Dish Network Scam / Organized Crime Against Seniors /Consumers
Complaint
PARAG SHAH
Country: United States
Dish Network Corporation a defrauded my Senior Citizen Father, in an Organized Scam using deceptive trade practices.
In July, August of 2010 Through misleading Marketing ads and deception , Dish Network and Authorized Dealers targeted my Retired Senior Citizen Father , a senior citizen, in good standing within our community and a longtime Time Warner cable customer was targeted for their Promotion of $24.99 / month for Americas Top 120 channels (for 12 months) and the remaining 12 months the price being locked in at $39.99. (Copy of Ad available) in joining them by signing under duress and deception a contract after the Dish system was installed. Complaint was made on that day to the authorized dealer and Dish Network.
On January 5th, 2011
As a new customer, under this promotion, my father contacted Dish Network for advice as their client and new customer if there was any option that he could freeze my account by holding it while we were on vacation( a Hindu Pilgrimage in India), and resuming it when we got back. Dish Network advised on Dish Pause as the best option, stating that it would only cost us $5.00 monthly charge for Dish Pause duration. The account would remain active and resume back when we returned. (Transcripts available).
(NOTE: dish Network did not advise , that it would forfeit our $24.99 rate and our lock in rate for the remaining 24 months of resumed service). They knowingly omitted this key piece of information.
On March 11th, 2011
Contacted Dish Network for resuming services and shockingly find out that previous promotion was forfeited due to Disk Pause and the terms of the promotion had been changed. My monthly bill now was almost doubled from 24.99 now to 44.99 for Americas top 120 package.
We Protested to Dish Network why they did not disclosed to us on January 5th. They were apologetic but the situation was not resolved. They did not resume my original service due to the situation not being resolved. (Transcripts available)
On March 12th, 2011
Again Contacted Dish Network in verifying and stating my original pricing before service is resumed, the issue was resolved and my original service was resumed at that original promotional pricing of America top 120 package that I had before. (Transcript available).
On April 6th, 2011
After checking my bill and noticing that prices were doubled and overcharged. They have removed my 24.99 monthly price ($15.00 remaining monthly credits from the $39.99 per month) and started charging me $44.99 per monthly charge, plus advanced monthly charge for the same amount which is locked in for the remaining term of the 24 months of the promotional months without the promotional pricing that I had signed up for. I Contacted Dish Network. They stated that my original agreed upon promotional price was forfeited. Again complained and protested. (Transcripts available) related to the current dispute of overcharged billing and what the current bill should be. Also advised them that the future automatic withdrawals if not corrected with the promotional pricing that was agreed upon will also be overcharged and be in dispute every month.
On April 9th, 2011
He sent a letter of Complaint to Dish Network, and their Corporate Officers via email system. (email transcript available)
On April 9th 2011
Received short email back stating that the complaint has been addressed without any proper explanation in their deceptive trade practices against senior citizen consumer in wrongfully charging. (Email transcripts available)
Since then till now, Dish Network is continuing to violate my Senior Citizen Father and enslave him with a bogus contract with their wrongful practices . Complaints were made to the FTC, BBB, and Attorney Generals as well as the Credit Card Company. They seem to operate with Immunity from sincere federal Prosecution.
Again , My Senior Citizen father’s Rights were violated, He is a victim and is continuing to suffer in health and welfare due to Dish Networks Scam. He is a responsible consumer we have done everything reasonable to resolve the dispute. I expect the Government using all tools necessary including the Rico Act under organized crime to prosecute the Corporate Executive Officers / employees in criminal prosecution. I hope also Consumer Organizations/ Pro-Bono Legal Councilors to defend and protect Senior Citizen / Minority Consumers from predator corporations such as Dish Network from any fraudulent and deceptive trade practices from their current, past and future actions . This is organized Crime perpetrated by Dish Network Corporation and their policy directed by their corporate officers.The company is getting away with it against my father and many other consumers.
In July, August of 2010 Through misleading Marketing ads and deception , Dish Network and Authorized Dealers targeted my Retired Senior Citizen Father , a senior citizen, in good standing within our community and a longtime Time Warner cable customer was targeted for their Promotion of $24.99 / month for Americas Top 120 channels (for 12 months) and the remaining 12 months the price being locked in at $39.99. (Copy of Ad available) in joining them by signing under duress and deception a contract after the Dish system was installed. Complaint was made on that day to the authorized dealer and Dish Network.
On January 5th, 2011
As a new customer, under this promotion, my father contacted Dish Network for advice as their client and new customer if there was any option that he could freeze my account by holding it while we were on vacation( a Hindu Pilgrimage in India), and resuming it when we got back. Dish Network advised on Dish Pause as the best option, stating that it would only cost us $5.00 monthly charge for Dish Pause duration. The account would remain active and resume back when we returned. (Transcripts available).
(NOTE: dish Network did not advise , that it would forfeit our $24.99 rate and our lock in rate for the remaining 24 months of resumed service). They knowingly omitted this key piece of information.
On March 11th, 2011
Contacted Dish Network for resuming services and shockingly find out that previous promotion was forfeited due to Disk Pause and the terms of the promotion had been changed. My monthly bill now was almost doubled from 24.99 now to 44.99 for Americas top 120 package.
We Protested to Dish Network why they did not disclosed to us on January 5th. They were apologetic but the situation was not resolved. They did not resume my original service due to the situation not being resolved. (Transcripts available)
On March 12th, 2011
Again Contacted Dish Network in verifying and stating my original pricing before service is resumed, the issue was resolved and my original service was resumed at that original promotional pricing of America top 120 package that I had before. (Transcript available).
On April 6th, 2011
After checking my bill and noticing that prices were doubled and overcharged. They have removed my 24.99 monthly price ($15.00 remaining monthly credits from the $39.99 per month) and started charging me $44.99 per monthly charge, plus advanced monthly charge for the same amount which is locked in for the remaining term of the 24 months of the promotional months without the promotional pricing that I had signed up for. I Contacted Dish Network. They stated that my original agreed upon promotional price was forfeited. Again complained and protested. (Transcripts available) related to the current dispute of overcharged billing and what the current bill should be. Also advised them that the future automatic withdrawals if not corrected with the promotional pricing that was agreed upon will also be overcharged and be in dispute every month.
On April 9th, 2011
He sent a letter of Complaint to Dish Network, and their Corporate Officers via email system. (email transcript available)
On April 9th 2011
Received short email back stating that the complaint has been addressed without any proper explanation in their deceptive trade practices against senior citizen consumer in wrongfully charging. (Email transcripts available)
Since then till now, Dish Network is continuing to violate my Senior Citizen Father and enslave him with a bogus contract with their wrongful practices . Complaints were made to the FTC, BBB, and Attorney Generals as well as the Credit Card Company. They seem to operate with Immunity from sincere federal Prosecution.
Again , My Senior Citizen father’s Rights were violated, He is a victim and is continuing to suffer in health and welfare due to Dish Networks Scam. He is a responsible consumer we have done everything reasonable to resolve the dispute. I expect the Government using all tools necessary including the Rico Act under organized crime to prosecute the Corporate Executive Officers / employees in criminal prosecution. I hope also Consumer Organizations/ Pro-Bono Legal Councilors to defend and protect Senior Citizen / Minority Consumers from predator corporations such as Dish Network from any fraudulent and deceptive trade practices from their current, past and future actions . This is organized Crime perpetrated by Dish Network Corporation and their policy directed by their corporate officers.The company is getting away with it against my father and many other consumers.
Comments
Contact your state Attorney General for assistance.
I also agree with all the other comments above. Be careful when you are told something by a customer service person ask for it in writing before you commit to any service. You will find they won’t send you what they actually told you over the phone.
Greetings Executive Team,
I switched from Time Warner to Dish four months ago, a decision that I wholeheartedly regret. Dish network’s services are not up-to-date as Time Warner services. The picture images are poor and lack HD quality. Recording (DVR) is not as advanced as Time Warner (can’t change channels at the same time while you’re recording). There are constant problems with the sound going in and out but I have been warned that if I address technical problems with customer service and I elect to replace my box that I would be forced into yet another two year contract.
With that said, I have been keeping up my end of the contract and have paid on time each month.
I am moving this month to Arizona and will not be authorized to install Dish at my future home. Since cable and internet services will be provided I will have no further use for dish services. I have been informed by the seven different "customer service" representatives that I owe varying amounts of money ($350.00, $550.00, and $332.00) to cancel my contract with Dish. Some of these representatives offered that I might send a Dish network installer out to my future home to check for a signal. They offered that if they couldn't locate a proper signal I could potentially be released from my contract. As I indicated earlier, this was not a helpful suggestion as my future landlord had already stated that cable and internet are included in my agreement. And what if they were able to install without a problem? My landlord would then be forced into having a satellite dish after she clearly indicated she didn't want one at all?
Later, I was told I could place my account on hold and it was only after I agreed to do this that the rep explained I would no longer be able to redeem my original plan once the account was reinstated because I had chosen to place my account on hold. The rep explained he was "doing me a favor" by extending this offer to me since it was usually only available to people going on vacation. My train of thought here, wether I am paying $5/month or $65/month, I am still paying for a service that I am unable to use.
I am in the process of moving and I'm sure you can imagine how stressful it was to waste a full day (when I needed to be packing) getting nowhere on the telephone. I just can't see how trapping unhappy customers into two year contracts works for you. You have given your loyal customers no other way than to pay their way out. Dish is the best example of the grossest misrepresentation of what customer service truly means in this country and in these harsh economic times. I in no way plan on ever signing back up with Dish once I have been let out of this nightmare. However, I do plan on forwarding this letter along with a formal complaint to the BBB, and every other organization/person/website I can think of.
When I say double I mean from $23.00 a month, now $45.00.
Do yourself a favor DO NOT sign with DISH. This is a scam company and they WILL RIP YOU OFF.
I think I will call the state Attorney General as suggested above.
Disgraceful preying on the elderly. Dish network is unethical. Dish network is unfair and Dish network scams the elderly. Senior citizens beware of Dish network.
If you request forma supervisor- supervisors eventually hang up.