For those with Direct TV, please be diligent about checking your bills. Here is my horror story about Direct TV. I hope that others could avoid what I went through.
I was a faithful Direct TV customer since 2000. Because I of my job, I had to cancel my service in 2003. Back then, service was good and monthly basic charge was only $30, which include Fox sport channels.in any case, I decided to move closer to work and had my Direct TV reinstalled in the summer of 2004. At the time I got it, there was the special deal for the NFL package for $60 per month, which included the premium package. As many know, the premium package run about $90 per month. This deal only lasted for about 16 weeks, the length of the NFL regular season.
In any case, one month before the deal expired, I got a called from Direct TV if I wanted to continue with the premium package. I explicit declined and wished to go to the basic package and the end of the deal. I thought that was it and everything should be taken care of. Unfortunately, much to my dismay, that was just the beginning of my problem with Direct TV. During this time I had Direct TV had charge directly to my credit card. They had insisted so from the first day of installation. I think that was a mistake for the consumer such as myself.
At any rate I did not know that Direct TV has been charging me the premium package rate at the end of the offer. I found this out when I got my credit card bill. I immediately contacted Direct TV’s customer service and contested it. The gentleman at Direct TV agreed to credit the charge back on the next billing cycle and agree to change my package to the basic. Also, I requested that a paper billing statement to be sent to my home and Direct TV no longer charge to my credit card.
I thought that was the end of it. However, the next credit card statement showed the same charge from Direct TV. I was a bit steam, because nothing has changed. It appeared that all my requests fell on deaf ears.
In any case, I called Direct TV about my problem. This time the person assured me that this time my billing will be changed. The funny thing was that all my requests were noted in their record. This time something did happen, my service was changed to the basic and so was the charge. However, they did not credit me back for the previous charges. After 2 more calls back, I finally got my credit. Every time I called them, I asked for a paper statement to be sent. However, they never sent for whatever reason. So at the end of my contract, I cancelled my Direct TV service.
Just this June, I reactivated my Direct TV. Before I reactivated, I ask the customer service about what charges and requirement. It was simple since I own the equipment. At the end of June, I got a bill for the month of June and also for July. I did not understand why I got charged for the month of July when it was just the beginning of July. Generally, one would get charged for service rendered. However, service was not rendered and I was charged already. I called Direct TV up about the bill, and a lady look at my account and she said it must be some sort of mistake. She told me to pay whenever I owe for the month of June. That was what I did and way in advanced of the due date. This month I got a warning from Direct TV that I was late on my payment and that they are going cut my service off unless I pay the prior month and next month’s charges. So I called them up again, and the first thing that this idiotic of a customer service guy name Martin told me reason for the charge was that I still least the equipment. I shot back. I asked him what sort of BS is that. He told me, “Whatever you want to call it that is the company’s policy.” I told him how could that be because I own the equipment. I explained to him that I called up the prior month and one of his people told me to pay for the prior a month and I don’t need to pay for the month in advanced. He responded that she was not part of the company. I was pissed and shocked by the answer. I figured that I wasn’t going to get anywhere with this guy. So I asked for his supervisor. I’m not even sure if Flora was his supervisor.in any case, I did not get any satisfaction from her, but more BS. I decided to cancel once and for all at that point.
I will never use Direct TV services again. That’s my vow. Too many blatant BSs… I think that the company operate on a very fine line, very close to a scam.
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