DirecTV
Billed $52 a Month After Ad Promised $32 Rate

This is my formal consumer complaint against DirectTV over what I consider a bait and switch. Three months back, I answered an ad offering satellite television for $32 a month under contract with DirectTV. I chose direct billing, assuming the advertised price would be applied. Neither the picture quality nor the bulky dish pleased my family, yet we figured we could tolerate both given the low monthly cost.

Then I looked over my credit card statements and was stunned to see DirectTV billing me $52 a month. I phoned to dispute it. I was left on hold, passed to recorded lines, and cut off "by accident" three separate times. At last someone told me that the promised price required me to submit a rebate, and that its deadline had already passed.

Nobody mentioned any extra step to me at sign-up, during the installation, or in any mailing. A supervisor then told me DirectTV has no obligation to keep its promise, and I got a lecture about being "slow" for skipping the fine print in the promotional ads. After that I was told that leaving my 18 month contract would cost me $280.

I have rarely felt so insulted and frustrated by a company. I believe this organization lied to me and cheated me. One quick online search turns up dozens of similar complaints about DirectTV.

To settle this, I am asking for one of two remedies:

1) DirectTV applies the $32 monthly price it promised when I signed up and had the service installed, and refunds my family the gap between that and the $52 we have been paying so far.

2) DirectTV releases me from the contract at no charge, since it has not provided the service at the price it promised.

Searching Google for "DirectTV" together with "Bait and Switch" brings up many pages of customer complaints.

Company: DirecTV
Country: USA

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