Directv commitment

Dfok · 02-23-2007, 02:45 PM

When I switched to FIOS I called Directv to cancel service. After being switched to rentention and a long conversation trying to convince me to stay I was ultimately told I have a year and a half left on a two year commitment....a commitment I never agreed to or signed for. The commitment apparently originated when my first TIVO (bought, paid for and owned by me) gave up the ghost. At the time I called Directv, and based on my standing as a long term customer and such a great guy they said they'd sent a replacment unit out right away. The next month a lease charge showed up, but again the great customer service team, recognizing the error when I called it to their attention, took care of it. Since then each month my bill shows a 4.95 lease charge and a -4.95 correction.
Now I'm told when I leased a new unit ( which I didn't do) I automatically agreed to a two year commitment. The cancellation fee is $175, not a killer but it really leaves a sour taste in my mouth. So let the buyer beware....they call it a "commitment", not a "contract", but other than repair orders for the occasional Ironwood visit I've never signed anything with them.
Except that my phone, internet and tv are now bundled on fiber ( by the way the picture quality is stunning, and the standard def stuff never looked so good) I would have stuck with Directv and recommended the company to anyone. But the cancellation fee is a pathetically cheap move to keep a customer ( one that spent over $100 a month for five or six years and was proud to be "one of our A list customers). Instead of recommending Directv now, I'm warning others to beware when you order a repair or change in service, it may come with a long term commitment you do not want.

hiker · 02-23-2007, 03:17 PM

This is why it is important to have the DirecTV Protection Plan so that receiver replacement will not extend the commitment. You should have been told that it was extending your commitment but you should have called to reslove the issue when you first saw "lease" on your bill.

Dfok · 02-23-2007, 04:40 PM

The lease issue was resolved with the next billing cycle. It never occured to me to ask about a two year commitment ( why would it?), it was added to my account with no discussion, warning or notification at all.
The point of my post is to alert others, maybe the solution is to have a protection plan. It seems to me a good protection plan would be to ask Directv if you have a commitment or if any actions will cause them to put one on your account.

hiker · 02-23-2007, 04:54 PM

I believe there used to be a item on the bill stating a commitment but maybe they don't do that anymore. I've read other posts where people have to call to find out. Maybe a complaint to your state's attorney general for deceptive practices might be in order.

ciucca · 02-23-2007, 04:57 PM

Right it is no longer on the bill. Also it should be prorated $12.50 a month

ForrestB · 02-23-2007, 06:25 PM

If you return the 'leased' equipment to DirecTV, will they waive the cancellation charge?

dishrich · 02-24-2007, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiker

This is why it is important to have the DirecTV Protection Plan so that receiver replacement will not extend the commitment.

Or, if he had just done a card swap to the new box, (protection plan or NOT) he would have never been hit with another 2 year commitment...

adlerx · 02-25-2007, 03:38 PM

I have been going round and round with DTV supplied recievers for the psat month. I originally had a HDVR2 which I had owned for about three years. When it went tits-up, I called DTV and they quickly sent out a replacement, an R-10, That one was(lasted less than 24 hours) bad so I called, they sent another R-10, this one lasted about 3-4 days etc, etc. On the 5th reciever(all refurbs and P'sOS), they sent an R-15. within 5 minutes I new that thing had to go! It worked as it was supposed to, it is just a terrible piece of gear! got out and hustled up some Tivo recievers and got em all activated and got all DTV's recievers returned to them.

I read this thread and started some checking and found that DTV had indeed, without my knowledge, permission or even any mention whatsoever, signed me on to a new two year commitment! I jsut got off the phone with them and they have removed the commitment from my account.

Just BEWARE any time you call DTV for anything, make them VERIFY EVERYTHING THEY HAVE DONE to your acct!

Wish I would have looked for info online before I started going round and round with them, I could have saved myself a lot of headaches! This place is great!

brentsg · 03-01-2007, 09:50 PM

My Sony Sat HD300 died an early death and I called DirecTV. I requested a new HD-DVR and they said they could get it to me in 1 month for a $199 upgrade fee, including a new dish installed. I reluctantly said ok...

Rather than be without service for a month, they offered to send me a non-DVR HD box to use until my DVR showed up. I received a filthy refurb that was quite literally disgusting. Since it was a "loaner" i cleaned it up and used it.

A month goes by and the installer called to set up my appointment----FOR 2 MONTHS LATER!!!

I called DirecTV ticked off and told them to disconnect my service, I wasn't waiting 2 additional months. That's when the informed me that my "loaner" had triggered a 2 year service commitment, despite the fact that's not what I had ordered to begin with.

So far they have not removed that from my account. That's what I get for my 10 loyal years of being a customer.

captain_video · 03-02-2007, 07:48 AM

Apparently, loyalty as a customer only gets you put on the "A" list, and then only if you pay your bills on time. That moniker and $5 will get you a latte at your nearest Starbucks.

Otherwise, it's pretty much worthless.

DirecTV has been reported to extend commitments to any and all hardware that is activated, even replacement receivers obtained through the protection plan. Even if you decide you don't want the receiver or DVR it has been reported that you're still stuck in the commitment period. You may be able to coax your way out of it if you bitch long and loud to someone that cares to listen.

The way DirecTV has stooped to the underhanded tactic of forcing everyone into a commitment is the main reason why I signed up for FIOS. I still have DirecTV at the moment but will be dumping them as soon as I get my PROM modded on my new S3 Tivo. My feeling is, if you provide a quality product and service then there should be no need for any commitment. Customers will stick around because you have the best to offer.

I don't have any major gripes with DTV other than the fact that their signal has deteriorated noticeably over the past 10 years due to excessive compression along with the recent practice of stealing bandwidth from certain premium channels to service NFLST holders. I just don't like the notion that they feel I need to be held hostage to stay with them.

Jabberer · 03-02-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain_video

...the "A" list...That moniker and $5 will get you a latte at your nearest Starbucks.

Otherwise, it's pretty much worthless.

When I called and ordered an HR20 recently and was told I was an "A list" customer, I asked the CSR if that was because I send them $100 each month - while she didn't agree, she didn't disagree either. In any case, what it did get me was $100 off (or so I was told) the HR20. She also told me that as long as I was "A list", I would be able to ger $100 off equipment every six months if I liked. Maybe true, maybe not, but it's what I was told.

goony · 03-02-2007, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brentsg

...I called DirecTV ticked off and told them to disconnect my service, I wasn't waiting 2 additional months. That's when the informed me that my "loaner" had triggered a 2 year service commitment, despite the fact that's not what I had ordered to begin with.

Contact someone in your state attorney general's office that deals with consumer issues...