[Talk Host]

I have been a cable customer for 40 years. I decided to get modern and get Direct TV. I did so 3 weeks ago.

Last night, the receiver box would not operate. There was a message on the screen to call customer service for replacement. I did as I was instructed.

Customer service informed me that they will send me another box by Fed Ex and it will be here NEXT THURSDAY. (Today is Friday Night). That's a whole week without TV. Then I'm informed that I must pack up the defective unit and trundle down to FEDEX and send it back in 7 days or be assessed a huge fine.

I politely asked why a service tech can't come out like, tomorrow or Monday. I was then educated that Direct TV doesn't have service Techs, that it's up to the customers to do this stuff.

I then couldn't overcome the temptation to tell them what I thought about their system and that I wanted to cancel my subscription because the service stinks to high heaven. The answer: "you can cancel, but there is a $300 cancellation fee, a $10 shut off fee, and a $15 subscription cancellation fee." I am locked in to an unwanted contract for 2 more years.

So, folks, you decide what you want to do. In 40 years, I never had a problem with cable TV.....AT ALL.

[Becky]

Ohhh- don't get me started on DirectTV! Had Dish in Ohio. Had DirectTV put in here in Fl. They didn't mention you had to have a box for each tv. With Dish you do not. Didn't like it and called within 24hrs. for them to take it out. Was repeatedly told there was no early termination fee after I asked. Of course they send the boxes, I box it up and take it to Pack and Ship. They slapped my CC with a fee of $461.99 for - "early termination fee"! I made countless phone calls to them and all agreed I should have it refunded to CC. Had all names, dates, and badge numbers with calls I made. Finally get an email that the money is in my "DirectTv account". When I called it would take 8-10 weeks to release it. Finally told them I was disputing it with my CC. Money was credited the next day. Their customer service sucks!!!! Never again with DirectTV! Sorry you are going through this TH!

Becky

[The Great Fumar]

Thank you guys
you just saved me from making a big mistake.........this was my plan the first of oct.


Fumar

[aln]

There's always two sides to a story.

I had DirecTV in Wisconsin & I HAVE there here for 2 years now.

I have never had a problem & I have 3 DH boxes, 2 of thoses with DVR & 1 regular box (4 total).

Couldn't be happier with service & program choices.

[Don H]

When we had DirectTV in New York we went through three boxes before I dropped them. Under our original plan we purchased the box so we owned it. Each time one died we had to pay $50 for a new one. Finally, Verizon FIOS came into town and we gladly switched. Also, the occasional heavy downpour would kill satellite service for about 10 to 15 minutes...annoying.

[F16 1UB]

Had DISH in KY for 9 yrs. No problems. Get to TV and have DISH installed. Only difference was here I required 2 satellite dishes and in KY only 1. Have the exact same pkg. Installer told me that the satellite for the southern U.S. was at a different location. High def and conventional signals are different satellites. Other than that - OK. Yes occasional loss of signal during torrential rain but have never had it last more than a few minutes. 2 neighbors both have DIRECT. No problems with theirs. Figures!!!

[RVRoadie]

Originally Posted by F16 1UB

... here I required 2 satellite dishes and in KY only 1. Have the exact same pkg. Installer told me that the satellite for the southern U.S. was at a different location. High def and conventional signals are different satellites...

Not true. Dish tried to pull this on me when they did the install in May. I told them no way, I would only accept one dish. Sure enough, they got on the phone and a few minutes later they were doing a one dish install. They now have three satellites in the east, so I can't understand why they are still doing two dish installs. I have the full HD package with all the same channels I had before (I did a DishMover install).

[cashman]

I have a different experience. After poor sevice for years with dish tv i switched to direct tv two years ago.

I went with the hddvd the top of the line. It is the best picture and has not been any problem. When my neighbors lose service during storms i do not . They are one by one switching to direct tv.

[Xavier]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

I have been a cable customer for 40 years. I decided to get modern and get Direct TV. I did so 3 weeks ago.

Last night, the receiver box would not operate. There was a message on the screen to call customer service for replacement. I did as I was instructed.

Customer service informed me that they will send me another box by Fed Ex and it will be here NEXT THURSDAY. (Today is Friday Night). That's a whole week without TV. Then I'm informed that I must pack up the defective unit and trundle down to FEDEX and send it back in 7 days or be assessed a huge fine.

I politely asked why a service tech can't come out like, tomorrow or Monday. I was then educated that Direct TV doesn't have service Techs, that it's up to the customers to do this stuff.

I then couldn't overcome the temptation to tell them what I thought about their system and that I wanted to cancel my subscription because the service stinks to high heaven. The answer: "you can cancel, but there is a $300 cancellation fee, a $10 shut off fee, and a $15 subscription cancellation fee." I am locked in to an unwanted contract for 2 more years.

So, folks, you decide what you want to do. In 40 years, I never had a problem with cable TV.....AT ALL.

Really sorry that you've had a horrible experience with Directv. I had Dish for three years before I switched to Directv seven years ago. I had trouble with Dish during a storm, but almost never with Directv. We have NEVER had an equipment problem where it had to be replaced. Maybe we're just lucky. I have had to reset the receiver in the motor home now and then, but I blame that on the need to automatically search for the satellite because we move around a lot. To reset, I just unplug it and count off 15 seconds and plug it back in. It usually reloads the program guide and that's it. Hopefully you will have nothing but good experiences from now on.

[NJblue]

This sounds very familiar with what I experienced with DirecTV. I was lied to during the selling process with respect to what stations I would be able to buy as an extra package and what the service contract entailed. I was also billed for things that they said that they would not bill me for. They kept me waiting at the house for 5 straight days before they finally showed up to install an additional box - each day promising on their mother's grave that they would be there and eventually even promised a credit for my inconvenience - only to never honor the credit. When I did have a technical problem with my reception they did agree to send a technician - but not for close to a week.

However, despite all these problems, when the service is working well, they do have a very good line-up of channels and a much better selection of HD channels than Comcast had. Plus their DVR is miles ahead of the one I had with Comcast in terms of technology and user interface.

The one thing that I miss with DirecTV that I had with Comcast is On Demand. DirecTV has it, but because satellite service is receive only, they require either a wired phone line connection or an internet connection at the box so you can transmit to them your requests. I don't have a wired line in the house and to get internet service into the rooms with the TV would require either a wireless dongle at each box or another type of device that uses the house electrical network - both at extra cost.

[swrinfla]

Maybe I'm hijacking the thread, but I have a question:

Ain't modern technology wonderful?

SWR

[dgammon6]

Hate to hear that you have trouble with Direct TV. We have it and have never had a problem. When we travel, we take a couple of receivers from the house, put them in our motor home and have the service in it no matter where we are.

[F16 1UB]

Originally Posted by RVRoadie

Not true. Dish tried to pull this on me when they did the install in May. I told them no way, I would only accept one dish. Sure enough, they got on the phone and a few minutes later they were doing a one dish install. They now have three satellites in the east, so I can't understand why they are still doing two dish installs. I have the full HD package with all the same channels I had before (I did a DishMover install).

Callin em Monday.

[GMONEY]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

I have been a cable customer for 40 years. I decided to get modern and get Direct TV. I did so 3 weeks ago.

Last night, the receiver box would not operate. There was a message on the screen to call customer service for replacement. I did as I was instructed.

Customer service informed me that they will send me another box by Fed Ex and it will be here NEXT THURSDAY. (Today is Friday Night). That's a whole week without TV. Then I'm informed that I must pack up the defective unit and trundle down to FEDEX and send it back in 7 days or be assessed a huge fine.

I politely asked why a service tech can't come out like, tomorrow or Monday. I was then educated that Direct TV doesn't have service Techs, that it's up to the customers to do this stuff.

I then couldn't overcome the temptation to tell them what I thought about their system and that I wanted to cancel my subscription because the service stinks to high heaven. The answer: "you can cancel, but there is a $300 cancellation fee, a $10 shut off fee, and a $15 subscription cancellation fee." I am locked in to an unwanted contract for 2 more years.

So, folks, you decide what you want to do. In 40 years, I never had a problem with cable TV.....AT ALL.

Thats funny, I had almost the same problem with Comcast. That is why I went to DirecTV. After having to battle with Comcast over them back charging me 6 months for a modem lease they say they forgot to charge me, for a modem mind you I bought at Best Buy. No lease what so ever. They wanted me to prove that I bought the darn thing. I told them to prove that I leased it. Of course they could not provide the paperwork where I signed a lease for the modem. Then once I got DirecTV, Comcast was still trying to charge me for cable TV for 3 months even though I had the signed bill where the tech showed up to turn the cable off.

SO you have 2 sides to every story. One has the same problems the other has. thing is Comcast cant touch the qaulity and amount of HD programming that DIrecTV has and the sports options are much better. IMHO..