On 9/11 I contacted Directv to possibly become a new customer. Multiple Directv representatives repeatedly promised that I would receive 130 HD channels if I signed up @ $49.99/mo. For the first 12 months and $75.99/mo. After that. I was also required to sign a new 2 year agreement with them. My cable plan only offered 90 channels and was over $90/month so I made the switch. One thing Directv required was a ONE TIME approval of $25 via a credit card to cover the "potential" shipping costs of the equipment. They said this would be released by my financial institution in 10 days.
On 9/13/09 my equipment was installed & service activated at 6:00 P.M. That Sunday night. I started going through the HD choices and didn't feel like I had that many, so I actually counted the HD channels & found only 52.
On 9/14 I called customer. Service. Multiple reps assured me I should be receiving at least 100 HD channels. Finally a rep confirmed that I would be only getting 52 HD channels. It was at that point that I became nervous and asked them to deliver what I was promised. There was no reason for me to switch if I was going to get less channels I said. The rep then offered me a $50 credit for my trouble, which I refused. Then I was offered a $75 credit by yet another rep which I also refused. I explained the only thing I wanted was what they promised to me. The rep explained that they could offer me the package I was promised but ONLY at the higher rate of $109.99/mo. And there was nothing they could do further. I IMMEDIATELY cancelled my service as to not do business with a company that engages in BAIT & SWITCH & since I was within the 24 hour window, I would avoid the early termination fee (ETF). I was adamant that I could not afford the ETF and they guaranteed me that I would not be charged the ETF since I cancelled before 24 hours was up.
Then on 9/21 Directv placed a hold of $460 on my checking account for the ETF. They did this by using the credit card number I gave them to cover "potential" shipping costs when signing up.
On 9/21/09 my bank assessed $29 fee for overdraft.
On 9/22/09 I became aware of the fee and the hold. I immediately phoned Directv. The first rep said I would be charged the ETF because I cancelled on the 9/14, but the cancellation did not take effect until 9/15/09. I immediately demanded that the rep escalate the complaint to a supervisor. The Directv supervisor admitted that the hold was not valid & should have never occurred. But, in order for my bank to release the hold from my checking account, I had to have a Directv rep confirm that the hold was not valid. I made a conference call with my bank & Directv so they could verify the mistake & release the hold of the funds.
On 9/23 I discovered that instead of reversing the approval, Directv processed the debit to my account of $460. I immediately called Directv and was told there was nothing I could do and that they submitted the request that a credit be issued to me through their "finance dept." and the credit could take up to 6 - 8 weeks to process.
On 9/23/09 My bank charged me for 3 more overdrafts @ $29 each. My bank is aware of the problem and has reversed the fees up to this point, but I am struggling now as a result of this mess and can't pay for food or gas for the week. I have spent over 10 hours of my life on the phone with them and they are beating me down. I truly believe this company's practices need fully investigated.
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