DirectTV Rips off customers...even ME!

iamnotafraid · #1 06-12-2012, 07:54 PM

Yes, even me a long term subscriber.

For over 15 years those *%#@(+$ have took my
money. I'm talking thousands of dollars. Including
premium programming like The NFL Sunday Ticket.

While offering new customers new HD equipment and
other upgrades for free. They decide they can't offer a
long term customer like me new equipment.

Now my satellite dish needs to be relocated to receive
some of the local channels (and probably HD channels).
And they want to charge me a little over $250 to complete
this service for me.

Loyalty means nothing to them. So guess what? After all
these years they're going to be in for a little surprise. No
more of my money.

I bet once I cancel they'll come around. We shall see.

iamnotafraid · #2 06-12-2012, 08:12 PM

I forgot to add, do you guys have any suggestions
(tricks, schemes)?

Macfanforever · #3 06-12-2012, 08:25 PM

Cable TV is a big rip off.paying about $65 for 100 channels of nothing.

LB Freakazoid · #4 06-13-2012, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

Yes, even me a long term subscriber.

For over 15 years those *%#@(+$ have took my
money. I'm talking thousands of dollars. Including
premium programming like The NFL Sunday Ticket.

While offering new customers new HD equipment and
other upgrades for free. They decide they can't offer a
long term customer like me new equipment.

Now my satellite dish needs to be relocated to receive
some of the local channels (and probably HD channels).
And they want to charge me a little over $250 to complete
this service for me.

Loyalty means nothing to them. So guess what? After all
these years they're going to be in for a little surprise. No
more of my money.

I bet once I cancel they'll come around. We shall see.

My husband is a commercial dealer and system satellite specialist for Direct and I asked about your situation....
He said that your dish does not have to be moved to receive local or HD channels. That's done thru system ops to have the satellite hit your dish with those particular channels.
You may have a dish that is the wrong model for local and/ or HD. You also need to have an HD receiver to get HD channels as well.
Try calling around to satellite companies in your area (they are the ones who are independant ops, don't have the Direct truck but still are associated with Direct)
You can usually work better prices with them.
Hope that helps! Good luck!

iamnotafraid · #5 06-13-2012, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macfanforever

Cable TV is a big rip off.paying about $65 for 100 channels of nothing.

That reminds me of the lyrics to that Pink Floyd song...
I've got thirteen channels of s%#* on the TV to choose from...

iamnotafraid · #6 06-13-2012, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LB Freakazoid

My husband is a commercial dealer and system satellite specialist for Direct and I asked about your situation....
He said that your dish does not have to be moved to receive local or HD channels. That's done thru system ops to have the satellite hit your dish with those particular channels.
You may have a dish that is the wrong model for local and/ or HD. You also need to have an HD receiver to get HD channels as well.
Try calling around to satellite companies in your area (they are the ones who are independant ops, don't have the Direct truck but still are associated with Direct)
You can usually work better prices with them.
Hope that helps! Good luck!

LBFreakazoid,
Thanks for taking the time to do that.

Unfortunately the dish has to be moved now, because over time
a tree has grown up and is blocking one of the satellites (119 to be
exact). And it carries my local channels. With time I'm sure the
tree will block more of the signal.

I have two dishes already on the house. One of the older models
that has one LNB. And a new one with the 3-LNB. So since I was
needing to add a new dish to receive the channels I already pay
for, I contacted DirectTV.

Kill two birds with one stone? Nope not with DirectTV. Instead of
bringing out another standard definition dish that they would wind
up having to replace within a year (because I'm upgrading to a new
HD TV later in the year). You'd think they would be willing to go
ahead and upgrade my equipment to a new HD dish and two new
HD receivers for free.

But no! Not even for a long term customer. They're going to let
a loyal customer leave because they're too cheap (less than $300
worth of equipment) to invest in something that they're going to
make back a hundredfold. They seem a little shortsighted to me.

So tonight you tell DirectTV I'm coming and Hell's coming with me!*

*Tombstone

iamnotafraid · #7 06-13-2012, 07:20 PM

The deed is done.

Free at last, free at last.

nailatixela · #8 06-13-2012, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

The deed is done.

Free at last, free at last.

Did they try to keep you as a customer?

iamnotafraid · #9 06-13-2012, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nailatixela

Did they try to keep you as a customer?

Tried but did not succeed. They knocked $100 off
the offer they made me the night before. Still no dice.

My options...

Save money?

Go with Dish?

Netflix again? (for sure)

Spend more time with my guitars?

Marry a rich woman and not worry about $$$ ever again?

nailatixela · #10 06-14-2012, 05:47 PM

Thanks for sharing. I always think it is interesting the measures companies go to if you complain - or say you want out. I like hearing about those kinds of stories.

Macfanforever · #11 06-14-2012, 08:14 PM

I hope you work it out.I notice lately I'm been more of watching more movies and TV shows online .I've thinking of down grading my cable to the local channels and maybe jack up my internet speed.

iamnotafraid · #12 06-14-2012, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macfanforever

I've thinking of down grading my cable to the local channels and maybe jack up my internet speed.

Dude that's exactly what I did.
I just hooked my Nintendo Wii
to the internet, so I'll be able to
watch YouTube and Netflix etc...

Nailatixela,
I bet that DirectTV will get in touch
with me again with a new offer, now
that I'm not in bondage to them anymore.

Free at last, free at last...

BrownEyedGirl26 · #13 06-16-2012, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

Yes, even me a long term subscriber.

For over 15 years those *%#@(+$ have took my
money. I'm talking thousands of dollars. Including
premium programming like The NFL Sunday Ticket.

While offering new customers new HD equipment and
other upgrades for free. They decide they can't offer a
long term customer like me new equipment.

Now my satellite dish needs to be relocated to receive
some of the local channels (and probably HD channels).
And they want to charge me a little over $250 to complete
this service for me.

Loyalty means nothing to them. So guess what? After all
these years they're going to be in for a little surprise. No
more of my money.

I bet once I cancel they'll come around. We shall see.

If you cancel, or at least, let them know you are thinking of canceling,(US),cancelling,(UK), they may not want to lose you and indeed offer you what you want! If they don't, you can cancel & then, apply as a new customer & then they may give you what you want to have you back again. I was going to cancel over the phone but they have a way of not wanting to lose any customers so this may be the time to get a better deal! I hope this helps! Good Luck!

Macfanforever · #14 06-16-2012, 09:08 AM

I call the Concast cable retention center all the time and say I want a cheap rate or I'm going to canmel.About 2 minutes later they crack a deal with me.I dont know how the Sat people work.It wont hurt to try.

HomerMcvie · #15 06-16-2012, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macfanforever

I call the Concast cable retention center all the time and say I want a cheap rate or I'm going to canmel.About 2 minutes later they crack a deal with me.I dont know how the Sat people work.It wont hurt to try.

My aunt and cousin are both with DISH. They have a deal that DISH won't give anyone else! What I pay DISH $48 for, they get for $19.99! I've ranted at them on the phone, and they just insist that my aunt and cousin are both "grandfathered" in, on a special they once offered. Yet they keep renewing the special for them, year after year.

I'm almost out of my two year DISH contract. Not sure what I'll do then...I'd almost be fine with just the local channels....if I could only add:
HLN
The Food Network
and TBS, I'd be fine!