Over a year ago I began looking into the possibility of changing from my local cable company to satellite tv. I thought Direct TV offered the best price AND service. At first they were fine to deal with and only minor problems arose. I was given the initial 6 month promotional package and then I expected the price to go up, but definitely not 3X's higher. Then when I went to speak to the company I was treated rudely and without any concern for what I was experiencing. This let me know clearly that all they wanted was my money and service or assistance to me the customer is of no value. Then I got another shock. I was told that I actually had a two year contract (which is how they can stick you with these exorbitant raises in prices) and if I cut the service, they would charge me $150.00 cancellation fee!!! I could not believe that I was being robbed in this manner, or treated so badly! These are incredibly hard times for everyone and I am no different. I lost my full time job and cannot afford either the "cancellation fee" or the increased monthly price. This has to be some type of "bait and switch" thing and has to be illegal. What's to say that they couldn't raise the price to $100.00 a month? This is wrong and I am amazed that the company CEO would allow this type of attitude and behavior. Don't be fooled by their advertisement as I was; they will get you in and then lie about things or place them in very small print and cheat you every step of the way!!

Been with Direct TV over 2 1/2 years and it is terrible when you have to wait on the line for a supervisor for over an hour and not get good customer service nor incentives for being a valued customer, but it's amazing when they want your service they would do anything to get you but nothing to keep you... I was just displease with this supervisor nonchalant attutide ... the customer service rep was more pleasant than the supervisor Suzanna... WOW! I would not recommend Direct Tv...

my e-mail address is [email protected]
[email protected]

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN

There is got to be something that can be done about people doing business like this.

To the best that I knew how I have tried to explain below what went on with this matter, I am a 62 year old man with a heep of medical problems only receiving ss disability but have enough fight in me to help go after these crooks my wife done all this over the telephone except for the man coming out and installing the service and the only thing she signed was the installing sheet that we received no copy of i am enclosing my statement below please respond back to me.
thanks
mike lee

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03/17/2011
I called direct tv in Feb. to have m y service disconnected due to poor service, and my finances and they did not cut it off at that time but today I got this bill that said I was past due showed my prevs. Balance of $137.05 –showed a disconnect fee for $15.00- showed an early cancellation fee for $300.00 for a total of $477.21.
Well I called the local office and explained to them I was never told there would be a early cancellation fee they said that it was in my contract well I don’t even remember getting a contract as this was done over the phone well they could not help me, So I looked up who the pres/ceo was got his phone # as 1-800-347-3288 called and some lady answer the phone I first asked for the ceo she said what could I do for you he is not in but if you have a problem that is my job.
Well I begin to explain to her what had happen that they had cleaned my bank acct out plus cost me a nsf fee as there was not enough money in bank for what they got I had already asked them several months ago not to take any more money out of my debit card and they agreed not too but they did, she said I am so sorry to hear that but let me see what I can do for you said can you hold, I said yes after a few minutes she came back to the phone and said sir I done some research on your acct and everything is on the up and up but I did notice where you called in feb to have it disconnected and they did not do it so I am going to refund $11.00 for that and I am going to refund the $15.00 disconnect fee since you did call in but as far as the $300.00 I cannot help you there as that is our company policy well some more things where said and she finally said that the only way we could refund the early cancellation fee would be if you reconnected back to direct tv I was happy about that I said could I go to a cheaper rate like the $29.95 rate and she said sure you could I saod ok let’s do that, she then said ok can you hold for a moment I said sure, so she came back a little later said that for them to do this that I would have to pay what is past due then this is where she started doing what they are trained to do: she said that since they have got the money that I will not have to pay anything to get reconnected and there would be a little money left over for future bills, then I said ok but the $300.00 plus would go back into my acct at the bank so my bills would get paid right she said no sir you will not be getting any money it will go into your direct tv acct then I got upset I said lady that does not help me one bit on what I am trying to do and I told her you know that I said I needed the money to go back into my acct for bills I had coming through she said sir I am sorry you misunderstood me, but, I said but nothing lady I did not misunderstand one single word then I told her you are playing the same games with me that all the direct tv complaint sites say about you guy’s then I told her lady my past due bill is only $137.05 if you take away that amount from the $396.00 you took out of my bank acct that would leave $259.00 that would be refunded back into my bank acct. then she said sir you not understanding me you have a early cancellation fee, I said wait a minute lady you said you would waive that if I came back to direct tv, she said sorry sir you are so right but you also have a disconnect fee, I said wait a minute lady you said you would also waive that, she again you are right so I need to do some refiguring so she can back and said sir after refiguring everything you will have $86.00 credit on your direct acct. listen to what she is saying here she is still trying to confuse me but I am hanging in there with her she then tries to say the last time she came back to the phone sir you are forgetting about the return of the equipment as soon as we get that you will then get about $180.00 back once we get that at our warehouse I then got very upset and I said lady will you please just take a breath and listen to what you just told me, I said you just told me that I owed for the equipment, well how would I owe for equipment if I was not going to return it as we both agreed that I was going to get reconnected she tried to get out of that but just got herself deeper in a hold, I said lady it is time for me to go I have been on this phone for over two hours with you and to break this thing down, I told you what I needed from you----- you said the only way I could get it would be to come back and get reconnected---I agreed to do that, then you started putting me on hold while you spoke with your boss and or tried to figure out what to tell me next----- each time it was something different---- but to top it all off lady your finally attempt to screw me you tell me that I am owing you for equipment lady that blows my mind why would I owe you for something that we have agreed to reconnect she just said nothing then I just told her lady I tell you what I am going to give you my e-mail address and give you a chance to go to your boss man or who ever makes the finally decisions and get them to refund my money that you guy’s cleaned out my bank acct and now has me in very very deep crap or I can promise you that if I do not hear from you by this afternoon I will see an attorney tomorrow this is not a treat this is a promise. She said ok but we are not allowed to e-mail so I need a number to call you if we make a differ decision so I gave her my son’s number.

I think their service is exactly what you all deserve since union wages and benefits have pushed companies to outsource everything to India to remain viable and profitable. Rock on america!

On my February Direct TV bill I noticed a charge of 190.00 taken from my checking account in January. They are on our bill pay with automaticall withdrawal from our checking account. Upon calling Direct TV they said we had not sent back a receiver they had sent us to replace a faulty one. We explained we had bought the equipment and no one told us it had to be returned. They said they would send a box to return it and they would return our money. It took them 2 weeks to send box. We returned the receiver on February 14, 2011. They acknowledged receipt of the equipment. To this day 3/18/11 the money has not been returned to our account. We have called Direct TV 15 times to get resolved and each person has a different story (basically lying). Each call lasts from 45 minutes to 1 hour as they put us on hold for very lengthy periods. Laterst calls made was 3/9 with an agent telling me the money would be in my account no later than 72 hours. Called again on 3/11 and they said the agent had not done anything. The agent on 3/11 said he would take care of it. Today my husband spoke with a manager and he said that on 3/11 after my last call, they had escalated message to have confirmation for credit to be returned (this had been told to us three different times since February 4th). They said to call back 3/18 to make sure they had received. Manager said it had not been received and he would escalate again, therefore putting off returning our money for another 5 days and if it is received another 8 days . This has been going on since January. Direct TV has basically stolen from my account. I have never dealt with a more in-efficient, rude, corrupt company. Each person I speak with basically lies to me. Something needs to be done about this company.