DIRECTV subscribers alert

[judyandlon]

We just received our DIRECTV billing statement. It was $7.37 higher than all previous billings. The cause was a new charge for DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN. We never ordered this. A call to customer service was made and their response was that they thought that we needed the plan. They did agree to refund the charge. Makes one wonder how many customers just pay it.

[JSR22]

I just switched from Direct to Dish. Every month I was on the phone because my bill changed. The final straw last month when it went up $37.

[John_W]

We just received our DIRECTV billing statement. It was $7.37 higher than all previous billings. The cause was a new charge for DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN. We never ordered this. A call to customer service was made and their response was that they thought that we needed the plan. They did agree to refund the charge. Makes one wonder how many customers just pay it.

I've always had the protection plan since I started with Directv in 2008, back then it was $5.99, it's now $8.99. Fortunately in 11 years I've never had a box break down or get fried by lightning or a satellite dish connection or wiring problem. In fact I've only had two main boxes, the first I only had it replaced because I wanted a DVR, so I got that five years ago. However, without the plan, service calls start at $50 a up depending what is done.

Since AT&T took over Directv, you don't get the great discounts that you could negotiate for and they seem to not care if you leave. The previous two years I got NFL Sunday Ticket for free, this year I had to pay to get it, and that's main reason I stay with Directv. I can watch any NFL game I want and record in HD about 250 hours on my DVR. I think their subscribership a few years ago was 30 million and now I believe they are down to 20 million. Of course the online TV services and those jail-break Firesticks have taken away a lot of business.

If you go to their website you can make an account page and see exactly what you are billed for and you can make changes without even calling or pay your bill online. However, I always prefer to call when I want something changed because they'll say, oh you've been with us since 2008 and then they always try to work things out to your benefit. If you don't like what they offer, ask to speak to a supervisor.

[BobnBev]

I just switched from Direct to Dish. Every month I was on the phone because my bill changed. The final straw last month when it went up $37.

Same here, and I love DISH.

[Aw Man]

I just switched from Direct to Dish. Every month I was on the phone because my bill changed. The final straw last month when it went up $37.

I’ve been with Direct TV for 10 months. I’ve never had a change to the monthly billing amount.
I can’t believe your claim that Direct TV has changed your bill each month without good reason.
I’d guess that someone in your home, perhaps without your knowledge, has been selecting and watching “pay per view” movies and/or tv shows or series.

[Nucky]

Wait Grasshopper, you'll see! :1rotfl:

[JSR22]

I’ve been with Direct TV for 10 months. I’ve never had a change to the monthly billing amount.
I can’t believe your claim that Direct TV has changed your bill each month without good reason.
I’d guess that someone in your home, perhaps without your knowledge, has been selecting and watching “pay per view” movies

and/or tv shows or series.
My husband does not order movies. That was never the increase. Wait until month 13 and watch out!

[Aw Man]

My husband does not order movies. That was never the increase. Wait until month 13 and watch out!

You originally said you dropped Direct TV because your bill changed EVERY MONTH not because it changed in month 13. The agreement I have with them is very clear that the price will increase in the 2nd year.

[Nucky]

I don't have Direct anymore. I did have them for more than a dozen years. As soon as AT&T bought them let's spin the wheel to see what your bill will be every month. Overall the service is great it's the the guy behind the curtain who does this billing razzle dazzle to so many people and most people just pay the bill, they don't really notice. That is exactly what they are counting on, chumps!

I had three months in a row with wildly different bills and hours on the phone with Direct to get squared away and it didn't work. I stream now.

[eeroger]

I agree DirecTV is a RIP off. However, if you are a sports fan, this is the only option, even without the sports packages. We thought about switching to Dish last Sept, but because of a contract problem, one of the main sports channels went away. Glad we stayed with DTV.

[Rzepecki]

I called DirecTV in month 12 and negotiated a 2nd year discount. However, at the end of the contract, I will be going elsewhere. I need reliable TV during storms and satellite doesn’t fill the bill.

[JSR22]

I did not have a yearly agreement it changed monthly. People with a yearly agreement will see a change on the 13 month.

[Mmarr]

Live stream..dump cable.. I did 3 yrs ago.. firestick antenna gets more channels then I watch..

[John_W]

...I need reliable TV during storms and satellite doesn’t fill the bill.

When you set up your on-screen guide, you probably only selected the HD version of the channels and decided to hide the SD versions along with all those shopping channels. However, when there is bad weather, bring up the menu and hit the '0' button. A window pops up, click on "change favorites list" and then select "All Channels". The channels that were hidden will reappear. The SD version of the channels with reappear, these SD versions are easier for your dish to receive during bad weather. For example if you watching TNTHD on 245, now select the TNT version without the HD also on 245. This works about 95% of the time. In fact during Hurricane Irma my HD channels stayed all through night. I also have at least a couple of hundred hours of movies and shows recorded, so on that rare occasion when the TV does go out, I watch something recorded. However, if you select the non-HD backup channel, chances are very good you'll get your channel back and it's usually only temporary. I've been with them since 2008, so I knew the system backwards and forwards.

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[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I called DirecTV in month 12 and negotiated a 2nd year discount. However, at the end of the contract, I will be going elsewhere. I need reliable TV during storms and satellite doesn’t fill the bill.

If the storm is bad enough, you'll lose power. And then your TV won't be reliable.

But if you discount actual power outages, I'd say Xfinity is the best bet for internet service, and then "cut the cord" with a Roku or similar, and then sign up for any of the live TV bundles such as Hulu Live or Youtube TV. They run around $50/month and a "better than necessary" internet access will be another $50/month, which allows you to stream and use several devices on the same modem without losing speed on downloads.

You can get internet access for less than $50/month but that particular plan will allow you to add more devices and have a grandkid come with his gaming laptop on vacation and use it during the off-hours when he is left to his own entertainment.

(gaming requires super-fast access).

[OhioBuckeye]

I know nobody cares what mine are because unfortunately we don’t live in TV, actually we live in another state. We’re with Frontier & our Cable TV & Internet is FREE. Basically we get the exact same thing we got when we lived in TV, we were with Brighthouse & we paid $160. a month.

[Aw Man]

I know nobody cares what mine are because unfortunately we don’t live in TV, actually we live in another state. We’re with Frontier & our Cable TV & Internet is FREE. Basically we get the exact same thing we got when we lived in TV, we were with Brighthouse & we paid $160. a month.

Really? You still feel the need to bash The Villages after you’ve moved to another state?

[dpmers]

Century Link offers high speed internet, we have 1 G/B it is now $65/mo, lesser speeds are less expensive. Our TV is youtube TV $50/mo +tax. Hulu is another addition for around $7/mo. Youtube TV offers unlimited recording and they keep your recordings for 9 months

[Bonsai Golfer]

In 2016 I ordered DirecTV in WI. Fortunately, I checked my first bill and found they had added the Protection Plan though I never asked for it. They tried to talk me in to it but eventually did remove it.

I ordered DirecTV in TVs about 15 months ago. I have direct shared billing through Century Link (save $10/mo). Unfortunately, I did not keep track of my bill (admittedly my fault) until just a few days ago. I found they had again done the same thing, added the Protection Plan without my permission. I called and argued with them for an hour as they kept saying they couldn't do anything for me but cancel now as I had not let them know after I got my first bill. After I insisted, and insisted, I wanted to talk to a supervisor (they never did let me do that) they FINALLY relented and gave me a credit for 3 months billing. While this doesn't make me whole I'm a snow bird so I've ONLY been stuck with this charge for 8 or 9 months, not the 15 months since I signed up.

There are some positives with DirecTV (for example, there currently is no charge when you put the service on vacation hold) but the Protection Plan is clearly a scam since they don't ask or tell you about it when you sign up. It is obvious this is something they do every chance they get. They are counting on people not paying attention to their bills (as I didn't). I should have been more careful given that they pulled this on me the first time I signed up with them. I'm not saying you shouldn't use them, or that you shouldn't use the Protection Plan, but be careful and CHECK YOUR BILLS REGULARLY to make sure you are only paying for what you want!

[CWGUY]

:ohdear: If they were doing that to me...... I would expect dinner and drinks first..... at least a kiss maybe. :rolleyes:

[roob1]

Please explain your approach to them. I am in month 13 now and expect my bill to rise significantly, as I understood when agreeing to a 2 year contract though CenturyLink.

Exactly how did you approach them to get a discount?


I called DirecTV in month 12 and negotiated a 2nd year discount. However, at the end of the contract, I will be going elsewhere. I need reliable TV during storms and satellite doesn’t fill the bill.

[JCMSr]

I have been with DirecTV off and on for probably 20 years. Since moving to The Villages I have used DirecTV, Comcast and CenturyLink. They all pretty much have the same Customer Non-Service in my opinion. Whenever my existing contract runs out and the negotiations begin I know it will take a minimum of 3 to 4 months before the monthly bills are accurate. It always take multiple phone calls and only gets resolved after I demand to speak to a supervisor.

One of the tricks these services use is to let you think that your bill cannot change until your contract runs out. My current contract states that I agree to pay $124 for the programming package with a $60 discount for a net $64.00 per month. As of January 2020 DirecTV is raising their rates so that the same package will now be $131.00. I will still get the $60 discount but my cost will now be $71.00. By using the "discount" option they can raise their rates as often as they dare and if you are in a 12 or 24 month contract you just have to grin and bear it. DirecTV is not the only one that operates this way.

[Kerry Azz]

I just cut the cable from Direct TV simply because I was frustrated every month over the bill fluctuating by as much as $40 a month. I purchased 2 Amazon 4 K fire sticks and I couldn’t be happier. And the picture is much nicer.
Eventually your bill will change they’ll fix it then the following month it’ll go up more. And I don’t loose my service when it rains.

[Singerlady]

Have you noticed, DirecTV customers, that you are currently not receiving NBC? I called yesterday to complain, and after the usual run-around, they told me me they could/would /were able to discount my service because I was not receiving that channel. They lied first about being able to do anything. Typical. BUT, they only applied this discount AFTER I asked them what my early termination fee would be. Hey, the discount is only $10/ month, but still....

[John_W]

Have you noticed, DirecTV customers, that you are currently not receiving NBC? I called yesterday to complain, and after the usual run-around, they told me me they could/would /were able to discount my service because I was not receiving that channel. They lied first about being able to do anything. Typical. BUT, they only applied this discount AFTER I asked them what my early termination fee would be. Hey, the discount is only $10/ month, but still....

I've been with Directv since 2008 because I'm a huge NFL and college football fan. At least every year or two you'll lose a channel for a few days while they negotiate. There was a memo two weeks ago we would lose Elrey and Fuse, I don't watch them so I didn't care, but it didn't happen. Sometimes it does, NBC is losing ratings from 33 Hearst owned stations because of this dispute. They have an NFL playoff game, Seahawks at Eagles this afternoon followed by the Golden Globe Awards. I think Directv is betting that NBC will cave first, while NBC is betting football fans will leave Directv.