I am issuing a formal consumer complaint against DirectTV for what has amounted to a 'bait and switch' scam. Three months ago I responded to a promotion advertising $32 a month satellite television contract from DirectTV. I signed up for direct billing expecting them to honor the price as advertised. My family was disappointed by the picture quality and obtrusive satellite dish, but we thought we could live with all that for relatively low price of the monthly service.
One day I was checking my credit card statements and I was shocked to noticed that DirectTV was actually charging $52 a month. I called to question the bill, and after being put on hold, redirected to recorded lines, and 'accidentally' hung up on three separate time I was finally told that I in order to get the price promised I had to complete a rebate that had since expired.
I was never told during the sign up process, subsequent installation, or by mail that I was expected to perform any additional work to get the rate promised to me. After speaking with a supervisor, I was subsequently told that DirectTV is not responsible for honoring their commitment and was then scolded for being "slow" in not reading the fine print of the promotional advertisements. I was then informed that I would have to pay $280 if I wanted to end my 18 month contract.
I have never been more insulted or frustrated by a company. I feel that I have been lied to and cheated by this organization. A simple internet search has demonstrated dozens of similar consumer complaints against DirectTV (see below for just a few).
In order to resolve the dispute I would ask for one of the following two solutions:
1) DirectTV honors the $32 a month price as promised upon sign-up and installation, and that my family should be reimbursed for difference in the higher $52 rate paid thus far.
2) For DirectTV to break my contract with them, free of charge, on the basis they have not delivered the services at the price promised.
A google search or the terms "DirectTV" and "Bait and Switch" yield multiple pages of consumer complaints. Below are just a few
Http://usacomplaints.com/review/29.99-BAIT-amp-SWITCH-8095
http://www.mytwodollars.com/09/04/directtv-bait-switch/
http://www.thesqueakywheel.com/complaints/JUL/complaint40294. Cfm
http://newsgroups. Derkeiler.com/Archive/Misc/misc. Consumers-12/msg00233.html
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