This is a letter that I sent to the collection agency that is handling the early cancellation fee perceived debt owed to DIRECTV:
Financial Asset Management Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 451409
Atlanta, GA 31145
Attn: Mr. Thompson
RE: DIRECTV
This is in response to our telephone conversation of last week regarding the claim from DIRECTV that we owe $291.10. As my wife stated to you we do not believe we are responsible for this debt, we never agreed to any obligations for this debt or agreed to or signed any contract to that effect.
I have written out in detail what transpired to even have the DIRECTV system installed.
A company (I found out later that it was Satellites & More) called my wife and stated they wanted to come to our house and upgrade our satellite system. The man my wife spoke to talked about Dish Network, DIRECTV and Tivo. He stated they would come out and install new receivers (upgrade) and Tivo, as it was better equipment and was replacing the current DVR system. He stated we would have the same programming but it would end up costing us less ($55/mo). My wife set up a date (4/24) for the installer to come out. When he arrived he was wearing a uniform that had DIRECTV on it. She questioned this because we had a Dish Network system already installed that we had for several years and we were perfectly happy with and that it was our understanding that this was simply an upgrade to our current system. He stated that Dish Network was going out of business and that DIRECTV was converting all Dish Network accounts to DIRECTV. He then proceeded with the installation. He called DIRECTV to have the service started and then gave my wife paperwork which was blank except for an account number for DIRECTV. She asked about the Dish Network dish and he stated that he had to take it with him, by law; they were not allowed to leave it. After he left my wife went into one of the bedrooms to move the furniture and TV back into place and saw that he had drilled two additional holes in the wall to the outside, the outside wire was strung over the roof, and the splitter was hanging on the side of the house.
Within a couple of days we realized we DID NOT have the same programming (185 channels w/DIRECTV vs. 250 channels w/Dish Network), it was actually going to cost us $20 more a month, and we did not have the features we enjoyed w/Dish Network. My wife called DIRECTV directly within a few days of this installation and had them cancel the service. She told DIRECTV the whole story of this deception. The person she spoke with gave us the name of the company that installed and deceived us, and told her they would be filing a complaint against that company also (my wife filed a complaint with the BBB). She also gave us a phone number for this company, but found it to be disconnected. Also, we found out that Dish Network was not going out of business. We returned all equipment to DIRECTV and had to pay $50 for Dish Network to come back out and install a new dish because the installer had stolen our Dish Network dish. Now, DIRECTV is demanding and has sent to collection payment for early cancellation (291.10) for service we NEVER ordered in the first place. We NEVER spoke to anyone from DIRECTV about service or programming except to cancel the whole mess. I wrote the first collection company with copies of my complaint to the BBB. DIRECTV responded with a standard letter stating we agreed to the equipment lease and the programming, they advised us of our commitment, etc. WE NEVER AGREED TO any type of programming, service, etc. Because we never talked to anyone from DIRECTV. Their representative used deception and fraud to install the service but did not speak to us about programming or commitment.
The ONLY resolution I can see to this whole ordeal is for DIRECTV to cancel this perceived debt, cancel any collection efforts and file a complaint against the company Satellites & More.
In closing, Mr. Thompson, please stop all communication with us regarding this matter. Please stop phone calls and written correspondence.
Cc: federal communications commission, federal trade commission and dept. Of consumer affairs for california
Karen
Homeland, California
U.S.A.
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