What The Hell Is Wrong With DirecTV

I had DIRECTV installed on 11/14/2009 and cancelled the service on 11/17/2009. This was due to:
Incorrect information being given to me by the Service Rep with AT&T who signed me up for DIRECTV. I made my decision to have DIRECTV installed based up the information I was given. At this time I was asked to pay a set-up fee of $21.40, which I paid using my Debit Card and was asked for my PIN number from the back of the card. This was on 11/13/2009.
On 11/14/2009 DIRECTV came out for installation. At that time I was told by the Service Tech that I should not have the dish put on my roof. Because. if there was no reception due to ice, that I would have to wait for the ice to melt. Because they would not be able to get up to the dish. So a pole was installed for $75 and to run cable from the pole to my house was $2.00 a foot. For an additional $45.
The Service Tech also told me to order movies from the TV in my room (where I had DSL) that I would have to unplug the telephone line from my phone - plug it into the DIRECTV box - order the movie and then plug my telephone line back into the phone. When I was not able to get Movies on Demand I called the 800 number for DIRECTTV. I was told that since I did not have an HD TV or HD service for an additional $10 a month, that I could not receive Movies on Demand. I previously had TimeWarner cable service with Movies on Demand when I switched to DIRECTV. This was one of the questions I had specifically asked the AT&T Rep. when I agreed to sign up for DIRECTV. If I would be able to get Movies on Demand? And I was told yes. I was also told by the DIRECTV Rep. that the Service Tech had told me wrong for ordering a movie. That I had to order the movie from my computer on the DIRECTV website not to be charged for ordering the movie in addition to the cost for the movie. The Service
Tech also told me to spray Pam on the dish so debris would not stick to the dish causing bad reception. I confirmed this information with DIRECTV and was told me that spraying Pam on the dish is the worst thing you can do. And that the dishes have a coating on them so debris would not stick.
I was told by the AT&T Rep. that my DIRECTV service would be $39.99 per month for 12 months. This was for 3 boxes plus a DVR for free. And after 12 months my service would be $60.99. This was a savings compared to my TimeWarner cable service. But my first bill from DIRECTV was for $71.31.
My DSL connection (with AT&T) did not work until I had DIRECTV cancelled .Which AT&T provided me a credit for the time I did not have DSL service. But only after several phone calls to Tech support and time spent trying to get service.
On the 3rd day of DIRECTV service I was fed up. I called an cancelled my service. I was told that I \"may be\" charged an early cancellation fee of $480. Even though I explained to them all of the problems I had. I was referred to the Customer Agreement. I called DIRECTV numerous times and corresponded via email numerous times regarding my concerns and the early cancellation fee. And not once time would anyone address my concerns. But only to say the early termination fee was within the Customer Agreement. But it does not state in the Customer Agreement that DIRECTV will make a direct debit for this fee using the account information that they had used for the set-up fee of $21.40.
I cancelled my service on 11/17/2009 #82957320 and was told that I would be sent packaging in order to return my receivers and remotes. On 11/23/2009 I still had not received the packaging and contacted DIRECTV. I was told that the packaging had been sent out on 11/19/2009. I was concerned with this because if you do not send the equipment back within 7 days of receiving the packaging you are charged $480. I received the packaging on 11/24/2009 - I packed everything exactly as the equipment return program had stated. And contacted FedEx the next day 11/25/2009 (per the instructions) to have the package picked up. When I looked at my Key Bank account that day, 11/25/2009, I saw a pending charge for $469.69 coming through (which caused my account to be overdrawn).I called Key because I did not know where that charge was from. Key stated that the debit was made using my PIN and the debit could not be reversed. I would have to dispute the debit but my debit card was cancelled
. My account was overdrawn with other charges coming through, I had no money, no debit card and I would be charged a reoccurring debit charge until the debit was cleared up. I contacted DIRECTV and was told that I had already been charged the equipment charge that I was not to be charged until 7 days after I had received the packaging. And there was nothing she could do about it. When FedEx picked up the package I sent DIRECTV an email telling them this and gave them the tracking #. And asked if the $469.69 would be put back in my account? I then received an email that they verified the package was in route with the tracking # but I had been charged the early cancellation fee using the bank information that I had given AT&T for my set-up fee of $21.40. This charge of $469.69 was not authorized by me. And the Customer Agreement says you will be charged an early cancellation fee but I assumed via an invoice. Which after I received an invoice for this fee I was going to file
complaints with the Ohio Attorney General's office, the BBB and the PUCO. Because I felt I was within my right to cancel within 3 days over the issues I had incurred from the time I had the DIRECTV service. DIRECTV did state today, (11/26/2009, via email that if I reactivated my service that I would be refunded the early termination fee. YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING!
As of today, 11/26/2009, one overdraft charge had posted to my account. This fee was reversed after I called and explained the situation. She also told me that I had 2 more overdraft charges coming through. Both overdraft fees hit my account. Another one was reversed but the 2nd & 3rd fees were now $39 each.
I was contacted last night, 12/2/09, by someone from DIRECTV, that works in the office of the President that is located in Colorado. I basically got from the conversation that this must happen a lot by what I was told. I was told that if the bank goes in an reverses the debit, that I will be billed for the early termination fee. And once again I was told if I sign back up with DIRECTV that the early termination fee would be reverse. Blackmail in disguise. I am in the process of disputing the fee with my bank. And I have a problem with DIRECTV telling me they would bill me for the fee if it was reversed. I feel that I was told incorrect information when I signed up for the DIRECTV service from AT&T, who I purchased the service from. I was not told that I needed either an HD TV or pay an additional $10 for any On Demand Services. Which I already had On Demand Services with Time Warner Cable before signing up with DIRECTV. In addition to that my DSL for internet did not wor
k until I had cancelled the DIRECTV service. And for my concerns regarding the pricing, I was told that I had to file for a rebate in order to receive the price I had been \"told I would get\". When I signed up for DIRECTV through AT&T I was not told anything about any rebates.
the DIRECTV equipment was received via FedEx and I printed the confirmation of that and faxed this to the President of DIRECTV. I am already in the process of disputing the unauthorized charge of $469.99 with my bank, I have filed complaints with the Ohio Attorney Generals office, the BBB of of Colorado but this was sent to the BBB of California and the PUCO.Which the PUCO does not have jurisdiciton over Sallelite TV and told me to contact AT&T. Which I have and At&T only can sell the service but can not help you with any of the charges. Which some how that does not seem right either.
I do not know for a fact - but it does not seem legal or right that DIRECTV would be able to use my banking information obtained for the set-up fee from another company, which I had authorized and then use it to charge me their early cancellation fee?? If so, then it seems like all companies could charge you for outstanding debts that you owe them, if they had your banking information from a debit card transaction?
DIRECTV has to be stopped from doing this.

Damage Resulting = Having to borrow money to make my checking account positive so that I did not continue to be charged re-occurring debit charge. I had to stop my debit card and order another one. Which I only use my debit card. So I went into the Thanksgving weekend with no money, a debit in my checking account, no debit card for 5-7 business days, tier 2 overdraft charges of $39 instead of $33 and all of the time, emotional stress and anxiety this has caused filing all of these complaints.
Contact me = Y

Directv sucks!!!!
They told us that we couldn't even order pay per view movies without a phone line! My husband found out that we could. We have been with them for like six months and have three receivers, we have had to replace two of the originals and one of the replacements within two days of getting it. They are rude to you when you try to solve the issues that you are having. When they replace a receiver they act as if all the problems you had with the last one shouldn't affect the way you feel about their service. It took me over two hours on the phone telling them this won't work.... that won't work..... Well, ma'am we have to complete the trouble shooting or we cannot help you! I swear they do that just to get people to give up. If you were thinking about ordering Directv.... DON'T!!!! If you still do after reading all of these issues you need your head examined. Cannot wait to get rid of this corrupt non-consumer-friendly company!

Directv charged me for the NBA League Pass this years (around $160.00 or more) when I didn’t request it. I called customer service to ask why this was on my bill and was told that it was automatically added because I purchased the package last year. I was told that they send out letters to previous purchasers who have to respond and decline or you get the charge. They would not let me cancel because the basketball season had already started. I explained that I was unable to use the package because they don’t broadcast my local team on directv in my viewing area. Their policy is still that they will not remove this from my bill. I was wondering if anyone else is having or has had this problem and if there is anything that I can do. My contract doesn’t end until 2011 so leaving them right now is not an option. Is this something that could be a class action suit?

I was charged over $800 for a month overdue bill of $200; now they say they realize I was out of contract, and they will send a refund for $600 or so, that will arrive 6-8 weeks from December 9th~!~~~?!!!! So basically by February of next year, for a mistake they made of withdrawing funds on a well expired contract~!

Last Monday, my leased DirecTV HD receiver quit working - DirecTV told me they would send a replacement that I should receive by Thursday or Friday of last week (10/29 or 10/30) as of today (11/2) I don't have a receiver. I called DirecTV and they told me that FEDEX showed it as delivered and that I need to follow up with FEDEX. I didn't contract with FEDEX and it's not my receiver - why is it my job to follow up. I refused - after spending 45 minutes on the phone with them (most of it on hold) a person who said he was a supervisor (Dennis, employee #41056) said they would ship a new receiver to me because they don't have time to follow up with FEDEX. It seems to me that if DirecTV was interested in their customers actually HAVING service instead of us just PAYING for service they could find time to follow up on the equipment they ship. In my opinion it's too bad they have so many customers they're willing to annoy them all.

I was a directv customer from 1995 to 2008. My RCA receiver went bad after many years of good service. Went to Circuit City and bought another one because last I knew that was how you did it. Directv said I had to agree to a 2 year agreement before they would activate it. Told them to shove it. Canceled my service and got my money back from Circuit City for the receiver. Told the customer service rep I was an old dude. You keep me by satisfaction not obligation.

... March of '08 - they say the box resulted in a 2 year committment.

Customer since '04. They replaced a defected DVR last March and now tell me I'm locked in until next March! It's sad when I company feels the best way to keep customers is to hold them hostage. Their reputation will continue to slide until they're out of business.

DirecTV is evil. I have never had worse customer service. They steal and lie. I had the exact same experience as Scott. I had new receivers installed so that I could finally access local channels. I cancelled my service because I was moving and they charged me $126 early termination fee. My original agreement had long since been fulfilled. They said I had HD receivers installed and agreed to another 2 years. I don't even have HD televisions! This was July and I still have not been reimbursed. They took the money from my checking account a week AFTER I called to complain after seeing the charge on my bill. That is STEALING. Every time I call I get a different story. It's always 6-8 weeks until I get a refund. They must be trained to lie. I'd like to do an investigative report and pose as a new hire just to see what their training is like. I am fuming mad but what can I do?? I am going to research to see if anyone in Virginia has a class action lawsuit in progress. I have to do something.

Directv = lack of service in every area. Been a customer since 2003 and never had a late bill. This past june I call and threaten to cancel. Retention dept offers me free Superfan plus 10 dollar credit for 12 months. Shocker when my bill has the 10 dollar a month credit but no free superfan. Spend 30 minutes on the phone with two morons from billing and they wont credit superfan even though I have been a long standing customer. This isnt the first issue. Their installation company is a mess as well and they dont take fault for it bc its an outside vendor yet they should considering Directv chose said vendor to use to provide Directv's installation service. The fact that they change your contract when your equipment dies (which happens alot) is totally rediculous. Apparently changes in programming dont extend your contract but Im waiting to see if thats even true. Directv should have a class action filed against them for all the time lost in their customers lives bc they have to spend hours on the phone with D*Cktv trying to fix issues that werent the customers fault. I hope they go tits up in bankruptcy.

These people in my opinion are not honest. I didn't even know there was a time limit when I got their service and then when I cancelled due to my monthly billing increasing they sent me a bill for $145.50 as a early cancellation fee.
I never signed an agreement that I know of and when I requested they send me a copy of the agreement with my signature, they said they didn't need my signature. How the heck can I be responsible for something I didn't agree to? What is going on here? I understand there's a class action suit against them. I'd like to know how to sign up for that. I've written to both the Attorney General of Arizona and the Attorney General of the United States. I hope the suit will make Directv pay back all the money I feel they've extracted from unsuspecting consumers since their existence. It'd be one way to tell the Business Industry obeying the laws and doing business legal is the only way to go.
Thanks for letting me express myself. I'm very upset at Directv and it wouldn't bother me if they went out of business tomorrow. For sure I'll never be a customer of theirs again.

We just got Direct TV this last spring and have been having problems ever since. We purchased the cheapest package you could get (and they gave us the free Showtime and HBO, etc for the first couple months). But, we were getting every channel and even some channels we would never, ever have purchased. We called Direct TV and they said it was part of some new subscribers deal or something. We asked them to get rid of those channels, they apologized and said it was a mistake on their part and would get rid of those channels right away. The bill comes for our first month...with these extra charges for those channels we got by mistake. We call Direct TV again to dispute the charge...their response is that we have to pay for it since they sent the signal to our house for however many days it was. How does that make any sense?? No matter what we said, they would not refund the money. We decided to keep a close eye on our bills. The next part came when we mailed a letter to the company to complain about this unfair charge (we'd only been Direct TV customers for a little over a month!). In the letter we said that if their service stayed the same we would consider canceling the service. About a week after we sent the letter, all our channels were dark. We called Direct TV and they had canceled our service! They said they received a letter informing them that we wanted to cancel. We got out a copy of the letter and read it to them, stressing the part that we might "consider" canceling. They turned our channels back on right away, but then we had to deal with them again once the bill came, which had a cancellation fee on it! We called again and luckily they refunded the fee, but it's too late. As new customers we are completely dissatisfied and are anxiously waiting our contract to be up so we can switch.

We have not yet cancelled, but we are going through an identical exercise getting an unwarranted claimed commitment removed, stemming from a replacement under the service plan. This whole exercise has infuriated us and we'll cancel D* just because of it, but after we get this cancel thing straightened out. D* has gone to hell. Trouble is, the others are not much better-a transfer to FIOS results in better picture and sound, lower prices and no new equipment charges. But, you get really crappy DVRs and intolerably bad software, only correctable by buying your own TiVo units and plugging into FIOS via cablecard.
We now hate D* for attempting to scam us.

I have to apologize to all DirecTV people. It seems whatever I switch to becomes crap.
I originally had DirecTV. Then I switched to Dish because it was cheaper. All of a sudden, DirecTV starts getting all the National HD channels and they got KCAL HD (Laker games).
Being pissed about this and the fact that Dish took forever to add HD channels I decided to switch to DirecTV when my contract finished.
I switched to DirecTV. Within the first few weeks Dish gets NFL Redzone and DirecTV drops VS.
VS. being dropped was a blow, but Dish getting the NFL Redzone channel in their sports pack which I would get for NBATV and Fox Soccer alone was a knock out punch. I have and still am deliberating if it's worth switching back now and paying the 250 for Redzone over the next 2 seasons.
Again, I gotta say this is on me. Sorry. I apologize. Whatever choice I make re Sat company, the opposite is always the correct one. From now on I will do like George and do the opposite.

I worl for a small retailer, customer service is horrible at both major satellite vendors. Find a local company you trust, we will go to bat for you. Disconnects are a minor inconvenience to huge corporations, but a big deal to us

I guess I was lucky, I had DirecTV and moved my residence. The installer that came out to do the install at my new address could not get a line of site (LOTS of trees). I was still in my commitment period and was relieved of it due to no line of site. It did take 8 weeks to get refunded a balance that was due to me, which left a sour taste in my mouth. This was right about this time last year. I get mailings every week inviting me back to DirecTV. I wouldn't go back even if all the trees in the neighborhood fell down.

My nightmare started when my R16 died. I have a SWM switch and the sent an R15. I called and told them that they don't work with SWM switches and they were telling me that there was nothing they could do about that. Are you kidding me??? I demanded a supervisor and got a very unprofessional one who said there was nothing they could do. I finally emailed on of the VP's and was given a number to call. After a MONTH they finally replaced the receiver!!!

I haven't received the $23 a month for 10 months, because I wasn't told I had to ask for it. As the first 2 months were automatic, when I received my paid (credit card auto) bill 3 month statement it showed the extra amount. Calling Diwrecktv got me a "You applied for your "rebate" to soon. I told the rep that unlike Diwrecktv, I lived up to my commitment, that I would cancel the day that commitment would end.:D

Directv Blows Hardware Programing Service. Enjoy Them Bending you over. ive seen customers that started in 2000 and never had an upgrade just replacemnt and now have contracts till 2011 .. A 11year contract when will it end..

This is almost word for word my experience with them when I cancel. Except mine was a $249 and $249 dollar charge. I had to file a complaint with my credit card company, I won by the way.
I canceled 33 months into a 24 month contract and they claimed I had 22 months remaining. It is their policy to restart a contract anytime hardware changes regardless of the reason. The funny thing is their hardware is the most unreliable crap I have ever used. Is three years with them I went through 6 DVR’s and that’s not counting 2 out of box failures with their replacements.
After failure six and obf 2 and threw in the towel and switched to Uverse. After having the same arguments as Scott they nailed me with a $249 cancelation fee and then another $249 fee that they told me was because I didn’t return my hardware, that charge was two days after I canceled. Their return boxes didn’t even arrive until the next day.
I hate to say it I was a DirecTv fan boy. I grew up with them in the 90’s and loved it. Ever since I would always recommend them. Now after my last stint with them I will never use or recommend them again. DirecTv is a shell of the company it used to be.

I was looking for *true FTA setups when i ran into this forum. (I am totally off the grid) As recordit commented on sept, 24th 2009. I got a wireless telephone recording device from rad shack and used it to record any and all conversations off my cell phone. Depending on what state you live in (if you are going to use it in the courts) you might "NOT" have to inform any party that you are recording their conversation. So find out what your state laws are first. If your intentions are to post it online then you "DO NOT" have to tell anyone that your recording them. I used this against Verizon online years ago. Again check your state laws first.

its all GREED!

Thanks for the original posting. That did it for me. Was thinking about subscribing to Direct TV Service but will drop it from consideration.
Had been using the DISH system . . "Dish Now" prepaid and enjoyed it. Simply purchased a prepaid card and that was. Had installed my own dish and purchased the receiver. No complex and confusing rip off schemes with high cost entanglements.
That was too good to last and DISH ended the Dish Now prepaid card program/ Instead, it has been replaced by a new contrived satellite network scam called Flex TV. With this deal the customer is required to buy new equipment with activation fees and added penalties for late payment etc. Forget about it. Looks as if we will have no TV here. Do have some FTA and can raise some American stations via Canada.
Seems now that most of these vile companies operate like the government. In the overall, they also suck. Best to avoid dealing with them if at all possible.

Directv is not a bad satellite tv company. Why is every news story I hear about them claming them to be?

It's silly to single out DIRECTV for this kind of policy. This exists with almost every major corporation out there.

your all hypocrites though. let someone other that Scott post a story like this on the Forum and you rip them to shreds. Let the owner post it and everyone agrees with him. Thats the reason I never started a thread complaining about the refund wait.

I don't understand DirecTV. I originally switched from Dish to DirecTV soley for the customer service problems at Dish. Now, it's gone the other way. DirecTV management needs to wake up!

Reminds me off years ago when I tried to cancel my old dial up AOL acct.I had to get my credit card co. to dispute the charges.

I guess it's not only the regular viewers to Versus who are now unhappy with DirecTV.

When CSN Chicago came out (2005?) neither of my receivers could get it. I had a 1995 model Sony and an RCA from 1998. After numerous phone calls, they finally sent someone out. They replaced both receivers with H20 models, and voila, I had CSN Chicago.
They wanted to charge me something like $70 for the visit. Considering I'd paid about $700 for the Sony back in 1995, I said BS and, after talking to a supervisor, the fee was waived. However, a few weeks later, I received a notice in the mail that I now had a two year commitment with them. No one had ever mentioned this to me. I wasn't planning on dropping them, so I didn't worry about it.
When DTV lost Versus, I decided to go to Dish. However, after looking at Dish's website, I realized that I would have to subscribe to their most expensive package to get it. My favorite channel on DirecTV is National Geographic, and that is also included only on their most expensive package. I am *not* going to the local cable company, so I am stuck. I do have Bell (ExpressVu) with OLN, so if it comes down to it, I will buy a VCR for next year's Tour de France, and watch it "old school."
On top of that, I had a defective receiver replaced about a year ago, so I am probably under a commitment and don't even know it.
True story... I moved back in 1996, and my sports blackouts never moved with me. I spent about an hour on the phone with DirecTV, and they could never figure it out. Maybe a half hour after my call ended, I got a call from them. It turned out that USSB was the "master of my card." DirecTV called them, fixed my problem, and then called me back. Now that is customer service!
I recently emailed DirecTV and told them that I was sick of their misleading posturing on the Versus issue (i.e. them saying that Versus wanted a 20% price hike when the real issue was DirecTV wanting to move them to Sports Pack). I got a form reply explaining to me that they had to drop Versus because Versus wanted a 20% price hike.
I also sent an email to Comcast telling them that I thought that they were asking more of DirecTV that they do of Dish because Versus is only available on Dish's most expensive package. I got a form reply with a link to their "Demand DirecTV renew Versus" link. No one has customer service these days.
Oh, and Scott is right about the menus. The menus on my Sony were light year's better. I miss the days of having a choice of who's receiver to buy (I don't miss the cost of those receivers though).

i did call and ask about my commitment and at first they said i had two years to go. this was not true. i finally did get an email that said i had met my commitment. i am concerned about equipement going bad and having to make a new commitment with them. i guess i would go back to cable. last week when i called about another issue i was told by csr that i ask too many questions. i only have called them 3 times in two years. i am not pest.

I have an exact issue with Direct TV. One of the receivers I owned broke. They said it was not under warranty and was out of date. They insisted I lease one of heirs. Never, Never did they say I was making a whole new commitment for service. I was with then for seven years! Three months later I canceled the service totally because I never had service due to storms, snow, etc... I went to FIOS....now Direct TV says i owe 137.00 for canceling the box. I asked for the agreement in writing and they cannot produce it. What the heck??? Why do I have to pay for something I never agreed to ?

I'm hearing the same thing too. A friend was going to add a receiver for their kids bedroom. The ended up not doing it since the customer support was down right rude to them on every aspect. They have another couple of months in the contract and are switching to DishNetwork when it is over with.

This has been going on all over and yesterday I read of class action suits against DirecTV. They really have gone downhill IMO.
DirecTV has been my ownly source of Subscription TV since 1995 but I am very close to switching. My HD receiver has been acting up, rebooting and other problems. I called about it. Yep, new committment. It told them the way their service was and lack of National HD channels now I'm not commiting. If it dies completely I'll cancel HD service and bring an SD down for the remaining few months of my commitmtent.
My dish was installed in a snowstorm and wasn't aligned correctly. I called to see if someone could come out and fine tune it to prevent the frequent outages. I had 40's on 103c. They wanted to charge me for it. So I played with it and got it better myself. I'm in the 80's now on 103c and greatly improved my signal on others. I could understand charging me if a storm moved it or something. But it was a difficult install to start with and I'm not blaming the installer. He did a great job considering. But they should have come back to peak it again.
My commitment is up in February and 12 is to go up in next 2 months. Good timing for me. I don't get the HD channels I want, I'll be switching service in the spring.

I have 10 months left on my current committment and likely will dump direcTV when it's up. Never had so many problems, bad signals of which I had a tech come out and they actually were worse when he left than before so having them out again and thus another $50 charge. There have been no HD Program additions in quite some time...everybody being told to wait for the launch of D12 (what did D11 give us? not much). Wish DISH or my cable company would pay the early termination fee, I would switch in a minute. Had DISH several years ago and had no problems.

Dispute the charges on the card that was charged and then there is no lost money!

I can't say I totally LOATHE DTV, but I do hate these commitment scams. A while ago I wanted an HD-DVR - buying it from DTV would have cost $299. I went the ebay route and got one for a little of $100. When I called in to activate it, they told me about renewing my contract for 2 years. I fought it - and remember bits where they told me that they receiver was THEIRS and if I canceled, I had to return it. How could this be, I asked? I bought this on EBAY I told them (mistake) and the CSR told me that all their units when you buy them, regardless of the merchant, implies a "lease upgrade fee"- what a bunch of bogus crap. I proceeded to tell her that had I not called in DTV to activate it, I could have easily decided to put it in my oven and melted it - what then? How were you planning on getting your equipment back then? This "the box is mine, what you pay to get it is the lease upgrade fee" is a bunch of hog-wash. Aside from that, I too recently was notified via email and via mail that due to my loyalty, I was getting the Showtime package free for one year. if I find out that this extended my commitment for 2 years, I am going to blow up. Wouldn't that be illegal? To extend my contract with my consent by giving me something I never agreed to? I should have saved that email and letter from them, but I do remember reading it VERY thoroughly to make sure there wasn't any fine print indicating this.

Believe it or not, the madness extends to the installer/tech side. I went out on an "Upgrade" to put 2 dishes on a pole because the customer had an addition built on thier house blocking "line of sight"(so they thought). Anyway,Directv charged them almost $100.00 to relocate and I was going to charge another $75.00 for the pole mount. Long story short I had the original work order cancelled and created a "service call" repeaking of the dish remadied the problem thus saving the customer well over $100.
Now Get This! - because I cancelled the original work order and because of the "point matrix" by which our pay is determined I actually get punished for providing good Customer Service because it negatively affects my completion rating. THANKS GUYS!

It's horrible, and getting worse!! But, you aren't going to get much attention when they are getting new subs like crazy. They just don't care, and aren't going to care. Their HD planning/implementation is abysmal, and their tactics are almost criminal. We can't change the company, but we can change our own personal experience by firing them (going elsewhere).

as Bob commented "I then checked a month later. Guess what, the Two year contract mark is still on my account." where did you find this? I checked my account online and no date there. I was originally told expires 9/26/09 and only change has been the 3 months of Starz they added as an anniversary gift - they wouldn't dare consider that as a "change of service" would they - ha!

Directv has really changed. This spring I told a friend to go with Directv because it was the best. He dealt with them three times trying to get service hooked up and gave up and went with cable. I've had several issues in the last few months getting HD and then moving to a new city. 16 months left on my contract. If Direct didn't have Sunday Ticket, I would be long gone. I still might when my contract expires.

I had many of the very same issues in dealing with D* TV and they are obviously nortorious for this and have so many differnt undisclosed ways to love you in to a 2 year contract so any cancellation still makes them a big chunk of money when you choose to sign off.
I love thier commitment to be the leader in this new age of HDTV but thier customer service has always been a source of wanting to shoot someone!

directv tv is the best and you all are just upset and made because they have policy and that you aint take the time to read the small print in which you should have and you would have been aware of the fees and everything that comes along with cancellation.

I'd be issuing a chargeback/lost my credit card complaint against directv. But then, I'm not a subscriber of directv or dish (both companies are a bunch of crooks), so don't have that to worry about - yay!!

Scott is 100% correct since Liberty took over the support and errors have gone down hill. I just switched back to my cable company. That should show how bad and how much they (Direct) has increased its rates!

What The Hell Is Wrong With DirecTV?
You mention ever since Liberty took over ...
Anyone remember TCI Cable? That would be your lowest common denominator.
Signed,
Happy DirecTV customer in month 3 of 24 mo. commitment.

That happen to me 2 years ago but the only good thing is I never ever give them any credit or debit card numbers. Always pay by check through the mail.I don't Know if the company that took them over is responsable because this happened to me two yeas ago. I was with direct tv 2 to 3 years prior contract was long up had a reciever go bad called direct tv they said we will have a service rep come in a week or so with your new receiver I said just mail it to me I can install it. No they had to send a rep out. So he shows up installs the new receiver has me sign a paper saying he was nice did a good job and I was happy with his work so I did six to eight months later I want to cancel.I call them of course you are on hold forever I finally speak with a rep, she tells me I have to pay an early termination fee I say no I've been a costomer for 4 years. No the paper I signed for the replacement receiver had small print at the bottom that I didnt read......that's bull crap I was a devoted costomer for years. I never paid it because I thought it was wrong I have not checked my credit report but I bet it is on it. I think there should be a class action suit against them any one willing to do it I would love to join in. I have gone to antenna and fta C band that's where it's at more people need to do that and they would realize how valuable costomers like we are. As one we are nothing but as thousands we can make it heard.......Lets goooooooooooo

yup, I waited 8 weeks for my refund too. I do not see how they can do that without paying me interest. I got it in several emails well ahead of time that there would be no cancellation fees. And then again on the phone. It was the most nerve wracking thing "trusting" them. NEVER again Directv! Thank god for FIOS

They have changed...alot. I was a 6 yr customer and wanted to upgrade to an HD DVR, but they would not give me the same deal they would a new sub...a free HD DVR. I did not ask for the special priced programming, just the HD DVR. After 10 days of "negotiating" with numerous CSRs..including retention and email, the best they could do is $79. Long story short...I thought I would call their bluff and say OK lets disconnect everything TIVO and second receiver...they didnt budge. I could not believe they would loose a 6 yr customer over $79.
Guess what..just as I told the CSR they would do, they starting the win me back crap with mailings offering...Free HD DVR AND the special programing prices. Been with DISH ever since and love the DVR and the ability to make a regular HD receiver into a HD DVR with an external HD. Just got the second please come back to Direct letter last week.
Go figger

To those saying this is sour grapes, I assue you its not.
Just look at the facts here and by thousands of others across the country who are complaining.
As you might have noticed I told people to check out the complaints at DBSTalk and not my site, as I didn't want people saying that I was trying to stack the deck against DirecTV.
If you look you will see that there is real truth out there that there is a major problem at DirecTV.
I guess for some of you guys THE TRUTH HURTS.
DirecTV has turned into CRAP since Liberty took over. Its actually sad to see what happened to a formerlly great company.

I have the DirecTV extended Warrany and a multi switch went out. A year later I found out that even for extended warranty items they start your Two year contract over. I called and emailed both. They finally said they would take the Two year contract off. I then checked a month later. Guess what, the Two year contract mark is still on my account. Good thing I saved the email saying they agreed it was a mistake. Bad news I have to start over calling and emailing to get this fixed.

Exact reason I have not had pay-tv in 4years. Regardless of which little dish company is involved, the complaints about devious business practices are the same. I'll never have DTV or DIshnetwork service again.

For those people planning to cancel, get a telephone recording device and record the entire conversation. Be sure to get the reps name and number and state at the beginning that you are recording this conversation. Having this recording is very effective in getting your money back. You can threating to post it on the internet if you don't get satisfaction.

post your complaint at twitter.com/directv. you will get a prompt response and something will be done to your satisfaction.

does sound like sour grapes to me.

i have 3 directv hd receivers and for about a year and half and 2 of them has been replaced last 4 months. May be we should contact NBC News as they reported on over draft debit cards and now 3 major bank have changed their polcies.

Im having the same issue, they I cancelled last week and they have put a 200 dollar charge on my account for swapped equipment. No matter how much I dispute it they keep saying the charge is valid and Directv refuses to remove the charge. Im not paying it and if they charge my bank account or credit card you can bet your bottom dollar that that charge will get reversed back to directv.

i am very close to cancelling. one time i cancelled my account and was charged a termination fee because they claimed i was in a new contract because i had bought a tivo. i had to cancell the tivo order because i didn't having a working telephone hook-up and was assured it was off my account. wrong. it took me years to straighten that out.

I just signed up for Dish Network on Monday, and am looking forward to canceling my Directv Service. I am not in a contract.

The exact thing happened to me when I cancelled, but I never got my money back. I was told that the CSR was wrong to tell me that it was okay to cancel. I was told I had to reinstate my service to pay the fee even though my receivers were already returned. I'll never go back to Directv. Crappy receivers and terrible customer service - Thank god for Dish Network!!

Scott, these kind of shenanigans from DirecTV are nothing new. It took me two years, a letter from our states commonwealth attorney, and a class action lawsuit to cancel my DirecTV back in '98.

This is very similar to what happened to me when I left in 2006. I had to fax them copies of the actual terms and conditions I agreed to, and not the ones they wanted to use that day. I threatened to get the NC AG involved if they didn't recognize the correct T&C. I see nothing has changed.

I think there problems began when they turned off (took) programming people paid for April 10, 1997. Then in 2003 directv sued there customers in federal court for having tried to stop that unlawful taking of programming. As it was on April 10, 1997 Attorney General class action, directv wants the right to take away what customers paid for (theft) yet sues those same customers blocking the same (theft).
Once Directv got caught it takes guts to sue your victim stating your victim had no right to protect themselves. Then to have these victims contract to look the other way the next time is UN-American.