On or about feb 1 dish network ran a full page ad in the fresno bee offering their services of a satellite tv system. In the ad they offered several movie stations and for an extra $5.00 per month the ad offered local tv stations. When I responded to the ad I reached a marketing company that dish network had contracted with, I informed the person on the phone that I was interested in their services and pay the extra $5.00 per month for my local tv stations.
The person I was speaking with informed me that the local stations in my area were not available with their service but I could order the network stations from another city, the cities I could choose from were new york, chicago, houston, los angeles and another city.
I informed her that I preferred my local station but that I would settle for the la stations. She told me that would be fine and she would put in a waiver to the la stations so I could receive them, but never told me that the waiver can be denied. I have since found out that waivers are never granted and always denied. This is false rep.
Anyway I orders the service with the idea that I was going to get the network stations from la and gave them permission to withdrawal $49.99 from my american express account for the first month billing.
They would then bill me for the monthly services. At no time did I authorize any other withdrawals from my amex account. Within a few days the installer came and installed the dish. Everything was fine except that the la stations were not on the service.
I called dish network and they said it would take a few days for the waiver to go through so just hang in there. At no time did they mention that waivers are never granted. About 2 weeks went by and still no network stations so I called them again and they assured me that it would only be a few more days and I would have the network stations.
Well on the 31st day still no network stations so I called dish network and asked them where are my network stations. They then informed me that my waiver had been denied from the la stations. I then told them to come pick up their dish and box and they had the nerve to tell me that since it had been longer then 30 days I was in violation of my contract and that I would have to pay a $240 penalty.
I asked them why they had not informed me that the waiver had been denied at an earlier date or that there was even the possibility that a waiver could be denied. Their answer was less then informing and repeated that I was in violation of the agreement.
I told them that they were the ones in violation of the agreement for being so misleading about waivers. Please remember, waivers are never granted, and they know that. I sent back their satellite boxes. Then I get the big surprise on my amex bill. $240!!
At no time did I authorize this charge. Then today 3-18-02 I get a collection notice for $436. For what I don't know. It has been one giant nightmare but I'm going to fight back. I will join any class action suit if I hear of one or in a few days I'm going to go to small claims. Don't give your $ to these ripoffs!
Mike
fresno, California
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