DirecTV review: very poor service and unacceptable contract 1397

disBEWARE! Be very careful when dealing with this company. I called to disconnect my service with them last February and the rep I talked to suggested "suspending" it instead for 3 months. So, I foolishly did. Well, after the 3 months I called back & told them I was still with another provider and wouldn't be needing their service anymore. However, something told me I should call them and it's been nagging at me for a few days. So, tonight I did. I got somebody in Idaho and he started babbling about my bill, of course I told him I connected it, just continued to suspend it and when I didn't call back by August 15th they started billing me. Well, of course I went insane immediately! After threatening the State Attornery's Office, blogging & exposing them in papers/tv and facebook, she said...go ahead. When I told her I can prove I'm not using their service and can produce the other providers bill...she said, that's irrelevant! Now, I ask you would you want to do business with a company like that? By now, steam was coming out the top of my head and I screeched obsenities at her...couldn't stop myself...lol. The funny thing is she never hung up on me ...maybe she was enjoying it. I did call back & got someone in Mexico (that's right) and he checked his supervisor & they took care of it. The motto is: be vigilant with these companies, just because they're big doesn't mean they won't scam you. It's a trick! They hope by encouraging you to suspend the service that you'll forget to call and then they'll bill you for something that you never used.

You could order with a remote. What happens is it stores on the access card that's in the receiver. It's kept there but doesn't report without a phone line. When you send the equipment back they remove the card and check to see if any purchases are on there. Which is why it took 3 years. So someone DID order with the remote control at some point and judging by the price with it only being 3 movies they weren't childrens movies being ordered. Who's going to fess up to that? But yeah...that little access card stores all the PPV info on it.

My name is jimvertis thompson and i got direct tv services about a month ago and the tech that came out and hooked my cable up broke my lamp and its going on a month!The tech name is thomas mcbee. The place were i got the lamps from is mazers and they are no longer in business i tired getting a price on how much is to fix it the places i went said the lamp can't be fixed it has to be replaced. The tech said someone suppose to come out and take pictuers but they never did. Get someone out here now to see about my lamp please!

As of 12/8/2009, I was forced to move out of my home that was foreclosed on. At that time I told Direct TV that I would not be able to use a satellite dish on the condo I was moving to because it would detract from the entire complex unity and therefore discouraged by the Home owners association. It would certainly detract because my unit is right on the front at the street where it would need to be placed to get the signal to operate properly. Moreover, I am renting this unit and the landlord would not allow it.

I had already been with Direct TV for a couple of years and in the spring of 2009, I changed a TV in my home to HD so I bought a HD recorder, at the suggestion of Direct TV, from Best Buy for $299.00 for which was still charged a rental box fee each month of $5.99. Apparently, at that time, they re-uped my contract for another 2 years. So now not only do they want my HD recorder, that I purchased, and another HD box back, but they want me to pay them a penalty because I had to stop their service, not because I wanted to but because I was forced to move to a place that I could not use their service.

They stopped my service as a "courtesy" for 6 months but with a charge for this "courtesy" of $85.+ but then in June, they informed me they would be turning on the service and even though I did not have a dish or a box installed, I would be charged until the contract ran out. At that time, I told them the above again. They dont care! They said they would send shipping boxes for me to send them the HD boxes back. They did not send any boxes to me. They stated that when the HD boxes came back, I could take off the boxes charges from what they claim I owe but they would not remove the contract penalty.

This is unacceptable. I cannot believe that this Direct TV policy is not illegal. Its highly insensitive, insidious & sneaky.

I canceled my direct TV service after 4 day sof bad service. I called and was told by 2 individuals that I would not be charged a late fee and that in PA there was a 15 day window to cancel if you were not happy with the service

I was not happy, I canceled and ended up seeing a 376.01 charge on my bank account. I called and was told to dispute the charge with my bank however the woman I spoke to said I would be refunded the money within one month.

A month later no money and I called back ... called and waited 3 seperate times after they hung up on me 2 times after putting me on hold for over 30 minutes each time. Then was told I will not be refunded if I wasn't already and there is no 15 cancelation window if you are not happy with the service.

a man named Louie who claimed to be a supervisor with an ID number of 424713 was extremely rude and basically said oh well... you're not getting your money back and would not transfer me to anyone else.

I dont think me canceling after 4 days and not wanting to be charged a late fee is uncalled for ... There should be a civil lawsuit filed against them for how much money they scam from people for no good reason... some poeple probably don't even notice. Just awful bad business

I hate direct tv. i have been with them for about 4 months and everytime i get my bill it is more than i bargain for. So i decided to cancel my services instead of arguing with them again this month...but if i do that they are going to charge me $340. I was with Dish for 6 years prior to making a switch and never had a billing issue. I am stuck with a company that i loath and wish i would have never switched. i miss you Dish.

Tried to get Direct TV installed in two homes. Was set up with an account and told this was easily possible, but the first guy said he could only set up the first location. However, he would transfer to the next person who would set up the second location. After being TRANSFERRED EIGHT TIMES, each person assuring us that the next person would be the right one, we ended up at customer service, a guy in Colorado. He could not solve our problem and was no more intelligent than the previous persons-he stated we were given bad information from all the others but couldn't even give us his own phone number (he had to go find it).
When we called to cancel, the woman admitted that we were lied to by the first person, a guy who said his name was Michael Jones in OHIO. However, I bet that is a fake name!

Overall we spent one hour and thirty minutes on the phone to try and set it up, then they wasted another 15 minutes for us to finally get it cancelled. This was the worst experience I have ever had! I would not recommend EVER dialing these toll free numbers as they are all apparently franchises and will tell you anything to sell you.

We ordered nfl ticket and did not receive pat. and cin. game on 9/12/10. They said it was blacked out but we live in Woodburn, IN! Why would it be blacked out for us? This is a rip off ! We cannot cancel and get a refund if the game we want to watch is canceled. We called and talked to a manager and got no where fast with him.

i have an idea to make your company millions.

I am in fort wayne so I do understand...any game within a 200 mile radius is blacked out. It is the teams that do it...they want people to GO to the games and spend money on tickets instead of watching it on tv. AlSo they have an agreement between NFL ticket and the actual NFL that says they have to black out the games. It iis the NFL's fault...

Direct TV is the [censor] of the earth! After poor service after 5 days into my contract, I cancelled because I was told that I had 30 days to cancel without penalty. They went into my account and drafted $523.00 for early termimation fees (after 5 days of service). I disputed the charges with my bank and them reversed, but now I'm being harrased for $523.00. THAT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE 5 DAYS OF TV SERVICE I HAVE EVER HAD!

Question: What is the FCC ruling on Cable companies fees?

Direct TV is a horror show. It isn't so much Direct TV as the low bidder outsourced technicians that DTV sends to your home.

Our service has been out for the week. Saturday was the only time that we could cut out of our calendar. They still give 4 hour windows for service at this company. So we canceled our plans to sit home on Saturday morning. They were supposed to call an hour and a half ahead of the visit. That time came and went.

I call them back after 12. And am told "sorry" but the best we can do is Monday. After several phone calls I get a cancellation for this afternoon with a window between 12 and 4. I cancel the date I have with my wife...and sit in. For three hours...again no phone call. I call them and ask what is going on. They tell me that I called and canceled the appointment. Uggggg...

DTV doesn't really honor their contract to provide you TV service. But yet they will charge me $400+ if I want to cancel this. I didn't think that you could find customer service worse than Comcast. But wasting an entire day and more of sometime next week...I want to cancel.

Direct TV has been in formed of all this. They said I have two choices. Pay the $400 for cancelation and eat the cost of all the equipment. $280.

~direct tv customer [protected]

We went through exactly the same thing. And it doesn't get any better. Wait till a storm goes through it takes weeks.
good luck

Make no mistakes, my friends. If Direct TV has your credit or debit card information, they will take whatever amount they want out of your account without your knowledge, permission, consent or authorization.

After learning that the installer from Direct TV had lined my gutters with the cable wire, I contacted them. Yes, I told him that the satelite dish on top of the house was okay on the day it was installed, but never knew that it was lined in my gutters until getting my house painted.

I immediately reported this to Direcr TV. All I got was them telling me that I gave permission for the cable wire to be placed in my gutters by signing the paper- work. Paperwork was signed at the completion of the installation. I continued to explain what happened, but no one would listen to me. All I wanted was this to be corrected. I hung up the phone after telling them that I would just cancel my services with them. I spoke to three people at different times. The last person was suppose to be a supervisor. I was surprised that a business would not try to satisfy a customer when they were in the wrong. I really did like Direct TV but never again will I buy service from them.

I was told to pay my balance which was 38.00 and never was told to pay it before midnight on the 20th. I had spoken to a rep and was told that my balance needs to be paid by 21th. At no time I was told to pay it by midnight on the 20th therefore my service was turn off. I called this morning to pay my small balance and I was told by a rep, surpervisor and mgn that i needed to pay 150 prior to having my service turn back on. I try to explained that it wasnt my fault that I was given wrong information. Then I was told to pay 140 and then the supervisor and mgn refused to listen and told me the I needed to patient 150.. Therefore I wish I never changed cable service.

Direct Tv doesnt even work well in my area. If a small amount a rain falls you are not able to see TV. Sucks. They will not even give me a credit. I know in the pass DISH would. I wish I never did chg. I can not wait until my contract is over and I am going back to DISH.. I am also writing a letter to the complaint dept at Direct TV.

I will be telling all my friends that have direct tv not to renew contract..

mjmcs : Directv does not just "take" monies from your card like a vampire YOU invite them to do so by provideing it to them

Direct tv is making a killing on commercials aired on your dime and time. Wind or rain will knock out dish reception. Cable was not any better...Charter cable has some of the most incompetent technicans you would ever meet. Went with their bundle package..What a joke..Home security system let me know they turned off service at 1:oo am monthly...Nice Heh? This was done to resolve phone line issues...whatever, , , ,
amazing that no one at Charter could resolve this issue...
It took them three days just to get my phone on...Am I the only person with a home security system that monitors the phone line in event of failure? I know I am one of the many that had idiots install their bundle pkg.
[censor]s work at their office at Direct TV and at Charter... High school diploma evidently not required...must be the same for their installers...Signal strenght issues requires their best guess aligment techniques...Get it close...call the office...hope they do not get my name sighs the installer.
O.K. I am going with prerecorded pc based programming and Direct TV and Charter can shove their cable and dish up where reception may be commercial free but will continue to stink just like their service.

This company misleads the customers about free hd tv for life and is false and does not inform people correctly about the referal program. I aclled in to refer my parent followed all instructions on the phone got my confermation numbers 2 months have passed and niether have received or credits, i called and keep getting operators who donot speak or understand english, their only ressponse is you do not qualify but will not or cannot explain why and i can not talk to a supervisor or representative from caaompany.

I purchased direct tv sport package so we can watch our favorite team. On Sunday, 9/26, 10, we come to find out that the game in Tampa is not a sellout and we cannot watch this on our tv. We have purchased direct tv for the convenience of watching our favorite team weekly never being told of blackouts that would occur. Noone in this so called company know who or where the corporate office is located or even who the CEO is. What kind of company did I get involved with. I want an explanation and I want it know. I will be notifing authorities of your money making scheme and not producing the product your inform the public of. When we call to ask or place a compaint, we get a representativde who is never in the same state, they are everywhere and noone knows nothing nor do the CARE. They hang up on you, transfewre you to another department who even less is sympathetic, never a a straight answer, only want that almighty $$$$$$$$ and lots of it. They are in control and just laught at US the customer. I want free tv like it use to be in the olden days. Enough of this junk and to you know where you can go with your so called best tv and satellites.

I find the TV commercial that Direct TV has showing during NFL football, when the woman puts dirty dish water into their drinks for watching their Direct TV sports. What are we teaching our kids that are watching the NFL sports games? Where is the "respect" in that commercial? What is the value of our national TV promoting in such an offensive kind of person that would put dish washing water in someone's drink. I would not buy Direct TV for the values they are promoting and representing in their commercials, as being cute and funny to promote such disrespect for another person.

BAD BAD BAD COMMERCIAL

I am having the same issue and when I cancelled they told me I was completely paid in full now I call a year later to actually reconnect service and the try telling me I owe 300 plus dollars they are scam artist! Do No use them fight for someone else to get NFL ticket!

I signed up with Direct TV in January 2010 when I moved into the Globe apartments in San Jose, CA. They have a monopoly in that complex so I was nto able to use any other provider for cable. They mde me sign a 2 year contract which I was uncomfortable with as I did not know how long I would be there or if I would be happy with their service. They assured me that if I ever moved and I could not get Direct TV in the new place that that voids the contract. 6 months later my company moved me to NYC. I intended to keep the Direct TV service but I was not able to get it in my new apartment building. I contacted Direct TV the middle of June and it has been hell since then. Each time I speak with someone different who gives me different rules. I spoke with someone in June, a supervisor who said that he would waive the early termination fee as my situation of moving to a new place where I could not get service qualifies for a waiver. A few weeks later I receive a bill with the $380 early termination fee. I called Direct TV and spoke to someone else who said they had no notes about the supervisor and did not know who the supervisor was. They said they would not waive the fee but that I could contact the Billing dispute deparment by mail explaining my situation and they would decide. I wrote Billing Dispute a letter and mailed it on July 12th. I never received a response from them but then just received calls asking for the money. I spoke with someone at the beginning of August who was trying to collect the money and I explained to him that I wrote Billing Dispute and he said he had no notes of this. I explained my situation again but he said there was nothing he can do. So, they obviously disregarded my letter and did not care enough to take any notes on my past calls into supervisors or customer service. Direct TV customer service is horrible, they do not care about their clients. They tell you what you want to hear to get you off the phone and then do not follow through. Then, they do not put notes in the system so that they don't have to honor what they said and the conversation can't be traced back. Their early termination guidelines need to be clear and fair. They are running a scam on consumers. I will never use them again!
Now I have Verizon Fios and the service is great, there is early termination, and the quality is better. Everytime I have called in regards to my service and bill they have been professional and great with their customer service.
Do not use Direct TV!

In June of this year I signed up to have Direct Tv installed. I explained when I ordered your service that I was on social security disability and received my check between the 7th and 13th of the month on the second Wednesday of each month. Your sales person told me to wait to the middle of July to have it installed so my payments would line up.
I had your service installed on the 18th of July. After which money was taken out on the 2nd of August. I called and complained and was told Septembers payment would be taken out on the 18Th. It wasn't, it was taken out about the second again.
I called and complained again and they said for me to cancel the automatic bill pay and write a check and then have the payments set up to be taken directly out of my account on the 18th of each month and lose my free HD for life because of canceling my automatic payments..
Come October 3rd my account was hit again this time causing me overdraft fees and now I am told the date can not be changed and that I was out of luck. I want to cancel my service but I am told I have to pay a 400 plus dollar early cancellation fee.
I did nothing wrong and I and my family are suffering because your company refuses to stand by their word and bill me as stated. I have spoken to at least fifteen people and no one will HELP us.
My only solution is to send back your equipment and put a stop pay on my account and go back to cable. I want you to know that when you treat people badly like this that it costs you thousands in revenue. I attend a church with hundreds of family's and when word gets around how we were treated then it will cost you. Whether or not you realize it. I could have gotten you customers but instead they will turn away from you and go else where. You will never see the early cancellation fee due to it being your fault I had to leave.
I thought my cable company were a bunch of crooks but you are way worse.

The government is in bed with the enemy Obviously or they would prosecute...sick of this crappy service and then they have a nerve to charge us for it. Hello, , (attorney general) think maybe you could get involved. Afterall, we do pay your wages. SO EARN IT!Darn it. If a small business did this they would be closed down immediately. (they don't have the big buck lawyers to protect them) SHAMELESS I have been trying to get a PAPER BILL ever since I signed up, over 6mo.s now, I cant get my account number unless I have it and I can't get it because they have never mailed me a bill. I just get a message on my screen when it's time to pay or disconnect. I call, I pay, I again ask for a bill, to date, no bill, consequently no account number. Without an account number your unable to get a look at your bill! (online) I am going to Disconnect Permanently from all cable as of Novemer, 2010. I have had it, Comcast is worst! Taking a sabaticle, too much garbage on anyway, think I will reconnect with my public library which is FREE! Come on, anyone aboard? Let's make a statement.

I was a DTV customer for 7 years. In Dec 2009, I upgraded to HDTV but had to cancel the service when I moved to Canada to get a regular full-time job in June 2010. I could not get anything other than a contract position where I was living in CT.

I asked about how I could dispute the $380 early cancellation fee since Direct TV does not have service in Canada. I was told to write a letter to their Colorado address. I did and never received a response. After my move, I received a bill for the cancellation fee and had no choice but to email customer service since their 1-800 number only works in the US. I was told that the price for their equipment is low so it is in the contract that they have the cancellation fee. I tried to reason with them via email but was ignored. I decided to send another letter to the Colorado address and also was ignored. I have since received mail that my bill has gone to collections. If they had only bothered to talk to me and treat me decently as an excellent past customer, I might have paid some part of their lousy cancellation fee. Because they treated me as non-existent, I decided to treat them and their fee as non-existent.

I will be putting in a complaint with the FCC. Just try to get the money from me in Canada! I won't be going back for a number of years at least, so that threat about the debt on my credit report also won't hold water. I will never recommend anyone to go with this company. They had better start learning what customer service means.

Very similar situation with us as well. POOR POOR customer service. I have told everyone I know to stay away from Direct TV. I happen to be in a position that I should have a small impact on them but not enough to matter in the big picture. They just DO NOT care.

I been dealing with Direct TV and it has wasted 3 hours of my day. The install has caused HOA warnings and problems, they weren't able to install service to the rooms I needed without their custom additional charge fee, and their pricing is much more than Cox. They are charging $400 to cancel with them and didn't solve any of my problems. Cox is going to provide services to all my rooms, premium channels in HD quality for much less. No activation or security deposit. So Direct TV can lose another customer and hopefully many more from whom have read these complaints. I rather pay $4oo to cancel now than give them $15oo for the remaining of my contract.

Hopefully somebody important enough reads this within Direct TV so they can deal with these representative that were disrespectful:
Chris ID: 36285
Bridget ID: 415208
Supervisor Nate ID: 409628

My services with Direct TV were recently canceled and they withdrew over $ 300.00 from my account. After speaking with several customer service reps, one by the name of Jennifer told me that after the account goes into collections they are not prohibited to go into your account. My account went into collections on September 30, but they took money out of my account on October 7. I took the liberty of looking over the service agreement and what do you know, it clearly stated that Direct TV could collect any money owed prior to going into collections. I will never deal with this scam artists again and I'll advise anyone else to do the same.

Called up Direct TV to resolve a complaint. Had hours of conversation with customer service, finally received a resolution of my complaint from a supervisor, the company has no record of any of it. Called up again, was told I did not have grounds for the complaint and that there was no record that I had complained previously. Easily the third time I have tried to resolve a problem with the company, went through all the usual steps, then after I was told the problem was resolved, it wasn't and they expected me to cough up the $$$$.

My husband and I went through something similiar as everyone else. We fulfilled our commitment but because we were offered a "FREE UPGRADE" our 2 year contract started over. And like all of you NO ONE SEEMED TO MENTION THAT LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION. We canceled at the beginning of July 2010 and when I did I was informed that I would have to pay $20 for every month that I had left to meet on the 2 year agreement for the "FREE DVR" which totaled $80. I argued with them and told them to send me the paperwork where I signed and agreed to renewing the contract and they told me that I was told that when I agreed to the free upgrade. My husband preceded to call them and discuss this matter and he told them the same, to provide with documentation. He got an email a week later that contained a document that looked like something someone threw together and had April of 2008 as date of service. Do the math, April 2008 to July 2010 is more than 24 months! My husband paid the last bill which totaled $52 and thought it was done and over with. It gets better.. We left for vacation and one night were looking at our credit card statement and there was a charge from DirectTv for $136. We immediately called our banks dispute resolution department and told them that was an unauthorized charge. They credited back the money and opened an investigation of their own. We recently got a letter stating that the credit would be permanent because DirectTv could not provide documentation to back up their claim. Now, we have a collection agency calling us to collect this $80. I am planning to consult with an attorney about this and see what can be done. Don't let them take money out of your accounts! Call your bank's dispute resolution department and tell then it is an unauthorized charge!

I made an iquiriry to find out how much direct tv may cost... I was dumb to believe them when they sid no obligation... Next thing i have a tech ready to install the next morning, , after 9 phone calls still no supervisior, , , i get a bill now for 21.20.. For inquiring how much it would cost, , , now on hold for 55 mins trying to get a supervisior, , which i believe is just made up... I will never ever use this provider, please dont be fooled, , this is a scam... I will tell all i know about this

Direct Tv was suppose to upgrade me over three months ago, I still has not happened, If you guys want to keep me as a customer then I need better customer service. I want this taken care of shortly or I will leave Direct TV, customer of over ten years. Tim Traughber
[protected]

Sure you can have a rebate...but we sure are gonna get you for the first couple of months to make that extra money. 6-8 weeks to process a rebate. They must have space monkies chiseling out ones and zeros in their database to take so long. Honestly though, it really about getting money up front.

In the additional info:
"Rebate begins 6-8 weeks after receipt of rebate form. Rebates must be submitted within 90 days of the start of your service. Timing of promotional price depends on redemption date"

on oCT. 19, 2010, i had two tech to come to my house to do and upgrade from a standard box to a dvr reciever...the tech put two addtiional holes in my wall. They didn't have the corret equipment that they needed to complete the job, i had to provide them with my materials that my husband and i purchased, with our own money.

i would like to have this removed...my problem was fixed on oct. 21, 2010 ...thamks

I have been with DirecTv for 3 years, always with the Sunday Ticket. Usually they roll it over every year without asking (which I did not have a problem with because it is a better rate). This year they did not, so I called to ask if there was anything they could do for me. The rep stated yes, she could discount it 20 per month for six months, so I said great, thanks. This was last month (Sept 15th). I went online to pay my bill yesterday, and noticed the credit was not there. I called customer service, the rep stated yes, she did see that notated in my account, and I would receive the credit, but had to transfer me to the credits department. The girl there said I had to pay my entire bill first (even with the extra 20 being added) and THEN she could credit my account. While doing this, I became disconnected. So I called today to get the credit, had to be transferred twice, then spoke to Robert in the credit dept who RUDELY informed me, nope you can't get it because its not valid. WHAT? Asked for a super. After a LONG wait super came on and said, "sorry that wasnt a valid offer and nothing we can do" Ok, so I was lied to? No he said, we didn't lie, the reps misrepresented it. So how is this my fault? I pay over 150 a month to them for 3 years, and this is how they treat a customer? I cannot believe they will not honor this credit when it's been notated in my account several times I would be getting it. I would highly recommend not doing business with this company, and will spread the word on facebook, twitter, and within my workplace.

I had talked to a representative of direct tv who made it sound so great and for the first 5 months would get it for 60 bucks, so i went ahead and got it. Was the biggest mistake... The rep said pay the installer the first month along with any extra installation ended up giving this crook 129 bucks...3 daqys later i recieved a letter from direct tv statinbg that i owe them 88 bucks...So i call talk to a complete ### who stated that they contract these installers and i should not have paid them. I was like " how i am supposed to know this" your rep told me to pay them so i did. Direct tv bills my credit card for 88 buck so i call again i think they only hire stupid people. They gave me the number to the installers to call them...I could not believe this seriously i dont contract them your company does...So i call these worthless people 15 times left that many messages and as of today still nothing from them. I called time warner then canceled my services with direct tv so today i get a bill for 475.01...Here we go again called direct tv...Wow what do you know another dumber than dirt customer service person...Did nothing then had the nerve and stupidity to ask if i would like to take advantage of the new package...No stupid just give me the address to your legal...Do not ever use this company they will rip you off!

HAD APPT TODAY BETWEEN 8-12 THEY CALLED IF THEY COME AFTER 1-1.30 I SAID FINE.

THEN THEY CALL TO RESCHEDULE FOR 28TH.

AGAIN THEY CALLED TO RESCHEDULE FOR 29TH.

I CANCELLED THE ORDER.

THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO SIT AT HOME & THEY HAVE NO VALUE FOR PEOPLES TIME.

WHT CAN YOU EXPECT IN FUTURE.

when i had my service terminated i had a credit balance on my account . it took 3 months to get a credit issued. by then i had accrued another month of "service" when in truth it had been discontinued a month before. just recieved a bill today 4 months after service was terminated saying i owed for 4 pay per views .never ever ordered ppv. supposedly showed up on the card when equipment was returned. steer clear of direct. best to go with a local provider as i have done.