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On 4/7/08, I called DIRECTV to cancel my account and much to my surprise, I was told that I was still under contract. The rep stated that if I cancelled my account, a cancellation fee would apply. I was told that my contract was extended for 18 months, starting last December. He stated that I would have to pay $20 for each month of the contract, that was not completed. In my case, that total would be $280.00. My first issue is that last December, I called DIRECTV because one of my standard boxes was malfunctioning (through no fault of my own). The rep stated that it sounded like a manufacturing defect. She said that she would send me a replacement box in the mail. Now, I pay for the Protection Plan for all of my boxes, every month. So if anything went wrong with any of the boxes, I'm entitled to a replacement box, with no cost to me. So THAT coupled with the fact that I wasn't signing up for additional services or for boxes for a different room, there was no reason to extend my contract. My second issue was that the rep NEVER informed me that she was extending my contract. Had I known, I would have continued to use the defective box, seeing as how I was considering leaving DIRECTV for Verizon anyway. Under NO circumstances would I have agreed to extend my contract. I was told that I should email DIRECTV to dispute any cancellation fee that I may incur. I sent an email to them, only to get a response saying that when I agreed to have them send me a "replacement" box, I was agreeing to an extended contract. Apparently, ethics have gone down the toilet with DIRECTV if they have to stoop to this level to maintain customers. I am disappointed at their lack of integrity. I will bite the bullet and pay the cancellation fee. For it is a small price to pay for ending my business with such an unethical company such as DIRECTV. I hope Verizon claims ALL of DIRECTV's customers.  Comments (17) |  |
| 1. Written by Darren, on 09-09-2009 01:37 Although it may seem like a non-option to many people, I would simply suggest that you type up the details of what happened and go downtown to file a lawsuit against them in small claims court. You are permitted to do this and they will make a mad dash to resolve it. You'll get out of your contract without fees. |
| 2. Written by VTB, on 28-08-2009 14:24 I have just cancelled my DirecTV service. The original person I spoke with said that I could bundle the DirecTV service with ATT since I have home phone, internet, & cell phone services from ATT. That would give me $10 off my bill for 12 mos. A few days after installation of DirecTV, I receive a letter from DirecTV stating that I do not have the right services from ATT to qualify. Upon calling DirecTV back, I am told that the amount was not $10, but $5, and I was to call ATT to tell them to activate this discount. ATT agreed that I was entitled to the $5/mo. off the bill. So, I called DirecTV back and they said no I didn't qualify. I have kept DirecTV for 7 mos., but was incensed each the bill came. It was a small amount of money--my anger was from the misrepresentation. Two days ago I cancelled the service and was told that a $340 cancellation fee would be imposed. The service was cut off that evening. Today a DirecTV agent called to see if they could retain me as a customer. On hearing "NO", I was offered $100 credit on my account and $15/mo. off the monthly statement because I was an ATT customer. Funny how I suddenly had the "qualifying" services from ATT. The DirecTV rep said, "You are willing to pay $480 to get out of this contract?" When told that it is supposed to be $340, she said she didn't have my paperwork. This DirecTV episode has been a stressful experience. It is a good feeling to be rid of them. |
| 3. Written by VTB, on 28-08-2009 13:54 I have just cancelled my DirecTV service. The original person I spoke with said that I could bundle the DirecTV service with ATT since I have home phone, internet, & cell phone services from ATT. That would give me $10 off my bill for 12 mos. A few days after installation of DirecTV, I receive a letter from DirecTV stating that I do not have the right services from ATT to qualify. Upon calling DirecTV back, I am told that the amount was not $10, but $5, and I was to call ATT to tell them to activate this discount. ATT agreed that I was entitled to the $5/mo. off the bill. So, I called DirecTV back and they said no I didn't qualify. I have kept DirecTV for 7 mos., but was incensed each the bill came. It was a small amount of money--my anger was from the misrepresentation. Two days ago I cancelled the service and was told that a $340 cancellation fee would be imposed. The service was cut off that evening. Today a DirecTV agent called to see if they could retain me as a customer. On hearing "NO", I was offered $100 credit on my account and $15/mo. off the monthly statement because I was an ATT customer. Funny how I suddenly had the "qualifying" services from ATT. The DirecTV rep said, "You are willing to pay $480 to get out of this contract?" When told that it is supposed to be $340, she said she didn't have my paperwork. This DirecTV episode has been a stressful experience. It is a good feeling to be rid of them. |
| 4. Written by Custermer Young, on 27-08-2009 18:32 They need to list these complaints on network tv. Yes Direc TV is a scam. I had water damage and thet said the account was placed on hold. But believe make they sent it right to collections and destroyed my credit. It seems that the bigger your name is the more you can steal here in America.This includes Banks thats why every so often you see a mega mansion on a hill side because a thief lives inside tapping your bank account. |
| 5. Written by David Benham, on 22-08-2009 22:43 I had directTV come out for a service call last March, the tech ended up replacing my receiver. I just learned that the receiver replacement extended my contract with them for two more years. I'm worried, because I need them to come out again for a service call, I'm inclined not to sign anything after the service, because I don't know what I'll be agreeing to. |
| 6. Written by J Whittaker, on 12-08-2009 11:36 I bought my receivers on craigslist and activated them on my account. DirectTV claims because I did this I extended my contract because the equipment is actually being leased from them. They claim since the receivers have never been activated under another account that I should know they are leased receivers even though I bought from craigslist. What a rip-off. I will never buy from this sham of a company again. |
| 7. Written by Brian, on 11-08-2009 16:27 I'm just coming off one problem and 1 week lter another has already started. They conned me with the replacement box that starts a new contract. It's strange that I have had two boxes fail at about the same time that my contact is running out. Very shady way to trap customers. I am 90% ready to cancel my service, pay the fee, and recoup my money by using hulu and my netflix account streaming through my blu-ray player. With a moniter cable and an audio cable I play hulu through my TV, I highly recommend it. |
| 8. Written by DirecTV is wonderful.......NOT, on 03-08-2009 18:09 Let me apologize for the length of this.....be aware of the possibility of "arbitration" its in the Directv contract..... I'm currently "working with" DirecTV to get over $400 put back on my credit card for early cancellation. I read the contract and was fine with the conditions of $20 for each month I cancelled prior to the 2-year agreement. However, I was a bit unhappy and did not feel DirecTV had fulfilled their part of the contract when my service did not work, the installer drilled two penny sized holes into my living room wood floor, and then the installer left a spindle of cable and drill battery w/charger on my porch. I spoke with an operator and he told me they would send out return boxes and I would NOT be charged an early cancellation fee. I told him to please email this to me and he said he would....he didn't but he did send the return boxes. I sent in the return boxes with cable boxes. I then noticed a $400+ fee on my credit card. I called back and explained the situation to another DirecTv operator and he told me he would let the finance dept know about it and I would receive the money back within 8-10 business days. After two weeks I called back and a "pleasant" woman asked if I was telling her how to do her job....I said I was....and she transferred me to her manager. The manager explained to me that the finance department declined the request and I correctly owed over $400. I told him it is against the law for employees of a company (which I am under contract) to give me false information so that I would act in a manner detrimental to my financial well-being. The manager paused and then repeated that it was in the contract. I was also told by another manager (he gave me step by step instructions) to formally request the audio tapes from the phone conversations....I did this and I received a puzzled phone call from DirecTV stating that they "never" send out audio conversations and that the recordings are only for "quality purposes." Has anyone had a "quality" experience with DirecTV? I'm currently going through a credit card fraud investigation with my credit card company. The next step will be arbitration (its in the DirecTv contract); if you have then I'm guessing your standards are very low....get help. Just an FYI to copy down all of the Badge numbers of the people you talk to and get their names. The company is horrible. I switched to Comcast. At least they are straight up and charge a high price for a good product. |
| 9. Written by Leona D, on 14-04-2009 18:39 I have paperwork proving I signed a 12 month contract. not a 24 month. I have offered to fax copies and they wont give me a fax number. I have been argued with, hung up on etc. I am 82 years old. Very literate. I keep everthing so i have all my documents. They say they havent run a 12 month special in two years. Then "they" messed up cause I have one. Signed and dated. They finally said I would get a refund in 10 days. nothing. so I have begun my campaign. I will complain on every site I can and in every ear that will listen |
| 10. Written by Bob, on 26-11-2008 11:22 I also just moved to a location where i can not get a signal. I was under a 18 month contract that somehow became a 24 month and renewed when i provided my change of address. No they didnt come out and install a dish, and there was no new equipment. Now im slammed with a $380 fee that to me just seems like its a big FU from them to me for leaving. I hope they go out of business! |
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