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Purchased Direct TV receivers from Best Buy for $300.00 a piece. Best Buy sold the equipment and it was understood that I owned it.

When I stopped service with Direct TV, I was told to return my receivers or be charged. Direct TV ignored my receipt from Best Buy. Called Best Buy and was told I owned the receivers. After the Best Buy management got involved, it was determined that I was "leasing" them.

None of the Best Buy sales personnel nor management knew prior to contacting Headquarters that this is equipment "sold" to consumers is leased. Complete rip off.

Best Buy in conjunction with Direct TV is pulling a complete fraud on the average consumer. Buyer beware!

Location: Holland, Michigan

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Guest

I am trying to cancel as well. I am running into the same issue.

I outright purchased my receivers from Best Buy and now during cancellation, Direct TV wants it back. This is a complete scam.

Guest

A multi-state lawsuit has been settled. Direct Tv lost.

Contact your attorney general's office.

Oregon got $602,000 settlement and it's attorney general's web site has a on-line form to fill out. Get your lost money now.

Guest

I just had the same situation. Sold my RV with the equipment and tried to cancel my DIRECT TV.

They gig me with the cancellation fee which is fine, but want $189 for the reciever that I paid for in full at BEST BUY. I now find that BEST BUY SOLD me a leased product.

FRAUD. Direct TV is blaming BEST BUY and BEST BUY says I have to fight it out with DIRECT TV....STAY AWAY!!

Guest

I just order a hd box from DTV to replace the DVR we have. We called to active the box and deactive the DVR and was told we needed to send back the DVR.

We too bought this from Best Buy and no where does it say leased.

Matter of fact, the hd box I just received doesn't even say leased. I agree- we need a civil suit !!!

Guest

I and my husband also were victims of Best Buy and Direct Tv. I thought Direct Tv was great, better than Dish.

Swore I would never go back to cable until now. We already had service, but decided to go HD. February 2009. We went to Best Buy bought a Direct TV HD receiver off the shelf.

It took a few days after having Direct Tv start the HD signal before my husband hooked up the new receiver. No signal. I called and the customer service rep was very helpful but no luck and had to send a tech out. Turns out that a little gadget the service rep told me to remove was not suppose to be removed.

And sometimes when techs set up new service, it takes Direct Tv 2 or 3 times to get the service going. This was our case. They didn't start the service correctly. The tech charge was credited back to us.

We had the Qwest bundle package and when money got tight decided to cancel everything and find the cheapest internet. Direct Tv said to suspend for 6 months so we did. Then last week the worse happened. The cancellation trouble.

Like many others, little did we know that the Best Buy receiver was only a lease and put us into a two year contract. When I called to cancel, I was told we were to pay $20 for every month of the unused contract. $280. The rep said it was on the back of the Best Buy receipt.

I didn't think about it then, but gee when a consumer receives the receipt, the transaction is complete. If we had read the receipt at Best Buy could we have gotten out of the contract then????? He also said he felt it was wrong and this is why the receivers can only be obtained from Direct Tv. My husband and a friend called Direct Tv that night.

The rep said due to the circumstances we would not have pay the cancellation charge. A few days later I called to see where the return box was. The automated service said we owed $356.66. The rep had said it was estimated $74.99.

I spoke with a rep and a supervisor. Both said we would have to pay and there were no notes from the rep my husband spoke with. I told them how there were lawsuits against them for this, but they didn't care. I ranted, raved, and threatened lawyer for 1/2 hour.

They said my credit card would be charged if it wasn't paid. I asked what card of mine did they have on file. They could not tell me for security reasons. Oh they could have if they really wanted.

Only the last four digits would have worked. While on the phone, I went to my account on their web site. I did not have a credit card on file. Then they would send me to a collection agency.

I asked them for a copy of the contract we signed. No, couldn't do that either. Have to read it on their web site. No I wanted to see the contract I signed.

Nope. I don't even want to know how high my blood pressure was when I hung up. The friend that helped earlier came over. She called and explained everything.

That rep was very sweet and removed the cancellation charge. I then went onto the Oregon Attorney General's website and filled out a consumer complaint form. Haven't heard anything, but a friend heard today that Oregon won a lawsuit against them. I haven't been able to verify this.

I am now making sure everyone knows how fraudulent Direct Tv is. And don't do DISH, they're just plain ***.

Guest

Because of this, i will NEVER be a Direct TV customer again.

Guest

I just experienced this tonight. I bought my received in 2008 and there were no obvious markings that it was a leased box.

In fact, there was no fine print stating such either. I still have my receipt and no where on it does it state it was a lease. I'll take it one step further. When I upgraded I call DTV and asked for a box; the customer rep suggested I go to Best Buy and "purchase" it from them because the were no longer leasing boxes...additionally told me that if I got it from the directly, I would have to have it professionally installed.

In my case I will stand tall and say it wasn't a matter of me not educating myself, I was sold a bill of goods.

I have been with DTV for 11 years. I have installed five DTV systems for family and friends.

I bought my first unit at Radio Shack in 1999 for 200 bucks, and I still have that receiver. Scam SCAM scam

Guest

Just came late to the party to discover that I have been robbed by Direct TV. I paid the $300 to purchase the equipment and have been told that it is leased.

I made a complaint to BBB, then was contacted by an unrepentant DirectTV representative to "resolve" my complaint. I explained that it was unnecessary for her to recapitulate the corporate reasoning to me.

She assured me she that she would not and then proceeded to do so for half an hour. Waiting to join the class action suit.

Guest

Hey Sue,

I am looking at my receipt right now and its says Sales Receipt from Best Buy, The word lease does not appear anywhere on the receipt.

So get your facts straight before you blog your spin

Guest

Just got burned. This is complete fraud.

Fine lease lease lease your equipment whatever. But make sure this is a known FACT at point of purchase. Because I can tell you the store rep never told me, Hey if you pay 300.00 and change you don't own this product. When you cancel service you have to give it back.

Because my response is you are high. Going digital for life.

Guest

I purchased a receiver 3 years ago from wal mart there was nothing on the box about it being a lease. Now the claim they own it, this is not fraud it is more like robbery followed up with a dose of Direct intimadation if you dont return "their" receiver

Guest

I've been scammed by Direct TV and they are total *** bags. I wouldn't touch them with a stick. Stay away from Direct TV. Their business practices would make Tony Soprano blush.

For what it's worth, I'm sure Best Buy & Direct TV are splitting the profits from their little scam.

Are there any lawyers seeking to recruit class action litigants? Please contact me.

Guest

if the receiver is leased then you should not have to pay 300 just to take it home

the fact that they force you to pay out so much money just to take it home implies purchase

Guest

IIt appears DirecTV in further deception to consumers monitors web sites for bad press and attacks the person who posted the message via รขโ‚ฌล“Sueรขโ‚ฌย. A recent visit to my local Best Buy store did not reveal รขโ‚ฌล“LEASED LEASED LEASEDรขโ‚ฌย.

I am informed that in the sealed box a consumer will now find information stating the unit is leased. This practice was not in effect at the time of my purchase. รขโ‚ฌล“Sueรขโ‚ฌย would have one believe that DirecTV are such nice guys cuz รขโ‚ฌล“DirecTV thought it may be easier for customers to be able to get some of the leased equipment at local best buys to they dont have to wait for directv to deliver it and pay a shipping and handling fee.รขโ‚ฌย Gosh รขโ‚ฌล“Sueรขโ‚ฌย we really believe you are an independent consumer who is not on the payroll of DirecTV.

To answer your question รขโ‚ฌล“how is it fair for a customer to scream FRAUDรขโ‚ฌย. Easy DirecTV needs to follow the law like everyone else and put together a รขโ‚ฌล“LEASE AGREEMENTรขโ‚ฌย for the equipment.

The lease agreement would include the terms and conditions of the lease, the serial numbers of the units, and the penalty for cancellation. Very simple really unless youรขโ‚ฌโ„ขre a company who likes to FRAUD consumers. This is why courts have required lease agreements. To make sure consumers have no miss understanding of the contract they are entering into thus avoiding the necessity รขโ‚ฌล“of a consumer failing to educate themselves and then crying wolf because things did not turn out the way they wanted.

IF YOU DONT READ THE BOXES ITS YOUR FAULT NOT ANY COMPANIES.

I guess our courts have determined that in the case of a contract consumers should not have to รขโ‚ฌล“educate themselvesรขโ‚ฌย or find รขโ‚ฌล“small printรขโ‚ฌย Our courts thus require lease agreements, which are signed contracts, that list the terms and conditions so there is no miss understanding. Why does DirecTV not follow this practice, are they above the law?

Guest

It appears that you work for Direct TV. I purchased my equipment in Oct 2006.

There was no such labeling on my box, at the store, or on my receipt. So "Sue" from Direct TV. I will scream FRAUD.

This is NOT a case of a consumer failing to educate themselves, I am very well educated more so than you it would appear. It is a matter of a company attempting to hold a consumer to a policy not in place at the time of purchase.

Guest

LOOOOOOOK around at best buy near the direct tv receivers, leased leased leased leased, as well as it is on the box the receiver comes in that they are leased Leased LEASED. Directv thought it may be easier for customers to be able to get some of the leased equipment at local best buys to they dont have to wait for directv to deliver it and pay a shipping and handling fee.

So now how is if fair for a customer to scream FRAUD because they did not look on THE BOX THE RECIEVER CAME IN or on the bottom of the receipt from best buy or the material that is right buy the receivers in best buy that the recievers are leased.

This is a case of a consumer failing to educate themselves and the crying wolf because things did not turn out the way they wanted. IF YOU DONT READ THE BOXES ITS YOUR FAULT NOT ANY COMPANIES

waxman

I had the same problem. Complete fraud.

Called two stores while on the telephone with a supervisor from Best Buy corporate.

Each sales person from Best Buy told me I owned the receivers while the Supervisor was on the telephone listening. Best Buy Corporate is well aware of the fraud they are putting out for consumers.

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