After considering several satellite promotional offers, my wife and I decided to cancel our cable TV and purchase Satellite TV through Dish Network. Sateliite Sales offered a rebate that inculded a FREE 15" Flat Panel LCD XGA Monitor ($185.00 value).We completed all the correct rebate forms & mailed them in 12-23-06. We waited the 8 to 10 weeks then contacted Dish... We were told, wait a couple more weeks.

After 17 weeks, we were told the Monitor was no longer available, wasn't up to their spec's, so they eliminate THAT OFFER. NOW we're told to wait another 8 to 10 weeks for the replacement item offered (a DVD Player $29.95 value). We don't need another DVD player, we already own enough DVD Players.

I ordered Dish Network and it was installed about 2 weeks later, which was about what I had expected and the system worked OK for about 30 days or so. Shortly after that I began to have problems with The caller ID and didn't think too much about it until I started having additional problems with the signal being lost for no reason. I called dish network to complain and they informed me they would send a rep. to take care of the problem which they did. The problem is that I was never informed that I would be charged $29.00 for keeping their equipment functioning. after calling to complain about the charge I was bascially told they would not adjust the charge.

On August 21, 2009 we attempted to close out the Dish service for my deceased mother and father-in-law. We called and talked to Lauren ZHT who gave us a FAx number for sending a death certificate. We tried the number and could not successfully fax the document as their number was not receiving, so we called back and were told to mail it, which we did. They also sent us one pre-paid shipping box for two of their four satellite receivers. We called on approx. Sept 4th to request a second prepaid box for the other two receivers and were told they did not close our account as they had no record of a death certificate on file.

At this point my wife chose to challenge "the system" as we had sent one, and noted that no other utility required a death certificate. She was passed around to three other "customer service reps" all chanting "send a death certificate". We then faxed a copy on September 4th, and were successful, and have a receipt that it was received at dish. I then sent an e-mail to the customer assistance available through their website and asked for confirmation they had received it and asked for a second pre-paid shipping box so we could return the receivers. the following is a copy-and paste of the exact communications:

Sent by me: Friday, September 04, 2009 4:17 PM: "I previously attempted to fax and subsequently mailed a notice to inform you of the death of my father-in-law -----and my mother-in-law ----, who have an account with Dish Network. I
previously sent a copy of Both [their] Death certificates. We received one box for returning boxes/and remotes which is insufficient as there are 4 boxes and 4 remotes. My wife called Dish on September 4, 2009 to request an additional box and the (very unhelpful) person demanded another copy of the death certificates. ... Your staff was very insensitive as this involves the death of our parents. We only want to return the equipment! She was passed around to three people who all said the same thing. Not helpful. My wife was in tears and had to hang up. AGAIN Please close out the following account...

Response from Dish: Friday, September 04, 2009 11:14 PM. Dear -----, Thank you for your email. We understand your concern. Please try to use another fax machine to fax the death certificate. Vanessa S. G5W

Sent by me: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 12:16 PM. It turns out that the problem was with your fax machine. I was able to get one through last week, with a copy of the death certificate attached. Please do not ask for a third copy. Please close account ------- and send me another pre-paid box for the other two boxes and remotes.

From Dish: Friday, September 04, 2009 11:14 PM. Dear ----, Thank you for your email. We do apologize for any inconvenience. Our records show that we have not received the death certificate yet. Vanessa S. G5W

From me: Thank you for your help, Attached to this e-mail is a 3rd copy of the death certificate. One was mailed on 8-26-2009 following our initial phone call on August 24th, one was successfully faxed to you on 9-4-2009, and now this one. Please close account # ------ effective August 24, the date of our first request.

From Dish: Dear ----, Thank you for your email. Please fax the death certificate to the fax number that was given to you. We do not have the access to forward this document to the other department. Vanessa S. G5W

My e-mail: Sunday, September 13, 2009 10:55 PM: Why do you exist if you cannot help solve this problem? Tomorrow I will send a FOURTH copy of my parents death certificate to you. I have previously faxed it. Please help me. You are now in possession of the copy I attached to my email. Please simply call your counterparts and tell them you have it.

From Dish: Dear Mr. Pike, Thank you for your email. We understand your frustration and we do apologize for any inconvenience. You will need to send the death certificate to the correct department.

I then faxed a fourth copy of the death certificates to the "correct department" and again received a proof of receipt of my fax. I the phone customer service to verify they received it. They could not do that as the fax number is in a facility far from customer support. This time I was able to discuss the situation at length as I finally found someone willing to take ownership of the problem. She had knowledge that the legal department was backed up 30 days in recording death certificates and powers of attorney, etc. She assured me that if I successfully faxed the documents it would be resolved within a couple more weeks. She then assured me that our initial call of August 21 had been recorded in their records and the estate would receive no more charges.

This was after three weeks of very stressful and inarguably disrespectful communications to a family still in mourning, that simply wanted to close out an account. This should never happen.

I have requested several times acknowledgement of receipt of the death certificates and have received none-to-date. The battle continues. If I can believe the one knowledgeable rep. it will self resolve after a few weeks, but I will believe it when I see it.

I had seen on the television Dish Network advertiseing their promotional deal on april 6, 2009: it was 100 channels for $9.99 a month for 6months which included HBO and Starz free for 3months. So I went ahead and called Dish Network to set up an account (at that time I thought they had a good deal) so i spoke with a Dish Network representative, told them the plan i was interested in so they got all my information did a credit check and then told me that i had qualified and that all they needed from me was $150 down payment for the satellite equipment but didnt need a deposit from me(just for reference my mom was on three way with me because she used her debit card to pay for the equipment). So i went ahead and payed the $150 over the phone then they gave me the installation date they went over my plan briefly telling me what it included which was an extra reciever box for any room two dvrs and free installation. They didnt install my services until april 17, 2009 the technician came out and installed everything smoothly he had some papers for me to look over and sign explaining my plan then when he was done with the installation he then went over those papers with me explaining my plan he told me to sign and initial them then he began to advise me about when the HBO and STARZ free 3months were up to call Dish Network and let them know that i no longer wanted the HBO or STARZ because they would begin charging me for them. Well 2weeks had passed and i had recieved my first bill it stated i owed $98.00 i was caught off guard i then called Dish Network and told them that there has to be some kind of misunderstanding and asked to speak with a supervisor the supervisor then got on the phone and i began to explain the problem on how the plan i had shouldnt have come anywhere close to that amount she then told me that the plan i had originally applied for (which was the 100 channels for $9.99 a month and the HBO and STARZ free for 3months) was denied she then claimed i didnt qualify for that plan and that they have me for the basic rate plan for the 100 channels which was $40.99 and they were charging me for HBO and STARZ and they wanted me to pay for 2months in advance i was very upset when i had heard that i told the supervisor that when were they planning on notifying me about the sudden change and that i couldnt believe they had went behind my back and changed my plan making me think i was under the plan i had wanted i then told the supervisor that they had from april 6 (the day i had set an account with them) to april 17 to let me know the change or the fact that i didnt qualify for that plan I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED! on top of that the technician had given me papers to sign stateing my plan when i had let the supervisor know that she then told me the technician was misinformed and had the wrong paper work i was furious i then told her dont you both work for the same company how would he be misinformed if he has paper work stating my address my name my phone number and the type of plan i was under. plus they also had plenty of time as well from April 6th to april 17th to send the technician with the accurate paper work. That supervisor was no help at all she was very rude and uncooperative i told her i was not going to pay for something i didnt even want to begin with and if i would have known i didnt qualify for the plan i had originally wanted i would have discontinued my services with them before i had gotten installed with the satellite equipment. they then sent me two more bills a month later one for $138.00 then the last bill was for $46.71 i had noticed they had deducted some things from the $138 bill and ended up with the $46.71 price then i had noticed that their phone book advertisement stated free 4 room system installation NO EQUIPMENT TO BUY, free digital recorder, free HD reciever, and free gift with purchase i had to pay $150 for the equipment, i never got the dvr, nor the HD reciever, nor did i get a free gift, just a rude awakening! i would like to see justice prevail from this incident because its just not right nor is it humane. they took advantage of a single mother of two babies and im very disgusted with them!

1st-customer service rep-juile(gdc)was rude i was talking she was interupting as i was telling her why i was calling she told me that when i wanted to make a payment call back and i thought that was unprofessional and rude and customer service is reflected on the bussiness and if she talks that way to customers then i no longer recommend dish network.

2nd- I called on thursday to make a payment arrangement and spoke to 3 reps- amy and justin and finally a tim and was told no by the first 2 reps because i already had a one time extension and i told them i never called and he came back after 20+mins and tim told me as a one time curtosey that he would grant me till the 28th to pay the balance.

3rd-my services was disconnected and i called and was inquiring and that's when i spoke to rude juile(gdc) and finiallly spoke to rose(rbc)after 2 other reps and was told that i spoke to no one on thursday and no payment arrangement and so my service were disconnected and although rose did her job( she was nice, sweet and and understanding) she was still not able to help me.

the whole dish network sevice is a JOKE, LIE, AND NOT WORTHY of customers to support their company business. they are not what they advertise i would not advise a DOG to get service with DISH NETWORK...SWITHCHING TO DIRECT TV...