Direct Tv
Sports Package Misrepresented and Promised Bill Credits Denied

From the moment I called to inquire about specific programs, and was put on hold by the salesman Mike every 2 minutes so he could "double check," the red flags should have gone up.

I clearly explained that I had just moved from the East coast and my sons were looking to watch East coast teams. Mike informed me that they offered a sports package for $11.99 a month. I was extremely interested, as my former provider charged around $150.00, so I agreed to cancel my former provider and switch to Direct TV. What a mistake!!!

The installer showed up 3 hours late to begin with, then informed me he did not have all the proper tools needed to complete the job, but somehow he would manage. Upon completion some 4 hours later, it was time to activate. He placed the call to the activation center and put me on the phone. Immediately, the representative began to rattle off charges I was not informed of, including $4.99 for each additional (in my case it was 4). She also said that the so-called $11.99 sports package was not major league teams but college, so I was completely turned off from the word go. I told the installer to go right back on my roof and remove the system, and I thought he was going to cry. He asked to speak to the rep and pleaded with her to resolve the matter as soon as possible. We had no choice, because I was not going to disappoint my children again, but to purchase the Major League package for a mere $150.00, although they would credit us 1 month. They had me by the neck, so I agreed. Upon signing the contract as a done deal, I clearly handwrote across the bottom that I was misled and lied to right from the start.

Then came the other issues. The signal? If a cloud so much as hiccupped, we would lose the signal, sometimes for hours. Cloudy or rainy days? Forget it!

I began calling on a regular basis to document my dissatisfaction and got nothing but brush-offs. On June 27, I called again and spent the better part of 2 hours on the phone with a supervisor named Aurie, who promised me he would continue the promotional rate of $29.00 for the remainder of my contract. What a joke!!!

I just got my first bill since the promotion ended and, yes, you guessed it, my charges are now nearly doubled. On August 7, at 6:10 pm, I called again to complain that I was being overcharged, but kept getting hung up on. I called again and again, and this time I thought I got lucky and found a rep (Richard, ID# 10039182) who cared. After going over and over my records, he agreed to credit my account $135.00, plus issue a credit of $10.00 a month for the remainder of my contract, plus upgrade me to the Plus package. Sounds great, right? Wrong!!! Richard put me on hold and never came back. The next thing I heard was a dial tone. I figured I was safe because I had his ID number, so I called back. This time I got a very rude man named Chris (ID# U2422), who told me it was easier to win the lottery than to get the same rep twice. He looked at the notes and agreed that Richard was in the process of issuing a credit, but his notes did not indicate the amount, and he found it "crazy" that Richard would make such an offer. I asked him if he was suggesting I was lying, and he again said the same thing. He said my complaints and issues were not worth a credit that high, but he would issue me a $60.00 credit. Of course I said no way, I wanted what was promised. He said, "I see I can't help you," and then, guess what, he hung up!!!

Now consumed with frustration, I called back and got Chrystal, who would not give her ID# and said I should have accepted Chris's credit because she was only willing to offer me $45.00. Are they kidding me??? This time I hung up! I called back again, now 3 hours later, and got Steve, who agreed I was entitled to something and promised me a call back from accounting within 1 hour. At 11 pm I did get a call back from Jessica, who claimed to be the accounting manager and informed me I was owed nothing and would get nothing!!! When I told her I was contacting the BBB, the State attorney general and my local TV station, she wished me good luck in a sarcastic manner and, yes, she hung up!!!

I have since called their headquarters, with no response, emailed them 3 times, with no response, and have filed a report with the BBB in California, who informed me that as of August 8 there are 5,191 complaints listed with them, and that is just in California!

Take my advice!!! Don't get Direct TV!!!

Company: Direct Tv
Country: USA
State: California
City: El Segundo
Address: 2230 East Imerial Highway

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