Today I received a congratulatory letter thanking me for signing for DirectTV's Protection Plan. The problem is I had no idea they even had one. They've signed me up for a monthly fee of $5.99 without my consent.
I can only guess that the jerk who handled my complaint call, about the crappy installation job, (disconnecting the cable internet from the splitter underneath my house), decided to add this service to my account.
It's Christmas day so, I'm not surprised that no one was available to take my call... Wait just a minute! This DirectTV Protection Plan promises 24 hours a day, 7 days a week service! Well now I know just how that promise is kept.
I did, however, get an automated system to agree to cancel the service. But wait, there was a $10 dollar CANCELLATION FEE! You've got to be kidding. I have to pay to cancel a service I've never signed up for in the first place!
As far as the Protection Plan, the coverage is for services the average person would expect as standard service maintenance or regular cost associated with doing business and not something they'd be expected to pay extra for.
Services being offered by Protection Plan:
*Technical support over the phone
*Replacement of bad rented equipment
*Home technical support if needed to restore service
As you can see these are are basic cost of doing business for this type of company, and there for should be incorporated into the monthly fees charged for the services being offered.
I can't believe DirectTV seriously thinks these types of business practices are even remotely ethical. As consumers, we've got to put our foot down on this type of nickel and dime billing practices and scams. We need to let DirectTV and others like them know that we will look else where for more fair minded business models.
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