I signed up to get Direct TV for only $29.99 per month. WOW! Sounds like an awesome deal. NOT!!!
This was ordered through a promotion offered by Cincinnati Bell & Cincinnati Bell took my order.
I was then contacted by the Direct TV representative, telling me that I need to go to their rebate web site to insure I get the $29.99 price. This MUST be done BEFORE Tuesday. (the date my Direct TV & Cinti Bell Internet service was scheduled to be installed)
Ok GREAT. However, while reading about how the rebate works, I learned that I was signing up for a full 2 year contract agreement with Direct TV and the rebate would only apply for ONE year. The rebate broke down as follows: I would get a credit of $25.00 per month from Direct TV another $5.00 credit per month through Cinti Bell. The additional $5.00 credit was for signing up through Cincinnati Bell. Total Rebate Credit per month: $30.00.
On top of this, it said there would be a $400.00 early disconnection fee if I were to cancel before the 2 year contract.
This troubled me, Am I to understand that after the 1st year, my bill would then be $59.99 per month?
So before confirming, I immediately called Direct TV back and voiced my concerns about what I had just read.
The lady assured me that after the 1st year, my monthly bill would only go up $10.00 per month.
OK, I believed her. I went back and confirmed everything.
Tuesday comes and everything gets installed. BTW, I also had to agree to a direct payment for my monthly Direct TV bill.
Now on April 16th I was looking at my bank statement. OMG, Direct TV charged me $49.85 on April 15th.
Soooooooo, I spend hours & hours on the phone, trying to get this all straightened out. I talked to 3 or 4 different supervisors from Direct TV.
It turns out that someone from Direct TV, took it upon themselves to send me out the more expensive HD DVR box instead of the standard box which was initially ordered through Cincinnati Bell. This is why I was charged $49.85 instead of $29.99. WELL SLAP ME UPSIDE THE HEAD but HOW WAS I SUPPOSE TO KNOW???
I assume whatever box the installer is putting in my home, is the same box that Cincinnati Bell arranged for me to get for $29.99 per month.
The last Direct TV Supervisor I spoke with, explained to me that in order for them now to exchange the box to a standard box, they must 1st charge me $149.00 & then I would get that credited back to me after they receive the HD DVR box back in the mail. OMG, are they out of their freaking minds or what?
No other option? Are you serious?
He was indeed sorry, but it was not within his own power to send me out another box without 1st charging me the $149.00 deposit fee. However, after further discussions, I learned that it WAS within his own power to waive the early cancellation fee, if I elected to cancel my contract agreement right then & there. (So I THOUGHT! I was actually LIED to for the 2nd time by a DirectTV Rep) because the Supervisor did confirm to me that I was correct in suspecting that after the 1st year my bill was going to increase another $30.00 per month. He assures me that he will still be looking into this case and reviewing the phone calls. Hopefully, THAT particular call was recorded when the lady lied to me and said it would only increase another $10.00 per month.
Latest UPDATE!
Http://www.youtube.com/watch? V=rpNW34BdhUA
Installation was performed on 3/29.
1st bill of $49.85 was debited on 4/15. (should have been $29.99
Services was cancelled immediately on 4/16.2011 with promise of waiving the early cancellation fee by a Direct TV Supervisor (ACE Group)
On May 16th, Direct TV cleaned out my checking account with a $389.14 debit to my account.
AND Even after cleaning out my checking account for $389.14, DirectTV sent me an email on May 16th saying that my account is past due & I still owe them $42.15 which they plan to charge the debit card I have on file with them.
If a similar circumstance occurs with YOU, do NOT believe ANYTHING they tell you over the phone.
Cancel your Debit Card with your bank IMMEDIATELY, so they can not steal your money as they stole mine.
NEVER do a direct debit via a checking account number. It's less hassle to get a new debit card with a new number than to close out your checking account & open a new checking account. (advice from my bank)
In Addition:
File a complaint with your State's Attorney General, they will also forward the complaint to the BBB for you as well.
I consulted my attorney and he told me that contacting the Attorney General was the best thing I could have done, because my attorney is aware of class action lawsuits against DirectTV for this exact type of business practice.
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