We called Direct TV today bc we are thinking about canceling our service and switching to cable. When we spoke to a rep he informed us that we are in a 2 year contract through 2010. Not true, we signed a 2 year contract in Nov/Dec 2006 and our 2 years has since expired. He said that when our old HD receiver stopped working (after having it for just under 2 years in our initial contract) a DirecTV service man tried to fix our old box but ended up giving us a new one.
The DirecTV rep told us that by getting a new receiver, this automatically signed us up for a new 2 year contract and we would have to pay a fee to get out of our new contract.
We pay the DIRECTV Protection Plan Monthly so that we are covered if something like this happened. WE WILL NOT BE TRICKED INTO THIS NEW 2 YEAR CONTRACT. I am going to for sure cancel our DirecTV now but I will not pay any extra fee. We did not sign up for a new 2 year contract!!!

Direct TV is the biggest scam on the planet. If you are looking for great customer service, accountability and an overall great product direct tv is not the service for you.

First, their tech's are perhaps the WORST ever. DTV fails to let their customers know that they "contract" their services out to installation companies so if the job is not done correctly and you find out after the tech has left your premises--shame on you because it's your fault not theirs. When I questioned the tech's about why I could not receive HD service each one of them had a different excuse. I had at least 3 tech's come to my home and the last one showed up dressed in a button up shirt, jeans, loafers AND he used his personal Lexus SUV as his work vehicle !!!??? In the end, the reason why I could not get HD service was because the tenant who lived in my residence previously had satellite service (before HD was available), so when the initial tech came to install my HD services he decided to be lazy and use the old satellite dish that was on my roof instead of installing a new dish in a different position that could gain the services that I initially ordered (the tech in the Lexus SUV finally told me that), but he did not have the tools to install a new dish for me (surprise, surprise) so when I tried to reschedule through DTV's customer service line they said I had to wait 4 WEEKS!!! So in the end, be careful to not let the technician walk out the door until you fully KNOW what you have...if needed go on the roof with them to make sure that they are telling the truth.

Second, check their customer trial periods. Usually a company will give a customer 15-30 days to try out their product without incurring any disconnection fees, BUT since I live in the District of Columbia this rule does not apply because D.C IS NOT CONSIDERED A STATE. I inquired about this with 4 DTV representatives and all of them could not give me an answer until I finally reached a rep (#5) who was fully vetted about DTV policies, but by then it was too late and did not matter for me regardless.

Third, DTV bills customers for EVERYTHING--even services that they do not have. During my brief 3 month stint with the company I had to call them at least 9 times to get my billing taken care of. Since they have call centers all over the world their main communication is through their electronic "note" system. So pray that the representative writes everything down because if they don't then it's like you never called in the first place.

Overall, DTV is not all that it's hyped up to be. Their commercials are overrated as well as their services. If you are looking for accountability and a great service definitely look elsewhere!

I was with Direct TV a little over a year. I agreed to a year at $49.99/mth. The bill constantly fluxuated. I had a $10 promotional credit every month that was supposed to be applied to the charge but through their online billing statements, you could never actually see this rebate accounted for. It was a constant battle with 1(800)directv. I think only one time out of the whole era, I paid the actual $49.00. I would rent PPV occasionally. I would opt to pay right then and there off my visa to avoid billing confusion (as I knew they already liked mumble jumble bills). Anyway, I finally switched to Brighthouse cable about 14 months after being with DTV. O ya and that year I agreed to... It turned out to be 2 yrs. I was hot of course but Brighthouse offered to buy me out of my contract (which they never reimbursed me for). Regardless, I switched and haven't had any other problems with the cable.

About a half a year after legitimately buying out my contract with DTV, I begin getting 1(877) missed calls at weird hours. I ignore them for a while until I return the call this morning (Sat 2/29/09). I get a one-on-one with a rude collections agent named TJ. He says I owe DTV $67.00. I asked for what and he said for PPV's. I told him I paid for any movies and he said these one's were found on the returned digital boxes' chips or cards. He gives me dates and rates and I'm like, ”Ya okay- that’s b.s.” I made it my business to pay for any movies directly off my visa right then and there. He basically said I was either confused or lying. I said..."There’s no way, I would miss 8 movies and let them get past my attention. It didn't work like that. I directly used my visa to avoid things like this". He says no you didn't. I was now pissed. So I got off the phone and thought about it.

I came to the conclusion that I have too much going on right now to phone-wrestle with these fools any longer; especially over 67 dollars. Now, I'm a man of principle and will vigilantly persue a rightfully owned 5 dollar bill through the furnace, but I decided to right this one off as a loss. I went to my old DTV online account and saw the charge. The past billing records were however, gone! Just a past due balance. So I paid it bringing me in the clear once again.

I wrote my attorney general and decided to add my 2 cents in an already vast field of online complaints. I discovered people with the exact same issue and even several class action lawsuits against Direct TV. If you feel compelled enough and have an issue, I suggest you do the same. Google your states attorney general and email them! If you are considering signing up with a similar network or service and are concerned, research them first. As for Direct TV, I wouldn't recommend them.

My prediction...You'll be hearing about DTV and legal issues again one day soon.

I have been a Direct TV customer for a few years now and in the last year their service has went to hell. In the last few monthes they have held my payment that I sent via US Mail until after the due date. They then disconnect me and expect lates fees to be paid. I am mailing first class mail to the payment center for Direct TV in Carol Stream, Illinois from Peru, Indiana. It DOES NOT take over 12 days for a first class letter to go from Indiana to Illinois. Their reps on the phone are hateful and half the time cannot speak English. they told me that is the chance I take for mailing my payment instead of paying electronically. They are punishing me because I refuse to send it other than US Mail. When this happens and they hold my payment, it "Miraculously" shows up the DAY After they have disconnected me when the payment has been mailed close to 2 weeks before it was due! Has anyone else had this problem? Let me know! I am filing complaint with the BBB on them. Its very sneaky and shady!

After the installer left today, I realized he had put the DVR on the wrong TV. I called Dirct TV to request he return to switch the two boxes. I had told the person I ordered from to put the DVR on the upstairs set so I could record on the big tv. The rep who answered my call said since I signed that I received the boxes I would have to pay for additional service call. I asked to speak to a superviser. She refused to tell me her name as well as refused to put me through to a supervison. She said they had NO email. She then made me pay for this service with a credit card. Now I'm worried because I can not trust this company with my credit card. This is no way to get more people to buy service.