Due to signal related issues with my equipment and the need to reduce unnecessary spending for awhile, I called Dish Network on 7/25 to cancel my tv services with them. During the call, I was advised that an Early Termination Fee would be assessed to my account due to the amount of time left in my agreement with them. When I asked the rep to advise me of the date that the fee would be charged to my Dish Network account (and subsequently my checking acct), I was told that the ETF would be charged to the CC on file on or after the due date of my final bill. I told the rep that I did not want the fee to be charged to my card, as I wanted to make the final payment via Money Order.
The rep advised me that I could not stop the final payment to my card as I agreed to it in the terms when I signed up for the service, but he reassured me that the fee wouldn't be charged until on or after the due date of the final bill. On 8/28, I received a final statement from Dish Network in the amount of $413.97, due on 9/12. This included a balance of $98.97 and an ETF of 315.00.
On 9/1 (my nearest pay date), I noticed that my account was overdrawn due to a $315.00 hold. I immediately called Dish Network and spoke with an agent and his supervisor, both of who advised me that they did in fact charge the account earlier than the due date, and that it was "in their right to do so as stated in my agreement". When I asked both reps to point this section of the agreement out to me, they could not locate it (nor could I).
When I asked the supervisor to have the charge reversed until the due date of my bill (which is when I was expecting the charge per the 1st CSR and my final bill), I was advised that all charges are nonrefundable. When I asked to speak with someone above him, I was hung up on.
Initially, I was planning to pay the ETF on 9/12 and the balance on the payday after. I was also planning to return to DISH in about 6-8 months when I could afford it, but I most certainly will not thanks to DISH customer service (or lack thereof).
Summary of losses:
Bank
$75.00 Returned ACH fee (25.00 x3)
Telephone
$20.00 Returned ACH fee (AutoPay)
$5.00 Late fee
Internet
$5.00 Late fee
Credit Card
$29.00 Late fee Penalty APR
Work
$475.00 (50 paid hours @$9.50/hr - I work for a home-based call center and the charge from DISH prevented me from being able to make a payment to the place I rented my work PC from. I was forced to return it on 9/4. This prevented me from being able to perform my job.)
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