Contract or Not

Well..

If they install a new dish or you accept any offer for receivers, you will probable have a new 2 yr committment on the new receivers as all new receivers are leased now correct?

 

You'll have a one year commitment for the new boxes then.

 

If you just activate your current equipment, then there shouldn't be any commitment, unless you take a programming discount or free programming. That adds a year commitment also. But if you just take the programming at regular prices, you shouldn't get a new commitment.

 

In all likelyhood you'll wind up with leased equipment and at least a one year commitment no matter what equipment you ask to have used and/or hooked up.

An out for you, should you opt to leave early, is (if memory serves) that you could opt to suspend your account for part of that time and the minimum commitment is really just the Total Choice package.

But, most likely you'd be facing a commitment if you do go back to DirecTV. It really is a matter of how long a commitment you want to accept.

Getting a DVR or any type (again, if memory serves) is likely to incur a two year commitment. Possibly even if you use your own DVR.

Finally, if you do go back to DirecTV, be prepared to watch your bills like a hawk to confirm that they don't try to classify your own personally owned equipment as 'leased' and subject to being returned to them when your commitment is up (if you decide to leave).

--

Edited to add: by the way, the same basic thing would be the case if you opted to go with Dish Network, except you don't (by what I know so far) have any existing Dish Network equipment to use.

 

See bold faced section above. That would likely be considered an offer, which you'd be taking, entering into a contract in consideration of that offer, etc.

I'm just saying I'd would check it all over thoroughly as normally if you take advantage of promo pricing on programming, it'll come with a commitment.

 

Take it from me. I have experienced this new money cash register called "Commitment." If you "REACTIVATE" any Series 2 TiVo you will have a commitment. The prices can range from as low as $6.95 to $16.95 a month. This is why I went to DTV. Good luck

 

The OP is talking about a Directv combo tivo already, not a Stand Alone S2.

 

Tell the CSR you want to reactivate your account and you do not need any equipment or installation. All of your account info and equipment info will still be on your disconnected account. It should then just be a matter of verifying the access card numbers, selecting your programing, and the CSR sending the authorization your your receiver, and verifying you are receiving your programing. The commitment is attached to equipment not programing.

 

Don't you get a 2-yr commitment even by activating your existing DirecTivo? (It's 2 YR for activating a DVR, do they specify that it's activating a NEW DVR?)

 

I think there's a push to get everyone new receivers so that the receivers will get interactive content and be guaranteed to tie into a phone line for ordering pay-per-views and such. DirecTV definitely pushes hard to install new receivers and get rid of old ones, even where the old ones work perfectly well.

I'd also guess that part of the push to install new is to cut down on problems with older receivers that can't receive programming from all of the satellites, or experience other glitches that wind up costing them money in tech support calls.

 

If you just reactivate you account, and use your current units, there should be no Commitment. You may need to get New Access Cards.

Where the problem lies, is in the fact that you probally had an older account, with packages no longer offered from Directv. SO you most probally will have to upgrade to a New Package type. Also, there may be some problems with the older units, as far as which Sats they can pick up etc, but by the sounds of it there should not be.

If you take any of their Standard Receivers - You will get a One year Commitment.
Take any of their DVR's its a Two year Commitment.

 

Why don't you just put it up front to them that you will come back to DirecTV if there is no two year commitment. It can't hurt to try, all's they can say is no... Then wait a few days and see what they say. There's a thread on the Directv HD forum where someone said they got the commitment waived, so hopefully it is doable...

 

Make sure that if you do record the conversation, that you tell them you are doing so ahead of time. Its a felony in some states to record telephone traffic on the down low.