Direct TV
Equipment Sold as Purchase Later Treated as Lease With Fees

I had been with Direct TV for several years (about 7 or 8 years), and as they stated, I always bought my equipment from them. About a year ago I "bought" an HD DVR for about $300.00. When I noticed I was getting charged a lease fee of $4.99 a month, I thought, "Oh, this is another mistake," as in the past they had charged me when they shouldn't have because I had purchased, not leased, my equipment. When I called in to rectify the situation, I was told no, I did not buy this piece of equipment for $300.00, I leased it! I said, who in their right mind would pay $300.00 to lease something at $4.99 a month? I told the rep to look and see that I always purchase. I was told at that time that they no longer sell equipment, they only lease.

I asked her to show me where I signed saying I leased this equipment. She told me it was on the paperwork I signed when it was installed (by a company which, by the way, took my old receiver that I OWNED, and they tried to charge me for this receiver also). I told her it said nothing on the paperwork about leasing.

Fast forward several months, and I decided to cancel my service since the HD DVR never worked most of the time. When I went to cancel, they charged me over $100.00 for the rest of the lease they say I signed up for at $4.99 or $5.99 a month (it changes at random). They also told me I had to return the HD DVR. When I reminded them that I bought it and asked them to show me where I signed, the rep told me there was a sticker on the box! Since when does a sticker on the box constitute a binding contract?

I told them I would not return it until they proved to me that I signed something stating I leased a piece of equipment for $300.00 (equipment I see in ads for free all the time).

Being that they are Direct TV and can do anything they want and ruin my credit, they now demanded that I pay over $500.00 for this HD DVR or they would report me to credit agencies. I decided to go ahead and return it while I figure out how to fight them. Now that I have returned the equipment, I have gotten another bill for tax in the amount of $38.78! This is absolute thievery and fraud!

If you could be of assistance or point me in the correct direction, I would greatly appreciate it. It is time we stop this corporate fraud and thievery in this country!

Company: Direct TV
Country: USA
State: California
City: Los Angeles
Site: directv.com

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