I had been a DirecTV customer since 2000 with no upgrades or contract. In April I called to complain about overbilling for a "mirroring" fee plus equipment rental and was told that, indeed, I had been overcharged an amount close to $200.
I was told that they could not refund my overpayment, but I was instead offered a ten-dollar-per-month credit and a free upgrade to a DVR receiver. During this phone call there was no mention of a contract or a request for a credit card number. The installer did not mention either of these topics.
Last month I decided to switch to another provider to bundle services. When I contacted DirecTV, I was told that I would be charged an early termination fee for not fulfilling an 18-month contract, and that if they had a credit card number on file it would be billed. I was not concerned because I had not given them one. I returned the receiver as requested and was shocked to find that they had run a $474 charge through my debit card. The company had absolutely no authorization to use that debit card other than for one-time monthly payments.
I have disputed this payment with both the company and my bank, but in the meantime I was forced to borrow 500 bucks from the credit union to cover the charge. From what I read, the company is notorious for this type of unauthorized use of debit card numbers. Sounds like time for a class action lawsuit!
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