I had been a Dish Network customer for 4 years and didn't have too many problems until last month (August) when I decided to upgrade my service to High Def.
I called their 800 number and started ordering my service. The customer service person told me I had to pay $100 for the new receiver box even though they advertise "free equipment." I argued that my current receiver was free but he said being I was an "existing customer", I had to rent the High Def box and it was $100. I reluctantly paid them with a credit card.
I set up an installation date because High Def requires a new dish as well. The first installer (there wound up being 3) came out, did a site survey and told me in order to get High Def, we needed to place a pole in the middle of my front yard due to the amount of trees. I told him to forget the whole thing.
He called someone and told me Dish Network was putting up a new satellite in the EASTERN sky on August 22nd (mine was pointing southwest) and there would be no tree problems. I decided to wait because the new dish would be simply replacing the old dish in the same location on the house.
Installer #2 comes out at 4:30 pm (window was noon to 5pm). Dish Net had given him the "wrong" work order so he had the wrong receiver box therefore he could not complete the installation. This upset me because I took the day off work and lost about $250 in wages. I rescheduled for the next day but the installer called me and told me the 211 receiver box I needed was back ordered.
Another week goes by and the 3rd guy comes out but as before, his work order from Dish Net was "wrong" so he had the wrong dish. I told him to simply forget it. I was pissed off. At this point he promised that he would make sure he had the correct dish and receiver the next day. I gave them one more chance.
The installer (a sub contractor) came out as promised, did an excellent job installing the new "Eastern Arc" dish, and connected the new receiver. I was happy until he called Dish Network to "activate" the receiver.
Dish Network REFUSED to activate the receiver because "Eastern Arc is for NEW customers ONLY".
Loyal existing customers (like me) were NOT allowed to have an Eastern Arc dish even though there was no way to install a Western Arc dish without sticking a damn pole in my front yard. Nobody told me this when the 1st installer was there talking to Dish Net on the phone.
The poor installer shook his head and handed me the phone. I told the bimbo on the other end to let me speak with her supervisor. The supervisor named Levi (employee ID S.B.U.) out and out told me I could not have "Eastern Arc" because I was an existing customer. I argued that my former 2 year commitment was expired so I should qualify as a new customer. He couldn't care less. I threatened to report him to his boss and the BBB but I got nowhere.
I immediately canceled my existing account and demanded they return the $100 I paid for the new receiver. They transferred me to somebody else who actually tried to convince me to stay with them. I completely lost my temper, told her I lost over $750 in wages waiting for installation and she finally canceled my contract. Never again!!!
If anybody else out there wants to start a Class Action, count me in!
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