Complaint

0
cathy
Country: United States
After receiving an offer for Direct TV I called them and asked about their service. I asked the rep no less then 3 times what my total monthly bill would be. I really stressed the TOTAL amount. She told me it would be $44.99. I agreed to the service. I asked what day of the month the autopay would come out of my checking account, she said she did not know but I would never be charged until I got my monthly statement. Well low and behold I checked my bank account and they had charged me $70 something dollars and I had not received my first statement. I called them and canceled my service and explained to them that was not the agreed upon amount. The rep I talked to was extremely rude and told me I should have known I had to pay a monthly receiver rental fee as everyone charges this, (everyone does NOT charge this, DishNetwork does not). I told her that fee was never mentioned when I ordered the service. When I did get the statement there it was and also the programming charge was more then they stated it would be also. I sent the equipment back just like they asked. Then they tried to take $302 out of my checking account without my knowledge. Luckily I had closed that account before they could get their greedy hands on it. I paid them in full, actually was overcharged for the 1 month of service I had with them. Now they have turned me into collections and are harrassing me on a daily basis. The DirectTV company is absolutely the worst company I've ever had the misfortune to deal with. How do they get away with this? Also when I went back thru the paperwork the installer left with me, no copy of a contract of any kind was there. This company is the most underhanded, shady, dishonest and greedy of any I have ever come across. Again, this is America, how do they get away with this????

Comments

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  • 0
    tj
    | 2 replies
    What you are describing is "bait and switch".

    If you search ripoffreport.com, you can find similar complaints.

    File consumer fraud complaints with your state AG and local DA.
    • 0
      M. Bell replies to tj
      At&T/Directv have done me the same dirty way!
      at&t talked me into changing from comcast to directv for a few dollars more and receive over 100 chandles.
      They lied to me as they did the rest of you! Directv sent the wrong box that was never ordered. I have a printout ot the guy who gave me the prices, but they have never been correct.
      They take advantage of especially older people. Now they want between 3 and 4 hundred dollars to get their
      box. I have had it unplugged for 4 weeks because of a crazy noise it made when I turned it off.
      Directv brought  the wrong box, it was not hooked up correct and they sent another guy to hook it up and he put a small box at the back of my tv and that is when it started the noise. I could not sleep so I unpluged it.
      I have not watched it for 4 weeks, yet at&t still sent the bill to me!! The attorney general will not do anything
      unless you sent him letters you have sent to Directv! What good does he do?
    • 0
      Michael Griffith replies to tj
      David Hester man who works for the most dishonest direct tv dealer in the USA, is looking for salesperson. Avoid like the plague, the screw everyone including salespeople and installers.
  • 0
    Ronin
    As TJ stated above, make SURE that you file those complaints with your State Attorney Generals office, as well as your local District Attorney's office.

    Then contact the 3 Credit Reporting Services NOW - BEFORE it shows up on your credit report and request a block against them putting anything on your credit report. Do this for DirecTV and the collection agency that they are using.

    Most people don't even know that this option exists and they can request it. If you speak to someone and they tell you that they don't offer this option, they are lying through their teeth.

    And lastly, make sure you file a complaint against them with the Better Business Bureau as well. Unless consumers start actually taking the time to file the complaints and follow up on them against companies who pull this kind of crap, it's going to continue.
  • 0
    tucker
    last year i called to order the NBA ticket, so i ordered it, but they then sold me on the ESPN subscription, so, same phone call, cancelled the nba ticket and subscribed to ESPN.  a month later my bill had NBA ticket on it.  long story short, they wouldnt take the charges off because the second it was turn on, it was non-refundable, but they never told me that.  Needless to say i was pissed off.
    This year.  I got billed for this seasons NBA ticket, of course I never ever ordered it again.  they said it was automatically renewed. they never told me in the first place it would auto renew.  again, once it was billed it couldnt be returned.  so i am out over $300 for a subscription i didnt want, never used, and did not renew.
    DirectTV, Liberty Media, QVC channel (all the same company) have all lost my business for good.

    how outrageous?!?!?
  • 0
    mary lou
    I was told by our assistant state attorny that it would do no good to file a complaint or block with the 3 credit companys.  I will now that you said.  I live in Fl. My email is louchi11@embarqmail.com if you want to communicate.   Thanks
  • 0
    mary lou
    There is one thing that happened by accident to me.  When I ordered direct they lied about the cost plus the equipment was faulty.  I cancelled early so they tryed to charge 150. fee.  Lucky me, my credit card had expired.  I reccommend when you sign with any big company use a credit card then cancel it.  They cannot charge you at will if (and most will) they lie to you.  Embarq, sprint, direct and most bundle sevices will lie at first sign up.
  • 0
    T.Harris
    | 1 reply
    Last year Direct TV took $1400 out of my checking account and caused a series of overdraft fees.  They did this without my knowledge. They admitted their mistake and took care of the fees.  Well recently I became a dislocated worker and to try and offset a repeat of what happend to me last year, I contacted Direct TV  because they sent me a box and requested I send them back two of the five units I had.  When I contacted them I immediately made a payment and the rep told me to ignore the request to return the equipment.  I told the rep I would send in the remaining $53 when my unemployment compensation came in on Thursday.  Direct TV hit my account on Monday, three days before my unemployment check a chance to clear. They hit my account for $321.23 instead of the $53 owed.  They told me it was for the equipment I did not send back.  The same equipment the rep told me not to return and agreed to not charge my account extra if I gave her my bank account information.  This is the second time they have done this.  I only owe $70 remaining for the equipment and the contract. I am getting out of this contract and never dealing with these scam artist again.
    • 0
      Linda replies to T.Harris
      That is exactly what these people are.......SCAM ARTIST.  And they are well trained at it.  I am sure many of them will burn in hell!
  • 0
    Denise
    I signed up for the refer-a-friend with my new package.  I received an e-mail from direct tv showing my package and the $10.00 refer-a-friend was listed.  My friend and I are supposed to get $10.00 of our bill for 10 months.  Now the $10.00 credit is not on my bill.  They said I didn't use their network to sign up.  I went to THEIR website, under referrals, used an online assistant.  How would I know the name and account number of my friend if I didn't intend to use it.  How would I know about the refer-a-friend if I didn't go to THEIR website?  They are ripping me off.  Why would they send me an e-mail with my account details and have the refer-a-friend credit on the details if I didn't do it right?  I still have a copy of the e-mail.  If I didn't do it right, why would the credit show up in the first place.
  • 0
    Mike
    I work at a business and they did the same thing! Additionally, to make matters worse we shortpaid the invoice by the amount of the package and then disputed. As you did to you as well, they claim NO record of the dispute and disconnected our normal commercial service because of non-payment of the package premium. Now we have a sports bar with NO service at all!

    Here's my favorite part....
    Called to re-instate service, got a supervisor and explained the situation. They said they could not help and would have to transfer me to the "Disconnect Department". Fair enough, transferred....on hold for over 30 mins. Finally got an operator, who I explained my issue and his response was immediate "Since the season has started, this is a non-cancellable service." I asked to speak with his supervisor, and low and behold...he IS a supervisor! My only recourse at this point (he explained quite pleasantly) was to send a LETTER to "Attn. Dispute Resolution" and a PO Box in Miami, FL.

    To Recap:
    1. They claim no one aver called to dispute the charge originally, and since they notified us on a dunning message on our July statement (Remember, pre-season started First week of AUGUST!) that our service was being auto-renewed we should have been aware of the renewal.
    2. Once season starts (July statement received 7/15/09, First pre-season game 8/06/09 - less than 30 days to cancel) the service is non-cancellable.
    3. ALL services to your home/business will be disconnected unless FULL payment received for NFL package listed on statement. They cannot re-instate service even without NFL Season Ticket (I requested they turn on basic package service and leave NFL Ticket off). It's an "All or nothing" service arrangement at this point.
    4. ONLY RECOURSE - Mail a letter to their dispute department in Miami (PO Box, they do not accept priority or overnight letters). Wait until you are contacted by a representative. They could not confirm (nor would they deny) that anyone in that department could help anyway.
  • 0
    Harv
    Yes Direct tv is very shady, first you use to be able to disconnect the premium services online, now you cant.  When u click the remove botton it gives you a number to call, and the reps do there best to get you to keep the channels, even offer you discounts that you never get!  now they are charging you $10 to disconnect the channel, when they charge $10 you just as well have kept the channel you disconnected.  Also when they come to connect your service, they will install the dish where ever they can, even thou a lot of apt complex's have restrictions where you can install a dish.  This often results in you having to remove the dish anyway and losing money.  Now Dish Network really follow's the rules when it comes to this and will not install the dish, just to get a new customer.
  • 0
    spc
    We signed up for directv online and then got a call to confirm it. Everything was fine, said we only had to pay shipping and handling fee one time only upfront [$21.15]. Low and behold, before the man even showed up to install it, that 21 was take from our account 4 times! Then the installer brought the wrong reciever, and while he was hear we had to redo the order over the phone. So once again, the 21 was taken out.It took 3 weeks for them to put the 4 accounts of 21.15 back into our account.
  • 0
    David Uniontown Pa
    I have emailed many government agencies about the bait and switch Direct Tv has down pact.
    Everyone needs to take steps. Customer service is really a joke, they will play around with you forever and you get nowhere, this is a tactic of theirs. Hopefully you will get tired of the situation and just pay them, take action, Complain Complain Complain, Attorney generals office, BBB, FTC, Federal Communications committee im not stopping since they lied and removed most of my channels and now i am paying more for less, i have more time to aggressively go after them. Power in numbers.
  • 0
    Vicki N
    I was a customer with DirecTV for the past 18 months,(in Elburn,IL) and for 8yrs in wheaton,IL due to my recent unemployment ( May) I fell behind on the payments and this service was cancelled in October? To the best I can remember I owed 2 months for the account. This week (12/15/09) DirecTV took it upon themselves to debit my checking account for $362.30.
    $45.00 X 3= For the boxes??? 18months old ? and they still charge $5.00 per month for this.
    $15.00      = Disconnect Fee
    $40.00      = Early cancellation fee?
    + amount owed for 2 months of service?????
    According to DirecTV when I signed up for this service, I also allowed them the right to deduct this from my checking account???? I was also told when I talked to them today that I had been upgraded?? and had another year contract? The whole time I had this service I did not have any of the premium channels ( HBO, Showtime) or used any of the pay per movies, or DVR services, there for I had not upgraded to anything, and I do not understand what this contract was about.
    The point is that DirecTV took this money out of my checking account under some fine print in there contract.I will be filing a compliant at my Attorneys Generals office this week and I have also filed a dispute with my bank for the $363.00+all NSF charges that I have due this BS action,from this insane company.I hope that everyone does as David from Uniontown PA suggests,COMPLAIN,COMPLAIN,AND COMPLAIN.
    Vicki N
  • 0
    Eagle
    I don't know how a company like directtv is still doing bussines in America. They behave an treat their costumers like companies from the third world and I know because I had deal with them, I keep calling them and still can not get an answer  of why I don't qualified for a rebate so far I got 4 totally diferent answers tomorow I will get the 5th because I got the proof to dispute the last one. I can almost hear them in the telephone strugling to come up with new lies when confronted with their own arguments, What happen with " sorry sir for the inconvinience let me fix the mistake right away" .COMPLAIN tell 10 different people how bad they are and they will tell another 10 and so on. Power in numbers!!!
  • 0
    Liar Liar Pants on Fire
    I recently moved back in with my parents who already have a direct TV account. I wanted to add an additional receiver in my room. I called direct TV and was told by the rep that it would cost 100 bucks for the box and 20 dollars for the installation fee. Plus an additional 10 bucks a month. He also told me that by getting a new box, my parents contract which would end in 10 months would be extended back to 24 months... so I told him that maybe I should just open my own account. I was transferred to new accounts...and after getting the long sale... would be paying 40 bucks a month... I told the new guy that I whether just add an additional box to my parents account... he told me that it would cost 25 per meter to install an additional box on a preexisting account... then he told me that it would cost anywhere from 200 - 250 for the installation fee... I told the guy that I'd already spoken with another guy...and he said it would only cost 20 dollars... they guy became really flustered and said that I was in a strange area and the prices were variable.... Direct TV reps lie... be sure to get there employ identification ID's and if needs be record the conversation.
  • 0
    DialloFamily
    I got direct tv as way to save from paying cable. I wish i had never done it. I had it installed for less than a month and my tv went out 6 times. I had enough and i called them and told them I wanted to cancel before the month was up i told them of my problems and said it was not what i was looking for I like to know when i get home that i can watch tv no matter the weather.They told me that they would send someone to my house and try to fix the problem.I explained to them that someone had just been to my house a month ago and if they could not get it right on install i don't even want to deal with the service i would like to cancell now before my contract for 2 years starts.She proceded to tell me that i was lock into the contract 24 hours after the install and that i was now subject to pay 500 dollars right then and there out of my checking account i had provided to start up.I told them that that was absoultly not going to happen i would not pay them a dime but the first months bill. I could not believe that a company is still in buisness i mean i would not buy a computer that only work sometimes in the first month and someone tell me that i was paying no matter what. Hello people I feel tricked and they will not see a dime for me. Thank god my husband got a new account number before i cancelled so they have no way to take the money out and good luck trying to get there money such a scam.
  • 0
    smorey
    Just filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, Va Consumer Affairs, and state AG. Direct TV are nothing but crooks, I am going to urge my local congressional members to actively pursue this matter as well. It is not the matter of the $250 cancellation fee that we NEVER, EVER agreed tto but it is the principle of the thing. We have been with Direct TV for nearly 10 years and because we want to cancel our service and because we leased a DVR box we are not allowed of a contract that we never signed, agreed to, or were informed of! I think not! Last time I checked, consumers still had rights and I for one, will not be completely bamboozled.
  • 0
    Tony
    This is a very shisty (not sure how to spell that) company. I cannot believe that they are this crooked. I have had several problems with them and the customer service department has provided NO customer service at all. We have been lied to as well, and even after arguing on the phone with them and supposedly getting matters resolved, matters are still not resloved. I am going to report them to the BBB and I am going to cancel my service. I thought the problems were fixed but they are still not. Horrible company! If you have any input or advice, or want to get in on a mass complaint of some kind just let me know.
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