I signed up for Dish Network about eight months ago. At the time, I moved into a newly developing area in the Phoenix valley and digital cable was not available on my street. The service has been great, but my complaint is regarding them automatically debiting my checking account without my approval. I was recently laid off at my job. I had one check coming that had to be used for payments on necessities (car, food, gas, etc.). I am currently awaiting to start a new job and despite a delinquency I have on my account (due to me being unemployed), they SHOULD NOT be allowed to just take money out of my account, even If I have paid using my debit card before.
On August 3rd I made a deposit and discovered my balance was unusually low. The banker advised me that there were two pending charges from Dish Network. One was for $2 and the other one was for $18.00. I told her I didn't authorize these and she recommended that I dispute them. I called the 1-800 number for my bank when I got home and they said I had to wait until the charges cleared before they could do anything.
On August 6th the charges finally cleared. I called and tried to dispute these charges through my bank and they told me that it couldn't be done because I opened the account using the same debit card. I asked how that isn't considered stealing and their explanation was that I entered a contract with Dish Network when I opened the account using the card. Well excuse me, but I don't recall signing ANYTHING that said Dish had the right to just go into my checking account like a thief in the middle of the night and take money out whenever they see fit.
Having come to no avail with my bank (Washington Mutual), I called Dish Network to try and resolve the issue. I was told that they could not remove the charge because the account was in default and that I would probably be charged for an early termination of the contract. I told the associate I would not be able to pay for at least a month. At this point I was still peeved because I needed to hang on to any and all money I have until I get another check, and I was still mad that they undermined me, but since it was only $20.00, I let it go realizing I probably couldn't do anything about it. I wasn't overdrawn and I wasn't flat broke yet, so it wasn't as big of a deal as it would soon come to be.
Sometime between the afternoon (3 PM AZ time) of August 6th and and morning of August 7th (10 AM), Dish Network obviously felt that they didn't have enough money and that they would just collect the remaining $126.00 owed on the account. This put my checking account overdrawn by $170.00. I WAS PISSED! At that moment, I called my bank and yelled at them to do something. I demanded to speak with the highest person up stating that I WAS NOT going to pay for this and they need to have it removed immediately. I spoke with a manager and cancelled the debit card (I should have done this day before) and was transferred to the fraud department.
I am disputing all three charges made to my account. It also just happens I have the number to the corporate office because of another incident back in March regarding them trying to charge me two months of premium channels without canceling them when it was in fact a free promotion when I signed up. At that time I sent a letter to Charlie Ergen (The CEO) and sent it certified mail. I got a response back within a week and the problem was handled. I will be calling Dish corporate tomorrow and ending the contract with them which I now deem inevitably to be misleading and fraudulent.
For the record, if anyone wishes to write the CEO of Dish Network (Echostar Satellites), the proper person to address is:
Charlie Ergen
Chairman & CEO
9601 South Meridian Blvd.
Englewood, Co. 80112
If you would rather place a call to their corporate offices, the phone number to call is (720) 514-7839.
I hope this helped and I wish anyone good luck if they have had similar problems. It will take me a week to know whehter or not the charges will be disputed, as it is now being investigated. Regardless, I warned the corporate office that if something like this happened again, I would NEVER be a customer and would spread the word like a wildfire. They have clearly blown it where I'm concerned.
Tickedconsumer2007
Queen Creek, Arizona
U.S.A.
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