I have read many of the prior reports, including the rebuttals. It seems obvious that some complainants, although in error, may have complained in good faith. Direct TV is notorious for spreading false advertisements, and since they refuse to email subscribers a summary of the contract (I asked for it) when they subscribe on the phone, the subscriber has no tangible proof of what was said at the time.
I am in dispute with this company for taking my order for a $29.99 package and then billing me $62.05 two weeks later.
I wrote to the Colorado office to demand an explanation. My letter was not even acknowledged. DTV then began a barrage of telephone harassment, although I had said I had written to get an explanation for the extra charges. A week later my service was cut off. I made do without it for a week while waiting for a response to my letter, and then I called and demanded to speak to a supervisor. I was told that the amount to be paid was now $99.17.
The alleged reason was that I had to have a rebate form in order to get the $29.99 package. I said that the Internet ad had no such mention, nor was I told about it when I subscribed on the phone. I went online to fill in the required form and printed it. Then I called again, only to be told that it would take 3 to 4 weeks to be processed and that until then I still had to pay the full price instead of the advertised price. Yet the form I printed states that the rebate was recorded. I gave in this first time and paid the extortionate fee, but I asked that the next billing (a month later) reflect the real fee for the package.
Two weeks later, I received a past due bill for $95.96. The bill was a mess, with some strange charges added and some unknown credit applied, but in the end the amount was still three times what I should pay.
I called and demanded to speak to a supervisor again. Anna ID#1596 took my call, and the same story was recited again. The claim had not been processed. The bill was overdue because I should have paid one month in advance the first time (since when?). Some fuzzy explanations about the other charges and credits were of no help to me.
I said I was not going to pay that amount, and a few dollars were removed here and there. The new total came to $90.61. I decided to think about it over the weekend.
On Monday morning (today) my service was cut off again. I called to cancel the service altogether, and immediately the carpetbagger hustling started again: perhaps something could be done. I refused and three times demanded to close the account, and then I was told that I would have to pay a cancellation fee.
Now, someone signing as J0hnnyv wrote a rebuttal. Well, I am sure he must have been told, but I was not. Obviously there are variations in the CSR performances. I wonder whether it could be gender related.
I will not pay such a fee, and I am filing a formal complaint with the FTC with copies to State Senator and Representative offices.
Television companies, and a few others, have been gouging us for long enough. It is time someone in authority took action to remedy this situation. I am not asking for everything free. I am asking only to pay for what I purchased and no more. Stop the game of fraudulent advertising and provide customers with written proof of the contract before it can be enforced.
A last comment: the installer made me sign a yellow form, and when I asked what it said (I am 67 and I cannot read the dense microscopic print on the back), he said that it was just to confirm that he had done the installation. If that is where the two-year commitment is written, this is abuse and borders on fraud also.
0 comments