For years I had been with Adelphia, then Comcast. Last summer the AT&T agent pitched a DirecTV offer and I also received a postcard. The offer was to switch to DirecTV, with free installation and equipment and 6 months of the NFL ticket. After 5 months I called DirecTV and told the agent I didn't want the NFL ticket anymore; I wanted to keep my charges at about $60 per month, what it had been with Comcast. The agent told me to go online to the change the package, which I did. The Choice package still shows up on my account page.
About 3 months ago I noticed DirecTV charge had doubled to over $126 per month. I called and the third agent, a supervisor, informed me that they had posted notices on accounts that the original package would renew unless cancelled AGAIN. It was my responsbility to read notices on my account every month. And, since the season had started, they could not cancel or remove the NFL ticket. So, now I am paying for Choice AND the NFL ticket, even though we don't watch any sports. Obviously DirecTV is trying to recoup those 6 "free" months and the equipment installation. I threatened to complain, so she offered to take $20 off per month. I declined. I have sent an email complaint to Ellen Filipiak, Sr. VP, Customer Care, and hard copy complaints to Michael White, President & CEO with copies to Filipiak and Larry Hunter, EVP/General Counsel.
I have also filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission and will be filing complaints with the Florida State Attorney General (since the California State AG doesn't seem to care, given directions on his website), the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's internet crime department, as DirecTV's business crosses state lines and complaints are extensive. I did a search of class action suits against DirecTV anf there are many. One comment was that DirecTV is the "perennial class action defendent". I fully intend to join one of these suits or start another one with my complaint. The question is: Why is DirecTV still in business? Until Ms. Filipiak fixes the problem with my account, I full intend to pursue every avenue. Maybe Ms. Filipiak would like to appear on 60 Minutes and explain how DirecTV's businesses practices are ethical and lawful.
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