I am the director for a non-profit consumer advocacy agency. We received a complaint from an 86 year old gentleman, I will call Mr. T, who was told my Direct TV that he could receive better TV service, more channels [including his favorite local] and it would cost less than he was currently paying. This was on July 14. He lived alone, as his wife of 63 years was residing in the local nursing home, so his TV was his only home "companion". Mr. T told them that sounded good, and would "try" it to see if it was better.
The elderly man's wife passed away two days later on July 16. The phone calls started during this time to bring the service to him, at which time Direct TV also had mailed [what was later discovered] a "contract" to him. Needless to say, no mail was opened during these few days, and the contract letter he was to sign, was neither read - nor signed. Mr. T knew nothing of a two-year contract. It was never mentioned during Direct Tv's "sales pitch", nor at any other time.
A daughter signed for the installation only, Mr. T realized immediately that he could not received his local channels, and he had been misled in every way. Since the Direct TV installer cut Mr. T's Media Com cable to use for their connection [I have found in my investigation, this is a common practice], the man could not re-connect his cable. He called Direct TV immediately and told them to remove their equipment. They refused, have continually harrassed him. Mr. T was distraught from his wife's death, and the threats from Direct TV, which were almost daily; that he was under a two year contract with them, and they were going to get their money "one way or another."
Mr. T and two of his daughters told Direct TV of the death of Mr. T's wife/their Mother, and were told that was not Direct Tv's problem... Very ugly to Mr. T and his family. I found this so egregious, I called Direct TV on behalf of the family, and was stunned at their "bullies" they call Customer Service Reps.
Direct TV charged Mr. T's credit card $480.08; Mr. T has no idea how they got the number, and when I spoke to the card company I was told it took three tries for Direct TV to get the cc number correct. Hmmm. This charge was removed.
This is a man, who at 86 1/2 years old, pays his auto insurance only 3 months in advance. [he told me "I'm 86 years old, I pay cash for my vehicles, I don't buy on credit, and I sure never agreed to a two-year contract with a TV company. I wake up every day hoping to get to see the next one. The only long term commitment for me was the 63 year marriage to my wife.."
Since there was no signed, returned "contract", Direct TV then stated that they had a "verbal" contract over the phone when he agreed to installation... He is still being harassed. When Direct TV received a letter from an attorney on Mr. T's behalf, they sent Mr. T boxes to send back the indoor equipment only. They still harass Mr. T and have now turned the harassment over to The CBE Group, Inc. A "debt collector" in the amount of $501.63.
$501.63 plus the continuing harassment and threats to a grieving old man who believed their lies and agreed to try their product. He has gotten nothing but approximately 3 hours of less quality TV, all the above mentioned headaches, and yet these people continue this process everyday.
One need only Google "Direct TV complaints" and page after page, site upon site reveal the unethical, and I believe in many cases, illegal business practices. Mr. T is a WWII Veteran who lives alone and like many elderly, depends on his television for "company". Is this one reason Direct TV seems to prey on the elderly? I am stunned more hasn't been done to stop these people. I certainly intend to try.
I know all of the facts in this case to be true, as Mr. T is my Father.
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