I've had issues with the Comcast/Direct TV joint service with the LYND Company from the beginning back in October. My TV would freeze on certain channels for several minutes (sometimes hours) and I would end up missing whatever show I was trying to watch. It got so bad that I stopped watching TV at all for a few weeks until a service guy told me they had FINALLY worked out all the kinks. It did get better, but the problems continued...
The TV basic service was supposed to be "FREE" as promised from the LYND COMPANY (Timberlinks in Denton) upon signing of the lease, and we were only to be responsible for paying for the additional premium services (HD, HBO, HD-DVR) through PRIMECAST/DIRECT TV at around $44/month.
THEN, after we had signed up for service and paid the first few months at the agreed upon rate, the Lynd Company decided to start charging the residents here a $45 convenience fee (even though they aren't the cable provider) for having the basic cable service. With almost 500 units in our apartment complex, that's over $21,000 extra per month that they are trying to collect on top of the rent! Since we had been told the basic TV service was FREE and included in the amount on our lease, I contacted the apartment complex and they modified my lease to reflect a $45 reduction in the rent so we would now still be responsible for the AGREED upon cost. We now have to pay in two seperate checks: one check for our original rent minus $45 and the other, a $45 check for TV. Problem solved, right? WRONG!
Recently I received a bill from PRIMECAST for over $250 out of the blue! I have been paying the $45 every month to the apartment complex (which is ridiculous) AND I have been paying the Direct TV bill that I've been receiving every month since October and have a $0 balance. WHY THEN did I receive this bill? It was a combination of double billing from PRIMECAST and DIRECT TV (which was worked out over the phone) plus an additional HIDDEN and NEVER BEFORE DISCLOSED FEE from PRIMECAST for "additional services". The rep on the phone actually said that it is a FEE we are suddenly being charged retroactively from PRIMECAST for paying for the additional premium services from DIRECT TV. They are charging a FEE for us to PAY EXTRA! This is UNACCEPTABLE!
The so-called "FREE" basic service is ACTUALLY around $45 PLUS a $10 tax FEE to pay the additional $44 for the premium services. NOWHERE did it say that we would be charged A FEE from PRIMECAST to subscribe and pay for the premium services through DIRECT TV.
To top it off... Primecast is the only service provider that the Lynd Company will allow Timber Links in Denton residents to use. If we could choose our own provider, we could get much faster and much more consistent and convenient service for a better price.
Where we stand now: We were told the PRIMECAST TV package was FREE and INCLUDED in our rent. (which was a lie) We then were given a DIRECT TV brochure with a very detailed listing of the charges we would encur for the various services for which we agreed to pay. THEN, after 10 months, we receive a bill for a retroactive FEE that was NEVER DISCLOSED and not in our LEASE AGREEMENT (contrary to what the PRIMECAST guy told me on the phone).
After all this, I have come to the conclusion that the bulk of the blame lies with the LYND company for the nondisclosure of the fees for the use of the PRIMECAST TV service. They were intentionally misleading in the hidden $45 that was "included in our rent" AND they did not make known any additional fees we would incur should we pay to purchase the premium services through DIRECT TV. HOWEVER, PRIMECAST is ultimately VERY SHADY and completely ridiculous in charging a FEE for us to PAY MORE. I can't believe it is a company policy to charge their customers a FEE just because they want to buy additional services. As shady of a policy as this may be... I still believe that the LYND company should pay this "FEE" since the PRIMECAST service was supposed to be "FREE" in the first place. They are making a killing off of the residents through this plan and at this point I would NOT recommend them to ANYONE looking for a place to live.
I plan to go to the apartment complex with the now reduced back bill of over $100 and see if they can take care of it since this was a nondisclosed fee we were not made aware of when we signed the lease. I will post a rebuttal ASAP if it is taken care of, but if it is not then I will post this on EVERY site I can find including the BBB.
AD
Denton, Texas
U.S.A.
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