Any advice: re DTV

**Wife2TJ** · 03-31-2009, 09:09 PM

Hey y'all. I am new here. We got DTV 6/08 (we made a BIG mistake getting them) well apparently they put you in a 2 yr contract though they don't have you "sign" a contract, but it's impossible to get out of. Well we are ttc and hope to have a child soon. I am wanting to get rid of DTV and maybe the tv all together? If we cancel early we get charged a early termination fee. My guess is it would be b/t 240-300 which we would be willing to pay to get out of it. However I have heard horror stories. They ask for your cc number when you sign up so they do have our debit card number on file already. I have heard the day you cancel they will take the cancellation fee off your card and have heard from others they have made other non-authorized debits on their cards as well. Apparently they send you boxes for the receivers and then you mail them back and they have claimed they haven't gotten them back from people, even when people have proof they have via del confirmation and debited their cards for 200.00 per receiver. I am really nervous about that happening to us. I have thought about cancelling our cards and getting a new account number, but that can be a hassle and I have heard they will then send you straight to collections if they can't use your "card one file". So I am really nervous.

I can wait out the two years, but I am worried they would still come up with some reason to screw me over for money. I have read tons on the bbb website and via google about stuff like this. What should I do, I have no idea. I am going to be a SAHM so I am wanting to get rid of unnecessary bills like this to save money.

Sorry this is so long and thanks if you have gotten through it all. Has anyone else gone through anything with DTV negatively? I know i'm in a contract so if it's better to stay in it via cancel and pay early cancellation fees I will, but Its less to pay the fees versus paying the full monthly amount for the last 13 months of our contract. Was hoping someone would have so advice for me. I am new to the site but am LOVING it!!! Thank you SO much!!!! :-)

**LeeCee** · 03-31-2009, 10:05 PM

directv is the worst company going. everything they do is underhanded. I don't know how they get away with it.also you will get 5 different answers from 5 different people when you call customer service. nobody knows anything.you will not be able to get out of contract.If you can afford the money to cancel and you really want to get rid of this service then do it. believe me for the peace of mind and for the fact of NEVER having to deal with this lying piece of crap company again it is soo worth it

**photogal06** · 03-31-2009, 10:59 PM

We just went through this with Dish Network. We signed up with them through our phone company, and I truly didn't realize we were entering a 2-year contract with them (and I'm usually right on top of that stuff!)

When we canceled, they assessed a $10/month penalty for the remainder of the contract---came to $210. Though they had our credit card on file, they did not charge the card for the cancellation fee! Instead, they sent us a bill for it.

When we canceled, they said they would send a box for us to mail back the parts they wanted. When we hadn't received it a week later, I called back, and it turns out they'd never sent it. About a week after that 2nd call, the box came, and we mailed the stuff back to them. When I dropped it off at UPS, the lady stopped me to make sure I had written down the tracking number for my records when she saw who it was going to.

Afterward, I did some googling to see what other people's experiences were, and in comparison, ours went well. There are a lot of horror stories out there. Having to call twice for the box was annoying---I'm sure they were hoping we'd forget about it so they could charge us the equipment fee--but in the end, all was well.

And I'm really thrilled to be rid of that service. Our antenna pulls in over 30 digital stations for free, and they're more fun to watch now that I'm not paying for them, lol!

**craftypam** · 03-31-2009, 11:14 PM

Definately change your credit/debit card number if you even think they might take money out unauthorized. The credit card companies are sympathetic to these kind of companies. MSN tried to bill me and start me up again a year after I cancelled; I called the credit card company and they gave me a new #. If you pay the cancellation fee; why would they send you to collections. If they do and you are afraid it will be on your credit report; you can dispute what they put.

**WV_mom_of2** · 04-01-2009, 07:37 AM

We have had Direct Tv for 2 or 3 years now and have had no problems with them at all. I'm much happier with them than I ever was with Dish Network.

**Wife2TJ** · 04-01-2009, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by craftypam

Definately change your credit/debit card number if you even think they might take money out unauthorized. The credit card companies are sympathetic to these kind of companies. MSN tried to bill me and start me up again a year after I cancelled; I called the credit card company and they gave me a new #. If you pay the cancellation fee; why would they send you to collections. If they do and you are afraid it will be on your credit report; you can dispute what they put.

I've read they will send you to collections not b/c you didn't pay the cancellation fee but b/c they are claiming they are never receiving the receivers back when they are and then charging people for the receivers they already sent and when people don't pay b/c they already sent them back, they turn them over to collections.

I wonder if I should pay the cancellation fee first THEN cancel the card right afterwards so that the cancellation fee goes through but then they can't charge anything else afterwards. I have also thought of buying a tape recorder and putting my cell on speaker and recording the whole conversation since they seem to lie and tell you different things later on or that they didn't say something they did.

I definitely cannot wait to be DONE with this company either. I'm glad some have had good experiences, but from what I have read online, most haven't!

Thank you for all your responses :-)

**Cricketlegs** · 04-01-2009, 10:00 AM

We have been with them for years and years and been very happy with them.

now the cable company, don't get me started!

Welcome to the boards!

**shoiji** · 04-01-2009, 02:50 PM

I have DirecTv and had some problems when I first signed up. Anyway I ended up e-mailing the address given in the guide for DirecTV. The e-mail address is president@directsatusa.net. Make sure to list your phone number, DirecTV account number and preferred contact information. I was a little bit hesitant thinking no one will contact me. Well someone actually did and I was able to get everything straightened out. Hope this helps. Good Luck!!