I have been undergoing recent attempts to have Dish Network installed in my home. I spoke with a sales representative for a good hour about packages, plans, payments and what I could expect; I set up the installation date when it looked like everything had been figured out. I pre-paid for a 3 tv connection (2 receivers, though I already owned one of the 2 receivers, so Dish only needed to provide 1 actual receiver). The technician came out and installed the one receiver that he brought and looked like he would leave without installing the second. I brought this up with him and he looked over the receiver, telling me it was out of date and wouldn't work. This was something that I had already discussed with the sales rep, who ran the box's serial number and also the serial number of the smart card and told me both were still valid and usable. I explained this to the technician, who proceeded to take my smart card to his van.

After a little while, he came back informing me he had ordered a new smart card for me and that it would take 3-5 days to arrive. He said once the card arrived to call Dish and have them send someone out to complete the installation. He did not complete the wiring for the 3rd tv set-up, though it was expressly written in his work order to do so. Having friends who had Dish, I knew that it was a practice of the network not to send technicians on jobs without payment, so I asked this technician if there would be a separate charge for someone to come out. He told me no, and 1) I stupidly believed him and 2) figured that since this was still part of the installation process that Dish would likely honor the completion of this process.

The smart card arrived 3 days after the order and I called Dish Network to see about having someone come out to complete installation. They said there was no way they could send someone out without paying a $99 fee up front. I talked with 3 customer service reps and 2 supervisors. I was shifted from person to person and every time I had to explain the same story over and over - I gave them the name of the original sales rep, I gave them the ID # of the technician and none of that meant anything - Dish Network does not appear to be able to locate their own staff with their own ID #s.

After 3 hours of trying to deal with the company and their customer service agents that do not know how to actually handle or finesse their customers, I gave up with trying to reason with them. A little later that evening, I was looking over my account and the equipment listed there - the second receiver which was not being used was listed as activated (which is wasn't since it wass itting wrapped up on a dresser and the old and new smart cards were not inserted) and I was going to be charged monthly for having that. I decided to try and see if perhaps there was a way my husband and I could use the pre-existing wiring in the house (previous tenant had Dish) to get my second receiver going. I actually called Dish's tech support unit to walk me through it and that technician was probably the friendliest person I talked with all day. It turned out the pre-existing wiring wouldn't work and they would have to send someone out. However, because the original installing technician did not complete the work as stated on the work order, this tech support technician got his supervisor to waive the $99 charge that Dish normally applies to work orders. This was the first appearance of rational and logical thinking that I got out of Dish.

I am currently at the stage, though, where the second installation technician is on his way to complete the installation. However, according to him now, there is a possibility they might have to reject the job because they aren't sure if there will be a problem with the wiring. They have presumed that the original installation technician couldn't install the second receiver for wiring issues, which is not the case. That first technician even indicated that it should be a fairly easy job - he just didn't do it. He appeared more eager to move on to his next job than complete his current.

Dish Network, in my opinion, uses questionable sales practices to reel customers in and then once they have you, they lock you in and do not offer quality customer service. If it wasn't for the fact that my husband and I want international satellite, there is no way I would ever pay them for their inadequate service. Their various "packages" are horrible - a good 20 channels or so in their "Bronze" package are devoted to home shopping, gems and Christian networks - it's a waste of airspace and money, which they likely bank on to entice customers to move up their "metal" ladder to silver and gold. This company also has a monopoly on international satellite, which should not be legal.

If you do not need or want international satellite - do not go with Dish Network. They are not a good value and do not offer good service. You will only end up with a headache.

Caveat Emptor!! In light of the serial equipment failures I've experienced (4 DVRs now in 3 1/2 months), I asked DISH to extend their

"warranty" allowance for the balance of my contract period with them. They refused, and I believe that indicates their own lack of

confidence in their equipment's performance. They insist that if I wish to extend the free warranty period beyond the initial 9 months, that

I pay them about $6/month for the privilege. Here's the story, you decide:
The DVR
- DVR #1 Required replacement after about a month of service because recordings were pixelated when played back.
- DVR #2 Required replacement after two or three weeks because the audio for TV1 became "fuzzy".
- DVR #3 Required a Service visit after about 2 weeks during which they sent me a new Remote2 because it wouldn't work from the Den

where TV2 was located. (Original Remote2 worked fine with DVRs 1 and 2, above). The new remote didn't solve the problem. The

technician ultimately installed a small antenna in the Den atop TV2 to augment the receiver's ability to respond to Remote2. I'm STILL

wondering why the original Remote2 worked fine with DVRs 1 and 2 but required this additional antenna for DVR 3.
- DVR #3 After another month or so, my screen went black and the sound went away on the DVR. I called Tech Support, and after the

usual (by this time) Reset it, Unplug it, Reset it again, etc. etc. we finally saw that on the System Info screen, my DVR shows a Smart

Card number that is all zeros. It will have to be replaced. A technician came to the house two days later to do a "professional

installation" of a replacement DVR.
- DVR #4 - It's still working but it's only a couple of weeks old. And my confidence in their equipment is zilch, zip, nada, none.
= = = = = = = = =
- Each replacement meant I had to re-program all of my Timers and recreate my Favorites list, AND you lose the recordings on this DVR

that are being saved or stored until we watch them. THIS IS A SERIOUS PAIN IN THE BUTT!!!
- EACH time I've had to replace a receiver or DVR, I have to drive 16 miles one way to drop the defective one off at a UPS store. And of

course, spend a lot of time testing (reset, unplug, etc. etc.) and replacing and re-programming the new one.

We own 6 four-plex units in Alabama. Everytime a new tenant moves in and calls for Dish service, they come out and install a new satillite beside the old one running wires all around the buildings.

Tenants are supposed to have our authorization to install but the Dish serice providers just take their word for it. We now have a "graveyard" of old dishs on our units.

I have called Dish Network to send someone to take them off our property but to no avail. They tell me that I will need to call an installer and pay them to take them off!

We own 6 four-plex units in Muscle Shoals, AL. Everytime a new tenant moves in and they call for Dish service, they come out and install a new satillite dish beside the old one and run wires all around the buildings. The tenants are supposed to have our authorization to install but the Dish serice providers just take their word for it. We now have a "graveyard" of old dishs all around our units. I have called Dish Network to send someone to take them off our property but to no avail. They are telling me that I will need to call an installer in the area and pay them to take them off!
First of all, it is very, very, very "un" green to just put a new dish up instead of using the exispting one or having the customers take it with them when they move. Second, Dish Network should be responsible for making sure they have the property owners authorization to install equipment on their buildings. If I have all of the old ones removed and have to pay for it, it could be in the hundreds of dollars. Then, I will have to dispose of them as e-waste. This is Dish's responsibility not mine. It is a huge eye sore if I just leave them there and as tenants come and go, we will continue to have a bigger "graveyard." I spoke with numerous people there and finally had to act like I was a new customer to get a live body on the line. After being swithed to three different departments, they told me someone would call me back in 48 hours. That was a week ago! Will cancel my Dish Network account at home and tell eveyone I know to beware!

Dishnet work is a rip off, I orders a pakage from them, I was suppose to get 3 months free HBO and Cinnimax which I never got, but after 3 months programs started to disappear.. when I called they told me they were only free for 3 months, yet they never told me I was getting any free stations when I was writing out the check. I will never recommend them to any one and will discourage every one I know to drop them when there contracts are up.

They are not honest and forthright... stay as far away from this company as you can get.