[Trayderjoe]

Recently we had an issue with our DirectTV equipment. The short of it is that a knowledgeable, polite service rep helped to identify that the remote may have keys worn out and would need to be replaced. Note that the remote is not damaged, but the receiver is not as responsive as it should be, so the first pass looks like a new remote should work. So far so good in terms of my interaction, but alas, DirectTV just doesn't seem to want to help itself.

You see, DirectTV is going to charge me (it is only $16, but it is the principle here) to replace a remote that is used to operate equipment for which I pay a monthly rental fee. The service rep attempted to cross sell me a monthly insurance service plan ($8.99 a month) so that the replacement remote would now be free, as well as any other equipment replacement. I pointed out that I am renting their equipment and that the receiver I rented was reconditioned in 2017 (there was a sticker on it to that effect), so if there was a problem with it, DirectTV would want me to either pay to replace it (remember it wasn't new to begin with), or if they did not have it available, they would want me to extend my contract to get new equipment.

I acknowledged that the service rep wasn't responsible for the company policy, so my issue was not with her. I let her know that I would pay for the remote (the hassle of using it as is is not worth it to me to save the money), but as soon as our contract expires in June, we would sever our relationship with DirectTV. I also let her know that we had left DirectTV once before and came back (this was before a DVR cloud was available, not to mention a $300 gift card and free NFL ticket for a year to return), but that DirectTV should not even bother with the emails asking me to return as it will never happen.

Side note: I will be taking photos of all equipment and their serial numbers that is returned to them AND will place a copy of the letter from them listing the equipment they specifically request returned. You see, when I ended the service the last time, they tried billing me for a piece of equipment which was returned to them, but someone on their end did not "check it off' upon receipt. This did get resolved favorably to me.

I know others "cut the cord" a while ago, and it now looks like a viable option for us-THANK GOODNESS!