In December I opened an account with Direct TV for a home that I own jointly with my 2 siblings and my uncle (while he was alive). My disabled uncle resided at that location from Dec. 2006 through April 1 when he died. I called Direct TV in May to have the account disconnected and obtain instructions on what to do about the receivers and final bill. I inquired and was told that there would be no additional charges. I received a confirmation number for the disconnection (35854996). While the account was open, I paid the bill by using my Check Card. No one else is authorized to use my card or has access to it. Each time I made a payment my check card information was verified and I was given a confirmation number.
The week of June 3-9 (I cannot remember the exact date), I received a call at work from Direct TV's collection department regarding the final bill. I was asked if I wanted to make a payment and I said no because I was disputing the amount of the bill which included charges for the 2 receivers that I had mailed back to Direct TV and was not supposed to be charged for. The amount also included a charge for an extra month of service even though I had called and closed the account. When I got off the phone, I called Direct TV's regular customer service department to verify when the account was closed. Again I was asked if I wanted to make a payment and wait to receive a credit for the receivers once they were received. I said no because I was still disputing the amount of the bill. I did not want a credit issued because I am no longer a Direct TV customer and did not foresee being one in the near future so that would not be to my advantage.
When I checked my checking account balance on Wachovia.com on June 10, there was a Check Card hold payable to Direct TV in the amount of $176.60. I called Direct TV and told them that this payment was not authorized by me and was done without my permission. I was told their fraud department would investigate the matter and I was given a service reference number (1-24659651303R2). I do not dispute that I have done business with this merchant using my check card.
I do not dispute that I still owed money for the final bill. I do dispute the amount of the payment and the payment put in for June 8 because I did not authorize it. Had I authorized it, I would have been given an authorization number which I never was given because I did not make the payment. I was waiting for the final bill amount to reflect the credit for the 2 receivers that I mailed back. Proper procedure was not followed and the Direct TV employee that put the payment in for June 8 did so without my permission. If the call or calls were recorded by Direct TV then this information should be easily verified.
I received the letter from Direct TV customer service stating that no refund or credit will be given per Section 5 of the Direct TV Customer Service Agreement which states "by giving us your credit or debit card account information, you authorize us to apply this method of payment, in accordance with applicable law, to satisfy any and all amounts due upon cancellation". I will say this, they got my money this time but I will never do business with them again.
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