[coachO]

This is my carthartic story...

1. My HR10-250 died, hard drive and power supply
2. Protection plan got me a refurbished HR20-700, $20 delivery, they said that 2 year commitment will not change, stays at 03-03-08
3. Customer retention got me a free install of 5lnb dish
4. Then a 2nd HR20 shows up, I let it sit in the box for 11 days.
5. Get a letter from D* saying activate the DVR or pay $150.
6. I connect it call them up and say I dont want to activate it if it extends my 2 year commitment.
7. Guy says why worry, it is only another 2 weeks. He says my committment date is already 8-11-09 from when I connected my replacement HR20.
8. Connects me to customer retention ( Laurie R5986), Laurie says that she can not change the commitment date even though I am right. Replacements dont extend the commitment date.
9. Connects me to her supervisor (Melany U4251), says my 2 year commitment should really be 8/22/09 since the guy just actived my 2nd HR20-700. Nothing she can do. All I can do is write D*. I told her I want the option of going to the Cable HD Tivo on 03-03-08. Nothing she can do. She also says that I own the first HR20-700; ya sure!
10. Wife unplugs the 2nd HR20-700 for 2nd night in a row, noisy and two many lights.
11. The 2nd HR20-700 is back in the box in the basement and I still think that the first one is a "nuisance" to use.

Believe it not, I didn't really get too upset. They had me, they knew it and I knew it. Sometimes you just have to sit back and laugh, I have been with D* for about 8 years and maybe the 2 year commitment will be a mute point. Or I can reduce my D* account from $120 per month by the amount cable will charge and have another "crummy" DVR....

 

[MisterEd]

Are you sure you have the protection plan? With it there should be no $19.95 shipping charge (or committment extension).

This is my carthartic story...

1. My HR10-250 died, hard drive and power supply
2. Protection plan got me a refurbished HR20-700, $20 delivery, they said that 2 year commitment will not change, stays at 03-03-08
3. Customer retention got me a free install of 5lnb dish
4. Then a 2nd HR20 shows up, I let it sit in the box for 11 days.
5. Get a letter from D* saying activate the DVR or pay $150.
6. I connect it call them up and say I dont want to activate it if it extends my 2 year commitment.
7. Guy says why worry, it is only another 2 weeks. He says my committment date is already 8-11-09 from when I connected my replacement HR20.
8. Connects me to customer retention ( Laurie R5986), Laurie says that she can not change the commitment date even though I am right. Replacements dont extend the commitment date.
9. Connects me to her supervisor (Melany U4251), says my 2 year commitment should really be 8/22/09 since the guy just actived my 2nd HR20-700. Nothing she can do. All I can do is write D*. I told her I want the option of going to the Cable HD Tivo on 03-03-08. Nothing she can do. She also says that I own the first HR20-700; ya sure!
10. Wife unplugs the 2nd HR20-700 for 2nd night in a row, noisy and two many lights.
11. The 2nd HR20-700 is back in the box in the basement and I still think that the first one is a "nuisance" to use.

Believe it not, I didn't really get too upset. They had me, they knew it and I knew it. Sometimes you just have to sit back and laugh, I have been with D* for about 8 years and maybe the 2 year commitment will be a mute point. Or I can reduce my D* account from $120 per month by the amount cable will charge and have another "crummy" DVR....

 

[rjnerd]

If you didn't order the second hr-20, USPS regulation says its a gift. You aren't allowed to send unsolicited merchandise, then bill for it. Its what they call mail fraud.

 

[magnus]

Directv's commitment policies suck. It's time for people to start thinking about saving $70 to $120 a month and being treated like this. OTA and HD is just fine for me and since D* had to get pissy with me.... there's no going back.

 

[Mike Lang]

If you didn't order the second hr-20, USPS regulation says its a gift. You aren't allowed to send unsolicited merchandise, then bill for it. Its what they call mail fraud.

Not via FedEx.

 

[MisterEd]

If you didn't order the 2nd one you shouldn't have activated it. You should have called them and had them send you a return label. Since you chose to activate it and not return the 2nd one (which was your decision) you triggered the 2 yr extension.

You got 2 HR20's and only 1 $19.95 shipping charge correct? That means one (the protection plan replacement for the bad HR10) was free of shipping charge as it should have been. The $19.95 shipping (+ 2yr extension) is their "usual" deal for a free swap or replacement when it is NOT a protection plan replacement box. Maybe they erroneously (or even on purpose if you beleive it's a conspiracy) thought you wanted two. Whatever the reason, if you didn't ask for it you didn't have to keep it.

 

[nrc]

Someone here recommended signing up for protection and then claiming a broken HR10-250 as a way to try the HR20 for free without extending my commitment. Glad I'm too honest to follow their advice.

My cable install is schedule for 9/5. WOW has a 60 day money back guarantee on their service. No commitment and pricing guaranteed for two years. I'll also be purchasing a TiVo HD with a 30 day money back guarantee.

 

[rjnerd]

Not via FedEx.

I bet the bill came via USSnail.

 

[Mike Lang]

I bet the bill came via USSnail.

Paper bill? How very 2002.

 

[terpfan1980]

On the too many and/or lights being too bright, check around at http://www.dbstalk.com and you'll find tips on how to change the brightness levels of the lights on the front of the box (including turning them off completely if memory serves).

Other usability tips there if you want to check them out.

 

[IOTP]

Someone here recommended signing up for protection and then claiming a broken HR10-250 as a way to try the HR20 for free without extending my commitment. Glad I'm too honest to follow their advice.

My cable install is schedule for 9/5. WOW has a 60 day money back guarantee on their service. No commitment and pricing guaranteed for two years. I'll also be purchasing a TiVo HD with a 30 day money back guarantee.

Easier to ask for forgiveness, then ask for permission.

You follow the rules -- what do you get? Heartache.

Go figure.

I have contacted directv on numerous occassions. I have asked the same question to 5 people. Most of the time, I get 5 different answers.

No one there is on the same page.

 

[rb5505]

as long as people continue to take this steaming pile of bs from directv, they will continue to shovel it! wake up and call them until you get this fixed as it should be. i'm so tired of reading these horrible customer service notes. there is no grey area here. they are wrong and you need to hold them to it.

 

[rb5505]

as long as people continue to take this steaming pile of bs from directv, they will continue to shovel it! wake up and call them until they get this fixed as it should be. i'm so tired of reading these horrible customer service notes. there is no grey area here. they are wrong and you need to hold them to it.

 

[RS4]

Someone here recommended signing up for protection and then claiming a broken HR10-250 as a way to try the HR20 for free without extending my commitment. Glad I'm too honest to follow their advice.

My cable install is schedule for 9/5. WOW has a 60 day money back guarantee on their service. No commitment and pricing guaranteed for two years. I'll also be purchasing a TiVo HD with a 30 day money back guarantee.

It's too bad, DirecTv doesn't have a trial period.

Good luck with the WOW service. I see they get the best customer satisfaction surveys. I hope you enjoy the new TivoHD.

 

[Bonanzaair]

Believe it not, I didn't really get too upset. They had me, they knew it and I knew it. Sometimes you just have to sit back and laugh, I have been with D* for about 8 years and maybe the 2 year commitment will be a mute point. Or I can reduce my D* account from $120 per month by the amount cable will charge and have another "crummy" DVR....

Coach0 - I am so sorry. That shouldn't happen to anyone!

Bonanza

 

[nrc]

It's too bad, DirecTv doesn't have a trial period.

Good luck with the WOW service. I see they get the best customer satisfaction surveys. I hope you enjoy the new TivoHD.

Yes, WOW has won J.D. Power customer satisfaction awards for cable, internet, and phone in the north central region.

The ordering experience was entirely painless. Hold time was less than 2 minutes, the customer service rep spoke and understood english and he had no problem setting up what I needed for my TiVo install. Hoping things will go as smoothly next week.