We signed up for DirecTV, after changing from Dish (whom we had for 5 years). The installation was a nightmare, with the guy refusing to put the wires where we asked, and he drilled holes in my furniture!
But it gets worse than that. As you can see form several reports on here, the installer told us what seems to be the common line for their installers & we had 30 days to change our minds and cancel the service without penalty.
After 3 weeks, I decided it was just far too different from Dish for my liking. I just couldn't get used to it, and didn't like it. So, I called to cancel the service, and the rep told me that I would be charged $12.95 for each of the remaining 23 months on the 24 month contract (which, incidentally, I never signed). What she didn't tell me was that they planned to automatically charge my card for these charges.
When I questioned that I was still inside my 30 days, she told me that I never had 30 days. They only allow 3 days to change your mind. Well, that's not what we were told by the only DirecTV rep we spoke with prior to or during our installation. I told her I wouldn't pay it, and she proceeded to tell me about how the only recourse I had was to send a letter to the billing disputes department. They apparently do not accept calls.
About 5 days later, I received a notice from my bank that I had bounced a check. I looked into it, and the reason it bounced was because DirecTV put through a charge on my debit card for $327.99!! Fortunately, my bank agreed to reverse the charge and send it back to them, they canceled my card, and gave my fees back for the bounced check.
Then a couple of weeks later, I received a collection notice informing me that I had ignored the bill they sent me for $547.99. They charged me $20 for the returned charge (which I never authorized in the first place), and $200 for the receiver, even though we sent it back!
This is clearly nothing but a massive deceptive business practice this company engages in. There are hundreds of reports online about people being told they had 30 days to cancel to then find themselves charged ridiculous amounts when they cancel it. There's simply no way that many reports is a coincidence. I'm thinking about looking into doing a class action suit, because this is illegal behavior. I have filed a complaint with the FTC for deceptive business practices (which violates federal law).
Surely companies can't get away with lying to customers so they can then steal hundreds of dollars from them. This behavior is indicative of this entire company. They are BAD NEWS! RUN, don't walk, away from this rip off!
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