Any tips on getting away from Directtv, they keep ... - Page 2

Spurt · ‎03-20-2010

It looks like the State Attorney Generals Offices have gotten involved ....What State are you in. Read these Blogs: GOOD LUCK!!!

https://tvanswerman.com/2017/03/07/directv-settles-ftcs-deceptive-practices-lawsuit/

http://ctwatchdog.com/business/directv-will-provide-restitution-nationwide-for-violating-consumer-pr...

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced that DIRECTV will provide restitution to consumers for numerous alleged violations of consumer protection laws, including deceptive advertising, contracts, pricing and promotional offers, as well as failure to clearly disclose cancellation fees.

The restitution is part of a nationwide settlement involving 49 states and the District of Columbia. Blumenthal’s office helped negotiate the settlement in cooperation with Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr.

“DIRECTV was anything but direct with consumers, conning them with confusing contracts, deceptive ads and misleading promotions,” Blumenthal said. “This was classic bait and switch — hooking consumers with phony discounts and then hitting them with hidden charges. Consumers thought they were getting a deal only to get clipped. Customers who caught on and canceled were sometimes clobbered with substantial cancellation fees.

“This settlement compels DIRECTV to turn off these abusive practices and provide customers with restitution — money back for unfair charges.

https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/legal/equipment_lease_addendum

I am so glad I do NOT have DirectTV!!!! WOW Boy it looks like Direct TV covered every angle of their contract covered and tied it neatly with a bow....I read the leasing agreement on line it says:

If you received this agreement in connection with replacing like for like receiver(s)/Genie Mini(s) because of a defect, you are still bound by the Programming Agreement and Early Cancellation Fee provisions of your original Equipment Lease Agreement as well as Part Two below, which applies to all customers.

Read this consumer blog AND the responses............

http://ctwatchdog.com/govt/directv-complaint-contract-renews-with-each-replacement-of-defective-equi...

Animals are reliable, full of love, true in their affections, grateful. Difficult standards for people to live up to.”

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

I wish I could cut the cable cord and get rid of one bill!

The thing is, I don't watch news or local network programming except for Survivor and The Amazing Race, so going with just over the air wouldn't be good for me.

We do have Netflix but it's a rare occasion that I will watch a movie, I'm too antsy and can't still for that long of a period. I don't watch a lot of serials either. A lot of what I do watch isn't offered on Netflix and if it is, I've probably already seen it a thousand times.

I guess most times the television is on just for background noise!

Katcat1 · ‎07-21-2011

I was with the other guy and when I broke the contract (I was moving) they were so rude. They do not pick up their equipment. I don't remember everything that happened but I never paid any penalties. Just tell them you will contact the attorney general in your state about lying to you regarding a contract. Yes, people are sick of the high costs of watching tv.

kindness is strength

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

We have had DISH for 18 yrs but we are not in a contract. They tried to put us on another one when we changed equipment to the Hopper 3. I told them No. We have been a customer long enough & not doing a 2 yr contract & they said ok. We have already had it over a year so it would not have mattered. I'm seriously considering changing our packaging to a lesser price & start using some stick my DH uses. We are now paying $120 per month & there is still not much on TV to watch.

I doubt you can get out of the contract. Change your package to the cheapest they have until the contract ends.

software · ‎06-08-2016

@petepetey wrote:
We've been a customer for over 16 years. We are now going to cut the cord and go with various streaming services at a much lower cost.

Just this past March we had to have a new box for directtv because it broke. I guess when you get one of those they stick you with an oral agreement to stay with them for 24 months. We actually asked the guy installing it if we were stuck to a contract and he said 'no'. ( I told customer service this, they didn't care)

So I have spent a few hours on the phone trying to end our contract with them and so far we will be stuck paying over $400 to end our contract with them.

As we all know equipment breaks. Each time you get one replaced you are again stuck with 24 months of service.

How do you get out of contracts with them? Help.

See if you can reason with someone in the "customer retention" department

They will still put you on a 2-year contract but maybe they can discount your bill or give you some perks to make it worth your while.

I've been with them for 14 years and I refuse to upgrade to anything because I don't want to get stuck with the 2 year contract.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

It's so wrong that they can say that you agreed to a contract to which you never agreed.

I'm glad more people are seeing this and doing something about it.

When I was getting ready to leave ATT (for landline and internet), they told me that I was in the middle of a contract. I am one thousand percent positive that I never agreed to any contract period. Absolutely no doubt about it.

But - they said that I was under contract and it would cost me $x to leave them. I wanted to leave even more, but I got myself set up and left a couple of months later and just paid the amount. Granted, it was nowhere near as much as DTV is nailing you for, but it was worth what little I paid (less than $100) to get outta dodge.

I hope you are able to find a way. I really like cable and there is nothing that could convince me to go with either of the satellite companies for my tv or anything. Now, I have my cable co for tv, internet, and landline. So far, so good and it's been just over a year since the switch.

HappyDaze · ‎06-13-2012

I had an issue with Direct TV about 16 years ago and will never ever use them again. I actually had to send in a written letter from a lawyer for them and that finally resolved the issue.

But, unfortunately, almost all the companies now lock you into a contract for a certain amount of time any time you want to upgrade your box or, as in your case, it broke. Back in the day, when a box broke they simply replaced it. Now, it is a way to lock you in or make you pay more per month for the "maintenance fee" that will cover a broken box. Either way, you pay more. So you either need to bite the bullet and pay the maintenance fee or be okay with a contract or simply don't use any of these companies.

I've been wanting to upgrade my Dish to the Hopper because the one we got years ago is POC and hardly has enough room to record anything but the only way I can do that is to be stuck in a contract and I don't want to be so I deal with the one I have. Ours did break awhile ago but they gave us a new one free FOR JUST THAT ONE TIME because I threatened to just leave them completely. I can wield that power since I am currently NOT in a contract with them. I would have had absolutely no negotiating power if I were already locked into a contract. Hence the reason I will never lock myself into a contract again.

It is also important that you read the fine print before doing anything next time. The people who install the boxes, etc are NOT Directv employees- this is contracted out to other companies and therefore do not know all the rules and you should never rely on anything they say to your or promise. They actually aren't even suppose to be promising you anything and they are suppose to direct you to CS. Nothing they say is binding.

Good luck to you.

itsmagic · ‎08-08-2011

I agree - contact your attorney general's office and file a complaint.

@chickenbutt Your reply resonated with me. I recently got rid of AT&T for landline and internet too and went with cable for everything (I used to have Dish for tv). The Dish was no problem but AT&T was another story. When I told them I was leaving the rep said I would get a refund. Instead a month later I received a bill for money past due. When I called to inquire about it the rep was practically threatening me. I just paid the amount (which wasn't much) and said to myself good riddance.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

itsmagic wrote:
I agree - contact your attorney general's office and file a complaint.

@chickenbutt Your reply resonated with me. I recently got rid of AT&T for landline and internet too and went with cable for everything (I used to have Dish for tv). The Dish was no problem but AT&T was another story. When I told them I was leaving the rep said I would get a refund. Instead a month later I received a bill for money past due. When I called to inquire about it the rep was practically threatening me. I just paid the amount (which wasn't much) and said to myself good riddance.

Yikes! That's kinda harsh. The only part that was more frustrating to me than being told I was on a one-year contract was that when I asked to speak to somebody higher up and couldn't get there.

Now, one might say 'well, then, you should have pushed it or called back', and I get that but I'm at a point where I really have to pick my battles. I needed to get away from ATT big time not only for this reason, but the orignal reason in that the service for landline and internet had become positively horrid.

At the time, I was told (I had to lok it up - couldn't remember the deets) that I would have to pay $90 to disconnect with them. No ifs ands or buts about it.

So, I just took my time and in the next month or so I got myself set up with Charter for the rest of my svcs (already had Charter for cable tv for decades) and then when I called to disconnect ATT it was down to $60 and I said 'fine, bill me' and I paid it.

Like you said, it was worth it to move away from ATT.

Here's the interesting thing - well, first the aggravating thing - ATT started sending me all kinds of literature to go to ATT and DTV (ATT acquired them or something).

But the interestingly GOOD thing is that in the 13 months I've had my internet with Charter I have not had one single spam email. (hope I don't jinx it) YET, with ATT, I had quite a few spam emails every single day across my three email addresses. I'm not totally sure what, but that does say something.

BornToShop · ‎03-10-2010

DH & I had Directv for 16 yrs & have excellent service. We relocated & could only get Brighthouse cable who has recently became Spectrum. What a nightmare. I would take back Directv in a heartbeat if we could. I don't think there is any one sacred/special cable company out there. What annoys me is having to deal with these so-called customer service experts who could care less. All cable companies have them.