DirecTV's Demands
We wrote about Verizon's Triple Play FiOS offer where they'll substitute DirecTV for customers who don't live in areas where FiOS TV is offered. That works out just dandy for some, but for others it's not quite so great.
Remember Fawn Hartline and her complaint about how she couldn't get her DirecTV to work properly so she canceled it before she ever really got to use it? But for canceling early, DirecTV charged her that big whopping early termination fee. It took Verizon's pressure on the satellite provider to resolve that problem for Hartline.
Then Good Reader Susan wrote in about her own crazy DirecTV experience.
Now Good Reader Roni shares another DirecTV headache:
I wanted to share a huge frustration with direct tv, hope you can shine some light on this ripoff/scam (in short: we did not know in advance that there would be no On Demand service, so our kids are forced to watch commercials or else we don’t use the TV at all, and we are locked in to the service with huge costs to cancel).
When we moved, we switched from Comcast for a 3-fer deal from Verizon for phone/internet/fios. They did say they might not have fios in our (city) area, which they didn’t. After having Comcast, I was under the impression that On Demand was standard with these TV services, so I did not think to question whether we would get it. The key benefit of on demand for us is the chance to screen out commercials for my kids. So now that we don’t have it, my five year old walks around quoting commercials constantly, and wants to buy the products he’s seen. It’s insidious and it goes against my values. So we mostly now only let them watch videos and the monthly cable bill is wasted money.
So then it turned out Direct TV DID have on demand. But you have to buy a box for $200 to allow you to see it. We had two different boxes installed (read: two long half days sitting around waiting for installer, plus the costs of the boxes). Neither box succeeded in getting us on demand. In exchange for getting us these boxes they would only do it if we signed onto a 24 month contract. Given they were essentially telling me this would solve my problem, I agreed. They finally said they could hook up the box if we let them drill into our roof which needless to say I think is a terrible idea.
So now we are trapped paying crazy monthly rates, or else $20 for each cancelled month of a 24 month contract. Please let others know that if they want to protect kids from commercials, they should avoid direct tv!!!!
OK. I have to disclose that I've been a DirecTV customer for several years now and haven't encountered the same nightmare problems that readers have told us about. It makes me think I'm really really fortunate. But can someone correct me if I'm wrong? Don't you get a box with DirecTV when you sign up that gives you access to In Demand? I don't use In Demand so I'm not familiar. Anyone care to enlighten me?
Categories: Cable/Satellite/TV/Comcast/FiOS, Complaints
Comments
I have to make a disclaimer that I do not have Direct TV, I have Dish TV. I am wondering if the installer was trying to convince the lady to get a DVR box so she could record tv shows and skip the commercials. That would most likely cost more than the regular box, and probably get her into commitment plan. On Demand should be accessible by any modern box...but again I have Dish not Direct tv so I could be wrong.
Also, I have to say that if this woman is so terribly worried about her child seeing commercials, you better lock you kid in your house and home school them because there are a lot worse things in life than commercials on television.
Posted by: Bill | August 29, 2008 8:13 AM
I, too, was excited to find out that DirecTV recently added an On Demand service... but before getting TOO excited and ordering it, I read over the details on how it works, and decided it wasn't for me.
DTV's On Demand is actually fed through your internet connection (not through your dish), and you need one of DTV"s HDTV Digital Video Recorders (DVR, like TiVo) to store the programming.
There's a fair amount of documentation on it via DirecTV's website, so make sure you read up (and thoroughly!) before deciding to give it a try. The old adage applies: Caveat Emptor!
Posted by: Miles | August 29, 2008 8:13 AM
And what exactly is so evil about commercials that this person's kids need to be PROTECTED from them???
Posted by: Anonymous | August 29, 2008 8:31 AM
The first story with Susan is not suprising. I've learn to install all my DirecTV equipment, because the tech subcontractors they hire will only do a simple install job. I tried to get them to help me with a more involved job to get around trees (even willing to pay) and they would not help.
My belief is that they schedule to many installs per day, the techs get sidetracked with a problem and their is no margin for delay.
Posted by: Mike | August 29, 2008 9:53 AM
WE SIGNED UP FOR THE DIRECT TV BUNDLE AND IT IS NOTHING LIKE WE WERE PROMISED. FIRST MONTH'S BILL WAS 163.00 AND THE NEXT WAS 186.00. I SUBMITTED MY REBATE ON TIME BUT WHEN I GO BACK TO CHECK THE STATUS I WAS TOLD IT EXPIRED. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET 18.00 OFF EACH MONTH. WE ARE STILL WAITING. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE ON DEMAND EITHER. I FEEL CHEATED
Posted by: MICHELLE BATTLE | April 2, 2009 12:03 PM
I have had a similar experience: bait and switch pricing, poor service, poor reception and no written agreement after dozens of requests. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General should be out in front on this.
Posted by: Michael | May 7, 2009 3:16 PM