Consumer Alert - Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against DirecTV
Tuesday February 26, 2008
According to a lawsuit filed against DirecTV in Federal Court, it is alleged that the Satellite TV service provider is misleading consumers. Apparently, when subscribers go to a retailer and purchase their satellite box, they have to return the box, if they cancel their satellite service subscription at a later date. In other words, it is alleged that consumers are not being told that their satellite box "purchase" is not really a purchase at all. For more details on this important story, check out the report from TV Predictions.
Related Information: DirecTV's policies and procedures regarding service and cancellation fees.
UPDATE 7/22/09: DirecTV Class Action Lawsuit Allowed To Proceed (Consumer Affairs.com)
Updates 10/11/09: DirecTV Early Cancellation Policy Targeted By Lawsuit (Sacramento Bee)
DirecTV On The Hot Seat (Multi-Channel News)
Update 10/15/09: Complaints Swell Against DirecTV Early Cancellation Policies
Update 11/25/09: California Court Ruling May Pave Way For Class Action Lawsuits Against DirecTV (Kern Valley Sun)
Comments
I’ve just found this as well. I spent 200 bucks on this receiver which by the way is not even complete because the SATA connection does not work. They even said that it costs $300 and they are giving me a deal and selling for $200. After I got the service and I called them and happen mention about cancelling, then they told me that I’d have to return it.
I spent 200 bucks for something I don’t own, that makes no sense at all. I can still use it as a recorder after I cancel my service.
This lawsuit is a good thing.
DirecTV has more going on than that. I’ve have first hand experience that they are out to squeeze every last cent out of a person who tries to leave them. I called them 6 months ago because I was moving, and they offered to move me for free. Sounded great. But when I went to cancel my service last week, they billed me for over $200.00 for a cancellation fee!! They said that the moving service that I took advantage of obligated me to a two year commitment! I never agreed to that. I knew I’d be disconnecting when school was back in. Also, I installed my own dish the last time I moved, but I wasn’t able to this time around. After two or three long phone calls, they do acknowlege that I might not have been informed, but they refuse to let me out of the ‘contract!’ I suppose there’s nothing I can do, but I wish someone would investigate this.
I know I’m not the only one.
Brandon
Directv is a bunch of crooks! In my case Liars too ! I recently was let out of my agreement and was told by Heather Pace employee #U4748 Office of the President that She would change my equipment to “own” Status . They refuse to send a confirmation letter . They have Deceptive Business practices . The number is 1-800-666-4388 . Everyone call this number (Office of President ) and give them a yell!
I was also misled by direct tv deceptive trade practices. I also moved and was charged after I made it clear that the initial instalation was a temporary location. I was told it wouldbe done at no charge. Then I added an additional receiver six months later and they without my knowledge extended my contract. I later called Direct TV and was told these practices never occured. Two minutes later I called to install another receiver and they tried the same practice of extending my contract without full disclosure.
I was also misled by direct tv deceptive trade practices. I also moved and was charged after I made it clear that the initial instalation was a temporary location. I was told it wouldbe done at no charge. Then I added an additional receiver six months later and they without my knowledge extended my contract. I later called Direct TV and was told these practices never occured. Two minutes later I called to install another receiver and they tried the same practice of extending my contract without full disclosure.
I was also misled by direct tv deceptive trade practices. I also moved and was charged after I made it clear that the initial instalation was a temporary location. I was told it wouldbe done at no charge. Then I added an additional receiver six months later and they without my knowledge extended my contract. I later called Direct TV and was told these practices never occured. Two minutes later I called to install another receiver and they tried the same practice of extending my contract without full disclosure.
Directv is front-loaded to rip off consumers. I make it a point to tell anyone who will listen to never do business with them. A happy customer will tell 10 people an unhappy cutomer will tell 1000. Eventually they will go BK.
Does anyone know how one can join the lawsuit? I am so upset at this company! They debited my account for an early termination fee without my consent and with no proof of contract.
I never signed a two yr contract and I cancelled after about 2 days because the service was terrible. They now want me to pay $497 as an early cancelleation fee. F@ck that and F@ck Direct TV.
We recently got service with directv and had nothing but problems with their service. We cancelled our service within 3 days of getting it and they charged us $497 FOR EARLY TERMINATION. Directv just it upon themselves to charge our credit card that amount of money without authorization from us. We were able to get this money back through our credit card company, however they now have collections calling us. We have even wrote several letters to thema and including the office of the president and have gotten no where. If there is not a lawsit against this company yet for this we should file one. If there is how can I get involved with it?
kathy
I too had direct tv and had to pay a 200.00 early termination fee. is there any way of getting this back from them?
Check the net for class action suits against DTV. I know I saw one for the bait and switch on the “purchased” receivers and lease fees for the same. Not sure about the early termination fees though.
Unfortunately, DTV hides behind a cloak when it comes to their contracts. You may not sign one, but they send you terms/conditions with your first bill (look at your first one on the back and/or the front right column) and also that statement directs you to look for more details on their website (directv.com/legal) The statement (if like mine)references the site and the charging of your credit/debit card if you have charges remaining at termination. The site discusses the applicable early termination fees (varies by box type). All of it neglects to state how many days you have to cancel without penalty. And, on a side note, when I signed up they asked for my credit card “to run a credit check”. I authorized it for that and nothing else. However, on the back of my bill/statement it is written in BOLD/CAPs. “FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, WE WILL AUTOMATICALLY CHARGE YOUR CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD ON FILE FOR ANY BILL AMOUNT LEFT UNPAID, PLUS ANY NEW FEES POSTED TO YOUR ACCOUNT, AND ANY APPLICABLE CANCELLATION AND EQUIPMENT NON-RETURN FEES IF YOU CANCEL YOUR DIRECTV SERVICE……”
Did I sign a contract? NO. Do I accept those terms by not saying anything and paying my bill? I don’t know. However, what I do know is the main problem with this “alleged contract” is that you don’t see the terms before you receive the service and/or the terms are significantly different than what was verbally stated by the sale/customer rep. Not giving any window of cancellation for consumers (i.e. 14 days from receipt of Terms and Conditions in writing —on the first statement, etc.) is definitely unfair business practice and likely what would be the main point in any class action.
In other words, how can Directv not give it’s terms in writing up front to the consumer, and then later say “you owe us $XXXX for early termination” once a consumer sees these terms and decides they aren’t acceptable and want to cancel. Also, the full terms are not given with the first bill (just some terms), and consumers are directed to the website for the remainder. What about those (and there are still some people out there) that don’t use the net. They just never see those terms?
Kat
I also had “direct tv” and got the total “bait and switch” tactic from them and caused me to cancel my services early. Was then charged a $410.00 cancellation fee that was just taken out of my account. I filed a complaint with the BBB and consumer affairs and nothing came from either. I also am looking to file a lawsuit against “direct tv” if someone can help me please let me know!
It is overwhelming to see the consistency of complaints regarding direct tv and failing to notify customers about extending contracts and being able to debit checking accounts and credit cards that they save in their systems anytime you make a payment.Direct tv has begun a practice that allows them to go into your checking account or charge your credit card for outstanding balances, cancellation fees, equipment. This is without your consent or permission. EVEN without a bill. I receive my bank statement stating that there was a 300 dollar charge from direct tv. I had called to inquire about transferring my service due to moving, I was told I couldnt get a transfer order until i paid the bill of 80 dollars that was going to be sent to within the next couple of days for the month service. I inform rep that i would make payment once bill was recieved like i had done for the past 12 months of service with direct tv. The rep stated that without paying the current months bill i would not be able to transfer service. She said that all i could do was cancel and reorder later once i got moved when i told her that the new owners had moved into my home. The call got disconnected and I was out of town figuring I would call back later to follow up.
3 days later my checking account has the charges taking out of my account. I call direct tv, i was inform the bill was for early cancellation fees and the 80 dollars for the month of service. I inform that i was under a 12 month contract and year was up so why was i being charged early cancelation. it was at that moment the rep stated that since i had the dvr, the contract was changed to a 2 year, i informed her no one had ever told me this and the email i recieved stated a year contract from direct tv.
the rep also inform me that it is now direct tv practice that all customers must have credit or bank cards on file so that they can deduct charges. I ask how was this possible without having a consumer permission. this was when she inform me that all consumers agree to this when signing up for service, it is in the customer agreement. that they will use any cards showing in their systems in which the customer has made payments with in the past, she verified that i had 2 credit cards stored in their system in which they save when payments are made, also this is without having consumer permission.
so despite not having permission or even a bill, direct tv will debit your credit or bank card. BEWARE! this angers me, my account wasnt in collections, i have never been behind on their bills and pay consistently, nor was their any outstanding balance. i hadnt even gotten a bill yet, the fact they are able to go into banking account without my knowledge or permission is unethical to me.
******I am including the web link of their agreements so that you can see what they use but isnt verbally stated about their practices of debiting customers bank accounts. http://www.directv.com/legal.
*******also a copy of their email that confirms service, no where states a dvr becomes a 2 year agreement:
Congratulations on your recent order of a DIRECTV® System. You now have access to the best entertainment value on the market today. Below is a summary of your order as well as the terms and conditions of the offer.
Our web site at DIRECTV.com has a wealth of information that may help you with questions that you may have about your DIRECTV System and programming. You also may change or confirm your installation date and time by creating a user account on http://www.DIRECTV.com. If you have additional questions about your order, please call us at 1-866-678-9465.For questions about DSL Service please go to http://www.DIRECTV.com/DSL.
Lastly, we’d like to let you know about a special opportunity to enjoy free DIRECTV® service. Simply refer a friend to DIRECTV, and when they activate their service, you’ll receive a special bonus credit on your DIRECTV account. There’s no limit to the number of referrals you can make, so you could enjoy free DIRECTV® service for a very long time. Go to http://www.DIRECTV.com/refer or call 1-866-GIFT-TO-YOU for details.
Best regards,
DIRECTV, Inc.
——————————————————————————–
DIRECTV ORDER RECEIPT – PLEASE RETAIN FOR YOUR RECORDS
Qty. Description Each
1 DIRECTV DVR $0.00
1 DIRECTV System (18″) $0.00
1 DIRECTV® Satellite Dish $0.00
1 PLUS DVRT P000006357000000001 $0.00
1 Standard IRD $0.00
Installation Included $0.00
Handling and Delivery $0.00
Tax $0.00
Total $0.00
——————————————————————————–
NEW CUSTOMER OFFER TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Please refer to your DIRECTV Lease Addendum for all Terms and Conditions regarding your leased equipment.
By placing this order you agree to the following terms and conditions:
You are a new residential DIRECTV customer.
If you cancel your order prior to installation, we will issue a full refund.
FAILURE TO ACTIVATE ALL OF THE DIRECTV SYSTEM EQUIPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EQUIPMENT LEASE ADDENDUM MAY RESULT IN A CHARGE OF $150 PER RECEIVER NOT ACTIVATED.
Offer requires you to purchase 12 consecutive months (24 consecutive months for advanced equipment) of any DIRECTV base programming package (priced at $29.99/mo. or above) , or any international services bundle. In certain markets, programming and pricing may vary. DIRECTV PROGRAMMING AND PRICING SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.
You must activate and maintain DVR service ($5.99/mo) if you ordered a DVR or HD DVR.
An HD Access fee ($10.99/mo.) is required for HD Receiver or HD DVR leases.
You accept the $4.99/mo. lease fee for the second and each additional receiver.
Your receiver must be continuously connected to a land-based phone line to activate certain sports programming and to allow pay per view ordering by remote control.
If you fail to maintain your programming commitment, you agree that DIRECTV may charge you a prorated fee of up to $150 for standard equipment or $300 for advanced receivers within 7 days of downgrading or disconnecting your programming.
Leased equipment must be returned upon disconnect. If you do not return equipment, DIRECTV may charge a fee of up to $55 per standard, $200 per DVR, $240 per HD and/or $470 per HD DVR.
If you cease to be DIRECTV’s customer for any reason ( whether voluntarily or involuntarily ) , you must call DIRECTV at 1-800-531-5000 within five (5) days after the termination of your DIRECTV programming services to (i) make arrangements for DIRECTV to pick up all of your DIRECTV equipment; or (ii) obtain information from DIRECTV necessary to arrange for a ground or air freight service to pick up and deliver all of your DIRECTV equipment to DIRECTV.
You and DIRECTV agree that any dispute arising under or relating to your agreements or service with DIRECTV, which cannot be resolved informally, will be resolved through binding arbitration as fully set forth in your DIRECTV Customer Agreement (a copy is sent with your first bill but may also be viewed at DIRECTV.com). Arbitration means you waive your right to a jury trial.
Limit one rebate per account/person/household/DIRECTV account per 12 consecutive months.
direct tv
Many people don’t know about any agreement when they get a new box or upgrade the service, plus they don’t even get a sign contract but say you are in one, they also have techincan that did not get paid for overtime, and that were over work. But the contract company that they use is getting sued, but can’t touch direct tv if they know about if or not, it is a very shady way of doing business
My girlfriend purchased The direc tv 200 channel & 3 months of hbo & starz package. The sales rep told her she would get the dvr and one extra box for 36.99 for the first three months, then it would be 45.00 amonth for the rest of the one year contract. The first installer did a horrible job installing the cables & wanted me to fix it. After several phone calls, they came out and had to redo the whole thing. The second installer did it right. In the mean time, we got our first bill. Instead of the 36.99 a month as quoted, our bill was 98.04. I have made several phone calls again, and the lowest they will come down to is 49.00 a month. I told them that was still unacceptable and would let the authrities work it out. I filed a complaint with the BBB and need to find out where to file a Bait & Switch complaint. If anyone knows PLEASE leave a message.
I ordered my direct tv service through Qwest. Big mistake. I was misinformed by the Qwest rep. about charges and fees. I never signed anything when the installer left my home. As of right now I have no service. My satellite is not getting a signal and I refuse to pay eighty bucks for a tech. to come out to fix. So, I am going to cancel and NOT pay them a cent. I HATE them sooooooo much!!!!!!
I had directv a while back and was also charged a cancellation fee that I wasn’t aware of, but most recently, I let someone else use my credit card to pay their bill. There service was disconnected and directv took $760 from my checking account causing an abundance of overdrafts and they tell me I have to wait for their finance dept. to call me, they don’t have a direct line for me to talk to them. That’s crap.
I completed my 2 year contract couple of months back with DTV & told them that I am considering switching to a competitor. They tried hard to hold on to me by throwing some pennies but finally I decided to switch on the start of a new “Billing cycle”. On the tranfer date, I called them & told of my new service. Now, I am getting a new bill saying that I owe them 6 more days of service since it took them that long to officially disconnect my A/C services. Go figure. I threatened to take them to FCC & then they backed off!!
Today DTV illegally obtained funds from my bank by going into my account and deducting 229.03.
i owed them two months service, they say, but one was a month i never got.
they turned off my service about a month ago and i have not heard from them until the stole 229.03 from me today. i told my bank i did not make this transaction and it was a sneak attack by DTV. they were charging me for the receiver, cancellation fee and the two months.
my bank refunded the money and i had to cancel my bank account cc and change the number. so if everything goes ok this refund will stand if the bank’s officals agree with my given statement.
it all boils down to this…i owed them a month and they took a mile…
I moved and instead of moving my account they opened up another one for me and have been charging me for 2 accounts for 2 years! Direct TV has stolen over a thousand dollars from my bank account!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They will not stop it because they are THIEVES! Whatever anyone does…do not give credit card or checking account info to DIRECT TV. They WILL steal your money and apparently there is nothing we can do about it! Direct TV pays the politicians off so they can be above the law and steal from people!!!!!
I too, am very frustrated with Direct Tv! We tried there service on April 6th and canceled on the 8th. A customer service rep told us that they WOULD not charge us/ credit us the cancellation fee. Well, I still kept getting bills and I called explained the situation, and “Yes, I see the credit, but it has not been made yet.” July I got a letter from a collection agency about the cancellation fee. I called AGAIN, and agent AGAIN said that he saw the credit and didn’t know why it had not been made, and that I should write a letter of dispute. Well, I did!
Today, Lisa from the business department said that I am responsible for the charge because the NEW policy as of Jan, 2008, states that clients have 24 hours to cancel without charge, not 3 days (prior cancellation time)as I was told. She said the contract I signed states 24 hours.
AND, get this, she said that there was NO notes on my account stating that I would not be charged the cancellation fee. So basically, either different agents were LYING to me or someone deleted the comment from my account. Lisa, said that it was IMPOSSIBLE to delete comments from customers accounts. Maybe she can’t, I believe someone else CAN!
I then asked if my last conversation was recorded or if any of my prior calls had been recorded and she would not tell me. Told me that my lawyer would have to connect their legal department. Sounds crazy, but honestly, Direct Tv does not have well trained or knowledgeable representatives. I know I signed a contract and SHOULD have READ IT before signing!
I would be HAPPY to join in a law suit!
I wish this could go to court, because, come on – 24 hours to cancel!!! That’s ridiculous!
I sure hope that a lawyer will start-up a class action suit against Direct Tv. They do need some type of federal intervention!
To ALL whom have been “duped” by DirectTV…
I read the many comments on this site and I must say we MUST follow through with a Class Action Suit – or – join in on the one presntly filed…. My wife ordered DirecctTV and we had nothing but problems with the service during a 2 week period. She opt to cancel service; was never told of early cancellation fee, never received nor signed a contract agreement and, DirectTV took upon themselves to ‘illegally’ withdraw $486.21 from her checking acccount without her authorization. She being unaware of their shystiness – and – actions attempted to purchase lunch for our 2 little boys (ages 2 & 4), and had nothing in her account. Not only that, but they (DirectTV) caused her account to be over-drawn and now the bank is accruing her a $35.00 overdraft fee.
We have attempted for days to speak with someone at their corporate offices (legal department) in California and have been given the run-around.
They hide behind some cloak meanwhile, honest people like us are embezzled….. Furthermore, a customer service supervisor told her that she can have her money back if she re-activates her service with them. GEEZ! is this a bribe or what?
Let’s go ALL THE WAY with this suit!
I’m in the same boat. I had a receiver go haywire, so I called DirecTV. They sent out a technician who installed a new one. A week later the new one blew so another call and another technician. I started getting suspicious so I took a closer look at my bill and saw I had been being billed for a DVR that I never had. So I call customer service again. They would not refund the overcharge. Now I’m real suspicious so I google DirecTV and “complaints” where I see the endless comments about service contracts that people didn’t know they had. Well sure enough I call DirecTV and found out that my contract was extended each time the tech came out. DirecTV of course wont remove the contract extension since the receiver is an updated model. I didn’t ASK for an updated model. I was NEVER informed of any contractual obligation by ANYONE. Well, I’m so PO’d that I want nothing more to do with DirecTV but I’m being held hostage. SOMEone MUST have a lawsuit pending on this behavior, but it will be like finding the proverbial needle.
I got charged $100 dollars for an early term, when I was told twice that I was not under any contact, the CSR even typed it in there notes and later was confirm that I was not under contact, still they would not refund my $100 dollars, asked me to write a letter which I did, so I had Amex go to bat for me and they refunded me the cash, now DirectTV sent it to collections and expects me to pay. fat chance, they owe me that x10 for my aggravation. The need to get there act together, This kind of practices is becoming more common now, and needs to get nipped in the butt, hopefully a nice law suite that will set them back will set an example.
Directv is the worst company I have ever dalt with they have left holes in my walls,never finished jobs,one of their techs actually bit the end of my cable wires.Their reps are the rudest disrespectful and bullying people I have ever encountered.The c.e.o Mr.chase carey makes his 24 million dollar paycheck off the minium wage hard working americans. They are charging me with a 274.00 cancellation fee on a contract I never signed for a service that is constantly searching for satellite signal.or freezing up with no sound.We all need to sue this company in a class action lawsuit-and show dtv and all other buisness’s it is the hard working minium wage earners of this country that make your company and it should be the hard working american s to shut this company down.
You would think with all the millions carey has robbed from the american people he go to the barber and trim that awsul mustache on his face.STA AWAY FROM DTV- it will be one of the biggest mistakes you’ll ever make.
Maria I am like you they just charged my credit card $300 because I canceled. I called my bank and denied the charge. Direct told me I was under a 2 year contract. I said send me the paper work where I SIGNED this 2yr agreement. They would not. So now they sent it to a collection agency and in writing I sent that collection agency all details and I have not heard anything since. THEY ARE CROOKS. They do not tell you anything over the ph. I will never use them again.
some one email me partiestogo1001@aol.com. Direct TV took it on themselves to just take $300 out of my account for early term fees. I filed a dispute with my bank and got my money back. THEY ARE CROOKS. When I unpgraded to the DVR I was not told I was locked in for 2 years. So after a year I wanted to cancel. When I called in they never said a word that my account would get debited they just told me I would get billed for a early term fee plus last months bill. I never dreamed I would wake up and all that money gone from my checking account.
I want to start up a class-action against these thieves!! They are trying to get $331 from me from a creditor and I refuse to pay for a contract. They can not produce evidence of a signed contract! Contact me at suzen451@yahoo.com if you want to get involved in this!! I am serious, I hate this company with a venegeance!!!
I have had the same thing happen to me. I signed a WORK ORDER , not a contract. After looking closer it is on the back and you sign it after said work is done.
I also got cheated out of a surround in promtion deal!
I have put my credit card in a dispute in hopes I will get my money back sooner then they promised!
Vickie
TBells10@aol.com
We have been customers of directv for over 10 years, never had any complaints until we upgraded, our HD box went out, we were told 5 days to recieve another, it never was shipped, another to be shipped, itll be another 5-7 days…..we’ve been passed around like a plate of dinner rolls, and bounced like a rubber ball, and no one has helped us in a pleasant manner. we are digusted with directv, and were also threatened if we cancel, we will be charged an outrageous bill, under a contract we never signed or agreed to. We pay alot of money each month for a service that sucks, and the service and personalities of the employees are even worse, when we get from under this so called contract, we will be going to dish network, they were friendly and kind, and faster service, i could tell and was shown they are for their customers, and for directv, you cant treat your customers like shit and think you will ever survive, not only that.God has his eyes on your greed, and selfishness, and attitude,you may get most places you wanna go here, now, but the pearly gates is where you need to lie your concerns, anyone who tries to “beat” people never come out ahead in the long run, so your really hurting yourself, whether it be now or at the end of time. and if you were any kind of people, you wouldnt need to hide or hold back your appearences, and be unable to contact, and your employees wouldnt have to hide your identy, or tell lies for you, so come out of hiding and be a real “man”….own up to your responsibilities as an businesss person, instead of a coward!!!!!!!!!!
The same thing happened to me. I told them I never signed anything and therefore am not liable for any contract. And their “customer agreement” is only sent to you with their first billed. But I canceled my service with them before I even received my first bill, so how could I agree to it? Luckily, they have no record of my credit or debit cards, and I have since moved to South Africa. But I am afraid that it will effect my credit score if they hand it over to collections. Do they have a legal leg to stand on? I would be interested to know from someone that knows the law.
I too have had DTV take without permission $422 from my account because I dropped the service. I can not believe they only give 24 hours, and do not inform you that you have an 18 month contract! I signed a work order not a contract. I think this is the most unethical company I have ever dealt with. I am hoping to get my money $300 anyway back from them, after three days on the phone, and an e-mail to corp, which was not very helpful, I still have to keep a service I don’t want for 18 months in order to get $300 back! DO NOT GET THIS SERVICE
I too am very upset with directv!!!I also got the DVR and was not told about a 2 year agreement. I was told one year. I kept it for that year and then I switched to charter. Directv took $604.58 out of my checking account without my permission.I did not even know anything about it until I went to the grocery store and they told me I had no money in the bank. I am on disability with kidney failure and only get a check once a month. They took the money the same day my check hit my account(how convenient!!!) Please someone tell me how to join this lawsuit!!!!!!!
Direct TV is a deceptive misleading company. We upgraded to HD and had no idea that we were entering a contract for a two year service agreement when we purchased a box we don’t own for 200.00. Turns out the two year agreement was in the fine print on the work order. Plus, their svc dept speaks heavily accented english, and is hard to understand. On topof that our HD service is only 720p (not 1080I) and we don’t get CBS, NBC, ABC or FOX in HD in our area and they never told us this! STAY AWAY FROM DIRECT TV!!!
I am so frustrated with DirectTV. They are the worst company I have ever dealt with. I have been called a liar by their customer service department and hung up on. When I cancelled my service I was told that I would owe a early termination fee of $162.50 by tow different people. When I canceled my service I was charged $497.00 on my crecit card. W was also not given the chance to pay the amount owed or contest the charge before they charged my credit card. I disputed this charge with the cc. When I called again they told me that I had extended my charge contract and that I did not have a service contract for repairs, which I did. They finaly acknowledged about the service contract but stated that I still owed 108.50. I told them that when I received a bill I would pay it. They turned around and charged my cc again for the 108.50. I again disputed the charge with the cc company. Today I received a collections letter from them. When I called fo follow up on it I was told that my account had gone to Allied Interstate Collections. When I called Allied they had no record of my account. DirectTV could not tell me which credit bureau they had sent my record to. I will not pay this 108.50 to DirectTV not now and not ever. I am more that willing to join a classaction lawsuit. Put my contact inf1ormation vidotto1@hotmail.com on a lawsuit. It is time to take action against the deceptive practices of this company. I tell everyone I talk to to not use them ever!
i be willing to be a part of that lawsuit!!!!
please let us know where to go….please!!!
direct tv go to heal!!!
u maybe rich but ur souls burning in heal!!!
Direct TV has overcharged me every month since I had there service. Every month they want to hassel me on the phone. They don’t want to credit me what they said would be credited when I signed up. Now they want $400 to cancel my service. I am so upset, so stressed. I want out of my contract I hate these people. I don’t hate many and they have escalated this hate that is just stressing me out. My service is turned off because of there error and Its because of them overcharging
We too have just been told if we cancel our membership we would be charged $320.00 early cancellation fee. We were never told such a thing. During some of the storms here on the Gulf Coast, we have had lots of rain. And when we have had a little wind… 10-15 mph.and suddenly our tv screen scrambled constantly. We needed to hear emergency information and we were unable to because of their faulty equipment. We started in Jan.08 and cancelling in Sept.08. Now they want to charge us for early cancellation. A PURE RIP-OFF TO THE CONSUMERS!!! CLASS ACTION SUIT IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS GOING TO STOP THEM.
Please count me in, and e-mail me the procedures. THEY MUST BE STOPPED!! AND WE MUST SPEAK OUT. TELL EVERYONE THEIR PRACTICES!
WE SHOULD ALL DO A COMMERCIAL ON TV. ALL 38 OF US…THAT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA!!!I am going to contact Comcast Cable TV and see if they would like for us to all do a commercial for them. Can’t you see it now… one by one ALL 38 OF US… loudly repeats….. I was ripped off.. I was ripped off… I was ripped off… by DIRECT-TV! Lets give it a shot!
Thanks,
Victoria
opps! here is my e-mail:
jvw77@comcast.net
Any other suggestions I am open to.
thanks.
Victoria
I have been dealing with DIRECTV now for almost 2 years. I went thru Bellsouth under the bundle package offering after being told DIRECTV offers local channels in my area. A subcontractor working for DIRECTV is the only contact I recv’d. After he installed everything and I asked for the local channels he literally laughed and said they don’t offer them only Dish does in our area. After he left we decided to try the service. We cancelled after 30 days at that time we were informed of the 125.00 cancellation fee and our 2 yr. obligation. Needless to say since then I have been fighting. I am now on my 4th collection agency (who is now willing to accept 60% of the debt), once they report to the credit agency I dispute it, it is removed, then DIRECTV sends me to another agency and we start the process all over again. Apparently this is common practice for them. I was never told of any terms and conditions, never signed or was informed of a 2 yr contract, never did I verbally agree to any of this. This is simple harassment,they try to brow-beat you down until you pay. I will say this……after, I went to Dish Network and got unbelievable service, I was informed right off with the rep reading me the terms and conditions, great customer service, something DIRECTV knows nothing about. Something needs to be done, it is hard to believe that this is even legal in this country.
I am looking to join in on a class action against DirectTV as well. I purchased the service this time last year and received the NFL package for the season asa free incentive. I just opened my bill for this month and they are charging me $41.50 for 6 payments (the special early bird price) when I never intended to order it again. They state that there was a notice on my bill a couple of months back somewhere telling me I had to cancel before the season or they charged the whole thing. I spoke with a supervisor (out of country) Jim Laguin who refused to remove the service or credit my account. I intend to also file with my State’s Attorney General office, Cable commission and the Better Business bureau. I have never heard of such a predatory practice even from the cable companies!
I would love to join class action. I have already complained to the FTC and I would suggest that all of you complaining do the same. My complaint is small, but it is the practices of Directv that angered me. I cancelled service and was told I owed nothing. A few weeks later I received a bill for $26.75 for early cancellation. I called and questioned the bill, but couldn’t remember how long I agreed to keep service, so I did not argue and decided I would just pay. The due date was Sep. 3, 2008, so I sat the payment up in my bank automatic bill pay as I always did and on time. In the mean time, I start receiving past due notices even though it isn’t due yet. I even received a collection letter from what looked like a third party and it still isn’t due yet. I ignored the letters and allowed the bank to take care of it with the automatic draft on the 3rd, the due date. Then today I get my credit card bill and guess what? Directv had already deducted my charge on Sept.1, before it was due. Then I call them up and tell them I want my credit card charges reversed immediately. They tell me it will take six to eight weeks to refund the money I have overpaid them because they chose to take my money from my credit card before it was due and I had already scheduled payment. Deceptive, unethical practices!!!! Please tell me how to join the lawsuit. My complaint is small but big business should not be allowed to do this to people.
Sadly I work for directv and have to tell you that i talk to people with the same problems described above. If you want customer service this is not the company to go with. I you are stupid enough to go with them i would recomment using a pre paid card to put on file and carrying a small balance on it so they dont get into your bank account. If you disconnect EVERYTHING is charged to the card we have on file, previous bills, equipment fees, late fees, they pretty mcuh try to nickle and dime the crap out of you. If you have installation problems you might as well plan at least 24 hours over the course of a week to be on the phone trying to get somebody to do something. I have seen accounts that are so messed up it would be easier to disconnect and start a new one. Their sales reps make used car salesmen look like saints. They will rob you blind. The other day I had a customer call and say he paid his bill through our dealer, when he realized the mistake he went back and suddenley their books were “messed up”. If you dont have directv service consider yourself lucky, If you want to get it turn and run as fast as you can because you will regret it when our “technician” shows up. I hope you have homeowners insurance and a lawyer.
DirecTv is one of the most arrogant companies to deal with. They think they are so smart, but they will find out in the end, you can not continue to abuse your customers without lawsuits filed. We are new to this State and did not really know whom to pick for our TV service. We never rec’d or signed a contract. After calling and trying to cancel the service, all we could get was frustration. They say we will be charged $320.00 early cancellation fee and they will not refund our $200.00 deposit. They will not get the $320.00 FROM US and legal action will be taken for the $200.00 as well. I hope there is a class action lawsuit to be a part of. Elderly people live on a fixed income and can not afford the wrongful billing practices of this company.
indian1943@cableone.net
I to have been charged a disconnect fee of $240 for the remainder of the contract.I had to end my contract with them as they were unable to supply me service at the apartment I moved to 400feet away.
AFter 90 days of disputing this with them and numerous promises of a refund to me for the amount so I can pay my Qwest bill that they charged for it and Qwest paid…….I still have not received my refund.
I have spent 13+ hours on hold and spoke to over a dozen supervisors……and still feel as if they just do not get it……
As of this week Direct TV has sent me to collections,not issued me a refund…….now I am mad…..send me to a collections agency for a bill I do not owe……..
I will be glad to goto court on a class action suit….MR. Zinn
We too just got hammered by Directv. We had directv years ago and was very happy. We have told many people about the good service we had & how happy we were. When we moved a couple of years ago we did not get Directv because we wanted internet so got cable. We got a mail offer to come try Directv again this spring – and we did… we had inconsistent billing issues & service was not working more than it was working. Calling Customer Service did not help. Finally we went back to cable (4 months)and called to cancel Directv – CSR told me he could make it better (how is that possible – they should always do their best not just when threatened with disconnect – and they weren’t able to solve issues in past)…if I did not disconnect. He said would be charged over $400 if we did disconnect. I argued that we had no knowledge of this but even if what he was saying was true – we had right to expect service we were paying for (and not receiving) — this definitely confirmed our decision to disconnect as do not want to continue to business with a company with these practices. Seeing that was not acceptable (we’d had enough and had made decision of disconnect)– he told me we had to pay over $400 – I told him we are seniors and had been driven to filing bankruptcy and gave him the filing number – he said if payment was not made – it would be taken from our account. I specifically told him do not take it from account – you are not authorized. It was taken and we found out at a gas station that we had NSF – several miles from home in an emergency. NOW MY QUESTION — I see all the other comments and I made mine — SO WHAT???
I’m having problem with DirecTV too.
I got 2-year service with DirecTV but after 6 months, I had to move unexpectedly. The new place does not allow satellite dish anywhere at all so I had no choice but to cancel the DirecTV service.
DirecTV charges me about $360 as penalty. The rep said I should dispute with a written letter which I did (a very polite one). However, they did not accept it.
I understand I had a agreement but this move was totally unplanned and I had no control about the associate rules. I’m very disappointed that DIrecTV is so unconsiderate.
Honestly, I’m really not sure if $360 penalty was what I heard when I signed up. I recalled asking about the penalty fee when I signed up but I recall the amount was small. It didn’t make sense I would get a 2-year agreement if I know the penalty is so hefty. It’s just not me.
I think direct tv should be sued for theft
when they take money out of peoples accounts!
This is totally wrong and if I thought they would do this I would close out my bank account or cancel any credit cards they have on file just to tick them off.
Oh my God! Direct TV scewed me out of $905. They took it out of my account too without any communication what so ever. I had to take out a loan so I could pay my mortage. I have called several times, written to the dispute department (you can only communicate with them in writing). I cancelled my service in 12/07 because I was moving out of state. I thought I was good but then in 8/08 I looked at my checking account and $905 was deducted. They are saying that I didn’t return my equipment, I did have that done so they have their equip. back so I was supposed to get $433 back for that and I asked it to be deposited in my account within 8 days.I wrote a dispute letter and had to call them after the 21 day period and they basically said that I had just suspended my account and therefore it was reactivated in 5/08 so I owe for that. Just today I called because it has been 9 days and no $433 in my account. Well, now they are saying I will only get $366 because they downloaded PPV movies off the receiver??? I never cry but I have been crying all day because I feel like I have nowhere to go for help. I am so frustrated and broke! I am having anxiety from this and it is really destressing. Does anyone have any info that could help me fight this??
Thanks so much for reading (listening)
That’s not the only time they do bait & switch. When I upgraded to my HDDVR, I was told I needed a new dish, but that the upgrade was free. The tech came and installed my dish, but they charged me a 49.99 relocation fee, which they said was to move and set up the other existing DVR that I *physically* carried to my bedroom upstairs and that *I* programmed myself. I was the one who pointed the dish and programmed the new DVR. They did credit it to me.
The charge was incurred because after the tech came out and installed the dish, I realized I didn’t have two lines run to my bedroom for the existing DVR. I made a call to Direct TV to have them do this, and thus, was charged. However, the tech who installed my dish said I need to have a wall fish and that it would be $60. I called Direct TV with that information to set up the service call, and the rep said well, it’s only $49, so be it. That charge was added to my bill, and I paid it before the second service call happened.
When the tech came back out (a different tech, a different company this time), I was then told it was $120 because it was two floors and that I needed to pay him. When I explained that I was quoted $60 and that I had already paid Direct TV, he gave me a supervisor line to call. The idiot rep tried to tell me that the $52.36 on my recent bill was not for the extra line run charge, but was for pay per views because I had swapped my receiver (sent it back) and kept the card.
The idiot rep didn’t even realize I had kept the entire receiver and relocated it myself to the bedroom. She then asked the tech if there was any evidence of new lines ran.
When I asked her how he would have this information, she said there’s a database he can call up to to find out. I asked her if he would have received this information prior to coming to the call, because he was standing right there in front of me using MY landline to speak to her. She told me that no, he could use his cell phone to call another number.
I asked her how that was going to be possible while he was talking to her on my landline and I was right there in front of me.
Basically about 8 hours later of holding, screaming, sighing, and speaking thousands of foreign languages to figure out what the heck happened here, I realized that you don’t call Direct TV to have custom labor, like wiring a second line, done. You have to call their contracted installer, and you are at the mercy and whim of whatever tech comes out and quotes it.
If you don’t like that price, you can refuse service and make another appointment, but be prepared to wait three months and be given several songs and dances about how the hurricane has put everyone’s installation dates off even if you don’t even live anywhere near where the hurricane hit.
I asked if Direct TV thought that this practice was reasonable. If someone calls up a store, is quoted a price, makes the drive out to the store, and talks to a rep while at the store, and is waiting on this piece of equipment in order for something to work, and is the told at the register that it is double the price, I think most people would feel that is predatory business practices, and leave.
When I suggested to Direct TV that I get the quotes in writing first and decide who I want to install my cable, they asked me if I thought it was reasonable to cut them out of the deal, and I retorted, do you think the extra $60 is going into YOUR pocket?
Yes, I think it’s reasonable when I have someone drilling into my siding, stapling into my drywall and doing something not to electrical code that I DO HAVE a choice in whom I pay and WHAT I pay for that service.
I have had Direct TV since 2000, and in the last three years, I have never seen such customer service gaffes from a company. I explicitly went with this company due to the same stick-it-to-ya practices that cable was engaging in….
Now….I’m not sure I’m going to have satellite service again. What crap – if I ran my business as such, I wouldn’t have customers, and I’d be reported to several governmental agencies and sued out the yin yang.
Unfortunately, the only voice with have here is with our dollars and who we decide to give them to.
Try complaining here: if enough of us do it, maybe they’ll listen:
Senior VP Ellen Filipiak
Direct line (310) 964.6508
DirecTV Corporate Offices
2230 E. Imperial Highway
El Segundo, CA 90245
Attention: Office of the President
Chase Carey President & CEO
John Suranyi President Sales & Service
Please be alert DirecTV will illegally withdraw money from your bank account once you cancel their service, even though you honor their one year contract.
File complaint with the BBB, FTC and District Attorney’s office in your state.
i just cancelled my service and i used to have my bill come out autopost then i stopped that. BUt since they had my credit card on file. They charged my credit card my final bill with out authorazation. IM pissed
Again, Directv after cancelling services 6 business days prior, charges my credit card 270.00 without receiving a final bill, which rep stated would get to me in 7-10 business days!We as consumers are afforded certain protections so companies cannot dip into our accounts with what they think is owed to them!
Also charged a cancellation fee after not agreeing to a commitment. Will attempt to recoup through legal channels, but will never be a customer again!
I had the same thing happen to me as far as suspending my account. I had direct tv and called to cancel my account due to selling my house. The DirectTV representative asked me how I like my service and if I would ever consider using them again? I said I was moving to another house where the owners already had cable, but when I get my own place again I would be happy to come back! He said to just keep my receivers and suspend my account instead. I told him I wouldn’t have my own place for another year and a half. He told me they would automatically re-activate my account after 6 months, but lead me to believe they would notify me before they do the re-activation and I could just extend my suspension until I got my own place or send the receivers back then. What happened? They never notified me, re-activated my account in the same address that I initially called to have their service canceled. Because the house was up for sale and I was not living there any longer, I get a bill two months latter for 250.00. I refuse to pay it! I returned my receivers, and they tack on another 49 dollars for movies that were paid off at the time I had it suspended. Looking at a previous post, I guess it’s a charge for downloading the movies I recorded on my DVR’s that I returned. Now why in the hell would they do that?? These guys are nothing but thieves!!!!! Is there any class action I can join for my case? If there is somebody let me know!
I, like all of you, despise Direct Tv. I have had them for 4 years which has cost me nothing but time, money, and many tears of frustration. They need to pay for all the injustices they have caused (from what I could tell by searching the net) thousands of people. After doing some research I did find an open class action lawsuit against Direct TV based in CA for unlawful early termination fees and the invalidity of thier so-called contracts. The lawyers encourage anyone in the US with these problems to contact them. The case is Amy Imburgia v Direct Tv, Inc. and the law firm is Sprenger and Lang. You can go to sprengerlang.com. Hope this can help someone. This is just not fair!
I work for directv and I feel for you guys. Even we are having a hard time explaining all these dubious policies. It all basically boils down into one thing, quoting Jerry Maguire, “Show me the Money”. Quite honestly before you get DirecTV services, MAKE A LOT OF RESEARCH. The website REALLY helps and read between the lines. NEVER believe any discounted rates and deals and all the good things they say they’ll throw at you. It’s not worth your time going through all the hassles just to get those discounts. BTW people, I know there will be another price increase early this spring. BE PREPARED.
Direct TV is a company of liars and theives-from day one they never backed up the initial deal and later charged me for the DVR-now they are sending bills with no service.It takes as much as 2 1/2 hours to get someone on the phone and none of themseem to be able to hear you when you tell them to discontinue service-and tell tou that you have never formally requested to cancel service-what part of I do not want you to have any dealings or contact with me ever,unless it is for you to come and get your equipment out of my house do they not understand.They finally cut off my service but sent me another bill because I had paid my last bloated bill to keep from a bad credit report.-They never informed me that service was back and the same thing showed on the screen when I checked it as before while turned off,and they do not want to discontinue servive,whether I watch TV or not as long as they keep getting paid.
I quess I will just get a bad credit report because I am not going to send them any more money.
At the time I started my ill fated association with these crooks I did not have a credit card and a friend used his for a $14.00 and som odd cents through an offer from Southern Bell[who charged me for three phone lines just to have one home phone and constantly sold my # to others]so I paid my bill by check which is a lot of trouble,but untill we get some consumer protection laws enacted by the crooks we elect any company tou allow to auto pay themselves can continue to take your money at will.Only they can stop an auto pay from your bank account-I have had to change banks to stop one useless insurance policy sold to me by the former bank!!!!
The bank president told me that only the company that receive automated payments coud stop the charges.
Pay by hand written checks to protect your money.
DirectTV is not the only company of crooks. Many of the experiences written about in these comments is mirrored by the practices of Dish Network. In fact, I found these comments while searching (naively, it appears) for class action lawsuits against Dish Network. Dish Network victimized me, and no doubt many others, by requiring the return of equipment I had legitimately purchased upon termination of service (specifically, LNBFs and switches) that had either come with equipment I had purchased, or as the result of “free” upgrades. This is specifically in reference to a billing dispute that went for almost 2 years with Dish Network when they refused to give me credit for returning a rented receiver. I had even faxed tracking numbers and other corroborative information to their legal department without resolution. They also continued to charge me rental fees on this same receiver for which I faxed purchase receipts to their legal department.
These companies abuse a de facto oligopoly of TV “service” by having unspeakably bad customer service and outright fraud. The contractual fine print cited by the “lawyers” in this forum are, to make a brief aside, as ridiculous as the user agreements created by the software companies today (also sadly lacking in consumer protections). The validity of these clauses is somewhat questionable as, in general, there must be a consensus of understanding for a contract to be valid. I doubt most consumers “buy” equipment with the idea that they are not in fact actually owners of the equipment. I hope DirectTV owners get some justice; I have little doubt however that they will not, nor will the victims of Dish Network, Comcast, and the other villains.
How do I join the lawsuit. I, like many of you had money stole right out of my account. I was out of my contract and paid for my recievers up front.
I just found this out first hand as well.
I “bought” my initial DVR for over $200 4 years ago. Since then I have purchased 4 additional DVRs for my house ONLY BECAUSE THE DIRECT TV REP TOLD ME “You will no longer have to pay the $4.99 per room equipment fee.”
I had been paying the 5 bucks a month for every room that had a TV in it. They ran a “special” last summer where you could “purchase a DVR” at a discount rate, pay the shipping, and at that point (and I quote the rep directly” again) “You will no longer have to pay the $4.99 per room equipment fee.”
Well stupid me kept my account on auto-pay and never looked back at the statements. Almost $400 in “additional receiver” fees later, they claim that they never told me I wouldn’t be paying that fee anymore.
I only noticed this when I looked at my bank statement and realized they billed me TWICE for last month.
I have had NOTHING but trouble with Direct TV since my most recent move. The installer drilled up through my pristine hardwood floor instead of going through the wall, they’ve randomly blocked my purchase of Pay Per View movies (I sat on hold for 2 hours to get them to straighten that one out.) and now this.
I intend to spread this news as far and wide as I can. Direct TV is not above the law. There are consumer groups out there designed to protect fraudulent business practices like this.
Here’s my letter to Direct TV.
cc: ellen.filipiak@directv.com
chase.carey@directv.com
john.suranyi@directv.com
Dear Direct TV executives,
I just hit my wall with Direct TV. My anger at your business practices just doubled when I discovered that there is a class action lawsuit against you because of this very type of fraud.
I “bought” my initial DVR for over $200 4 years ago. Since then I have purchased 4 additional DVRs for my house ONLY BECAUSE THE DIRECT TV REP TOLD ME “You will no longer have to pay the $4.99 per room equipment fee.”
I had been paying the 5 bucks a month for every room that had a TV in it and was happy to upgrade my equipment if that meant I would lose that charge. They ran a “special” last summer where you could “purchase a DVR” at a discount rate, pay the shipping, and at that point (and I quote the rep directly” again) “You will no longer have to pay the $4.99 per room equipment fee.”
Well stupid me kept my account on auto-pay and never looked back at the statements. Almost $400 in “additional receiver” fees later, you claim that you never told me I wouldn’t be paying that fee anymore.
I only noticed this when I looked at my bank statement and realized you billed me TWICE for last month.
When I called your supervisor today, he then tapdanced and claimed, “Well, that’s not an additional receiver fee like it says on your bill. That’s a mirroring fee.”
FRAUD. You cannot invoice someone for 1 thing and then tell them it’s for something else when you are caught. I find that highly unethical.
I have had NOTHING but trouble with Direct TV since my most recent move. The installer drilled up through my brand new hardwood floors instead of going through the wall, they’ve randomly blocked my purchase of Pay Per View movies (I sat on hold for 2 hours to get them to straighten that one out.) and now this.
I intend to spread this news as far and wide as I can. Direct TV is not above the law. There are consumer groups out there designed to protect fraudulent business practices like this. I intend to participate in the class action lawsuit addressing your policies.
You guys have shown me without a doubt that you have NO REGARD for your customers or ethical business practices. Well now I intend to hold you to your word. Straighten up and fly right, Direct TV. Take a nod from Wall Street. Consumers have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for this type of behavior now.
Every cent of $4.99 per room equipment fees you have charged me must be refunded immediately. There is not other acceptable resolution.
Period.
Sincerely,
Alana ——
With Direct TV since 1999.
Direct TV is doing more damage to the country than Bin Ladin, the taliban and a crooked politician COMBINED.
If Direct TV was a country treating american citizens like this, the bombs would fly, and this “Evil Empire” would be wiped off the face of the Earth.
I am writing this as I am on hold with them and they are the most uncaring, inept organization in the USA. I will file a class action suit, and request that one of the stipulations is that Direct TV, its offcers, directors and employees are moved to a 3rd World country for 5 years for a tax break! This is one company that go directly overseas and I will drive them to the airport today!
Scott – Minnesota.
It is nice to know that I am not alone, but it just feel horrible to know that a company like this could be operating freely in this country, causing so much harm in soooo many families like yours and mine. I will be very happy to join a law suit against them. I got direct TV through a bundle with verizon, I never actually spoke to them, after 6 months I had to move, and the new place didn’t allow dishes, I called Verizon, and they had no problem cancelling my phone and my internet service, my surprise was when they transferred me to Direct TV, they said I have a 2 year contract and have to pay $480, I never knew I had a contract, I didn’t sign anything, I was totally unaware.
Interesting how many people feel taken by Direct TV, so I need to add my name to the list.
I purchased a bundle of high speed internet, cable and home phone and was told I had 30 days to cancel. After about 2 weeks, I called the installer because high speed wasn’t set up yet through Qwest. Qwest called the next day to arrange installation, but when checking my address, discovered all of their high speed lines were already taken in my neighborhood and that in 6-9 months Qwest expected to put additional lines in. Comcast came to the rescure and installed the same bundle. Within the 30 days I called Direct TV to cancel and I too am now battling their collection agency for a $527.54 ‘Cancellation Fee’.
They indicated they are not responsible if an installer provides the wrong info and said the 24 hour cancellation policy is outlined in their contract. The installer didn’t use a Direct TV contract.
I have NEVER been turned over for collection and have a credit score of 800 and will probably have to pay the amount to keep my credit clean.
I too agree Direct TV has some very questionable business practices.
DIRECT TV RIPPING OFF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT…
DON’T GIVE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER TO DIRECT TV!!!
This is their requirement to install their satellite service to your home, they will tell you the reason they are asking for your credit card no. is to check if your credit is good and you’re eligible for the service, but behind this reason that everybody is unaware of, they gonna install and hook you up with their service. Horrible service! We did not get the programming package we ordered, we were put on hold for 3 hours everytime we call the customer service, the installer did not come on time and has been re-scheduled over and over again, finally we decided to just cancel the service but they said that they will charge us $400++ and my husband got so frustrated that he was yelling already over the phone with the customer service rep., they will transfer you to different people, next thing you know, IT”S TOO LATE TO ARGUE WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER AND THEY WILL JUST RIP IT OFF…WITHOUT GIVING YOU ANY OPTIONS!!! UNAUTHORIZED CHARGES, HEADACHE AND INCONVENIENCE. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!!!
…include my name in the list of interested people wanted to FIGHT against DTV!
I have been a long time customer of DirecTV since the winter of 1995, I believe when I purchased my first Toshiba receiver. The only problem that has occurred is when they started charging for the Encore channels after paying for a year’s service. The class action lawsuit rectified that problem. I have been happy with the service until now.
I received a letter from Randy Satterburg, Vice President of Marketing stating that there was an upgrade to the equipment for HD service. The letter clearly states; “This change will require us to replace your DIRECTV HD equipment with upgraded HD equipment, FREE of charge to you. There is NO COMMITMENT required. There are NO STRINGS attached.”
I then contacted a DirecTV customer service representative at 1-888-763-772 and scheduled an appointment with the mention “FREE HD SWAP”, as specified in the letter about a free upgrade to my HD receiver that I had bought in 2005 when the original Toshiba receiver had a meltdown. I was told that in order to receive the new high definition channels I needed the new receiver and dish. I was told that it was a free exchange. This sounded like it may be good thing to have and I was interested. Having bought my receiver I asked twice if the exchange unit would be mine. Twice I was told that it would be and there was no mention of a lease.
The service people came out to exchange the dish and the receiver as was scheduled on October 6, 2008. One problem occurred with the dish as it was much larger than the current one and would not fit in the same location. As a result it was not installed.
When I received my DirecTV bill I noticed that there was a charge for a “Primary Leased Receiver” and a credit for “Primary Leased Receiver”. This of course aroused by curiosity immediately. I contacted your customer service center for some clarification. I was told that it was a lease and they could do nothing about it. When I asked to have my bought receiver returned to me I was also told that was not possible also that I was SOL go talk to someone that cares. I was also told that I had a two-year commitment to DirecTV services. I told the rep that I had not entered into any contract for a two-year commitment and was never told verbally or in any written documentation that I had to keep the service for two more years. I then was transferred to what was allegedly a supervisor by the name of Whitney. In an attempt to have the commitment vacated the result was the same, tough. I was also told that there is an early cancellation fee if I do not pay for the next two years. They would not direct me to anyone that had any type of responsibility or accountability in your company or are they all innate drones. Your call center personal are worthless when it comes to anything not directly showing on their computer screens. Your initial CSR for the exchange did not say at any time that this was a lease; on the contrary it was an exchange. Also there was no mention of a two-year commitment for the product.
The service person left the new receiver and took the old one with him. I did not sign any documents nor was any left at my house. I did not sign a contract of any kind for a commitment of two more years or a signing of any kind of a lease. It does not exist. Try to find a document with my name on it.
I am currently paying $82.97 a month for your service. That equals $1,991.28 for two years and if I cancel the service minus the $460.00 that was quoted that would leave me with $1,531.28 to be used for another service if I chose so. There is no document that I signed, nor any verbal exchange about a two-year commitment anywhere or this would be a lease.
There must be a reason why they treat their best customers the way I was treated. It must be some perverse ingrained corporate culture. I would like to know why. I also need my account to show no leases and no commitments as specified in the letter.
The law firm of Wexler Toriseva Wallace LLP has filed nationwide class action for purchasers of DirecTV satellite receivers, Case No. CV08-00906 .
Same story for me. I cancelled service in September ‘08 because I was moving to a new apartment and could not have Direct TV. Sent all the equipment back. In October, I checked the balance in my checking to find they took $405.00 out which caused me to have bounced checks, fees, not able to pay rent. I called and called to no avail just being transferred from one to another. My credit union gave me a loan to cover this and is working with me. Guess what? Direct TV just took another $405 out of my supposedly closed account. They are crooks and theives. Please, God, these people need to be sued.
Directv hounded me for about 3 months, calling every week to tell me If I didn’t upgrade my old HD DVR (which I owned) to a new one (which I had would have to lease), that I would stop getting HD channels. On the phone they repeatedly assured me I would incur NO extra 2 year commitment… However, I read all the consumer reports I could online (reading all of them could take years), and from my own experiences w/ them, realized how much promises from this back-stabbing company actually mean… nothing. They stopped bothering me when I sent this message to their president.
Re: Service Notice: HD Receiver Exchange Needed
“Like I told you guys the 5 times that you called my house about this. All I want is to get out of my direct TV contract. If you can send me a signed contract that says if I take this new “free” equipment, that I won’t incur another 24 month comitment, and still get out after the original contract, I’ll take it. However, all of your supervisors say they can’t do this, although they are quick to assure me that I won’t incur another comittment. I have learned enough from your company’s shady business practices not to trust verbal promises. After I call to complain about the 24 month comittment that was added, you will just tell me “We are not responsible for what our people tell you on the phones”, which is despicable, you ARE responsible. But of course, you can just wait for all of my poorly made equipment to fail, and then I will have to incur another commitment in order to continue watching a service I pay for. You guys suck. No, I don’t want the new “free” “no strings attached” reciever
Please include me in any class action lawsuits that come from these shady practices
Yes include me as well. You can contact me at listothers at gmail dot com. My case the installer (Technico TV, Bellflower, CA) told me verbally that I have 30 days to try this service and pointed it to me in the form that I’m about to sign; I briefly read it and I said it doesn’t say so in the paper but they insisted that it is the fact that they do have 30 days grace period so I believe them and that’s very ignorant of me (since they seems to be nice people and truthful). After that I found out that I’m receiving an older version of receiver and try to claim for a newer one since I have just signed up with them and pay for it. They said no you have to purchase another one and they insisted that HR22 has no different from HR21 when you can find anywhere that it says it has double capacity, the rep on the phone said that they know their products but obviously they don’t! When I tried to cancel, I was cool mindedly telling them my situation and after 2 minutes of conversation, they try to cut my explanation short and when I said, ‘Can I plesae finish my point?’ they hung up on me!!! Second caller, same thing, saying that they know their product, either all the retailers like BestBuy has wrong information posted on their site (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8911449&st=hr22&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1213047334087) or they have it wrong, but the new DVR has double capacity of the HR21. I found out within 24 hours and during the weekdays, I don’t have time to call them up so since there’s 30 days I call them up the next weekend. This unsatisfaction and misinformation makes me want to cancel the service and they told me then that there is not grace period at all! So beware of this shady practice, who doesn’t give grace period to their customer in the US? They try to charge me over $400 to cancel the service the 5th day! If I can’t get anything resolve the next few days, I guess I would have to ride through the monthly payments for the next 2 years, that’s probably what they want you to do but I promise I will make this known to everysingle person out there about how bad their customer service is and what a shady practice they have. To start with the phone rep I talked to is Quitta (Employee ID: UA261) and Melissa (403412).
DirecTV is a complete rip off. I had them 1996 and recently realized what a scam they were pulling with the whole “2 year commit” scheme. They lease you the equipment, unlike a cell phone company, and they expect it’s customers to agree to a contract as if you owned you equipment.
I canceled my service and they OWE me $145. This was 3 months ago and they have not sent me a check, although they told me several times it was on the way. They are crooks as best I can tell. I hope they get sued out of existence.
My Goodness! I WISH I’d read all the comments before ordering Direct TV. They are the most god-awful bunch of crooks and thieves. Twice they removed funds from my checking account without my permission. I am a single person working three jobs to take care of myself, and to have them at whim remove funds from my account and “dance around” when I ask for an explanation is totally unacceptable. Like I said, had I happened on this site before ordering their service, I would have RUN in the opposite direction. I would LOVE to be a part of the class action suit against this crooked, immoral, greedy corporation: I may be reached at SQUAREGIRL@EXCITE.COM
Hi everyone. Count us in for the Class Action Suit as they have pulled all of the tricks you mentioned. My wife and I were so exasperated about the lack of service and knowledge from customer service…we must follow through.
Chris and Kristin Maynard
cmaynardusa@aol.com
I have the same complaint as “Jon says” back in Feb 27 2008. Why did I pay for a DVR I don’t really own; if I were to canx the service I have to return it and on top of that, why am I paying a forever lease on the equipment every month? If there is a wrongful business law suite being filed, I need to be added to the list of clients wanting compensation?some one help me understand what they have done?
Direct TV Is trying to make me pay 430.00 for early termination and breaking the agreement. I have been with them for 10 years.My system quit working so I called to cancel it and they said well lets see if its the reciever so they sent me a new one. I hooked it up and it would not work either. They couldn’t download the programming to it. So I called to cancle service again and now they say oh no you cant do that or we will charge you 430. for that receiver we sent you that does not work! I went to Dish Network they came out set up new service and fixed the cable problem themselves. since I am not a cable worked thats all I knew to do. I will noy pay this without a fight. It is wrong and if they wanted to keep me as a customer they would have offered to help me fix the problem which was in the cable.
I was going to cancel my Qwest phone line and internet and go with Comcast because my Qwest bills were averaging about 140.00 per month just for phone and internet. I called Qwest and they, of course, sent me to their gatekeeper crew who prevent you from leaving. They offered me free broadband for a year if I chose to bundle with them and said that I would get Satellite TV, internet and my phone for approximately $75.00 per month with about 200 channels. The only requirement, I was told, would be a $200 deposit.
My bill, in reality, is running my about $185 a month so I called to find out what the problem was. The problem is that I am being charged $90 for my package and I have phone and internet on top of that. I was angry that Qwest tells me one thing and the people they contract with tell you something else. I went to cancel all my services and told them I am unemployed and Qwest told me I have to contract Direct TV myself in order to disconnect although I didn’t have to go through them to get my service. When I did so, they person on the other end of the line told me that the “deposit” I paid (that Qwest took out of my account) was actually an activation fee and that I would be charged a $360 fee that they would take directly out of my checking account according to “the agreement I signed.”
Low and behold, the paper I signed off on that the installer gave me and told me that it just showed that he explained to me how to use the service, was in actuality the agreement with the $360 disconnection fee. I told them not to cancel me so I can figure out what to do now legally since I am unemployed and can’t afford to lose that money. These guys are crooks and need to be stopped. The Qwest bundle offers are nothing more than a scam.
Also, I got my cell phone through Qwest and still have not received the credit for the phone which was supposed to have a $119 rebate (the cost of my phone) for agreeing to a two year contract with Verizon. They took the $119 from my checking account and a deposit that I never even was informed of. I think it is wise, after this, to NEVER give credit card or checking account information to anyone over the phone at Qwest. They need to be sued and stopped…. I am filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, with the Attorney General and am seeking a Class Action Lawsuit. I will stop them because the messed with the wrong person. Why is it that if a petty crook were to steal as little as, let’s say $30, he would end up in jail but if corporations steal from you, they get away with it… they are not so big as to not get touched. We need to organize and empower ourselves to take this on.
Mary Smith
253-565-5406
PS: I am so angry that I haven’t even slept tonight over this.
I bought an HD-DVR receiver NEW for $400. It had no prior leasee on the receiver. When I cancelled my account, they sent me a box for two receivers. I called and told them I had purchased the NEW receiver myself, and it was not leased equipment. They told me that the previous person that had it before me had leased it; therefore, it was leased equipment. Knowing it was brand new (I bought it from the store!) I argued with them and told them I had the receipt for it.
They continued to say that the former leasee of the equipment shouldn’t have sold it, etc. When I constantly told her that I bought it new…direct from the store….from the factory, and it was NOT leased, she said, “well, ma’am…that’s what it says here on our records that it was previously leased.”
They want me to pay $600+ for a receiver that I BOUGHT from the store or return it and lose money.
They are highly deceiving persons who alter their records in their system to meet their needs.
They can send me to collections, but I’m taking them to court.
Like most, I too was hussled by DirecTV after a call to their Tech Support re: a dead reciever. The Tech said yes, your reciever is bad – I’ll send out a replacement next-day. Nothing was said to the effect that I would automatically be committed for another 2 years of service by accepting their replacement. After that call, they sent an email referencing the call — but conveniently mentioned NOTHING about a renewed 2 year committment there either. They are masters of deception and it will, one day, bite them in the butt. Calls and emails to their CSR’s go nowhere. They claim they go to “great lengths” to inform customers about policies and service commitments when they occur. We all know this is crap. File complaints with every agency that will listen. In the end, DireTV will probably zoom me for $350 in fees but it will cost them more in the long run as I pay them about $950/year now. Ten year run as a DirecTV customer comes to an end. The more I think about, their ignorane is hillarious to me and will ultimately bury them (and not me).
If you are reading this, then you too were probably screwed by DTV like me, like the rest of us.
QUESTION: Are CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS done on a state-by-state basis? Who knows the answer please posts!
QUESTION: Will our State Attorney General’s Office (AGO) help us, or only each individual that contacts them?
QUESTION: If this is a nationwide company in the USA, they must be bound by some kind of “Normal and Customary” manner in operating a business, don’t they?!
QUESTION: Does anyone know the “language” that FCC uses to describe this kind of activity?
QUESTION: Will this site here where we are posting this give us, all of us, a platform to group, or is venting with keystrokes all that we are permitted to do here?
Question: How do we organize?
Question: Who will lead us?
Question: Is there not anyone reading this site that knows enough about contractual law that can help us.
WE NEED TO GROUP TOGETHER. WE NEED NEWS COVERAGE! ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX.
IS there any DTV employees reading our calls for help that can post DTV policy, the BS they teach you to tell us. Any material of how they train you to insult our intelligence, attack our character.
Rich or poor, black or white, red or yellow, we must ask all of elected congressmen/women and Senators. We must ALL be calling our State Attorney Generals office and FILE REPORTS!! KEY STROKES ALONE WON’T STOP THIS.
Don’t be affraid or embarrasssed if you don’t know their names, it’s ok, just have to dig, search, ask.
Please! There must be a good person out there that can find out how to organize. I’m guessing that a law firm that does the bigger cases (asbestos/tax/cigarette companies/etc) could lead, but, they need someone to put their name on the filing. We, all of us then would be named in the suit. Then it may take some time to collect names, signatures, complaint. Verifying. Keep records diary stlye. Make notes, record dates, have facts.
Most of these names and employee ID #s are probably fake anyway. When they all lie out their rear, and no two can tell the same crap story, their credibility with me is shot.
I have kept notes, I’m currently being held hostage like others that I’ve read here. I feel like a whore!
How about local news? Every town has team that is “ON YOUR SIDE’ or “INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS”
I’m kentblazier@aol. I live near downtown Orlando, Florida, and we need our leaders now. They promise us on campaigns, now they keep their promises. Tell a friend, have you friend tell a friend. Send out e-mails to all your friends and families.
Ask anyone, and everyone how this get started. Isn’t it said that there is not more than 6 people between each of us from all knowing each other? There is power in numbers, we can’t just sit still.
This is like a bad movie, stop this now!
Start listing names of Attorney Generals here.
Florida _______________ Name___________ Phone__________ Website _______________
It’s late. I WILL fillin these blanks. It’s 12:30 am Monday (Sunday night). I had a horror story again today with DTV about charges on my bill, leased equipment, contracts, same as you guys. Please help! Kent
OMG! go to heal DTV. they just charge my creditcard for $700 bucks w/out receiving any statement. oh no they actually send me a statement telling me that i dont owe anything. thats all!!!
This is so sad that there are over 80 people with the same problems…we only had the service for 6 days….same thing now that it’s canceled, we supposedly owe $482!!! Count us in on a class action law suit. How many more people will be victims? Please contact us at: miktrace@verizon.net
I too am being told that I will be charged a cancellation fee. I have 2 receivers. I had to replace one of them in December because, it wasn’t working. I went to Circuit City and purchased a new one. Called Directv to activate service on it and was asked to return the broken one. When I called tonight to cancel my service (always had problems with service when it rained/bad weather) I was told I would be charged a cancellation fee for the receiver I purchased in December. Apparently, I have an 18 month contract with the new receiver?? I told the man, I didn’t sign any contract nor was I informed of any 18 month contract. I am returning the other receiver which is the leased one. I don’t have to return the new receiver that I purchased in Dec. So why am I being charged to cancel it. I paid for it. It’s mine. I am not paying any cancellation fee. He said he would put it in for dispute with the billing department. Looks like I need to get to my bank first thing tommorrow morning before Directv deducts any unauthorized fees from my checking account. Can you imagine the nerve?? I am so disgusted!! I have been a customer for 7 years and now you want to rip me off because I’m cancelling service?? I don’t think so.
Just a note I think everyone might be interested in knowing. Go to http://welcome.bbb.org/ and check out Direct TV. They have a “C” rating and are also unaccredited. Whereas Dish Network has a “B” rating and is Accredited. Which one is conducting better business? I also recommend everyone file a complaint with Direct TV through the Better Business Bureau (found on the web site above). The more complaints they get the more likely they will be to change their rediculous unethical policies. Also, you can go to http://www.LawyersandSettlements.com/confirm.html?27f8658654cb82d1 to request lawyer representaion with a possible Class Action Lawsuit. Submitting the claims only takes a minute and couldn’t be any easier.
IF ANYBODY HAS HAD THE SAME CRAP THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH, IT IS ME. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THEM ON A DAILY BASIS WITH WORTHLESS FRONT-LINE PEOPLE TELLING ME “OH, I CAN GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL HAVE YOUR MONEY REFUNDED BACK INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHIN 3 DAYS” WHICH IS TOTAL B.S. IF ANYBODY IS READING THIS THAT IS CONTEMPLATING GETTING DIRECT TV, DON’T DO IT. I CANCELLED MY SERVICE BECAUSE IT WAS AN EXPENSE WHICH I COULD NOT RECTIFY AND I WAS NEEDING TO CUT CORNERS FOR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. AS SOON AS I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS CANCELLING, BY THE TIME I FINISHED THE PHONE CALL, THERE WAS A CHARGE FROM DIRECT TV IN THE AMOUNT OF $538.00 WHICH I DID NOT AUTHORIZE. I CALLED THEM BACK AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD 2 REGULAR RECEIVERS AND 1 DIGITAL RECEIVER. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE EQUIPMENT BACK, THEY WOULD GIVE ME A FULL REFUND. THIS HAS BEEN 2 MONTHS ALREADY. I WENT NEGATIVE ON MY ACCOUNT DUE TO THIS AND AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS RECOVERING. EVERY TIME THAT I TALK TO THEM, I HAVE TO “WADE” THROUGH THE FRONT-LINE B.S. TO TRY TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR. WITHIN THE 2 MONTHS, I HAVE SPOKEN TO 1 “SUPPOSED” SUPERVISOR AND THE REST OF THE TIMES, THE FRONT-LINE TELLS ME THAT “I AM SORRY TO KEEP YOU HOLDING BUT THERE ARE NO AVAILABLE SUPERVISORS AS THEY ARE ASSISTING OTHER PEOPLE”. CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO TO GET A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THIS WORTHLESS COMPANY AND IF YOU CAN SEND ME EMAIL ADDRESSES AND NAMES, I WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO BE RID OF THIS NONSENSE. PLEASE EMAIL ME AT CHALL61770@YAHOO.COM AND WE CAN START PETITIONING AND SEND THIS OUT TO BE HEARD. WHO’S BEHIND ME ON THIS ONE?
PLEASE, before your cancel your Directv service: Cancel your current account you used with them and establish another/new account with your bank. Thus, Directv cannot withdraw funds from your account! They will say that you still owe them money and they will send you threatening letters, etc. However, you have the choice to pay or not to pay them; depending on your situation. I, like 1000’s of others have a similar situation with Directv. Directv IS NOT UPFRONT about their so called “contract”. I was never, ever told, however, they say otherwise. Again, change your account number/s and then cancel service so they don’t rob you of your money!
Ok, I have no idea how I stumbled onto this but I have to let this out.
I had DIRECTV for about 2 years, moved and switched to cable, and then back again to DIRECTV. I’ve been a customer again for 5 years. 110% happy, satisfied, etc. When I have called customer service my issues have been resolved over the phone within minutes.
My HD service works awesome, I get awesome pictures, great movies, no disruptions, service reps always helped me.
I just don’t get it. Each time I interacted with this company I knew what obligations to look for and therefor have always been happy. (Just like any other company I sign up with for a service) You people dont realize that no matter what type of service you sign up for you sign a contract?
As for all the griping with cancellation fees. WAKE UP! Are you people just stupid? You buy a cell phone from a companay and what do you do? You sign a friggin contract! What happens when you cancel a phone contract? Same thing.
I signed up with ADT for my home security. What did I do? I signed a friggin contract? If I have to cancel that contract what do you think ADT would do? Either scenario they would bill you, charge your account, or take you to collections.
Lets say you join 24 hour fitness. What do you do? You sign a CONTRACT! What happens if you cancel? Ok, three guesses.
Well I doubt you see where this is going but you should by now.
You people need to take responsibility of reading the details but then you act as if you have no clue. I’ve seen people on these boards who have said they have had to take loans out to pay their mortgage. These people shouldn’t be owning homes let alone TV service or cell phones if thats how ignorant they are in managing things.
These are probably similar people who signed crappy ARM loans on their house and now expect the government to bail them out as they complain that they had no idea what they were doing. The same people saying “Whaaaaa, I didnt know my rate would change? I’m just a stupid consumer who needs to be spoon fed through life and bailed out because I can’t possibly be responsible and can’t obviously think for myself”
Wake up people. Be responsible. These contracts and obligations are this way all through service based industries. Yet you act as if your being screwed.
It just comes down to you being too ignorant to own TV.
If anyone has a link for a class action lawsuit. Count me in, after reading about 30 complains, All of us have the same problem with this company. What would it take to bring this company to comply and be upfront with the consumer. I have my problem ongoing for 18 months now.
According information posted in an earlier comment and doing some checking, I believe
the law firm of Wexler Toriseva Wallace LLP has filed nationwide class
action for purchasers of DirecTV satellite receivers, Case No. CV08-00906
http://www.wtwlaw.com/news.php?category=News&headline=WW+Defeats+DirecTV%E2%80%99s+Arbitration+Clause
Robert Silva
Guide to Home Theater
http://hometheater.about.com
Become an About.com Guide: http://beaguide.about.com
About.com is part of the New York Times Company
#87 the problem is that you are never actually disclosed a contract. When you are signed up in these “bundle” packages from Qwest or Verizion there is nothing in writing and no mention of a disconnection fee. In our case in dealing with Verizion we knew FIOS was coming eventually to our new home. Verizion offered us the bundled package with DirecTV as a interim measure until FIOS came.
We then got the same message about the $497 disconnect fee when we attempted to disconnect to upgrade to FIOS. We went into this with the clear disclosure of what we wanted to do and they still sold us the package with no mention or possibility of written disclosure for a termination fee. I’m in on a suit if I can find out how to join.
Aug.2008 my DIRECTV system was struck by lightning.I was informed that it would take up to a week for a repair tech to show up.I live in rural IN. and do to the violence of the storms I kinda understood.Six days later a repairman showed up. I was told that the dish, wiring and box would have to be replaced.I informed the repairman that we would be moving at the end of Sept. and I would just hook up the old antenna that was still attached to the house. He told me that he would go ahead and replace everything at cost and when we moved it would be free.Well I decided to go with Dish so I canceled Direct.Just today Dec.1 2008 I received a bill from them $341.34 including a $5.00 late fee and a $300.00 early cancellation fee.Keeping in mind that I had Primestar up until Direct bought them out and had been with Direct since 2000 I was a little ticked off.Well unknown to me at the time when the repairs were made back in Aug.and I signed the repair order I should have read the damn thing.By signing that order I entered into a new 2 Yr. agreement.Just a warning to anyone who has a simliar incident get the facts.
Well, I never signed a contract. Nor was I ever told that I would have to pay a cancellation fee for a box that I paid for. I just received a bill for $140.00, cancellation fee, which I will not pay. They will not get another dime out of me. Crooks!
If you call with a problem, you are made promises and when the problem is not fixed you call back (and listen to recording after recording)and the previous call never happened and you have no proof what so ever.
We orinally had Dish Network when we moved to the country. My wife missed the channel that has a show something about an angel. I called Direct TV and the salesman told me we would receive more channels and pay less. Wrong. We now pay more. The installation was performed a person who had quite a few psychological problems. He was constantly yelling at me on the phone on his way here for what reasons I don1t understand. He purposely left the TV remote unset in my computer room just to give me another little stab. Childish. I would like to have all my money back and go back to Dish Network. I expect we`ll probably do the change back if the didn`t extend our contract without our permission. We only sighned up for a year.
This is unreal – I had DTV in Chicago, Moved to Florida – they tried to charge me for the FREE Move – Of course the installer did a FAILED Installation, which in FL is grounds to get out of any contract. WE DID, went to Comcast not much better. Billing errors same XXXX as DTV. Back to DTV, now then send me bills and I call them and tell them what I am paying which it what I agreed to.
This months bill is somehow $174.28, when I paid $42.24 in Full last month. You tell me, how they get away with this.
I had issues, mine was refund related, they overbilled and neglected to cancel services, when I found out I called and had them refund the money. BUT they are still refusing to send the money, 6 months later. I cannot make any progress. here is the number for the offic of the president.
Chase Carey’s contact info:
chase.carey@directv.com
310-964-5000 (wait through the recording and hold for the operator)
In reference to the class action ls against directv. It should also be noted that directv will not replace a defective receiver (they own) unless you pay them $80. to have a service tech come out and tell you what you already know. additionally they want you to give them another theft gift of 5.99 a month to not have to pay the service fee, that is after you pay it the first time. this company more than likely is being run on the philosophy of strong arm theft. I am looking to start or join any legal fight against this company.
My daughter was verbally abused by a Direct Tv customer service rep. This happened about 2 yrs ago she was 11 yrs old. She answered the phone and was yelled at by the guy on the other end. She hung up and brought me the phone I checked the caller ID and it showed a 1-800 number and showed Direct TV. So I called it back and was called a liar. I was able to calmly tell them what I thought of them and how I didn’t believe that my 10 yr old would bring me the phone if they had been nice to her. I asked that they find the person that did this and have him send my daughter an apology and then fire him. Instead I recieved $5.00 credit to my account for 6 months for their verbal abuse of my daughter.
Might want to check out here:
http://www.directvclassactionsuit.com/
I suggest everyone contact them and get on board. The way things are looking, Directv is going to be facing a big sting and have to pay out compensation.
Cry me a river
We had a similar issue with DirecTV. They claim that we extended our contract when we asked them to replace a defective receiver and now want to charge us $300 for an early termination fee, even though we are terminating according to the terms of our actual 24-month contract. If you find yourself frustrated at DTV’s horrible customer service and feel like you can’t do anything about it, don’t let them walk all over you! Call the FTC and file a complaint: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). And then call your state Consumer Protection Agency to obtain free advice about how to handle the disputed charges, what your rights are, and whether DTV can legally bill you for the disputed amount. You will be surprised how much power you have to force them to do the right thing.
Company=Liars and Crooks, They told me i had 3 days to cancel without any termination fees and a full refund on the HD DVR Box. i cancelled the same day they hooked it up with their shady installers that went right though a wire in my wall and almost caused a fire. i get a bill for almost a thousand dollars entitled cancellation fee, DVR Box, first and last months fees and all kinds of other misc. fees. wow what a process that was. dont give them your checking card info if you ever get this service. we gave them a credit card and they charged that thing like crazy, all unauthorized. the credit card company took care of it and we took directv to the BBB and they gave all of our money back except for the HD DVR….Notice now they don’t charge you 200 for the box anymore when you sign up online. please avoid this company, you will be sorry if you sign with them.
Canceling Directv is no problem if you have damaged credit anyway. Simply call the credit card company that you used when you signed up for DTV and tell them your card was stolen. They will reissue a new card with a different number. DTV will not be able to take the fee out of your account. You may get phone calls and letters from them, but so what?
Please tell me how to join the class action
lawsuit …..emil me at bingomamma@yahoo.com
I just had a run in with DTV. My account was in suspense, I have the dated email to prove as such (10/02/2008-04/02/2009 the term of suspension) DTV took money out of my account without my permission on 01/04/2009 stating the account was canceled, my account was overdrawn by 400.00 due to their actions, bouncing other checks, like the one for my vehicle payment. When I called DTV they stated it was canceled and they would not refund the money, they declined my offer of faxing them the copy of the email stating it was suspended, instead they kept saying it was cancelled and they had the right to charge my debit card. I used another credit card for my initial payment with them to set up service in 2006, I simply had used my debit card in 2007 to make a payment, they did not have permission to use that card for payment on a cancellation that was unprovoked. They refuse to give me my money back. Their CSR even hung up on me…jerks…
This is absolutely true, directv is a bunch of crooks, they Never said anything about my purchase of an HD DVD or HD set top box being lease’s, Never & they never said anything about a 2 year contract with an early termination fee, I never signed anything that states that, only install w/o’s. Plus their techs./installers lost or tossed my off air antenna amp which will cost me a new HD antenna for outside about $200.00 installed. I feel they should pay me back the $400.00 I spent on the HD equipment I supposedly leased, pay me for a new off air antenna like I had, a winegaurd and $$$ for all the bs hassles & threats they’ve made, man they suck! Buyer Beware stay away from Directv and maybe the other, maybe even cable…don’t know but pay tv has gobe too far! JB
Looks like I should have checked this out before getting with these guys. I also got poked by getting roped into teh same deal as mentioned above? Where is our government anymore, looking out for consumers from a Rip Off like this one? Are we all just having to bend over for them and these companies. While we all get slimed, Comcast did the same number and I went to these guy. I feel like I was raped twice.
I had a couple of Directv receivers go defective on an NFL Sunday. Not good. They sent me new ones, but the old ones took too long to get to get back to them due to the holidays.
So they zapped my credit card for almost $1000 on December 22nd. This has been a nightmare. They keep saying the money will be refunded. I have student loan payments to make.
How can it take a month to return money on an error when it can be taken away instantaneously without a phone call or any warning?
Directv should burn.
eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
I was charged for $480 cancellation fee, due to early cancellation. Actually, it was not a voluntary cancellation. I recently moved to a 35th floor high-rise that does not allow dishes on balcony due to safety hazards. I explained to directv, as best as I could. The retention department said “It’s not like we forced you to move.” They’re awesome!! Well, it’s not that I’m not trying to honor that contract, but I can’t violate the building rules.
So, I’m stuck with the $480 charge because they refuse to listen to my reasonable explanation.
One more, they even continued to charge monthly fees, when I did not receive service since my move of December 1, 2008.
One more, they also added the HBO, Starz channels and charged me without authorization.
One more, about a month ago, I tried calling in as a new customer (shopping for a service with them). They LIED to me about no cancellation fee and no moving fee. It’s like a joke that makes you want to cry in horror, like a bunch of clowns with yellow gnarly teeth.
For the love of God, stay away from directv. Run. Run to church. Don’t walk.
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/Form2000A.pdf
The above is a form to complain to FCC. Satellites and dishes, I just learned, are federal issues, not state(eg.cable). So, please do something to bring these crooks down.
Do you happen to know if there is currently a class action suit being filed against DirecTV yet? I would love to join in. If not, I have a friend who is a class action attorney that would probably be interested if I can get enough people to file their grievances. If there is a suit going, I’d love to join in on that one. Can anyone give me any information?
Direct TV pulled a bait and switch on me. They gave me a price then signed me up for service. After I recieved my first months bill, and realized that they were charging me much more than they stated, I cancelled. After cancelling they decided to charge me an early termination fee. I HAve been fighting with them a month now and they won’t budge. Anyone want to open a class action lawsuit?
My neighbor and I would love to join in on a class action lawsuit. cbkk2000@gmail.com
I too was duped by DirecTV. I was never told I would not receive local channels when I signed up. I tried to cancel after I figured this out and was told I had a 2 year contract. They said I could receive locals with an antenna at no extra charge, reluctantly, I accepted. I was told I would receive all local channels and after the tech. had me sign the receipt informed me I would only get 2 locals. He borrowed tools from my husband and didn’t return one of them, he didn’t even hook up my second receiver right and I had no locals on that receiver. He then informed us we had to buy a converter box, an HDTV, a splitter, and maybe we should just buy rabbit ears. Needless to say I immediately cancelled service, I was then informed I was going to be charged a $340 cancellation fee and I will not get my $200 deposit back. They said they were going to charge my bank card that I used to pay my bill. I told them NO! and they said they were going to anyway. I had to freeze 2 bank accounts and I now have to cancel them because of DirecTV. I also just received my last bill and I’m being charged $100 for them hooking up the new boxes with the antenna, when I was told there would be no charge. I was lied to over and over again by this company, it’s not fair that they can get away with this. They lie to you and lock you in a contract and they know there is nothing you can do about it. I’m furious, I want to file a lawsuit against them, I knew they were probably doing this to thousands of customers. Can someone please tell me If there is a class action lawsuit against them. If not there should be. I hope this dishonest, lying, stealing company goes bankrupt!
I am in the same boat. Bought a recorder from Circuit City and they claimed (even though I was a 9 year customer) that I had incurred a two year commitment. They took the money from a credit card I had recently used for a debit transaction. I had to cancel the debit card as stolen. I would not recommend anyone to buy a Directv contract at any time. They are worse than ATT. I can count on one hand the number of conflicts I have had on stuff like this and DTV is the worst because they will not discuss it.
Horrible business people.
Count me in on that class action lawsuit when/if it comes about (one definitely should be filed!) I had already fulfilled my contract obligation, but continued with their service “off contract”. Then when I moved, I decided to take advantage of their “move you FREE” deal. I wasn’t home when the tech came to hook up (a friend was there to let them in). He told me he signed no contract nor was he informed to tell me that there was a new 2 yr. agreement attached to this “free move”. I lost my income and couldn’t keep service any longer. They turned off my service in Nov., and earlier this month I received a bill stating that my service was disconnected in early January (’09). Suddenly my balance owed jumped to over $1000. My bank just called me one morning last week informing me of an unauthorized attemp by Directv to direct debit my account over $1000. They denied it…thank God! Directv has never had my permission to take it upon themselves to take any money out of my account without my permission. Last night, Channel 9 Eyewitness New (Orlando) had a story on them and had multiple complaints from consumers with this same issue. They’ve taken it to the State’s Atty. (or was it the Attorney General…not sure which). But, with this many complaints, something definitely needs to be done about this company. My email is nbbbgrrl@aol.com
Add me to the list of duped customers! 10 years and have to go through this….At no time was I ever informed of the “leased” receiver agreement.
Hi all you direct tv haters , well me and my wife are one of you, recently direct tv took out 700 dollars from our account and refuse to recredit our account and whenever we call up there is no “supervisor” available or they just flat out refuse like alicia did badge #41044, they seem to do this to everyone well im not gonna take that , ive gotten ahold of 2 news channels and am now talking to lawyers if you please email me so i can give your email addresses to the lawyer so he can contact you all as well i say we band together and not let this corperate terrorsim happen anymore. my email is takindown
@yahoo.com i hate them so much!
DRT IS OUT FOR ALL THEY CAN GET FROM ANY ONE THEY DONE ME THE SAME WAY AS ALL OF YOU SO WE NEED TOO TELL EVERY ONE ABOUT DRT THEY SUCK
DirectTv strikes again: terrible service led to us cancelling, they debited us 300 without authorization. Thanks to this thread, I found a class-action suit or two, but these only concern Ohio and California. We need a national one, and I need a Minnesota or national class action.
DirecTv’s actions are deceptive and unjust. Their business practices are producing short-term gains, but like the O’Doyles, they’re going down. Karma is like a bitter ex-spouse with Satan on retainer.
Count me among those totally dissatisfied with Directv. I, too am a Minnesotan that cancelled after extremely poor service. It was only when I cancelled that I was told I had a 2 year committment and would have to pay the balance. I was told it would be $60-$80. Next thing I know I’m being billed for over $400 and it’s automatically marked as past due.
I was a very long-term and satisfied customer up until about 18 months ago. What happened???
1/28/09 – This is the worst company I have ever had the unfortunate opportunity to be associated with. They belong with the rest of Wall Street, and THE FEDS need to shut them down. I have been fighting with the “ofc of the president” since June, 08. Was told today they are not going to try and correct their incorrect billing. I have had it and am going to sue in Small Claims Court in the State where I live. Still have to check jurisdiction, etc.
Rupert Murdoch owns this company and I feel helpless because no local TV news will expose this, as most of them are OWNED by Directv. That’s why their atrocious acts are untouchable.
This is an uphill battle. However, I am willing to fight for myself and others for justice to American consumers. They are still calling me like a psycho girlfriend to pay up for services I never subscribed to.
I have yet to see a post on how aggressively DirecTV pursues people that owe them money. I suspect that if you simply cancel whatever card you used to sign up with them, then cancel the service, the most you will get is a few phone calls. You can tell them to stop calling you. It may also affect your credit, but you can challenge their credit report. If everyone did this, they could not fight back because there could not possibly have enough people to reply to all of the credit report challenges.
My husband wanted to switch from Dish network (which I love) to Direct Tv on January 9, 2009 to save money. He saw an ad stating that they had the most HD channels etc… So he called to make the order but was told that if he wanted an additional HD DVR he had to purchase it for 199.99 for his own. Direct Tv stated that they only give out one per household any additional ones needed to be purchased. Ok we thought. On January 23 the installer came to install the dish etc… it took him from 10am till 5:30pm to actually get a signal. We did not like the programming, we did not like the way the DVR worked and we were not happy with the way the remote worked. We called the next day January 24, 2009 at 5pm to cancel the services and to get instructions on returning the other receivers we received along with a refund for the “purchased” HD DVR we had to pay. I was told I wasn’t getting a refund for the so-called purchased one because I did not purchase it for my own I was leasing it. I had to pay that amount just so I could have an additional one TO LEASE! I was not told that when I placed the order. WHY WOULD I WANT TO PAY 200.00 FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE MINE BUT LEASED. The operator told me that a new one at a retail store cost over 500.00 so there is no way I purchased this one. Also she said they were doing me a favor by only charging me 199.99 for this one and since this HD DVR is high tech I had to pay for additional one. So I argued and tried to let out an example that if I brought a brand new car with all the upgrades that would mean when it was time to put gasoline I would have to pay alot more since its high tech. She had nothing to say but that I wasn’t getting my money back. I cancelled this service within 24hrs that didn’t mean anything either. Not only that I noticed on February 1, 2009 a transaction was taken out my checking account for 429.75 after I was told to return all receivers I will not get charged for anything else. I called back again, I was told that it was an early termination fee. Well I had it out with the operator, he then transfered me to the “supervisor” operator named Ty#AQ0578. I told him that it is illegal to withdraw money out of my account without my consent. I was then told I would receive the money back into my account within 5 days. I am not going to wait I am going to my bank to do whatever paper work to get my money. I am now back with dish network. I had to pay them to fix my dish connection that direct tv broke off too. If there is a class action suit I want to be in it. I want my 199.99 back. My email is chiki2193@yahoo.com Thank you
I’m sorry but I just do not understand this. I have had Direct TV for two years and it has been perfect. No mistakes on my bill, maybe 3 or 4 outages during a serious storm over the entire time. When I moved they didn’t charge me anything. I read my contract, asked questions and have a limited one year agreement with an option to re-up if I want to.I did negoitiate one part of the service contract I wasn’r comfortable with. Perhaps it is just where people live or that they try to have a dish in an area that has tall buildings or trees too close. You do have to have a clear path to the satillite. Also it is worth the professional installation since most people cannot set the dish correctly for optimim viewing. No I do not work for them so get over that.
After many years with directv, I called to cancell today. They said I would incur an early term fee because I had an 18 month contract. They stated I verbally agreed to this when they sent me a new leased replacement box. I explained that I did not agree to this verbally or in writing. I filed with fcc. I also asked for copy of acknowledgement letter since I never received it. Supv stated it’s on his screen but he can’t send it to me. He then asked his manager. Supposedly to be sent in next couple days……
Do not fall for Direct TV’s deception. Their special offers are nothing short of false advertisement. You will never get your rebated price. They will sucker you in for a “lower price” and not provide the necessary rebate information. They will inform you early on that the “rebate” can only be applied after the first six months at the standard package rate. When the available rebate time has passed, they will deny your application since rebates may only be applied within the first sixty days of the contract. Do not use Direct TV. You will regret it. You will spend twice as much for what you want. They act in an illegal manner. Other Class Action Suits will follow. That’s a real guarantee.
ATTENTION IF DIRECTV RIPPED YOU OFF READ HERE: THE FOLLOWING IS THE LINK TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT (ADOBE FORMAT OF THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTS THAT WERE FILED) THAT WAS RECENTLY FILED ON 12/4/08, TO THE US DIST COURT IN OHIO. AT THE BOTTOM YOU WILL FIND THE PHONE NUMBERS FOR THE ATTORNEYS WHO ARE REPRESENTING THIS CLAIM.
TODAY IS SUNDAY OR I WOULD BE ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW TALKING TO THEM, AS I WANT TO KNOW HOW WE CAN GET ON BOARD.
AFTER READING COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS, JUST ONE HORROR STORY AFTER THE OTHER, THEY NOT ONLY NEED TO BE ORDRED TO REIMBURSE THOSE THEY HAVE WRONGFULLY “STOLE” FROM, THEY SHOULD ALSO HAVE TO PAY DAMAGES FOR ALL THE TIME WE’VE HAD TO SPEND TRYING TO GET OUR MONEY BACK, AS WELL AS ANY COSTS PEOPLE WERE STUCK WITH DUE TO DIRECTV CAUSING THEIR ACCOUNTS TO BE OVERDRAWN WHICH THEN RESULTED IN OVERDRAFT FEES AND LATE PAYMENTS CHARGES.
ALSO, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS THEY AGREED TO IN THE FIRST CLASS ACTION SUIT, I THING IT WOULD ONLY BE RIGHT IF THE POWERS THAT BE SIMPLY TOOK AWAY THEIR LICENSE TO PRACTICE BUSINESS AND SHUT THEM DOWN. THAT WOULD BE MY DREAM COME TRUE.
I FOUND ANOTHER CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS BROUGHT AGAINST THEM THAT THEY SETTLED IN 12/05, IN WHICH THEY WERE ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SAME UNDISCLOSED FEES AND TERM LENGTHS ETC. THAT CUSTOMERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT NOW. AS IRRITATING AS THAT IS, WHAT REALLY MAKES YOUR BLOOD BOIL IS THE FACT THAT ALTHOUGH DIRECTV SETTLED THE LAWSUIT CLAIMING (YEAH, GET THIS) “NO WRONG DOING” THEY AGREED TO REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAD DISPUTED THE FEES THEY HAD BEEN CHARGED, BUT THAT’S NOT ALL THEY AGREED TO . . . THEY
ALSO STATED IN THIS AGREEMENT TO SETTLE THAT THEY AGREED TO MAKE ALL OF THEIR TERMS AND CONDITIONS CLEAR & CONCISE (well we know that didn’t happen)AND MAKE SURE THE CUSTOMER WAS AWARE OF ANY TIME LINES.
Anyway . . . Here is a link to doc’s for that lawsuit, so you can read it word for word for yourself. It makes you wonder why they were never held to the terms they agreed to in this settlement. It sure would have saved all of us a lot of time and trouble if they had been.
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/newspubs/releases/2005/121205directtv_avc.pdf
Here is another link that I stumbled onto that some of you might find interesting. It’s the report for the annual meeting for Directv for 2007. Quite lengthy, but it tells all about how they earn those big bonus checks (but I think we all know how they really earn them , but hopefully it will be all of us who got blind sighted by DIRECTV that receives the bonus check for 2009)
Directv is without a doubt the “CREAM OF THE CRAP” as far as I’m concerned and you can bet I’ll be calling the attorney named on this current class action lawsuit, first thing tomorrow morning. I’m really hoping it won’t be to much of a hassle to become part of this legal action. I’m kind of wondering if it will require us contacting the Attorney
General in each of our own states and convincing them to become named on the suit in order to be eligible to receive compensation if there is a settlement.
I’ll let you know after I talk to them . . .
Stay tuned . . . I see hope ahead, so I feel a little more encouraged now than I have in the last two weeks, which is when I first entered & attempted to exit this DIRECTV nightmare!
PLEASE . . . PLEASE . . . PLEASE. . . PASS THIS INFO ON TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN . . . POST THE NECESSARY LINKS TO ALL OF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS SITES YOU CAN FIND WHERE THERE ARE ENTRIES WITH COMPLAINTS AGAINST DIRECTV.
We need to shut these guys down and let anyone else out there doing business in this manner and thinks they can get away with it . . . They can’t!!! There is strength in numbers and we definately have the numbers.
Lets keep our fingers crossed!!
Good luck to you all!
Kim (KIMS.UNIQUE.BOUTIQUE@HOTMAIL.COM)
OOOPS!! I guess I got a little to excited and forgot to leave the link to the current pending class action lawsuit against DIRECTV in my above message . . . My Bad . . . So you will find it below:
http://www.directvclassactionsuit.com/media/docs/Ohio%20DirecTV%20Complaint.pdf
I’m just glad I discovered this oversight early on, because I’m hoping as people find this link, that they will continue to pass it on to the others.
I have an appt. this morning, but I will try to leave this link on the “Rippoff Report.com” & “My3Cents.com”, websites, unless I find that someone has already done so.
I will be contacting the attorney that filed this claim and inquire as to what people need to do in order to be included in this suit. After I find out, I will post another message here at this website, as well as the other 2 sites shown above and pass this information along.
Thanks!
Kim (KIMS.UNIQUE.BOUTIQUE@HOTMAIL.COM)
I just discovered I also forgot to insert the link for the the 2007 Annual report for DIRECTV that I had stumbled onto, so here it is as well. . .
Sorry about that, I guess I just got so exited that I was able to find an active class action lawsuit, that I just kept typing and forgot to stop long enough to insert the links . . .
Ok, now you have all of the links that I was attempting to provide for you. Thanks for your patience. Now lets go get these creeps!
Kim (KIMS.UNIQUE.BOUTIQUE@HOTMAIL.COM)
OK . . . I don’t know why this didn’t appear in the above message, but I have pasted the link below “Again” for the 2007 Annual Meeting for Directv and if it still doesn’t appear, feel free to email me & I will be happy to pass it on to you. Now I’m wondering if I did paste the links into my original message, but they didn’t appear after I submitted my remarks . . . Weird!! Anyway . . . Here it is.
http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/DTV/0×0x204284/413BFABA-5CC1-44BB-B609-EAF995873B17/2008%20annual%20proxy.pdf
Thanks!
Kim
DirecTV sent three invitations via mail promising me the lowest rates available, so I called to inquire. “For the same service you get with Comcast, you’ll pay half as much with us,” Ramone promised me. Sounded good, so I switched. That was over four months ago and my bill has been HIGHER than Comcast’s every month, sometime by as much as $20. The bill fluctuates without explanation and I cannot get anyone to explain this over the phone. When I call to complain, they say they don’t know who promised me what but these are their rates now. It makes me sad to think how many people are being ripped off. And of course, they say I can’t switch from them for two years or I’ll have to pay hundreds of dollars.
I thought I was the only one. Wow directv is ripping everyone off. They sent me free coupons for 1 movie a month for the first two months of service which I used. They never billed me so I thought they must know I used the coupon. Not so 2 1/2 years later and 2 months after canceling my service I see a charge to my credit card. It was for my two “free” movies. When I tryed to explain what they had done they acted like they didn’t understand english. They are a bunch of crooks. I hope to join in the class action lawsuit against them.
I am now in a battle with DirecTv (AKA the devil) after I canceled my service I had for over 6 years. Back in October 2008 I moved to a new house and used their “Movers Connection” offer to get service up and running here. The technician who did the install said that one of my receivers was “outdated” and would not work with the new dish so he went to his truck and got a new one leaving the old one behind. Well, DirecTv is now saying that extended my agreement by another 2 years! I argued on the phone for about an hour and the CSR finally agreed to not charge me the $480 early cancellation fee but she would charge me $100 early cancellation fee for a new DVR I got back in December 2007. I agreed to that, even though I thought it was BS, and she said she would e-mail me with the final amount I would need to pay. I never received an e-mail and today I found a $518 charge to my checking account that I did not authorize. Thinking that I had taken care of this already I called to complain and was told by another CSR that the first CSR was wrong and they charged me the $400 fee anyway. This CSR also said since they had my credit card on file that gave them the authorization to charge my account for the full amount. I was also told to write a letter to them but it appears that does not do much good. I will be contesting the charge with my bank and hopefully they will credit me the amount back. I will gladly pay for the service I used before cancellation but the extra $400 is completely ridiculous!
Here is my story about Directv. I am trying to join the class action lawsuit. I emailed the attorneys in Ohio today. Luckily I cancelled the debit card that I originally gave to Directv before they could take the money more out of account. This is the letter I wrote to Directv explaining my situation:
I am writing this letter in an attempt to resolve a dispute I have with DIRECTV. On or around October 20, 2008, I received a flyer in the mail asking me to consider switching to DIRECTV. I had been considering a switch to DIRECTV for quite sometime because I was interested in the NFL package. So I made a phone call to DIRECTV to ask some questions. In addition to being interested in the NFL package, I also was interested in seeing if I could receive the east coast network channels (I live on the west coast). Upon talking to a DIRECTV representative I was told that I was indeed eligible to receive the east coast channels. Upon hearing that, I was very excited and I decided to make the switch to DIRECTV.
On October 28, I called DIRECTV to set up the install. At that time, I again asked the representative about receiving the east coast network channels. I was once again told that I would be receiving them. I asked the representative how DIRECTV was able to offer me the east coast channels when DISH Network (who I was with at the time) was not. The rep told me that she had previously worked for DISH Network and that DISH Network had been offering the east coast channels “illegally” to their customers, and that DIRECTV was able to do it because they were doing it “legally”. I was a little puzzled by this, but believed what she told me. (I get up very early in the morning for work so being able to watch prime time network television earlier in the evening was a very big selling point for me).
On October 31, the installer called me from Vancouver, Washington to schedule the install. I again asked about the east coast channels. She told me that if DIRECTV told me that I would be receiving them, then I would be getting them. On November 3, the installer showed up for the install. My twenty year old daughter was home to let her in. I asked my daughter to call me when the install was finished so I could speak to the installer. When I talked to the installer over the phone I again asked if the east coast channels were working. She told me that I would have to call DIRECTV to get them turned on. This was different from what DIRECTV had told me. I was told by DIRECTV that the installer would be taking care of setting up the east coast channels. I then began to realize that I had a problem on my hands. Upon returning home, I immediately called DIRECTV and asked about the east coast channels, I was then told that I was not eligible to receive them. After a long discussion about not getting what I was promised, I decided to cancel my service with DIRECTV. I was very disappointed and I would have never had made the switch if I had not been promised the east coast channels. After hanging up with DIRECTV, I went out side to reconnect my Dish only to find that the DIRECTV installer had cut all of the wires to the Dish instead of just disconnecting them. It was dark, rainy and late at night so I decided to call DIRECTV back to ask them to leave the service on long enough for me to get my Dish reconnected (also the Presidential election was happening the next day and I didn’t want to be unable to watch the coverage). Within the next couple of days, I went out to again try to reconnect the Dish (I am an electrician so I thought I could simply run a new wire). The DIRECTV installer had done so much unnecessary damage to the Dish cables that I was unable to fix it and had to call DISH Network to schedule a repair.
I called again to cancel my DIRECTV on November 10. At that time I was told that I would have to pay a $480 disconnection fee (this was the first I had heard anything about a disconnection fee). The rep went on to tell me that I had agreed to a 24 month contract, which was untrue. When I originally called to order DIRECTV I was never told that I was agreeing to a 24 month contract. I never verbally agreed to or signed any such agreement. I would have never had agreed to this. I would never have agreed to use a product for 24 months without a trial period to make sure I was satisfied with the product. I was perfectly happy with Dish Network and would never have switched had I not been promised the east coast channels. In addition, the signal that I had been receiving from DISH Network was far superior to the signal I got from DIRECTV. I was a dissatisfied customer on many levels.
In consideration of the fact that I was promised things I never received, and I only used DIRECTV for seven days, and I never verbally agreed to or signed any lease with DIRECTV, I would like to ask that I not be charged the $480 disconnection fee. I only continued to use DIRECTV for the seven days because I was waiting to get my Dish repaired after the DIRECTV installer unnecessarily cut all my cables. I have retuned the all of the equipment that I received from DIRECTV, and I have absorbed the $238.00 that it cost me to get DIRECTV installed in the first place. I believe that I should not owe DIRECTV any more money and I hope that this issue can be resolved quickly.
A couple of weeks later I got a response from Directv saying that my request was denied and I now owe them over $700. They cannot however explain to me why I now owe them $700 instead of $480. They honestly have no answer for me.
Direct TV Is trying to make me pay 345.00 for early termination and breaking the agreement. I have been with them for 10 years. They said that it is a verbal agreement. I am very upset with them to see how they are taking money. What can I do? Just pay? Please help. Thank
https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/submit_form.html?label=media-telecom&ref=article11329
I am at the beginning of this process. Told I would not have any cancellation fees due to an invalid contract set up as a default when they sent me a new dvr to replace my faulty tivo, but the very next day I got an email saying that I will owe up to $480 by Ceasar P. 100230855 it ended with “We feel that this agreement is valid and we are unable to remove it.”
I don’t care how they FEEL about it, it is not legal, valid or acceptable. I have been on the phone with 4 people in one hour stating that all notes are clearly on my account that the charge is invalid and to be removed but I am doubtful. I found this article about a class action and filled out the form, so now I am waiting……
Directv offered to send me a replacement dvr for my tivo because I was a “loyal customer. I specifically said I do not want to get into a commitment but the rep said there would not be a commitment. When the dvr arrived it did not work properly and then i was told I needed a new antenna and that if it got that I would have a commitment. I agreed but then immediately canceled. However a few days later the installer showed up with the anntena and he said it was the wrong one anyway. I had sent eveything back and was still told there was not commitment but now when i just called to cancell they said they were going to bill my cc $400 for ealy cancellation. I have written dtv a letter and I am waiting a response.
I’m having my service disconnected as well this weekend. I was told to send back the receivers I bought at Best Buy. I also just found out that I will also be getting an early termination fee. I wanted to do some research on this and I just figured out that I’m not the only one. Thanks to this blog and everyone’s comments, I was able to file a complaint and contact a lawyer and they are now investigating it for me. For anyone that lives in the state of WA, contact Terrell Marshall & Daudt PLLC. Their email is info@tmdlegal.com. Hopefully there are enough people up here to join in on a class-action lawsuit against DTV.
Having the same problem,was’nt told the recievers I bought at Best Buy were’nt mine,Had one since Oct.06 They also chargerd my debit card 217.00 after I told them they no longer had autorization
To whom it may concern,
Roughly a year ago I purchased a new Digital reciever from Best Buy in Crystal Lake Illinois. This was my 3rd reciever I had purchased from Best Buy, so I am no spring chicken when comes to making these purcahses. I was specific with the gentleman from Best Buy and asked him if it was a lease or an outright purchase, like my other two recievers in my house, which I purchased outright. He confirmed to me, my wife and a good friend of mine that the purchase was a outright buy and that their would be no contract.
I purchased the reciver and brought it home. Hooked it up myself and called Direct Tv to have it turned on. The Customer service rep from Direct Tv activated the card in the unit. At that time I once again asked if there was a contract in place as a result of my purchase, she asked where I bought it and I told her Best Buy, she verified to me that it was an outright purchase and I could cancel anytime.
A few months later we began having issues with Direct Tv and their service. We were having pixeliattion problems as well as services going out on us. We decided to look into other options and Dish Network had a pretty good deal going on so we decided to give them a try. Upon calling Direct Tv to have my service cancelled the operator was very nice and understood why we were canceling. We cancelled our service and thought that was the end. The operator told us we would recieve our final bill in the next few weeks.
The following day a very rude gentleman called from direct tv and asked why we cancelled and begged for our patronage back. I told him they had that opportunity when I was cancelling. He became very irrate and told me i was making a big mistake then he says to me which nearly floored me was ” oh and by the way you have a contract remaining on your account so any savings you got from dish network we will get as a result of the early termination fee”
I asked to speak to his supervisor, but instead I was hung up on. Needless to say I called back and was on the phone for many hours trying to resolve this issue. I talked to so many supervisors and account reps it made my head spin.
A few days after all this took place I was informed by Capital One that there was a charge on my Credit Card for nearly $1000. This charge was Direct Tv charging my account for the reciever which I was told I purchased outright and an early termination fee. I at no time gave Direct Tv the right to charge this card, as a matter of fact this was not the card I gave Direct TV upon the orgination of my service with Direct Tv. They got this card as a result of my family using it to purchase paid programming. At no time did I give them permission to use it for anything else.
I called Capitaol One and they told me under Visa Regulations Direct Tv had broken the law and I disputed the charge to which I won.
I wrote letters to Direct Tv and made so many phone calls it made me sick. After a while a Collection Company called. I told them my story, the lady was actually very supportive and nice and told me that I had a vaild complaint and they would put it into dispute. I heard nothing for over 5 months so I thought I had a legitamte complaint and thougt Direct Tv saw the error of their ways.
Nearly a year later they have turned it over to another collection company Oxford Management, who has since lied to me and dinged my credit report with degoratory credit remarks. I talked with them in length and was told Direct Tv feels stongly that I owe them money. I asked for proof, if they had a signed contract, if they had any proof whatsoever that I owed the debt and she ( Key ) repeated to me that Direct Tv feels strongly that I owe the money.
I feel I have been decieved even after talking to a direct tv rep and asking where the terms of their agreement is ,she a direct tv rep, couldn;’t find it on her own website. It took her nearly 15 minutes of me being on hold for her to find it. Apperantly you have to go to the direct tv website and type in agreement under their search heading. I asked why this was not in plan sight on the web or even why there wasn’t a link to it ….her answer was ” creative marketing” Now to this very day no where in plane view either at Best Buy or on the Direct TV website is it clearly stated with the purchase of a reciever comes and extened contract.
I would love to tell you the rest of the story by way of phone, please call me I would love to do what I can to stop these practices and protect other consumers.
I also need to repair my credit they have now ruined.
Thanks for your time and consideration,
Ron Dooley
815-405-3314
join us for a class action against Direct TV http://www.LieffCabraser.com
Recently we moved to VERY WOODED lot. We had DirecTV at the previous home and loved it, we would have liked to have taken DirecTV with us, but the previous owner told us that she was denied service by DirecTV because of too many trees and there was no clear “line of site”. Just to be sure, we scheduled an installer to come take a look, but he didn’t keep the appointment. We cancelled our service.
The kicker here is when my husband called in to cancel the service, he asked the Customer Service Rep on the phone if we were going to owe anything and the Customer Service Rep told him no, that we were all paid up and that because we cancelled before that billing cycle was over, there would be no balance due.
We found out today that was not the case. Even though we were customers of DirecTV for nearly 4 years, because we had the new HDTV boxes start service less than 2 years ago, we got an early cancellation ding taken out of our bank account of $360.00!!! This makes us run very short for the rest of the month until the next pay day. Right now, because of this, we’re down to $30.00 and we need gas in the cars, feed the animals etc.
My husband works for WAMU (Now JPMorgan/Chase) and will lose his job this year. This is not something we can afford to fight with an attorney.
We were never told when we started the service on the new HDTV boxes that we were starting a new 2 year agreement with them and would be subject to cancellation fees. We are stunned because we’ve been customers of theirs for nearly 4 years and feel this is unfair especially since our new home will not allow a dish because of all the trees.
I just called and spoke with Leonard with DirecTV’s “Disconnect Team”. He said he would have someone out to our new house tomorrow between 8 AM and Noon to make sure we do not have a clear “line of site” for a dish. (Shouldn’t be a problem.) If this proves to be true, then they will refund our $360.00. I’m holding my breath a little because we’ve already signed up with BroadStripe Service. If it turns out that we can have DirecTV here after all then we’d have to cancel our BroadStripe service and be dinged there. All of this because their installer didn’t keep his appointment or the Customer Service Rep didn’t warn us that we’d have a ding on our bank account for early cancellation, something you just don’t expect after being with a company for almost 4 years.
In any event, with the new Digital TV Transition to be finalized in June, a lot of people will be signing up with DirecTV or getting new HDTV boxes installed. I think they need to know that if they get these new boxes installed, they will be starting a NEW 2 year contract and could be dinged $360.00 just for moving to a place where they can’t get satellite service. They need to fight this and I’m doing just that. I’ve already contacted my local NBC News Station Consumer Affairs Reporter and suggest everybody start there because this is a story worth getting out!
The man I spoke with today said that the paperwork that new customers fill out warns them that if they have any changes to the equipment they use (even an upgrade) that this will start the contract over. He said that the CSR’s are to follow “proper procedure” and remind the customers of this, but we were not told. According to a lot of complaints that I found on the internet, this is common, to not be told. Their fallback is that it’s in the initial paperwork that the customer signs. People just need to be warned of this.
Just don’t back down, call your local reporter! Especially now with the pending transfer to digital tv, this is a timely story!
With out being redundant, just put me in the screwed column. DirecTV is a dirty company. If there are people here after reading all these issues, your on your own. Hope these complaints open a venue that will lead to a more informed buyer of satellite. Cross of DirecTV.
Add me to the over one hundred on this page, and the thousands of other people who have reported being scammed by DirecTV. Please, lets all sue them and get some of what we lost.
I too, have a long story about how they’ve screwed me. Add my name to this ever growing list. $400 on an unwarranted early cancellation fee – seeking legal advice now.
I am also seeking legal action. I am being charged an early termination fee of $386. I sent a letter to DirecTV’s dispute center and I don’t think they even bothered to look at it.
Then I requested a copy of my recorded conversation with Satellite 1, doing business as DirecTV,found this out later. I was basically told unless the case was brought to court they don’t need to provide this information to me. My recorded conversation would prove I was never told about a contract and that I never verbally agreed to it either.
A personal claim lawyer told me that I basically have to allow them to ruin my credit in order to file a defamation case. What???? And if they filed a case against me they could state that I agreed to the contract because I paid my first bill, without having to provide the recorded conversation. Why does our legal system let them get away with fraudulent activity and we have to pay the price, literally?
Does anyone know of a class action lawsuit regarding early termination fees? I will post again after I speak with a class action lawyer. The only DirecTV is going to learn is to hit them where it counts. $$$$$$$$.
I got a receiver free (that says no strings attached) for being with them for 10 years and then I thought I bought another for $99. All done over the phone. Now I stopped my service and was told I have a 2 year contract and crazy termination fees while also charging me for both receivers until I return them. The receivers they say were “leased” not “bought” and came with a 2 year contract even though I was never told this until after the fact. I now owe them over $1000 in fees when I only use DirecTV for NFL football and all normal fees are paid on time. Remember one receiver was suppose to be free yet they are wanting both back yet the installer took my old ones. I never signed anything when they came out to install too. DirecTV confirmed the installation people could not provide a signed contract. That’s the short story of it. I was planning on filing a small claims suit until I found out it’s going on all over the place so I’m trying to get involved in a big suit from the links listed above. Looks like some of them might be too late but I emailed everyone to find out. Wonder how it will effect my credit while waiting for a suit to go through. They didn’t have my credit card number so was unable to pull money out, but it will go to collections soon. Thanks for the info everybody!
DirectTV are truely a bunch of crooks. everyone needs to post their complaints on twitter.com ..new spreads fast their…
They just deducted 538.00 from my account with out my permission….I had service with them fro 2+ years and was just laid off so I cancelled my service….the immeditately stole money from my bank account…I nver gave them approval to take money from it…
DirecTV has been a thorn in my side since day one.
Installers forgot to tighten the bolts for the elevation of the dish, I called 24 hours after the install to complain about the sat dish dropping elevation after a small wind event.
I was told it would be 10, Yes 10 days till they could get an installer out to fix the issue,
I was told they have new installs that are priority, (Hmmmmmm) That left me to realize once you are a customer you are no longer a priority.
Since then I have called Every week with issues of the sound dropping, Always the same (I understand your frustration) from everyone including so called Managers.
They refuse to send any one out unless I pay for a service call.
Recently I’ve been begging them to Please just send someone out to fix what was never correct from the get go or allow me to end ties without paying their cancellation fee.
I have no money to pay them, Being on Disability they are lucky I can afford to pay them at all.
I recently canceled Directv and am being charged an early termination fee of $20 per month of the remaining months of the contract. Please note that I did not agree to nor was I informed that I was locked into an extended 24 month contract upon adding a DVR to my service! I also never received a $50 refer a friend credit from 2007 and was informed that I would not receive this becauise I was canceling service and they only credit $10 per month off 5 months, although I have been promised this credit numerous times and never received it (for over a year!) I am looking to gather people experience these same issues (early termination fees/fraudulant contracts/false advertising for referral credits) to go after Directv. I am willing and able to file a suit against Directv as well as go to arbitration. I have not retained an attorney to date but would be willing to do so if there were others to join in a class action suit, which in turn would reduce legal fees for all included. Please email me at jennifr313@aol.com to discuss this further with me. Thank you
Jennifer
This is common knowledge. I knew from day one that the box and dish were not mine.
I too will join the banned wagon. They installed on 3/27. Promised me channels I cant get. I canceled on 3/29 and was told that I would have no fees because I was still in the trial period. However, I received a bill that I owe them $462.00 for canceling early. I have since canceled any credit cards I have given them. @ those who say they have had no problems its probably because you have not tried to cancel.
Maybe the worst big company in America. Bunch of crooks.
We were told that we needed to get their upgraded receiver in order for us to continue to get the same level of service we were already paying for. The new receiver did not work so we decided to stop the service after 5+ years and go to another provider. We were told over the phone and by letter that we would have to pay for the reciever if we did not return it. We returned the receiver and then the letter came saying we owned them $479.00 as a cancellation fee because the new reciever came with a 2 year contract. Hmmm – originally we were told we needed to get the new reciever or the service we were currently paying for would no longer work. Because I thought they were going to drop the $479 charge once they recieved the reciever I paid the last service bill they had sent, but instead of reimbursing us for service we did not recieve they subtracted this amount from the alleged cancellation feel. Needless to say, I refused to pay them the remaining amount (well over $300) and they have sent us to a collection agency. I spoke with a woman at the collection agency yesterday and she said she gets calls from consumers everyday about DirectTV and that she thinks they are scum, but according to her they have an iron clad contract thus the reason they can send people to collections. I know how hard legal battles are so my plan was to go on a mission to spread the word and hopefully convince people not to sign up for their service(facebook, twitter, etc.). After reading the above I am convinced that’s the right thing to do becasue if they don’t get new customers it will definitely hurt their bottom line. I’m also now convinced that the lady at the collection agency was not just blowing smoke to make me feel better. They, DirectTV, really are scum. Please advise if there is a class action suit I can join. Diane
Any class action lawsuit in Florida? It seems like the other 2 are for California and Ohio customers only.
Just like the rest of you, we are having issues Direct TV and the early termination fee. Since 2003, my boyfriend has been a customer. That began with a 2 yr contract in 2003…>>2003!!!!! Even after the contract was technically up, he stayed with them. In November, we moved to a new home and Direct TV came and hooked up the satellite service. We transferred so there was no charge…well, at least not that we were aware of. Recently, we found out we were able to get Verizon Fios, that of which we had been trying to get all along and they kept saying it was unavailable at this time in our area. After finding out we could get it, they came out to install last week. My boyfriend called to cancel our service and they told him there was an early termination fee. I ended up calling today and they told me that it says in the initial contract (remember, 2003) it states that if you change anything on your service you then have a new contract. As far as I’m concerned, the contract was up in 2005 and there is no contract. I spoke to a supervisor, which was equally as useless at the rep I spoke to the first time. The supervisor told me that since we got an HD box for the bedroom, it was an upgrade and changed the service, which began a new contract. I requested a copy of the contract and he said there is no contract…it’s a work order. A signed work order for me is just validating that the job is complete and acceptable. He claims that in the “work order” there is the new contract information. He cannot provide me with a copy of it nor can he provide me with a copy of the recorded conversation where either of us were told that by getting the HD box in place of the DVR from the other house when transferring service we would be committed to a 2 year contract. At this point, I am so angry I am shaking and my face is blood red! Direct TV is shady and should not even be in business. I am in Texas and wondering how to get in on the class action law suit. This is crazy they are still allowed to continue unlawful business practices with all the complaints I have read on here.
So, I am wondering, if we don’t pay the bill and they disconnect service, will we still owe an early termination fee? After all, we will not be the ones terminating…they will. On the other hand, we don’t want our credit ruined or money debited from our account. We have already contacted the bank and refused charges to be debited from Direct TV. I would suggest anyone else do the same. Any advice would help….especially how to contact someone about a class action lawsuit.
Well, I learned today that DirecTV helped themselves to $997.63 of my hard earned money that I use to feed my family and pay bills. They took this out of my checking account without prior knowledge or authorization. I’m now bouncing checks left and right, with late and NSF fees as well as bad credit thanks to them. This is fraud. We need to inform other consumers about how we’re being ripped off. Don’t you love the bait and switch, when we purchased the equipment outright (which was rebated – was that their catch?) Then swapped out a defective DVR (a mechanical fault-factory defect as the technician said clearly) then got charged $4.99 a month thereafter due to some contractual bull crap they came up with for us being out of the terms of our contract when the unit was replaced, therefore we now “rent” ???!???!??!!!. I too live in Illinois and believe we all have some common ground to stand on. They’re definitely out to get decent people and rip them off! Count me in on a class action lawsuit!
If anyone has info on how to join the class action lawsuit against DTV, can you please e-mail me. I have basically the same issue everyone else encountered. I am confident if we all push this enough they will have no choice but to compensate us for our losses.
Directv scam fraud! Thia is my story: At december 2008 I called
They took $1600 from my bank account aftere i stopped paying since they install equipment without even requested or calling to schedule appointment when I wasn’t home. They used my debit card from Bank of America, this bank wouldn’t take my dispute Ia m closing the account as well with directv . Beware of fraud set a limit on your card with the bank they emptied my accouint unfairly, call several times they all said something different. Ripp off scam, fraud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had Direct Tv service for 4 years and have had multiple problems. They extended my contract without telling me for 2 years
I lived with that and waited to two years out to cancel my service, during that two years I had a DVR that was broken, I
contacted Direct Tv and they told me that they would not have it fixed or replace it because the reciever belong to me. When
I was finally able to cancel after the added two years they told me I had to send that reciever back to them. I told them it
belong to me and they threatned me with a 600 dollor fee. Not wanting to pay an additional fee for a reciever I reluctantly
sent it back to them and paid all remaining service charges I owed them. About one month later I recieved a letter stating I
owed them $0.00.
About two months after receiving the 0.00 amount invoice I received one that stated I owed $55.08. I called Direct Tvs customer
serice to see what the charges were for and they told me it was for adult programes that I had ordered. I never had a phone line
hooked up to my reciever, any movies that were ordered by me had to be done online or by phone so I do not understand these
charges. I have talked to many direct tv employees ranging from customer care all the way up to a superviser at the Direct
Tvs presidents office. No one is willing to help me fix this error. They never contacted me until now (5/2/09) about the charges
yet it has already gone to collections and is now affecting my credit. I am at my witts end dealing with this company and its
dishonest ways. I did not order these programs and feel like there is none at Direct Tv willing to help me fix this.
OMG, I always hated this company, however I haad no idea that so many people were in the same situation. I’m also diputing a $790 that was placed on my credit report, for early termination and whatever else. I had so many proplems with them, when I moved to my new home that we didn’t have cable for 4 months!!!!! after fighting and fighting I cancelled it, returned their boxes, which they had said they were mine and I take a loook at my credit report today, to see that the……damn…. let me know if this goes through melt777@yahoo.com
Directv charged me an early termination fee and as I was disputing it they tool 762.82 out of my account without permission. I want to be part of this class action. Thats gotta be illegal. We all can’t be screaming foul for nothing. Their policies are misleading.
ON APRIL 13, 2009, I LOOKED INTO GETTING DIRECT TV SERVICE AND WAS TOLD BY “STEVE” THAT DIRECT TV IN FACT HAD HBO AND SHOWTIME ONDEMAND SERVICE. THEY DO NOT HAVE HBO ON DEMAND. ON APRIL 15 A INSTALLER CAME TO THE HOUSE WITH THE WRONG EQUIPMENT SO I TOLD HIM NOT TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL HE HAD THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT. ON APRIL 19 ANOTHER INSTALLER CAME TO THE HOUSE IN INSTALL THE SERVICE BUT WAS UNSURE OF HOW TO BECAUSE THE SIGNAL WAS NOT WORKING AND THE ON DEMAND OPTION WAS TOTALLY FOREIGN TO HIM. HONESTLY, THE INSTALLER DID NOT KNOW HOW TO INSTALL THE ON DEMAND OPTION THAT I REQUESTED. THE INSTALLER ASKED ME TO CALL HIS SUPERVISOR FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO INSTALL IT MYSELF. UNBELIEVABLE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A CUSTOMER SERVICE DRIVING COMPANY. WHY A JOKE. THEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE # TO GET A INSTALLER OUT TO MY HOUSE THAT KNEW HOW TO INSTALL THE ON DEMAND SERVICE. THE THIRD INSTALLER CAME ON APRIL 23 AND WHEN I ASKED HIM TO INSTALL THE ON DEMAND SERVICE AND GAVE ME THE “I DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT LOOK”. HE TO CALLED HIS SUPERVISOR AND THE SUPERVISOR ASKED ME IF I KNEW HOW TO INSTALL THE ON DEMAND SERVICE-OPTION. AT THIS POINT, I ASKED THE TECH TO LEAVE AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED DIRECT TV TO CANCEL AND COMPLAIN. THIS IS A TOTAL BREACH OF CONTRACT. THE PRODUCT WAS NEVER DELIVERED OF INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE SIGNAL WAS CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. THE TECH WHO INSTALLED THE DISH LEFT A MESS AND LEFT DAMAGE TO MY HOUSE. FURTHERMORE, DIRECT TV STOLE $204.59 FROM MY CHECKING ACCOUNT AND ANOTHER $486.00 FOR CANCELLATION. ASK YOURSELF, WHAT KIND OF COMPANY WOULD STEAL ALMOST $700.00 FROM SOMEONE WHO ONLY HAD PARTIAL SERVICE FOR 5 DAYS AND NEVER NOT FOR ONE SECOND HAD THE ON DEMAND SERVICE BECAUSE OF THE IGNORANCE OF THE WORKERS THAT THEY HIRE. CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND DISPUTE THE CHARGES. DO NOT PAY THEM. TAKE THE TIME TO FILE COMPLAINTS WITH THE FCC, BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, STATE CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENGIES, ETC. FURTHERMORE, BRING THEM TO COURT TO ANSWER FOR THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY- SMALL CLAIMS COURT. STRENGTH IS IN NUMBERS. IF ENOUGH CONSUMERS COMPLAIN THE COURTS AND LEGISLATORS WILL BE INVOLVED. DONT GIVE IN TO THESE CRIMINALS. I WILL NOT PAY THEM ONE CENT AND FURTHERMORE AND I AM BRINGING DIRECT TV TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT IN WISCONSIN. ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS EMAIL AT STEWARTIMICHAEL@GMAIL.COM. GOOD LUCK
The salesman at DIRECTV promised us that we would have HBO and Showtime ONDEMAND. The ONDEMAND never worked and if it ever did it would not have included HBO. We cancelled and now have a charge for $460 cancellation fee. Furthermore, the bill is in my name and I NEVER signed any contract. I want to sue too!
Seriously people…. you don’t know to read a contract before you sign??? A contract is a contract. No lawyer can get you out of it with the excuse that you did not read it.
I want to file against DirectTV also for unauthorized withdrawals from bank account.
We’ve never encountered problems with Directv until we responded to that deliberately misleading letter from Satteburg “This change will require us to replace your DIRECTV-HD equipment with upgraded HD equipment, FREE of charge to you. There is NO COMMITMENT required. There are NO STRINGS attached. PLEASE CALL DIRECTV … FREE HD SWAP …”
Well we called, they sent someone out with equipment and we received a bill for $137. Because we have two receivers and only one was obsolete, we didn’t need to replace the other receiver (which begs the question — why did they replace it? — we got charged for it. One ridiculous woman even had the gall to tell me that their letter did not say they would exchange “equipments” only “equipment”, which implies one receiver and the dish. I did inform her that no intelligent person would use the would equipments in a letter!
After reading these comments, I checked our paperwork left as the installer was going out the door. Yep, we too agreed to another 2 years thinking we were simply acknowledging the exchange of equipment(s).
How do those people continue to get away with it? All their nonsensical comments, worthless apologies, lies and misleading marketing tactics just piss me off! And doesn’t that two year commitment constitute a “string attached”?
July 2008 my Dad purchased a high def TV. He had service with Direct TV so he asked that I call them and have his programming switched over to accomodate the HDTV. The customer service rep said no problem, only $10 more per month for the HD programming. I asked if Dad would have all the same channels and no other changes, other than they would be in high def and the rep said yes that is correct. He said once we agreed to the programming, Dad would have to keep it for two years or he would have a $300 penalty. Dad agreed. The installer came out with a box and an installation agreement (no service contract or any other paperwork)and hooked it up and left. Dad found out that only 3 channels were in high def, not all of the channels. Dad went to cancel it and they charged him $420 early cancellation fee (he found a company that provided hd programming at a fair price called Wave Broadband). We called Direct TV about the penalty and said they misrepresented their product. They said there was no way they would have offered something they couldn’t provide. I told them they did or their rep had lied – one of the two. They said they would have a manager call me back, but I never heard from anyone. After two months of phone calls to to them, I told them we would concede the argument and let them keep the cancellation fee, but that they had overcharged us according to what the rep had quoted. They immediately agreed to refund $120 and would get a check right out. A month later, we get a statment with a $120 credit balance but no refund. The cust serv rep said it takes 8 weeks to cut a check. Two months later we get a statment showing they charged us $120 and that we now had a $-0- balance. I called them and after a 2 hour phone call of explaining the same thing for 4 different levels of reps, someone in the finance dept told me their rep made a mistake on quoting a $300 cancellation fee and too bad, the full $420 remains with them. I asked for a manager, so they put me on hold. AFter a few minutes I was hung up on, so I called right back. The rep I got on this call said no problem, we will get $120 refund right out to you. We received a statment showing a $120 credit balance and a month later another statment showing we had been charged $120. With all of the complaints and phone calls Direct TV is having to deal with on situations like this, they must spend $1,000 per instance in wages just to keep the $500 +/- they steal. Dad passed away just a few months after all of this started so the money is gone regardless. But the principle here is lost also if Direct TV is allowed to continue lying to consumers on the phone then taking whatever they feel they are entitled to after Direct TV fails to perform. To the gentleman taking them to small claims court, good for you and good luck. But it appears it will take some pretty big guns to get Direct TV to shape up and play right. Maybe if they are penalized an amount closer to the national deficit…that might get their attention.
IT STARTS NOW!
I need 3 things from everyone
1. Review ALL your statements you have recieved. Review ALL of the initial documents you signed or did NOT sign originally. Do some homework – seriously.
2. Review ALL of your transactions. Credits and charges on statements, bank account history, cards used to pay, etc. Check and Double-check. If you still think you got robbed then…
3. Aria_2K@yahoo.com
————————————————
From Robert Silva, About.com Guide to Home Theater
According to what I know there are a couple of law firms that have pursued, or are pursuing, lawsuits against DirecTV – but I haven’t heard any recent status updates from those cases.
Here are two examples that you might see if your attorney knows about:
http://www.wexlerwallace.com/news.php?category=News&headline=WW+Defeats+DirecTV%E2%80%99s+Arbitration+Clause
http://www.directvclassactionsuit.com/
I just found this out also! I have 1 HD/DVR, and 2 HD boxes that Direc TV wants returned. I “bought” the equpment on Ebay in January of this year to upgrade to HD. THEY (DIREC TV)ALSO DID NOT TELL ME THAT WHEN I UPGRADED IT AUTOMATICALLY RESTARTED ANOTHER 2 YEAR CONTRACT!! NOW THEY ARE GOING TO CHARGE ME AN ADDITIONAL $400 CANCELLATION FEE! I think the FCC (or someone) should put a stop to them ripping people off.
Was so glad to find the phone number to the president of direct TV on this page it really helped. not sure yet if it helped but it sure did make me feel better If your having problems with all the lies and misrepresentation please call 1-800-666-4388 the office of the president of direct TV
I can’t wait until my committment is up on DirecTV. They are crooks, and don’t seem to care about their customers. How can a company operate like that? I thought Charter was bad, but now I look forward to going back to cable.
30 Months of Fraudulent Billing!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 10:50 a.m.
Called and spoke to David (U2631) at DIRECTV he informed me Amanda would return my call within 2 hours.
Amanda (R9631) at DIRECTV called offered me 60 days credit I politely refused and again informed that I would be suing in small claims court and filing criminal charges for unauthorized use of a credit card. Amanda kept telling me that DIRECTV had spoken with me and I had not called DIRECTV to confirm the disconnect and that DIRECTV had billed me for approximately 30 months before I noticed. I stressed to Amanda that I had never been contacted by DIRECTV after my initial E-mail in July, 2006 and that I had never spoken to DIRECTV about this account until February 24, 2009 when I discovered the fraudulent billing.
DIRECTVs position appears to be that I did not catch DIRECTV soon enough so DIRECTV intends to keep most of the funds that DIRECTV fraudulently removed from my bank account and that I did not catch DIRECTV quickly enough. The approximately $100 credit DIRECTV offered does not equal the approximately $1600 dollars DIRECTV obtained fraudulently.
I have been with Direct TV Since 95. Same Dish same receiver. I suspend service during the summer when I don’t watch much TV and pick it up during winter. Antenna for locals. No credit card on file and they won’t get one. I pay with instant transfer from bank on the web. Rarely have I had a problem with them. I would upgrade but I don’t want to pay for something I can do. But I will stick by Direct TV because I know people who had nothing but problems with Dish Net.
does anyone know what is going on with the class action suit? I have a reciever that they want now. What shoudl I do?
What can I do to make this class action suit
HAPPEN!!!!
—————-
Response from Robert Silva, About.com Home Theater Guide
As posted in several spots in this comment thead:
According to what I know there are a couple of law firms that have pursued, or are pursuing, lawsuits against DirecTV – but I haven’t heard any recent status updates from those cases.
Here are two examples that might help:
http://www.wexlerwallace.com/news.php?category=News&headline=WW+Defeats+DirecTV%E2%80%99s+Arbitration+Clause
http://www.directvclassactionsuit.com/
O January 2009,I decided to sign up with DirecTV because a good experience in VA 4 years ago, well they said that my bill would be $45p/m for the first year and $55p/m for the second year BUT my bill was always up to $71, I called last night to end this situation, great was my surprise when the customer service representative (Stephanie, very rude) mentioned a “REBATE” that I supposed to fill out within 60 days…I was like WHAT??????? nobody ever said anything about a rebate. Prior to this call 2 months ago, nobody said anything about the rebate. So I asked to talk to the manager, Stephanie kept saying: It’s nothing we can do, and I’ll be happy to…(over and over, she obviously did not want to transfer me to a manager), yeah, they wanted to change my package so I can pay less, but that is not what I agreed!! later I spoke to the manager, who applied some “discounts” but my bill would still be about $60 which is still more than I agreed for, and since I gave them my credit card info, they keep changing every month about $70, so yeah I agreed to give them my bank info but to pay the amount I was told, I am so frustrated. I cannot believe the guts of these people!!
I WAS JUST RIPPED OFF BY DIRECTV. I CLOSED MY ACCOUNT IN AUGUST OF 2008 BECAUSE I WAS MOVING AND THEY DID NOT PROVIDE THE SERVICES I REQUIRED. I GOT BILLED AFTER I CLOSED IT. I CALLED AND THE REP GAVE ME A CREDIT, THEN TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HOLD THE ACCOUNT FOR ME FOR 6 MONTHS, JUST INCASE I DECIDE TO USE THEIR SERVICES AGAIN. LAST MONTH, I GOT A CALL FROM THEIR COLLECTION AGENCY STATING I OWE $117.94 FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH OF 2009! I FREAKED OUT BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. I DIDN’T REACTIVATE MY ACCOUNT AND I THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ANY SERVICES TO ME OF ANY KIND. INFACT, THE SATELLITE DISH IS STILL AT MY OLD ADDRESS. COME TO FIND OUT, I WAS DUPED WITH THE “CALL TO CANCEL” SCAM. THE REP DIDN’T MENTION A THING ABOUT ME CALLING TO CANCEL MY ACCOUNT AGAIN, I DIDN’T RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF WARNING THAT I WAS ABOUT TO BE BILLED FOR SERVICES I AM NOT GETTING AND THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO GO INTO MY CHECKING ACCOUNT AND TAKE THE MONEY WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION! I MADE IT CLEAR TO THEM THAT I WAS DISPUTING THE BILL. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THEY DIDN’T GET. THE MANAGER KEPT SAYING IT WAS IN MY CONTRACT. WHAT CONTRACT?! I DIDN’T SIGN OR AGREE TO KEEP MY SERVICE. I GUESS THE REPRESENTATIVE WORD OF MOUTH WAS THE CONTRACT. SHE MISINFORMED ME. I WOULD NEVER AGREE TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I’M READY TO TAKE ACTION! I’D HATE TO DO IT ALONE. IF THERE’S ANYONE WHO WANTS TO FILE SUIT AGAINST THESE PEOPLE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. ANIAJNS@YAHOO.COM. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!
————————-
From Robert Silva, About.com Home Theater Guide
As posted in several spots in this comment thead:
According to what I know there are a couple of law firms that have pursued, or are pursuing, lawsuits against DirecTV – but I haven’t heard any recent status updates from those cases.
Here are two examples that might help:
http://www.wexlerwallace.com/news.php?category=News&headline=WW+Defeats+DirecTV%E2%80%99s+Arbitration+Clause
http://www.directvclassactionsuit.com/
I also have Direct,I can not get all my channels I’m paying for, my inside box is messed up they will not let me replace it without a new two year contract,we have been with them a long time,why should I have a new contract to fix their stuff so I can pay them every month??? Sue them GOOD
I will find a way to sue DirecTV. They are using fradulant practices. They have assessed a cancellation fee and I was under NO contract with them.
1 representative stated I was receiving money back because I had pre-paid, now they are sending a bill and lying about an agreement because they replaced FAULTY equipment.
We need to be compensated for the time, anxiety and potential negative credit impact this may have on our history.
They will stop at nothing, how is this legal?
They are very misleading indeed. I called DTV to cancel my service and I was told three different amounts by three different people–one of them even stating my ‘disconnect’ would be free (more on this later). My cancellation fee varied from $280 to $300 depending on who I talked to in the 2-3 weeks I spent looking to reach a solution. Be warned: what most consumers don’t know (I certainly did not) is that the HD boxes carry a 24mo commitment and not the standard 18mo commitment of the regular box. When it came time to cancel, I thought my contract was up when in fact, it wasn’t because of an HD box I had and to further add to my frustration, I upgraded a second regular box for an HD box one year into my service which FURTHER extended my contract two years from the point of the upgrade. Mind you, I never signed anything or was given any paperwork or notification stating that I would be extending my commitment over an upgrade that I had to pay shipping for nor was I ever informed that my first HD box would involve a 2 year commitment (no where on paperwork, etc—I READ!). Back to the free cancellation: Depending on which department I talked to, my cancellation was free or was greater than $250. I had one representative swear up and down that I was done with my commitment to DTV and that he’d transfer me to the cancellation department who ended up telling me it would be $300 to cancel and that the previous guy made a mistake. So what did I do, I called once a day until I finally got someone that would disconnect me for free. Apparently these people are trained to eff you into paying these exorbitant fees and not be truthful. They CAN terminate you for free, they just don’t want to! I called my local cable company (Cablevision) who have no commitment requirements, no HD access fees, and no receiver fees and only charge $20 for installation. They said they’d pay $200 of my cancellation costs and give me a promotional rate for the first 6 months of my service ($15 discount) for leaving a company they said “have the highest fees in the industry”. I honestly loved my DTV service but it certainly wasn’t worth all this trouble. Tip for all: Suspend your account for a year or more, when cancelling sometimes they don’t notice that your account is/has been suspended and give you credit for these months towards your commitment.
Why just Direct? I had a receipt from Dish Network and they reached right into my checking account for $300 for my equipment.
I went through costco for my direct tv. I thought I was safe in doing this unfortunately…. At Costco I was supposed to get a 50 rebate and my service was supposed to be 41 / month. When I first setup the service I talked to a “Anderson” – when I asked him to let me know what I needed to do to get my rebate he said and I quote “you dont need to do anything , it will come in two weeks or so”. After the second month when I had not gotten my rebate and my charges per month were 63$ I called direct and was told that I was too late and I should have sent in my rebate form. When i stated that I was told by their rep that I did not need to they said and I quote “well I am sorry sir but you are too late”. I had the name and the time I called and they didnt bother to check out my story. I pay with my amex and put in a dispute hoping that they would answer. They did not. They merely charged me on the next bill and charged me a late fee. At this point they just canceled my service and I am anticipating a big “get out of my contract bill” coming up. Their customer service is non-cooperative and they basically mislead customers. I dont care what it costs me to get out of the contract at this point I am going to pay it – as long as it is in writing. I tried to deal up front with this company unfortunately I believe that they instruct their personnel to mislead customers and there is nothing you can do about it. They can absolutely ruin your credit even if you are right. I am looking to join the class action suit if I can. Big corporations should not be allowed to abuse customers the way in which this company has.
Bank of America has a credit card
system you can use to beat these jerks.
I get a (NEW) credit card number every time I make a payment. Great for on-line purchases.. With this temporary number, you set the limit on the card to the exact price of the bill, and expiration date. If they try to scam you out of more money, the temp. card will refuse payment.
Works great and drives them nuts.
I had the system two weeks, and tried to cancel..Before I got off the phone, they had tried to charge my (NEW) card $350.00. Within an hour, I was getting calls from them saying “I needed to provide them with a valid CC #. So sorry– they didn’t have any idea the card had a time/money/limit when I signed up. I am keeping the service for another month just to jerk them off. I complied with the request for a (NEW) cc# and they now
have it on file. They will try again to overcharge my account to no avail.. So sorry A-holes..
I had had DirecTV for 18 years until today, when I called them to cancel, and was informed that I would be charged a $264 “cancellation fee”. I had DishTV installed today, and will only pay $39 per month, whereas DirecTV was charging me $64 for the SAME SERVICE.
They told me that since they upgraded me to a new receiver to correct a software problem with my old receiver, that I was in violation of my contract. The problem with all this is that Nov of last year, the schedule system on my receiver stopped working. After 4 weeks of their tech support not being able to correct what they called a “software problem”, they offered to replace the box with newer technology, and it worked. Trouble is that NO ONE told me that I was entering a new contract when they fixed THEIR SOFTWARE PROBLEM.
I am pissed, and after hearing some of the other complaints, I called my bank, and they are putting a “stop payment” on anything from DirecTV at no charge.
My credit card companies are also issuing a “lost card” on my cc accounts, and re-issuing new credit cards. But I am sure that I will hear from their collectors.
We need to get another class action suit on these misleading deceptive practices of $$DirecTV$$.
I was mislead into signing a contract I wasn’t told about. Letter when I called to cancel the service I was told that I will be charged an early cancellation fee of $470 which I was never told about before.
They can be BEATEN
Never give them a SS#
always use a prepaid visa
and buy a trac phone (they use your phone number as your account verification)
Once you make ANY payment
you make the contract valid!!!!
Only do business on YOUR terms!
they are trying to get 428.00 from me
and threaten late fees…..
anyone know of a REAL class action case?
optimystk@yahoo.com
What a lesson we had to learn here folks! I too had money drafted out of my checking acct for 482.89 a few days ago. I had to file a case dispute for that UNAUTHORIZE TRANSACTION. My bank was quick in refunding my acct. plus the NSF charges…thank you!! But ohh what a nightmare that was. I had no inkling that this was going on with so many people. USE ANOTHER TYPE OF CC. USE A PREPAID CC. UHH…JUST NOT WITH DTV.
What goes aroun….comes aroun…
Well, it is almost one year since the start of this blog…and things have not changed.
I recently moved 1700 miles and the biggest stress has been DIRECT TV!
Moving to a small community in NM I knew things would be different, but this is a large national company and has NO customer service.
Since Monday I have called at least 8 times and each time get different answers…the one thing that is consistant…. :”it will cost more”.
During my last “battle” when I told the supposed supervisor that I wanted to cancel the service, Of course I was told I would have to pay a huge fee. HMMMM….thought a contract was an agreement between two… and that BOTH had to uphold their part. Guess this point of law does not apply to Direct TV.
Perhaps their name is should not be Direct TV, but direct screw the subscriber.
Wow! I thought I was the only one. I had DirecTV for many years while living in a rental house. My husband and I moved to our new home a year and a half ago. We were told we could take our equipment with us and they would set up everything. The service man came out and told us we could not have DirecTV anymore because there was no reception. I was informed that I would need to pay them to take back the equipment and pay the termination fee. I forget the amount. I called numerous times to explain my situation. After many calls, I was told to either pay or chop down my forest. I paid because I did not want bad credit history. How can I get my money back?
I called direct tv to cancel my contract and was told it doesnt end for another 6 months because i upgraded to a dvr and it renes the 2 yr contract if you upgrade. I never agreed to this and as never told this when ordering the dvr box. So i as then told I agreed when i signed the workorder when it was installed because on the back of the work order you sign it says you agree to the contract terms.
I then called back later to speak to someone again because i am livid about this. I asked the customer service person to show me where in the agreement it says that if you upgrade to dvr or hd you agree to 2 more years of service. Funniest thing happened. An employee of direct tv couldnt even find this statement anywhere in the customer agreement. So his explanation was the person you ordered this with should have told you. And basically even if they didnt im bound to hold up the contract. I say ok but it doesnt say anywhere in there that upgrading means you agree to 2 more years service so how does that work. he sat on the other end of the line for 20-30 seconds speechless and said sir I understand how this must be frustrating for you but thats the agreement if you add a box. I was all like ok well even if they did say that on the phone its not legally binding. he offered me no further assistance. I live in the state of NC and my wife and I will be contacting a lawyer tommorow about this. we will be trying to file a lawsuit as this is basicly lying and stealing with no accountability, and if you just cancel and dont pay they will take it from your bank account or credit card that you use to sign up. If they dont get you that way they will screw your credit by sending you to collections. somebody really needs to do something about this with times the way they are now 90$ a month can go a long way. So hopefully in 24-48 hours Ill here something from our lawyer letting us know what are rights are and how to procede. Please let me know if you already have the answer to this.
Back in the mid 90’s when I purchased a dish network package we were told that it would only be 100 dollars and when I finished paying for the box it was 1800 dollars and when it stopped working I was told that it would not receive the software upgrade and I would have to buy another box at my cost of course and Echo Star or Dish never made ammends for this. We are now with Direct TV
I got the internet/tv/phone bundle with ATT. Huge mistake. First of all, I could never get the Internet and phone to work because ATT didn’t check to make sure everthing was working beofre they left, without even notifiying me that they had been here. which i could nver find out because I could not get the service technicians to come out. Second of all, told me it was my issue if the line problem was inside. I have since gotten cox cable service. Guy came in fixed a couple of wires (inside) and that was the end of that. I now have internet and phone service. I thought the DirectTV was okay. Installation was fine, guy was polite. then, I tried to cancel it so I could go ahead and get cox cable service along with the phone and internet. Of course, I was told, I have two year contract. this was NEVER disclosed to me! Not my by att when I order, not by the technician when installed. I suppose it is on the contract, have to look, but still someone should have disclosed that information. i have no intention of staying in the city for over a year, I would never have done that. i feel so duped! How dishonest. I would like to join a class action law suit. Does anyone know if there is one and how to sign up?
I to am faceing the same programs. I have payed for to service calls a 100$ dvr which somehow locked me into a 2 yr contract! I recieve searching of signal daily and am expected to pay 200$ for the reminder of my contract (ends feb 2010). I am so digusted and want in this lawsuit.
I just got a “direct” hit from Direct TV. The company withdrew over $1000 (early termination and equipment) bucks from my account without my authorization. It has caused me $600 in overdrafts. I had come in for a business trip and when I used my debit card, it was declined; luckily I had my back up card. I just looked at my account and discovered the charge. I recently moved from one state to another and wasn’t sure if my new place allowed their services. I canceled my services in June being that I was moving in July. I contacted a rep on my billing date in July and acquired about termination “just in case”. She told me that I could stay with them and continue to stay current or I would have to pay a termination fee of $500 plus. I couldn’t understand where was a contract coming from, because when I called to upgrade, that was the first thing I asked, would I be in another contract with you all. The fast talking rep said no because I didn’t purchase my receiver with them and he was trying to keep me as a customer because I had informed him that another company had offered me a better deal.
After seeing my bare account, I called immediately and the nicesty (nice/nasty) rep Amanda explained my service contract and I was like- what service contract? She said it came with your bill. I told her I don’t sign my bill. She also explained to me that if I were to reactivate with them that the money would be refunded. I said sweetie why would I give you my freaking money and you have this type of customer service. Oh the plot thickens, she then tells me that I have to return my equipment, I was like cool, but I only have one receiver from the company, the other one (HD DVR) was purchased at Circuit City and it belongs to me. She later “shared” with me that the receiver I had purchased was not mine, but it was a lease, which I basically paid upfront for. I just wasn’t hearing this BS! Well she later put her supervisor on the phone after a long sigh, and Heather comes on saying the exact thing. I told them I did not want to hear that because the whole payment by any means is BOGUS and they know it. I am now in the red with my bank due to their guerrilla tactics. I see that I am not alone with this issue. I don’t know why I felt compelled to “Google” this issue, but it has paid off, I’m not alone.
I am going to attempt to get my bank to put the money back because it wasn’t authorized by me. I pray this works. But anyone knows of a real class action lawsuit, I’m in. z_5styb lue@hotmail.com
DIRECTV IS OUTRAGEOUSLY UNETHICAL
I had my service installed 10 days ago. I just received my first bill in the mail today. The bills states more charges than what was told when I signed up for the services over the phone. I was being told that my monthly bill will be $44.99 (after a 10+5 = $15 discount on $59.99). I was NOT told that there will be a HD access fee and Receiver fee, so my total montly bill is still 59.99. There was no-way for me to know this before 3 days ago(when I saw the first bill). Also, I believe my dish was not correcly installed because it always gave me the blue header message “Searching for signal on Satellite In 1…” for many of the HD channels. In essence, I did not recieve any reliable services since installation and I wanted to cancel Directv services. But now they are charging me $480 for early termination fee.
I AM IN FOR A LAWSUIT AGAINST DIRECTV rahuljainATgatechDOTedu
This is a funny story. I made the down payment for my dad to get their service, he let his service go and they charged $398.42 to my card. I don’t have their service and now I never will. It has since been over two weeks since they stole my money and I have a lawyer in the process of trying to get it back. He informed me that companies like DirecTv make over 100 million dollars a year off of stuff like this. If I made 100 million dollars in a year, I wouldn’t try to rip someone off for $400.00 bucks. If anyone knows of a class action lawsuit or has any other information of how I can get my money back, leave me some info here. I have talked to multiple employees and even sent emails to the president himself and I am not even getting a response, go figure.
How do we, as Americans, let companies get so corrupt? No wonder we are in a recession! I didn’t even sign a contract with them! It’s insane!
Same thing happed to me. Charge $526.00 after I cancelled. Also charged for a HD box without getting a chance to return it. The worse part is that my bank said that they tried to charge my account 4 different amount until they finally got one to go through. My email address is necole_gibson@hotmail.com. Please let me know of any class action cases.
Direct TV, Deceiving, Conniving and Dishonest. This satellite company charged a cancellation fee per month for 2 yrs contract without my knowledge. I have always been a cable person where this has never been an issue. I rent…so renters beware! When you sign up, which I did verbally by phone never was it mentioned that you go on contract for 2 yrs or is there a termination fee. I happened to move to a place where cable was included in rent. They had no flexability for this situation. Talking to customer service is like talking to a robot. They say the same thing over and over with never listening to your logic. They went into my bank account and took almost $400.00 without my consent. They were very rude and frustrating on the phone. They made no exception. I have since been able to get my bank to have them put back the money but now they have put me into collections. Direct TV uses deceptive business practices by telling you that when you sign for the equipment the contract is on the back. I challenged that and said to fax me, the said contract, that shows my signiture and of course they couldn’t come up with it. There was never any mention of cancellation fee or contract at the beginning of sale or even at installation. This proves they do not communicate their business practices honorable. Each of us know how important service is in business. One of my favorite quotes helps put it all in perspective:
“There is only one boss in the company: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down simply by spending his money somewhere else.” -Sam Walton, founder Wal-Mart. He is right on the money with his assessment, and I want Direct TV’s president to know without us they will have no reason to be in business. It is just a matter of time before they will lose! Pls someone let us know of a lawsuite here in Sarasota, Fl so that we may help all of those that have been taken by this snaky company. That is a quote from my BANK! P.S the number 1800 666 4388 which a person recommended to complain is no longer in service. Thank-you Susan Carter of Sarasota, FL
The same story.
Ripped off by these crooks!
After more than 3 years with them they had the nerve to charge me an early termination fee and take it from my account without me knowing it.
If there is a class action lawsuit I want to join it!
I am no longer with DTV. I had added ADSL and put filters on my phone line. I didn’t mind that it dialed 5 times a month to update itself. But when it started dialing 20 times a day (that’s 7 cents a minute to me for about 3 months) I called for some help with the matter. They kept telling me to try this, try that. I was begging for someone to come and tell me what was wrong with it and they flat refused to send someone. I also refused to pay until they solved this matter. They cut my service 4 days before I could get Dish put in. I HAD to pay that. Then I called to cancel my service and the idiot told me that they did not need to send someone out to help me. (I had insurance, it would not cost me a thing). They also told me that I “refused” a new receiver. Well, that was when I called to cancel my service. Also there was a balance of $50 left on my bill. Well, they just reached there little fingers into my checking account and got what they wanted. I wanted to dispute this amount since they did NOT help me. I wrote a letter stating what I wanted and was told that someone would get in touch with me. I waited and waited. Finally, I called and got the number for someone higher up in the company. They were not very nice. No one had called me because they took what they wanted out of my checking account. I was furious! I don’t have money to hire a lawyer, but I would if I could and get at least the last 6 months of what I paid those idiots. I hope they go out of business!!!
Recently in the beginning of August 2009, I had gone to BestBuy to get another direct tv box for an extra tv set that i have. I was told that i was paying for a lease box. It was fine with me except that they never told me that with the new box I was agreeing to a new contract with DTV for two more years and when I called them they told me that if I wanted to cancel their service it will cost me $480 dollars for cancelation fees. I will like to join a class lawsuit against DTV. I think that it’s time to stop this abuse from big companies and thier bigshot lawyers that manipulated the laws against us the consumers.
DISGUSTED!!!
i too have been scammed. i still have directv because i was told but only when i called to cancel. in addition i had one defective reciever and was told (even though i pay 5.99 a month for their protection plan) i would have to sign a new 2 year agreement in order to get a replacement reciever. i can get that deal without the 5.99 a month protection plan. i have been a customer fo over 10 years and about 7 years before that. i now have cable and am just waiting for contract to expire. i too want to be included in lawsuit.
I have never encountered a more deceptive business than DirectTV. After refusing all their offer packages and making sure I was not in any kind of contract … when the time came to cancel … I am faced with a $450 cancellation fee because apparently I am in a 2 year contract which I am not aware of. The rep said “when you activate your receiver you are automatically entered into a 2 year contract” …. what a joke. They should have a class action lawsuit on their ass to make themm change their business practices.
I cannot believe direct tv has been able to do this to so many people and continue to run a business. Who are they paying off? I have just started having problems with them. Customer service is a waste of time so I just sent an email to the CEO and after 24 hours I am going to call the Corporate Offices, if that does not work I am going to file a complaint with the Attorney General..below is my interaction with them so far:
Dear Mr. Hunter or whom it may concern,
I am writing to make you aware of what I consider a serious issue with your company. I cannot believe that a company already involved in a class
action lawsuit, having been fined by several states and has payed out millions for wrongdoing would continue with such unscrupulous practices as those I have been reading about on the internet the past few days. I have fallen victim to these practices but unlike countless others I refuse to be a victim. I have attached correspondence which I have been having with you useless customer service department and I will no longer deal with them as I know its a waste of time. I am writing to you in hopes of getting this matter solved equitably before I file a complaint with my states Attorney General. I suggest you consult your legal department ( or better yet replace them) because your customer agreement does not mention the issues that I and countless othes have experienced. Your quick response to this matter would be greatly appreciated. I will wait 24 hours before initiating my next step.
Thank you,
Eric Hodge
770-713-5048
Hello,
This is exactly the type of response I expected. You do not take great care to let people know about your terms and fees and You obviously dont understand my concern as you have not addressed it. As I stated earlier, I did not upgrade my service, I had HD service from the start and had it for more than 2 years. I had one HD receiver and one regular receiver. I simply replaced the regular receiver for an HD receiver which does not constitute a change in service. Furthermore, when I spoke to the customer service person and ordered the receiver I was not made aware of my contract being renewed or extended otherwise I never would have agreed to it. I printed a copy of your agreement and no where does it state this and I never signed anything that states “any change whatsoever would result in a renewed contract” I am well aware of the early termination fee and I honored my 24 month agreement. We can debate this forever if you like but be aware that I have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau and The Governor’s Office of consumer affairs and I will take it to the Supreme Court if I have to. I will NOT be one of the countless victims who have fallen prey to this. Also be warned that if you try to access and take any monies from my bank account you will be sued! The only assistance you people can give me is to remove this bogus charge and in the future tell people what they are getting into, but rest assured I will NEVER deal with Direttv again and I will insure that anyone I know and talk to does the same. ALSO UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL I PAY THIS FEE
—– Original Message —–
From: “DIRECTV Customer Service”
To: ehodge2@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 5:02:15 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: unfair and unethical charge[Reference#090825-008458] [Reference #: 090826-004679]
Subject
—————————————————————
unfair and unethical charge[Reference#090825-008458]
Discussion Thread
—————————————————————
Response (Rosario S. – 100199781) – 08/26/2009 02:02 PM
Dear Mr. Hodge,
Thanks for writing.
I understand your early cancellation fee concern. I’d like to let you know that we take great care to ensure that the terms and conditions of our service, including programming agreements and early cancellation fees, are disclosed to each customer.
Details about programming agreements and early cancellation fees are included in our advertising and point-of-sale materials. This information is also included in the confirmation letters sent by DIRECTV after you place an order for equipment and in the DIRECTV Equipment Lease Addendum, which is signed at the time of installation.
Because DIRECTV significantly discounts the price of equipment and installation, so we ask you to agree to a programming commitment of 24 months effective when you accept and activate service. If you cancel your service or do not maintain the minimum programming requirements we may charge an early cancellation fee.
For more information on programming agreements please visit our web site at directv.com/agreements.
I have forwarded your email for special handling. A specialist will respond as soon as an agent is available (likely within 24 hours). For immediate assistance, please call us at 1-800-531-5000.
Thanks again for writing.
Sincerely,
Rosario S
Employee ID 100199781
DIRECTV Customer Service
Customer (Entered by Rosario S. – 100199781) – 08/26/2009 02:02 PM
I would like to be made to understand why I am being charged an early termination fee simply because I exchanged a regular receiver for an HD one. This is not a service change or upgrade because I already had HD service. When I had this done I was not made aware of the fact that this would renew my agreement for another 2 years. Had I been made aware of that I would never have agreed to it. I have been reading horror stories of this being done to thousands of people and I am aware of the class action suit against directv and the agreement that was entered into with 22 states a few years ago. I have contacted the Attorneys handling the lawsuit and I plan to contact the Attorney General in the state of Georgia as it is obvious that you are not honouring said agreement. Obviously you people
like paying millions of dollars in fines but I dont like to be ripped off and made to pay for something I knew nothing about. I do expect this to be handled fairly and swiftly.
[---001:002186:20525---]
I just got off with the “Office of the President” at Direct TV and spoke with Shawn regarding a discontinuation fee. Long story short, we ordered HD, and were told verbally by the representative that if we moved (our home was currently for sale) it would negate our contract. We were assured we could move without needing to continue with Direct TV. Shawn, who says “I am speaking for the president (Larry Hunter” told me “Direct TV WILL NOT STAND BEHIND ANY VERBAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN A CUSTOMER AND A REPRESENTATIVE”. What? Are you kidding me? So, a representative who works on commission can say whatever they want, and the company will not stand behind it? Im off to the next step, as I will NOT PAY DIRECT TV the $387.00 cancellation fee. I am very interested in a class action lawsuit!!!!
snikysnake@gmail.com
I had DirectTV as a “bundled” service through my local phone company, which was Qwest. When I called Qwest to add DTV, I was never told about any of the contract terms. Later, I purchased HD receiver and HD DVR on Ebay. When I installed them, Direct TV did not inform me that they were still “rented” boxes, OR that my contract was extended. After cancelling DTV, NOW, I am getting calls and letters from a collection agency saying I owe DTV a total of $1,147.73. What ever happened to the idea that a contract must be signed? I signed nothing. I am going to report them to our state Better Business Bureau. I WOULD LOVE TO BE PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT!!!!
Don’t get me started! What a sleazy, schlocky, third-rate company! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER ever consider doing business with them. My TIVO broke, don’t worry we’ll send you a new one (my contract had already expired). Cancelled contract a few months later when I could get FIOS for 1/3 the price. A $300 early termination fee. Well, when we sent you the new unit you agreed to a two-year contract. BS! They never mentioned it and had no proof that they did. Tried to take the money out of my checking account (DON’T EVER GIVE THEM ANY CREDIT CARD OR CHECKING ACCOUNT INFORMATION. HAVE THEM BILL YOU MONTHLY). Bank of America asked them to respond to my request for a refund and they refused so BOA gave me my money back. DirecTV then sent me to collection. I have tried every federal and state agency to work on my behalf but DirecTV just stonewalls them. There are many class-action suits in the works. Call the attorneys representing the class and tell them that you want to be a part of the class.
You could spend years involved in a class action suit that yields a small payoff. Or, if you really want to stick it to Direct TV, just do them what they do to thousands every day- steal from them.
One person signs up for an account. Then add four recievers @ $5 per month. Give the four other recievers to friends and split the bill 5 ways. It ends up being around $15 a piece for a decent hi-def package. And as long as nobody plugs in the phone line they will never know. My boss has been doing this for years.
I wouldn’t normally advocate such tactics. But what goes around comes around. Sometimes people/companies drag you down to thier level.
Cost me $420 to terminate DIRECTV early.
I purchasaed an hd receiver, two standard receivers, and a three lmd dish from a company i found online selling direct tv. equiptment. I had to cancel my service do to an unexpected move and direct tv. billed me for equiptment that i bought in the amount of $450.00. this is on my credit and is total bs. I even contacted them to re-activate my service and they still want me to pay for the equiptment that i already purchased once.i want to rip someones head off from the frustration. i actually didnt mind the service
dont like them much,i get no service, the few tmes a year, yes in a year, and they ask for more money cause the stuff i use hardly ever dosnt work. it feels like a bad marriage. sorry i get 90% and you get 10% and the bill. and to fix it costs even mre a month. reminds me of the old cell phone days.when to break a contract took ten million dollars and an act of legal junk more junk
i just scrolled thru the other customers complaints i feel sadness, they paid , they got the same as i did im even more unhappy , i wrote my complaint without reading others. this does feel like ths cell one days and everybody gets a store credit to cell one for equipment etc that they dont want need and would like to …for the amount of say 9.00
After one year my HD DVR malfunctioned with the remote only working within two feet of it. DirectTV was going to send me another “leased” for unit for free, but wants me to sign (so to speak) another 24 month contract per the terms and conditions. I declined on principal and will cancel their service when my time is up. Such an arrogant company, not sure why they are allowed to operate like this, if they were a car manufacturer they would be out of business!
I am being held hostage by DIRECT TV!
I too am being charged $300.00 to cancel my service with DIRECT TV.
will try to be brief and concise. I grant you permission to share this information with any concerned party
——————————————————————————–
In 1996 I purchased a receiver for Direct Tv service which cost me $1100.00-$1200.00 (In 1996 this was the process to receive Direct Tv service).
In January 2009 my wife added an additional receiver.
In September on the 21st day of 2009 I tried to discontinue Direct Tv service and was told that upon acceptance of new receiver I automatically committed myself to a two year contract.
The rates had went up so high that it no longer was affordable for our family.
To discontinue service was going to cost me $12.00 a month for two years ($288.00).
I signed nothing so how can I have a commitment to Direct Tv?
There is a class action suit in California by the cunsumerwatchdog.org. I have also seen that the Federal Government is foolowing their footsteps.
Think about our economy and the corporations that have ripped off America.
Now think about Direct Tv and it’s early cancellation fee and how much they have made off people stating they had a contractual agreement even though nothing has been agreed to in an manner that the customer is aware of.
What a dirty low down way to treat your custumers-do you think they would ever give direct tv another chance or have any imput to those thinking about the service-Can’t believe this hasn’t been an issue that Direct tv has not dealt with other than sitting back laughing at the money they have acrued since this secret policy came in effect
DIRECTV IS SCAMMING PEOPLE LEFT AND RIGHT I JUST HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY NFL SUNDAY TICKET I CALLED DIRECTV TO CANCEL IT THEY TOLD ME SINCE THE SEASON HAD ALREADY STARTED FOR FOOTBALL I CAN`T CANCEL THEY STRONG ARM YOU INTO PAYING IT AND IF YOU TRY TO CANCEL YOUR SERVICE THEY HIT YOU WITH EARLY CANCELLATION FEE`S I DON`T EVEN THINK THAT’S LEGAL
I had this happen to me today. I asked to speak to a supervisor after the first customer service lady could not take off the charges. The man I spoke to today said the same thing to me as you, “once the season start’s they cannot cancel the charges. He went on to say they sent information within my billing statement indicating I would be automatically renewed if I did not call to cancel, which I didn’t because I didn’t know this. They are under handed and corrupt. I asked to speak to someone else and he said there was no one else that I could speak to about the charges, and said he could give me the address to the president of the company. So I asked for his information and he proceeded to give me a PO Box number; No phone number or physical address. I told him yeah right I’m sure the President of Direct TV would get my letter of complaint so I asked for the legal department, which he gave me another P O Box address, again no phone or physical address (he said there was not one). He said that he could request that they contact me, which I said yes, so we will see if that happens in the 7 to 9 business days like he said. I also requested that a copy of MY Contact (not some generic contract) be mailed to my home along with the contract for Direct TV that shows I cannot cancel my service with them until May 2010, because of an upgrade in 2008 that put me within a new 2 year contract. I WANT TO BE A PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. ANYONE THAT HAS INFORMATION OR CAN HELP ME PLEASE CONTACT ME.
I also found out that many people did not get there NFL ticket service last week 09-20-09, and that Direct TV knows this but still refuses to refund any money back to the customer…. I will change from Direct TV as soon as my contract is up if not sooner.
We signed up for DirectTV in July when their sales rep promised us that if DirectTV did not fit our needs we could cancel in the first 30 days without penalty. We had DirectTV installed and 10 days later called to have it disconnected. Stations were repetitious, TVs without a box didn’t even have local channels. All in all a bad deal for us.
We were charged to our credit card $478 early termination fee. I disputed the charge to the credit card, but they are now billing us the $478. Tryign to talk to them is like talking to a brick wall. I have filed a complaint with the BBB and will be filing one with the FTC andf Attorney Generals office. I also intend to contact the lawfirm that is handling the Calif. class Action lawsuit. The attorney’s are Harvey Rosenfield and Pamela Pressley (ConsumerWatchdog.org). However, I’m afraid our only recourse to not ruin our credit rating will be to pay it and then take DirectTV to small claims court.
I recently purchased DirecTv. I bought HD DVR service and 5 mo of promotional NFL Sunday Ticket for free. For 4 weeks I had every game in HD. On Sept. 27th, none of my games were in HD. I called customer service and they told me that I didn’t have the “Superfan” package. I had no idea what this package was so while I was on the phone I had my account open online, my first and only bill, my contract, and every paper associated with my purchase. Nowhere does it say anything about the “Superfan” package. I signed a contract for HD service, and pay the monthly HD fees, and bought the NFL Sunday Ticket package for 5 months and now I don’t have them in HD. They are trying to con me into buying another $100 package for HD service. I have already paid for the extra bandwidth for the HD service. This is the definition of double billing and is illegal.
The DirecTv rep told me that the reason I had it in HD was because it was a “free trial” package. On top of that, nowhere in my contract nor in the advertisement (including fine print) does it say anything about having a “Superfan” trial. I looked through every piece of paper that I signed, my bill, my contract, even on their site online and nowhere does it say anything about a “trial”. I paid for 5 months HD service and NFL Sunday Ticket and it was taken away. This is the definition of theft and is illegal.
Conclusion: False advertisements with lack of regulations con customers in. Breach of contract for canceling a service I already pay for. Double billing for getting me to pay for HD service that I already pay for and a package I already pay for.
Anyone know of a class action suit regarding the NFL Sunday Ticket Scam?
Beware of DirecTV. They have the worst business practices possible. I just found out that I got screwed by DirecTV as well. Earlier this year I signed up for their service after comparing their promotional offers with Dish Network’s. Dish Network stated required a one-year contract, so I was pleasantly surprised that the DirecTV customer service representative told me no contract was required and I could cancel anytime. Today I wanted to cancel – and learned that I was on a 24-month contract and would have to pay $380 early termination fee. They said I signed up for it on the day of installtion. I checked my records and in the fine print of a “directv equipment lease addendum” that the installation guy had me sign, was in fact mention of a 24-month contract. Screw DirecTV!
You all are idiots, and you can’t apparently read. I LOLED hard at the guy who posted links to their website, saying no where does it say anything about activating a dvr is a two year agreement, and right there, it says advanced equipment (i.e. anything that isn’t standard) is a two year agreement. LOL, bunch of rednecks who can’t read!
Add my mom’s name to this list of people screwed by this wicked, deceitful company! My mom doesn’t even have a computer, nor know how to use one by the way, so she never saw any of their lovely “rules” they have online. She only had what the lying representatives on the phone told her. Here is a letter I typed up for her today to send in with her first bill, on which she marked “cancel.” My mom does not have any credit, and doesn’t care about her credit report, as she always pays cash for everything she buys, even cars. So we are at this point just not going to pay and let them try to get it from her. This letter explains most of her experience, but does leave out many of the rude customer service experiences.
To whom it may concern,
I have already called and talked to several people and asked them to cancel my service and send me the box or boxes to return your equipment in. I am now asking again in writing. Please send the boxes and let me know exactly what to put in them.
I will not be paying anything, as this whole business was illegal and done deceptively. When I first received the offer in the mail, I called and asked one of your representatives what I would have to do to sign up. She told me I would need a credit card and an email address. When I told her I did not have a credit card or a computer, she said that was fine, and that I could borrow the card of a friend or relative. She said that I only needed it for a 21.00 charge for them to come and hook me up, and then I could repay my relative. I SPECIFICALLY asked her if they would keep my relative’s card on file, and she very plainly told me that NO, they would only charge that first fee, and then take it out of the system. When my relative looked at her cc account, she found that there was a charge for 220.95 on it! When I called the first time to find out what that was for, a man told me that it wasn’t really a charge, but was there just in case I wanted to order up to that amount in extra movies and such. This, as I have since discovered, was a flat out lie! I am still not sure what that charge was for, but it said something about my credit.
Anyway, I did not authorize this charge, and neither did my relative, whose name is nowhere on this account. After talking to several more people, I find out I am supposedly in a lease for 2 years, whereas the offer I got in the mail said nothing about this, but only 12 months. After all this, my relative decided to look online and check out what people may have been saying about this company, and all we could find was negatives and about over billing and deception on the part of directv.
Thus, I called and told your cancellation department to send me the boxes for the equipment and to cancel. I was at that point told that I was in a lease that I could not get out of without paying some ridiculous amount. I have not signed ANYTHING, and was never told any of this, nor was I sent anything in writing until AFTER your service man had hooked me up. Your service man did not give me any papers, nor did I sign anything for him.
I was told that my relative’s credit card would be charged, which is entirely illegal, as her name is nowhere on this account. I will not be paying, and, as I said at the beginning of this letter, I want the box or boxes to send your equipment back in. I have already unhooked it, and signed up with my local cable company, where I can trust that there will be no deception and customer service isn’t rude and ignorant (meant in the literal sense of the word).
I will be expecting the boxes and instructions for returning your equipment.
I too was ripped off by Directv. I cancelled my services and then 4 months later they debited $114 out of my checking account and said that it was my last bill. So I had my bank do an investigation on the debit and it turns out that Directv did not have permission to take the money out of my account, so they had to pay that money back to my bank. Then a month later I get a letter from a collections company for that same $114.00 from Directv. They are liars and I want to join the class action law suit. Please contact me at: kandacemwright@yahoo.com. Thank you all!
They continue to charge my credit card without my persmission months after I have cancelled my account! Directv will charge your credit card for fees (i.e. the cancellation fees) even if you don’t owe them – which is my case!
DitecTv is the worst switch I ever did. I regret every minute of it. They are liars and scammers. I am very upset with them. I didnt book with DirecTv, I received an offer through Verizon, some bunble deal. Thought it was a great deal. So they have Verizon doing their dirty work for them and bokking new customers. Verizon lied to me and said that I had 72 hours if I didnt like either service, that I can cancel it no worries. I booked it 3 weeks in advance to make sure I had a window time in the morning. They said since they mailed some conformation letter that I have to pay $433.01 for early cancellation fee. I never received such a letter and that makes me angry. I filed a complaint with BBB too. I was disgusted. They just sent an automatic email saying that the charge is valid. I will never recommend them to anyone. its a huge mistake. Here is a copy of my complaint that that I mailed them, which they didnt even read: To whom it may concern,
I, Michelle, am disputing this cancellation fee of $433.01. This is my second letter. You will see why at the end of this letter. Here are my reasons, which there are many. On August 24, 2009, my husband and I decided that the great deal that Verizon was offering sounded good. We both agreed to give Verizon and Direct TV a try considering the awesome deal that was being offered. So we called on August 24 and booked a date for both Verizon and Direct TV to come on September 18th, 2009 to install our phone, internet and TV. We were given two window times. One was for 8:00AM to 12:00PM and the other was 12:00PM to 4:00PM. My husband said do the 8:00Am to 12:00PM time so he could still go to work after the installation. We booked this in advance like that so we could have that morning slot.
September 18th comes and my husband was home waiting. He figured he would take the morning off from work and go in later. But instead he lost a full days pay because of Direct TV and Verizon. Direct TV calls and tells him that the tech is at another job and that he will be there at 2:00PM. My husband was fine with that, he even thought it was nice of them to call and let him know (later, we find out from the tech that he was late because he was in a meeting all day). The tech arrives around 4:00PM-4:30PM. He installed the satellite dish, 1 box, and 1 DVR box. He was finally finished with the entire job at 7:30PM. I signed the paperwork and the tech proceeded to show us how to work the DVR box. My husband asked him where was the HD channels. He tells us that we don’t have an HD box or HD satellite dish. We said “well, the offer that we got includes HD”. He said all we have to do is call Direct TV and they will take care of it. I enclosed a copy of the offer that includes HD. Come to find out, when we called Direct TV, they tell us we have to pay $100 for a HD box!!!!! That’s where the complaints start. That is just the first complaint. I was told by Verizon (who offered this deal) that if I am not completely satisfied, I had 72 business hours to cancel with NO CANCELLATION FEE what-so-ever. I wasn’t completely satisfied. Not only was Direct TV a problem, but Verizon was as well. They said my internet would be working in 24 hours. It didn’t, so I called them too (which I cancelled without a fee). I also had a humming noise on my land line and a voicemail was hooked up that I couldn’t even check. Nobody told me how to use the voicemail. I didn’t have a password or anything. So you could imagine my surprise when I call on Saturday (Sept 19) morning and they tell me there’s nothing they can do for until Tuesday about the voicemail or the noise on my land line. Also, the reason I had no internet is because it wasn’t set up until October 1st!!! Nobody told me that I would have to wait 2 weeks for internet. The point to all this is that this is a package deal. I am NOT happy that I was treated like I don’t exist. I was a new customer and was treated like I did something wrong. Verizon was very nice but not Direct TV.
On Monday, September 21, 2009, my husband called Verizon to nicely ask for the HD boxes (like the offer states). He figured that he better just wait to call on Monday since nobody can do anything for us because of the weekend. He called the number we got the offer through and it was Verizon. Verizon would call Direct TV, put him on the phone with Direct TV and then transfer to a different department. This happened twice and twice, he was disconnected. Meanwhile, my husband was at work. So after the second time of being disconnected, he decided to call when he got home from work. So at 6:00PM (when he got home), he called again. They fed him the same line about paying $100 for HD box. He said forget it, cancel the service. ALL of it.. Take your equipment back and call it a day. He refused over the phone to pay the $460 cancellation fee. We had this service for two days (its not our fault we couldn’t get any help from anyone over the weekend). There is no way, after what we have been through, that we are paying this ridiculous fee. Why should we pay for something we didn’t get at all!!!!! We didn’t get the HD boxes, our phone line wasn’t working good, no internet, and you wanted to charge us more money for an HD box!!!! We would have to be real morons to do that. I feel that I was scammed into something that wasn’t real. I am so un-happy and I will not recommend you to anyone. Not to mention that there’s holes in my roof and brand new siding for this satellite dish now.
I, myself, called Direct TV again later on that day to make sure we weren’t going to be charged for a cancellation fee for the stuff I never even had. The lady told me to mail this letter to dispute this charge or any charges that you are hitting us with.
I am still not done though. Oh yeah, there’s more. Tuesday, September 22, 2009. I get a box from Verizon. It is my internet modem. So I had to call Verizon again the next day and tell them I got this package. They simply told me that a return mailing label was shipped and all I have to do is return the package. No problem.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, I receive another package sitting at my door from Direct TV. I didn’t open it and called right away. I called at 5:51PM and the guy didn’t even know what I was talking about. He said that it should have been the return package for us to send back the original boxes we got on Sept 18th. I told him, that there was something in the box, it wasn’t empty. He asked me to open it. Long and behold is the HD DVR box!!!!! We NEVER ordered it. We didn’t want to pay for it and had cancelled the service already. This guy on the phone said he didn’t even see an order for the HD box and was confused. I asked if I was getting charged for the box and he said no and all I have to do is return it to sender. I said ok. So I called FedEx to let them know that I do not want this item that they left at my door. They told me that I need to contact the shipper of the product so they can mail me a shipping label. So I called Direct TV yet once again at 7:00PM. The guy gave me a conformation # for a return kit to be mailed to my house for the HD box. The conformation number for that is 67673744. He said the other kit for my original boxes (the ones that were installed on Friday) was already ordered.
September 25, 2009, I returned the modem to Verizon via pre-paid UPS shipping and on September 26, 2009, the HD box, and the two original boxes that was installed on Spet.18th were shipped back via FedEx (pre-paid as well). Also, we I got home from work on September 26, 2009, in my mailbox was a letter from Verizon will my voicemail information, a whole week later. So, I wouldn’t be able to check my voicemail for a whole week. Today, October 3, 2009, I received the bill to pay the cancellation fee. You were pretty quick to send that bill though. I know that Verizon and Direct TV are two different companies. So being not happy with both of them shouldn’t be Direct TV’s problem but it is since a bright mind decided to combine false packages and make customer’s believe that we are getting something unbelievable, when in reality, it was nothing to brag about, it is Direct TV’s problem as well as Verizon. Since Verizon ISN’T charging any cancellation fee, you get this happy letter instead.
REASON FOR SECOND DISPUTE LETTER: Well, I am adding to this letter now. I just got done sending a dispute letter on October 5, 2009 through USPS, and I get home, there is a new bill with a different amount. So now, once again, I am making phone calls to both Direct TV and Verizon about a new charge of $57.43. I called at 5:24 PM and spoke to someone named Ella. She was no help what-so-ever, she didn’t explain this new charge and didn’t seem to care. She pretty much told me to call Verizon. So at 5:35PM, I called Verizon. The guy said that he didn’t see a bill yet and transferred me to the payment department, The lady asked my name and transferred me to an automated billing service to pay a bill over the phone!!!! That was no help, so I called Verizon back and asked what is going on? Mr. Sweet over there said that Verizon rejected the charges from Direct TV. They will mail a final bill within 10 days (which will be for the 2 days of service I had). They told me that I must call Direct TV, since its on Direct TV’s bill. So once again, after working a full day, I’m calling Direct TV about just another problem. So I get Joe on the phone at Direct TV (what a charmer). He was the rudest person. He treated me like I was a nothing and just had an attitude. I am very upset on how I have been treated as a new customer. Now I am getting treated even worse, I guess because I cancelled service, I don’t really know. This unhappy person hung up on me. All I wanted was an explanation and a refund of $57.43 for phone service. So I called back at 6:08PM and spoke to yet another guy, who couldn’t credit me the $57.43. I asked to speak to a supervisor. I get Karen on the phone. She didn’t help me either. I didn’t have the phone on for September 18th to October 17th!!!! Why would I pay a whole month? The phone has been shut off since September 21, 2009. That is fine, because I’ll just add that to my dispute amount. This package deal that you offer through Verizon is not a great plan. Many customers wouldn’t like the fact that they have to call two different places just to get customer service, its insane. These two companies are NOT on the same page. One (Verizon) makes promises that if I am unhappy in any way, I can cancel. The other (Direct TV) doesn’t explain things and the customer service is horrible. This is not my fault. Nobody knows what they are doing and the customers are feeling it. Its poor business. I don’t know who actually reads this letter, but please consider what I have been through and just leave me alone.
I have enclosed a copy of the lovely offer that was mailed to my husband stating all the things we will receive if we switched over. To be honest, all I received was a huge headache that lasted for days. If your decision is to decline my dispute, please be aware that I will take this further and submit it to court. This is not a way to treat a customer, especially a new one. I’m in the customer representative business and I know that I am right in this fight. I don’t know anyone that would have stayed with your service after that experience. Everyone I have spoken to said that they would have cancelled too and it’s a shame that Direct TV wants to charge a cancellation fee for 2 days of service. If I got what was promised, I wouldn’t have cancelled. Thank you for reading, I will be waiting on a response. I bet it won’t come as quick as the bill though.
They still dont care what happened to me and I am upset on how I was treated!!!! I even spoke with them after the letter through email and they refuse to give me a credit. I hate them!!!
I am having the same problem that everyone here is having. I Canceled my service and was told a $120.00 and then was charged $277.00 on my bank account I talked to three reps from Directv on the phone and they all said I was corect and then I talked to a guy at there main office in CA and he told me I they were all incorect about the amount and I was not getting a refund. I said you already show my account with a refund but you will not credit it back to my bank, he said that there will be no refund. Is there a Class action sute I would be glad to go with it. Please someone let me know, skidscoot@msn.com
Hey folks, I feel your pain. i am a retired veteran of the military and wanted to find a second career. I was attracked to Directv as a potential employer.
Starting pay was good and you get a five dollar an hour pay raise on your first year anniversary. Well Sptember 22nd 2009 I completed my first year with them and I was looking forward to my pay increase. This is when I found out that all pay increases have been put on hold. Its almost November and still havent heard anything. I would assume that when the freeze is over I would get back pay from when I went over my one year period. Who Knows.
As far as the cancellation fees and involuntary extensions of your contracts, I am on board with all of you. Whenever you request an upgrade on your equipement, even if you have had it for 5 years you will sign two papers with your technician. 1. is the work order. It proves to directv that you did recieve the equipement and that we just didnt sell it on the streets. The second paper 2. is the lease agreement for your new upgraded equipement. Heres how this breaks down. A standard receiver has a 12 month lease on it then you own it. A DVR, Standard HD and the HDDVR Combo all have a 24 month lease period. This lease agreement is signed by you and the technician gives you copies of the work order and the lease agreement. This is where this gets under my skin. We take our copies and turn them into our shop ( generally the bigger town around where you live is where the shop/warehouse is) and they are put into boxes and stored in the warehouse. Directv in california and colorado have nothing with your signature, They must automatically extend your contract or should I say LEASE AGREEMENT for the applicable time based on your upgraded equipement.
I generally do not have the customer sign a new lease agreement on an upgrade beacause if they have been a customer beyond the initial lease period they have establised themselves with the customer. I dont feel its fair to double hit or extend a customer into another lease period. It feels good to be a technician and be able to treat my customers the best way possible and provide them entertainment. Its really gradifying but I will not do what I know to be a bad business practice.
Lets talk about ATT bundle package with Directv and the all famouse refer a friend for $100.00 each program. First of all.. If you are looking to do a bundle package for your phone, internet and television needs never order Directv through the phone provider. Order directv through directv ( that way its correct, then call the phone provider and order your phone and internet needs. We do the directv side of business and the phone provider will provide phon and internet. Refer a friend. In a bundle situation – always order directv through directv and have your friend do the same. If your referral orders a bundle pkg through verizon or att
neither one of you will get the $100.00 referral fee.
You can not rely on verizon or att to send the info on referrals to direct. Hey a hundred dollars is a hundred dollars, alot of new customers are pissed because they didnt qualify for the referral bonus because they went through the bundle provider and no one told them the difference.
Meanwhile I still work 60 to 70 hours a week for all of you and my company wont pay me what they promised and are now saying that there will be 3 to 4 areas in which we will have to qualify for our yearly raise.
ANY BODY HIRING out there.
My complaint involves DirecTV and the Sunday NFL Ticket.
The Sunday Ticket was added to my programming as part of a “policy” for their Premium Subscribers.
It was my responsibility to inform DirecTV that I did not want the programming that I did not request in the first place.
I missed it on several invoices. I called to say I did not want it and was informed that I was too late to cancel and had to pay for the whole season.
That has got to be illegal. Obviously, unethical is not a problem for DirecTV.
I’m angry. Any suggestions?
I have had direct tv for 3years the first year it was bundled with Qwest. My first problem was my install the broke my cable box off the side of my house. Took them a year to fix it and it was not easy to get that done. I had to send e mail after email. They just dont take responsibility for the people that represent there company and just say they are outside contracted and its not there problem. Then they come to install my ” upgrade” a DVR. They don’t hook it up right and it wont record more that one channel. They then charged me for the NFL ticket after giving me the first two weeks free, then have the nerve to tell me I ordered it. After my complaints the realized that they for forgot the were giving out two free weeks. So everyone that didn’t order need to call in and cancel or they would be charged. Then they send a guy over at 9pm to fix my DVR. Nice lets drill holes in the wall at 9pm not to mention at the time my son was 2yrs old and was asleep. I was like are you kidding me? So after that a year later in 09″ the NFL season is here again and two free weeks, So i call in advance and tell them I don’t want the NFL ticket I get and okay and no charges. RIGHT! The very next month I’m charged and I call, I get refunded, and not to my surprise I’m billed again and once again I call, I get refunded, by then Im just fed up and make sure my contract was up in October of 09″ . Nope the I had a two year contract cause I upgraded to the DVR. I asked why and when were they going to tell me. They said ” Oh DVR come with a contract renewal of 18 months ” . So i said to them well I started in October of 08″ and its now October 09″ if the contract is 18 months why the hell is my contract up in October 2010? Is it me or is that 24months? Not 18 and not 12 like I agreed on. Then after a nice pause they were like well sir your contract is up in October 2010 and there is nothing they can do about it. I now I and just letting them turn off my services and I will never use them again! And to top all this off now my service is off, I get e-mails and letters and even boxes at my door for there equipment. I open my door and see 4 boxes for four direct tv boxes and I think to myself ” Four? hmm I only have three TV’s so why do I get four boxes”. So I call I’m told that there three boxed and one DVR so for three years these people have been charging me for an extra box. Ya its only 5 bucks but over a 36month its still 180 dollars. But cause it was not caught earlier the can credit me 2 months so 10 dollars. Cool that gives me the warm and fuzzys inside. What a crock of S*!# !! These people don’t realize what kind of crap they put the customers through, I will be more then happy to be part of any lawsuit against Direct TV! Someone needs to do something about there monopoly there running. They act like the mob once your in you cant get out.
Signed up a couple of months ago. The billing statement is always inaccurate and inflated. Direct TV just turned off my service within ten days of payment of my last statement. When I phone consumer service their information is inaccurate and outdated. I told the last consumer svc person I was going to join the class action lawsuit against Direct TV, then noticed my bill has been reduced by $80, but they have not turned service back on. Was lied to about HD receiver that was ordered but not received. Sent email online to customer service regarding rebates and hidden charges but never received a reply. CAVEAT EMPTOR or LEASOR!
Here is another one for the great service we receive from Directv. I am in the third year of service from the great provider and they decided to renew my subscription to Sunday ticket. I had it the first year and cancelled it the next. For the third year they decide to renew it. I called and they gave me a $20 credit for the next 6 months. The customer service manager told me that even if I had the service 6 years ago one time, I would still have to cancel before the season every year. Just another beautiful scam even though their own policy does not even specify that. I think a Sunday ticket class action is definitely in order. I would love if Directv just fell off the face of the earth, but not before this NFL season is over since I am paying for the damn Sunday ticket.
how to you get on the class action suit for direct tv i feel i was lied to about the 2 year contract and the fee of 5 dollars a month per extra box. now will cost me $400.00 to break contract
I had a problem with Dish Network so I called the Tech support number. A guy answered the phone and talked me into Directv. He later said I had mis dialed the Dish Network number. I checked my cell records and I did not.
He promised me that everything was going to be better then Dish Network. And that we would have the same services too. Such as being able to record in one room and watch it in the other. That was a lie. And we found out after the system was put in. About five minutes after the guy left. We called Directv and told them about it, and they pretty much said, oh we lied to you, touch S*&(*^*T. To bad now. You keep it, or you pay $497 if you shut it off.
We changed to a cheaper package, and they charged us $10 to do it. There was nothing saying that on the website. But they did anyway.
And they only offer 50 channel and 150 channel packages. Dish Network has a 100 channel package.
Overall, they suck. I will never ever recommend them to anyone. And if I can get out of the contract I will. I just want regular TV. I don’t want to pay anyone for any TV I watch. Just the local channels. And then rent a movie sometimes. Thats more then $60 a month in my pocket, not theirs.