Independent profile — not affiliated with DIRECTV

DIRECTV Reviews & Complaints

DIRECTV, LLC sells satellite and streaming pay-TV and has been wholly owned by TPG Capital since July 2, 2025, when AT&T sold its remaining 70% stake. DIRECTV's Terms set a maximum early termination fee of $480 ($20 for each month left on a 24-month commitment), give 800.531.5000 as the number for cancelling and billing questions, and require individual arbitration or small claims court for disputes. Leased receivers must be returned within 21 days of cancellation for satellite service or 14 days for streaming service, or a non-return fee of $45 to $135 per unit applies. DIRECTV agreed to pay Do Not Call civil penalties in FTC settlements in 2005 and 2009 and settled with state attorneys general in 2010 without admitting wrongdoing; an FTC advertising case filed in 2015 was dismissed with prejudice in 2018 after a partial ruling for DIRECTV. 3,761 published complaint reports are linked to this profile.

REVIEWS & COMPLAINTS3,761on USAComplaints · 1 in last 3 yrs
PHONE800-531-5000Customer service
WEBSITEdirectv.com
HEADQUARTERSEl Segundo, CA
PROFILE CHECKED2026-11-01
Submit a Complaint Read reviews & complaints ↓ Call 800-531-5000 Official website ↗
VERIFIED

Contacts

Customer service & general contact

Cancel, billing & returns

VERIFIED

Locations

  • Headquarters2230 E Imperial Hwy El Segundo CA 90245
  • Mailing addressc/o CT Corporation, 1209 Orange Street Notice of Dispute address (arbitration) Wilmington DE 19801
EDITORIAL

Cancel DIRECTV, early termination fees, equipment returns, billing and disputes: what DIRECTV's own documents say

The rules below come from DIRECTV's Residential Terms of Service, its Equipment Lease Agreement, its Fee Schedule and its help page on cancelling. Many rules differ by service type: Satellite (dish and leased receivers), Streaming App + Equipment (internet service with a DIRECTV-supplied device) and Streaming App Only (the app on your own devices). U-verse TV customers follow the separate U-verse TV Terms of Service and Fee Schedule, listed in DIRECTV's legal policy center. Most posts on this site about DIRECTV are from 2007 to 2013 and describe older offers and terms.

How to cancel. Section 4.a of the Terms says Satellite and Streaming App + Equipment customers cancel by calling 800.531.5000 and speaking to an agent; customers in states that require online cancellation, “such as NY, IL, or CO,” may cancel online at directv.com. Streaming App Only customers can cancel by online chat at directv.com or by calling the same number. DIRECTV's cancel help page adds that customers who get DIRECTV over the internet (no satellite dish) can sign in and select “Cancel service,” and that satellite customers can call 800.531.5000 to put the account on hold instead of cancelling. Under Section 4.b, cancellation takes effect on the last day of the billing cycle in which you cancel, and you get no prorated credit or refund for a partial month “unless prohibited by law.” Write down the date, the agent's name and any confirmation number, and check your next statement.

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Cancelling without a fee. Satellite customers can cancel for any reason before the equipment is installed without an Early Termination Fee; after installation, Section 4.b says an Early Termination Fee is charged. Streaming App + Equipment customers can cancel within 14 days of purchase, by 7 PM Eastern on the 14th day, for a refund and no fee, but must return all equipment within 14 days of receiving it to get the full refund. A Streaming App Only free trial renews automatically at the regular price unless cancelled before it ends.

Early Termination Fee (ETF). Section 4.e applies the ETF when service ends before the end of a Term Commitment or when you drop below the minimum programming package: “The maximum ETF is $480, prorated at $20 per month over 24 months.” The Terms' example: a new customer on a 24-month commitment who cancels after 14 months owes $200 (10 months left at $20). Existing satellite customers who add or upgrade leased equipment pay $10 for each month left on the new commitment. The Fee Schedule lists the ETF as up to $480 for Satellite and Streaming App + Equipment accounts and not for Streaming App Only. Changing to a smaller package can also trigger the fee if you are under a commitment. Before you cancel or downgrade, ask the agent for your Term Commitment end date and the exact ETF, and if the timing is close, compare the fee with waiting until the commitment ends.

Returning equipment. Section 5 says to contact DIRECTV to disconnect service or equipment before returning anything. Satellite customers have 21 days from the date cancellation takes effect to return leased receivers; they can take them to a FedEx Office Print & Ship Center or The UPS Store with the DIRECTV account number, or call 800.531.5000 for a box with a prepaid label. Streaming App + Equipment customers have 14 days and ship the equipment back by U.S. Mail with the label that came with it, or call the same number for a new label. The Equipment Lease Agreement charges a non-return fee per unit: $45 for a DIRECTV receiver, HD receiver or Genie Mini, $120 for a GEMINI or GEMINI AIR, and $135 for a DVR, HD DVR, Genie HD DVR or Genie 2 receiver; it asks that remote controls and power cords be included. Satellite customers own the dish, mounting hardware and cabling into the home and keep them. Get the return instructions for your account in writing and keep the carrier receipt with the tracking number until your final bill shows no non-return fee.

Other fees in the Fee Schedule. Regional Sports Fee up to $17.99 a month on packages with regional sports; TV Access or Lease Fee of $7.00 to $10.00 a month per leased device; Advanced Receiver Service Fee up to $25.00; Activation Fee $49.95; Service Call or Dispatch Fee $99; Late Payment Fee up to $12.00; Returned Payment Fee up to $30; and a one-time Supplemental Equipment Fee of $49.00 per device from the fifth device on an account. DIRECTV “reserves the right to change, increase, or decrease these fees,” and Section 7.h of the Terms lets it change prices and fees in its sole discretion, with notice to the email or mailing address on the account.

Channel changes, blackouts and outages. Section 2.c lets DIRECTV change or remove packages, channels and prices; if a programming change happens you may cancel, DIRECTV usually gives 30 days' notice when the change is within its control, and “If You cancel, then We may charge an Early Termination Fee.” Section 2.d says that for a long interruption within DIRECTV's reasonable control “We may provide a fair adjustment if You ask,” and calls this your only remedy. If a channel you pay for disappears, ask in writing for a credit and whether an ETF would apply if you cancel because of the change.

Billing problems and how to escalate. Section 7.e says to raise concerns about a statement immediately at directv.com/support or 800.531.5000. Using the chat at directv.com/customer-service leaves you a written transcript; save it, or write down the date, agent name and reference number of a call. If that does not fix it:

  • Card charge. If you paid by credit card, you can dispute a billing error with your card issuer in writing within 60 days after the statement showing the charge was sent, under the Fair Credit Billing Act; debit and bank charges follow your bank's own dispute rules.
  • FCC (satellite service). File an informal complaint at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or call 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322). For billing or service issues the FCC in many cases serves the complaint on the provider, which then has up to 30 days to respond to you and the FCC. For a Streaming App Only account, your card issuer, your state attorney general and the FTC are the more direct routes.
  • State attorney general. Your state attorney general's consumer-protection office takes complaints about sales, billing and cancellation practices.
  • FTC. Report the practice at ReportFraud.ftc.gov; the FTC uses reports for enforcement but does not resolve individual cases. Unwanted sales calls can be reported at donotcall.gov.
  • BBB. BBB forwards complaints to DirecTV, LLC and posts its response.
  • Arbitration or small claims. To bring a legal claim, Section 13 requires individual arbitration or small claims court. Before arbitration you must mail a complete Notice of Dispute to DIRECTV, LLC c/o CT Corporation, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 and allow 60 days to settle (Sections 13.d and 13.e). Arbitration is administered by the American Arbitration Association under its rules; if you cannot pay your share of the AAA fees, Section 13.h says DIRECTV will consider a request to pay them.
EDITORIAL

Company Information

Legal name
DIRECTV, LLC
Business type
Satellite and streaming pay-TV provider (DIRECTV via satellite and DIRECTV streaming); wholly owned by TPG Capital since July 2, 2025
Website
directv.comSource: DIRECTV website, checked 2026-10-06
Headquarters
El Segundo, CASource: BBB business profile for DirecTV, LLC, headquarters address, checked 2026-11-01
Owned by
TPG CapitalSource: TPG release: DIRECTV is now a wholly owned portfolio company of TPG Capital, checked 2026-10-06

DIRECTV is a long-established pay-TV provider. DIRECTV, LLC is the company named in its Residential Terms of Service and Equipment Lease Agreement, BBB lists it as a limited liability company headquartered in El Segundo, California, and it has been wholly owned by TPG Capital since AT&T sold its remaining 70% stake on July 2, 2025. BBB shows it as BBB Accredited with an A+ rating and 4,160 complaints filed in the last 3 years; Trustpilot shows a TrustScore of 1.3 from 3,190 reviews. Government actions include FTC Do Not Call settlements in 2005 and 2009 in which DIRECTV agreed to pay civil penalties; a December 2010 settlement with 49 states and the District of Columbia and a separate settlement with Washington State over how offers and fees were marketed, both without an admission of wrongdoing; and an FTC advertising case that was dismissed with prejudice in 2018 after the court ruled partly for DIRECTV.

EXTERNAL SOURCE

Independent Sources

Shown for context — not merged with USAComplaints' own numbers.

BBBComplaints filed in the last 3 years
496 reviews · 4,160 complaints · BBB business grade A+ · average customer rating 1.12 / 5
ComplaintsBoardAll complaints and reviews on the profile
16 reviews · 2,197 reports · average customer rating 2 / 5
Trustpilot
3,190 reviews · TrustScore 1.3 / 5
CONSUMER ALLEGATION

Reviews & Complaints on USAComplaints

3,761 complaints on USAComplaints, including 1 published in the last three years.

Show 15 more on this page
EDITORIAL

Complaint Themes

Billing, unexpected or unauthorized chargesCancellation, early termination or contract-term feesCustomer service and call-center experienceEquipment, installation and service outagesChannels, programming and local-station availabilitySales calls, promotions or rebates

Themes summarize what people write about most often. One complaint can touch several themes, and some complaints (a positive report, or one later retracted by its author) fit none, so themes are not a count of complaints.

Had an experience with DIRECTV? Tell other people what happened.

Submit a Complaint
EDITORIAL

Complaint record: USAComplaints posts, BBB, Trustpilot and ComplaintsBoard, reported separately

Posts on this site. 3,761 published complaint reports are linked to this profile. Most were posted between 2007 and 2013, so many describe offers, prices and contract terms that DIRECTV no longer uses. They are customers' own accounts and have not been verified by this site. They also include posts where DIRECTV is named together with another business, such as a phone company that resold DIRECTV or an installation contractor. Topics raised in these posts include:

  • Billing, unexpected or unauthorized charges
  • Cancellation, early termination or contract-term fees
  • Customer service and call-center experience
  • Equipment, installation and service outages
  • Channels, programming and local-station availability
  • Sales calls, promotions or rebates

Other complaint and review sites. These figures come from separate websites and are not added to the posts on this site.

  • BBB: DirecTV, LLC in El Segundo, California is BBB Accredited (since January 1, 2025) and rated A+. BBB shows 4,160 complaints filed in the last 3 years, 1,024 of them in the last 12 months, and 496 customer reviews averaging 1.12 out of 5. BBB's letter grade measures how a business handles complaints and other factors; it is not a customer satisfaction score.
  • Trustpilot (directv.com): 3,190 reviews with a TrustScore of 1.3 out of 5, 210 of them posted in the last 12 months; 93% of reviews are 1-star. Trustpilot notes that DIRECTV has not recently invited customers to leave reviews and has not replied to negative reviews; DIRECTV states on its profile that it stopped responding to reviews there in September 2024 and directs customers to its social media and community forums.
  • ComplaintsBoard: 2,197 complaints, 537 of them marked resolved, and an overall rating of 2.0 from 16 reviews.

BBB, Trustpilot and ComplaintsBoard collect reports from customers who choose to write in, so their numbers show what people complain about, not how common a problem is among all DIRECTV customers.

EDITORIAL

Government actions: Do Not Call settlements (2005, 2009), state attorneys general settlements (2010), FTC advertising case (2015 to 2018)

The actions below are summarized from government releases and court records. Each is described as the agency or court described it: allegations are allegations, and settlements are not findings of wrongdoing unless the document says so.

FTC and Department of Justice Do Not Call case (December 2005). The FTC announced on December 13, 2005 that DIRECTV would pay $5,335,000 in civil penalties to settle charges that, since October 2003, DIRECTV and companies it hired to sell its programming had violated the Do Not Call provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The FTC called it the largest civil penalty it had announced up to then in any consumer protection case. The Department of Justice filed the complaint and stipulated settlements at the FTC's request in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles; the proposed order barred violations of the Rule and required DIRECTV to terminate marketers it knew or should have known were cold-calling without written authorization, with monitoring requirements. The FTC release describes the settlements as proposed stipulated orders; a later FTC release (2009) calls the result “a 2005 court order.”

FTC Do Not Call case (April 2009). On April 16, 2009 the FTC announced proposed settlements in which DIRECTV agreed to pay $2.31 million for violating the Rule and “a 2005 court order,” based on prerecorded calls its telemarketer InTouch Solutions placed in August and September 2007 to consumers on DIRECTV's own internal Do Not Call list; the telemarketer and its principals agreed to a $115,000 penalty. Comcast settled a separate case for $900,000 in the same release. The FTC release adds that, with the 2005 payment, DIRECTV agreed to pay “a total of more than $7.6 million for Do Not Call violations.”

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State attorneys general settlements (December 2010). On December 15, 2010 attorneys general announced a $13.25 million settlement between DIRECTV and 49 states and the District of Columbia over how its offers were marketed; California's attorney general filed it in San Diego Superior Court, and the Illinois Attorney General announced it for Illinois. The release says the attorneys general received complaints alleging that DIRECTV did not clearly disclose the price and commitment term, enrolled customers in additional contracts (including when replacing defective equipment), did not clearly disclose the automatic renewal of a seasonal sports package, and offered cash back but provided bill credits. Under the settlement DIRECTV had to disclose material terms, replace defective leased equipment free of charge except for shipping, stop requiring a new contract for a simple replacement, and notify customers of a cancellation or equipment fee at least 10 days before charging it, among other terms. A restitution program covered unresolved complaints about conduct after January 1, 2007 that reached DIRECTV or a participating attorney general by June 9, 2011; that window has closed. Connecticut's release says DIRECTV “agreed to cease all such practices and comply with consumer protection laws” and would pay the states $13.25 million for legal and other costs. DIRECTV did not admit wrongdoing. In December 2010 Washington's attorney general, who had sued DIRECTV in King County Superior Court in December 2009, announced a separate settlement: DIRECTV would pay $1 million to reimburse the office's investigation costs and attorneys' fees, disclose all material terms in its advertising and before any sale, and provide restitution to eligible consumers. The Washington release says the settlement does not require proof or admission of wrongdoing.

FTC advertising case (2015 to 2018). The FTC sued in March 2015 over how DIRECTV advertised promotional prices, the 24-month commitment and the early cancellation fee. The case ended on October 22, 2018 with a dismissal with prejudice, after the court had ruled that the FTC failed to prove its claims about DIRECTV's non-website advertisements; details are in the lawsuits section.

Which agency to contact today. Satellite TV service is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, which in many cases serves an informal billing or service complaint on the provider for a response. Sales, billing and cancellation practices, including for streaming-only accounts, can be reported to your state attorney general's consumer-protection office and to the FTC.

EDITORIAL

Lawsuits: FTC v. DIRECTV (dismissed 2018) and the Biddle v. Disney settlement for DirecTV Stream subscribers

Federal Trade Commission v. DIRECTV and DIRECTV, LLC (N.D. Cal. No. 4:15-cv-01129-HSG). The FTC filed on March 11, 2015. The court's August 16, 2018 order says the FTC contended that from 2007 to the time of trial DIRECTV failed to adequately disclose in its advertising that the introductory discounted price lasts 12 months, that a 24-month commitment applies, that cancelling early carries a fee of $20 per month for the remaining months, and that a free premium-channel package must be cancelled within three months to avoid charges; it also alleged violations of the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act on DIRECTV's website, and the FTC sought $3.95 billion in restitution. The case was tried to the court without a jury from August 14 to 25, 2017. After the FTC rested, DIRECTV moved for judgment on partial findings, and on August 16, 2018 Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. granted the motion in part: the order says “the FTC failed to prove a violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act as to any of Defendant's print, television or electronic banner advertisements,” while it deferred judgment on the Section 5 and ROSCA claims based on the website until the close of the evidence. On October 19, 2018 the FTC and DIRECTV filed a stipulation that the action “should be dismissed with prejudice,” with each party bearing its own fees and costs, and the court granted it on October 22, 2018. The dismissal did not require DIRECTV to pay money or change its practices, and the court made no finding on the website claims.

Biddle v. The Walt Disney Company (N.D. Cal. No. 5:22-cv-07317-EJD). This is a federal antitrust class action brought against Disney by YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo subscribers; DIRECTV is not a defendant. The court has preliminarily approved a $50 million partial settlement with Disney, which denies wrongdoing, for two classes: YouTube TV subscribers and people who bought a DIRECTV streaming live pay-TV subscription (including DirecTV Stream, DirecTV Now and AT&T TV Now) between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026. The deadline to file a claim or opt out was September 8, 2026. Class members who did not opt out may object until December 1, 2026, and the final approval hearing is set for January 14, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. If the settlement is approved, payments are divided by subscription length among valid claims. The settlement administrator's phone line is 1-877-704-2517.

For a dispute of your own, DIRECTV's Terms require individual arbitration or small claims court and waive class actions and jury trials; see the FAQ on arbitration below.

PUBLIC RECORD

Court & Public Records

Federal Trade Commission v. DIRECTV and DIRECTV, LLC (advertising of promotional price, 24-month commitment and early cancellation fee; Section 5 and ROSCA)

Dismissed

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (Oakland), Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr.Docket 4:15-cv-01129-HSGSource ↗

Dismissed

The FTC sought $3.95 billion in restitution. After a bench trial (August 14 to 25, 2017), the court's August 16, 2018 order granted DIRECTV's motion for judgment on partial findings in part, saying the FTC failed to prove a Section 5 violation as to non-website advertisements, and deferred the website-based Section 5 and ROSCA claims. On October 19, 2018 the parties stipulated that the action “should be dismissed with prejudice,” each party bearing its own fees and costs; the court granted the stipulation on October 22, 2018.

Biddle v. The Walt Disney Company (federal antitrust class action by YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream and Fubo subscribers; DIRECTV is not a defendant)

Filed

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Jose), Judge Edward J. DavilaDocket 5:22-cv-07317-EJDSource ↗

Filed — no final outcome recorded

The court has preliminarily approved a $50 million partial settlement between Disney and the YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream settlement classes; Disney denies wrongdoing. The deadline to file a claim or opt out was September 8, 2026. The deadline to object is December 1, 2026, and the final approval hearing is set for January 14, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. Final approval has not yet been decided.

EDITORIAL

Company background: entity, ownership by TPG, the terminated Dish agreement and 2026 carriage disputes

DIRECTV's Residential Terms of Service name DIRECTV, LLC as the company that provides the service. BBB lists DirecTV, LLC as a limited liability company headquartered at 2230 E Imperial Hwy, El Segundo, California 90245, with the business started in 1990 and incorporated in 2002. DIRECTV sells pay-TV in three forms under its Terms: satellite service with a dish and leased receivers, a streaming app used with DIRECTV-supplied equipment, and a streaming app on the customer's own devices. U-verse TV customers have their own Terms of Service and Fee Schedule, listed in DIRECTV's legal policy center.

Ownership. On August 2, 2021 AT&T and TPG Capital closed a deal that made DIRECTV a separate company: AT&T kept 70% of the common units and TPG paid about $1.8 billion in cash for preferred units and a 30% interest. On July 2, 2025 AT&T announced it had closed the sale of its entire remaining 70% stake to TPG Capital, and TPG said DIRECTV is now a wholly owned portfolio company of TPG Capital. AT&T no longer owns any part of DIRECTV.

Dish deal that did not close. According to EchoStar's annual report for 2024, DIRECTV agreed in September 2024 to buy DISH DBS Corporation, Dish's pay-TV business, and ended the agreement effective November 22, 2024, so DIRECTV and Dish remain separate providers.

Local channel disputes. When DIRECTV and a broadcaster fail to agree on carriage fees, the broadcaster's local stations can go dark for DIRECTV customers. In July 2026 DIRECTV and The E.W. Scripps Company announced a new multi-year agreement that returned 54 Scripps-owned local stations in 36 markets after a blackout of about five weeks. Section 2.d of the Terms says that for a long interruption within DIRECTV's reasonable control it “may provide a fair adjustment if You ask,” and Section 2.f says DIRECTV does not control sports blackout restrictions, which are set by the leagues and rights holders. A customer who loses a channel should ask for a bill credit in writing and keep the reply.

VERIFIED

Company Relationships

  • Owned byTPG Capital
  • Affiliated withAT&T Inc.
CONSUMER ALLEGATION

Related Complaints

Names this company in a role other than the primary subject — not necessarily current or complete.

EDITORIAL

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cancel DIRECTV?

Call 800.531.5000 and ask the agent to cancel. Section 4.a of DIRECTV's Residential Terms of Service names this number for Satellite and Streaming App + Equipment customers and lets customers in states that require it, “such as NY, IL, or CO,” cancel online at directv.com. Streaming App Only customers can also cancel by online chat, and DIRECTV's cancel help page says customers who get DIRECTV over the internet can sign in and select “Cancel service.” Cancellation takes effect on the last day of the billing cycle, with no prorated refund unless the law requires one. An Early Termination Fee may apply if you are under a commitment, and leased receivers must be returned on time to avoid non-return fees. Keep the confirmation number and the agent's name.

What is the DIRECTV early termination fee?

Section 4.e of DIRECTV's Residential Terms of Service says: “The maximum ETF is $480, prorated at $20 per month over 24 months.” A new customer on a 24-month Term Commitment who cancels after 14 months owes $200. Existing satellite customers who add or upgrade leased equipment pay $10 for each month left on that commitment. The fee also applies if you drop below the minimum programming package during a commitment. The Fee Schedule lists the ETF for Satellite and Streaming App + Equipment accounts, not for Streaming App Only. Satellite customers who cancel before installation, and Streaming App + Equipment customers who cancel within 14 days of purchase, pay no ETF. Ask the agent to state the exact ETF before you confirm a cancellation.

How do I return DIRECTV equipment, and what is the non-return fee?

First contact DIRECTV to disconnect the service or equipment (Section 5 of the Terms). Satellite customers have 21 days from the date cancellation takes effect: take the leased receivers to a FedEx Office Print & Ship Center or The UPS Store with your DIRECTV account number, or call 800.531.5000 for a box with a prepaid label. Streaming App + Equipment customers have 14 days and mail the device back with the label that came with it. The Equipment Lease Agreement charges per unit not returned: $45 for a DIRECTV receiver, HD receiver or Genie Mini, $120 for a GEMINI or GEMINI AIR, and $135 for DVR and Genie DVR receivers. Include remotes and power cords. The satellite dish and cables are yours to keep. Keep the carrier receipt with the tracking number.

Can DIRECTV change prices or remove channels, and what can I do?

Section 7.h of the Terms says DIRECTV has “the right to change any of Our pricing, fees, or related charges” in its sole discretion, with notice to the email or mailing address on the account. Section 2.c says it may “change, add, or remove Our programming packages, their Content, selections, prices”; after a programming change “You have the right to cancel Your Service,” but DIRECTV “may charge an Early Termination Fee.” Section 2.d says a long interruption within DIRECTV's control may get a “fair adjustment if You ask,” described as the customer's only remedy. If a channel or package you pay for is removed, ask in writing for a credit and whether an ETF applies if you cancel; if DIRECTV refuses a credit you believe is owed, satellite customers can file a complaint with the FCC, and any customer can complain to the state attorney general.

Does DIRECTV require arbitration?

The Residential Terms of Service (Section 13) say disputes must be resolved “individually in binding arbitration or small claims court with limited exception” and include “a waiver of class actions and jury trials.” Either side may choose small claims court instead of arbitration. Before an arbitration begins, a written Notice of Dispute must be sent (DIRECTV, LLC c/o CT Corporation, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801), and the Terms give 60 days from receipt to try to settle (Sections 13.d and 13.e); either side may ask for a call or video meeting during that period. Arbitration is run by the American Arbitration Association (AAA); DIRECTV pays all costs of an arbitration it starts, and if you start one and cannot pay your share of the AAA fees, DIRECTV will consider a request to pay them (Section 13.h). Section 13.j sets a staged process when 25 or more similar claims are filed through the same or coordinated lawyers. U-verse TV customers should read the dispute section of the separate U-verse TV Terms of Service in DIRECTV's legal policy center. Filing a complaint with the FCC, the FTC or your state attorney general is a separate step from a legal claim against DIRECTV.

What happened in the FTC lawsuit against DIRECTV?

The FTC sued DIRECTV in March 2015 (N.D. Cal. No. 4:15-cv-01129-HSG) over advertising of promotional pricing, the 24-month commitment and the early cancellation fee, and sought $3.95 billion in restitution. After a bench trial in August 2017, the court's August 16, 2018 order granted DIRECTV's motion for judgment on partial findings in part, saying the FTC failed to prove a Section 5 violation as to the non-website advertisements, and deferred the website-based claims. On October 19, 2018 the FTC and DIRECTV stipulated to dismissal with prejudice, each side bearing its own fees; the court granted it on October 22, 2018.

Who owns DIRECTV?

TPG Capital, the private equity platform of TPG, owns all of DIRECTV. AT&T announced on July 2, 2025 that it had closed the sale of its entire remaining 70% stake in DIRECTV to TPG Capital, and TPG said DIRECTV is now a wholly owned portfolio company of TPG Capital. From August 2, 2021 until then, AT&T held 70% and TPG 30% of the common units. DIRECTV agreed in September 2024 to buy Dish's pay-TV business, DISH DBS Corporation, but ended that agreement effective November 22, 2024, according to EchoStar's annual report.

Is there a settlement for DirecTV Stream subscribers?

A $50 million partial settlement in Biddle v. The Walt Disney Company (N.D. Cal. No. 5:22-cv-07317-EJD) covers people who bought a DIRECTV streaming live pay-TV subscription (including DirecTV Stream, DirecTV Now and AT&T TV Now) between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026, as well as YouTube TV subscribers. The settlement is with Disney, which denies wrongdoing; DIRECTV is not a defendant. The deadline to file a claim or opt out was September 8, 2026, so new claims are closed. Class members who did not opt out may object until December 1, 2026, and the final approval hearing is set for January 14, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. Questions go to the settlement administrator at 1-877-704-2517 or onlinetvsettlement.com.

Where can I file a complaint about DIRECTV?

Start with DIRECTV at 800.531.5000 or by chat at directv.com/customer-service, and keep the date, agent name and any reference number. If that fails and you have satellite service, file an informal complaint with the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322); for billing or service issues the FCC in many cases serves the complaint on the provider, which has up to 30 days to respond to you and the FCC. For a wrong charge on a credit card, dispute it with your card issuer in writing within 60 days after the statement was sent (Fair Credit Billing Act). You can also complain to your state attorney general's consumer-protection office, report the practice at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (the FTC does not resolve individual cases), or file with the BBB.