only been on my current account for 7 months..

good luck..

p.s i also said i thinking of switching based on what they could do for me ..

[harley3k]

What you get is never based on how long you've been a subscriber. I am convinced of that based on personal experience and friends and reading this forum. 11 years just means you don't switch providers very often and are unlikely to do so now, so why should they do anything for you?

In my opinion the offer you get on new equipment is based on the following:

1. How many sports packages you buy
2. How much PPV you order on a regular basis
3. How much your monthly bill is

These are really all the same - how much money they make from you. They are a business in fact and as long as they can get people to PAY a PREMIUM to LEASE their equipment, they will do it. Most of their customers are used to buying their receivers/dvrs after years of doing so - when it was the norm - and they are still taking advantage of this perception.

The 4th item and most important is whether you threaten to cancel their service. And if they really believe you are serious about doing it.

Your best approach is to play total hardball with them. Go do research on what the other providers are offering in your area. You want HD content now, and DISH has HD-DVRs for basically free, and they have A LOT MORE HD CHANNELS. Check what your cable provider has. Find out what special offers they are running now. Then call back DIRECTV - ask to be forwarded to Retention, and be armed with information. Threaten to cancel and mean it.

You still have all the DirecTV equipment. You can always sign back up with a simple phone call later.

There are lots of reasons to leave DirecTV. And paying $300 for their DVR that is in the news every other week about being buggy All for the benefit of having the smallest HD Lineup of any provider is certainly one of them.

-h

[BlankMan]

Frustrated DirecTV subscriber

What a surprise! :D