Movies and TV DirecTv makes it hard to not like them...

dtebbe · 07-09-2009, 12:23 PM

Ok, so I've been a DirecTv customer (and Sunday Ticket subscriber) since 1996. I had decided this year that I would not renew Sunday Ticket, since they charge $99 extra for the "SuperFan" package which you have to buy to get the games in HD.

So I get an email a couple weeks ago, thanking me for being a long-time subscriber, and saying that it was my anniversary so they were giving me 3 month of free Showtime as an anniversary gift. Cool, I thought... Then towards the bottom there was a link to click if you had any complaints or compliments about DirecTv service.

I figured "what the hell" I'll complain about having to pay $99 extra to get Sunday Ticket in HD, and explain that I won't be renewing sunday ticket this year because of that. So I did just that.

My bill shows up this month, and Sunday Ticket early renewal is on there, along with free SuperFan.

It's hard to have a problem with that.....

DT

wutamess · 07-09-2009, 12:28 PM

I got free Showtime for 3 months also.
I'm not renewing Sunday ticket because I'm starting to not see a need for it.
I watched the first half of the season but towards the end/second half of the season i found myself not watching as much football and actually having a family social life on what used to be "MY SUNDAY".

Unless I get it really cheap (got it free one year and really cheap last year), won't be getting it.

**Gonzo** · 07-09-2009, 12:33 PM

Yeah?

But they don't broadcast in 1,000,080 dpi.

Deberg_1990 · 07-09-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutamess

but towards the end/second half of the season i found myself not watching as much football and actually having a family social life on what used to be "MY SUNDAY".

Thats probably because the Chiefs have been so bad the past few years.

I wont get the ticket again until the Chiefs are good.

donkhater · 07-09-2009, 12:35 PM

Oh, I don't know. I've got a gripe.

One week before the NFL Draft, Direct TV cuts NFL Network off of my susbscription package. I call them up and they say that they have reorganized their packages (giggity) and NFL Network isn't on mine anymore since the one that I signed up for is ancient.

I explain to them that I pay a few hundred dollars a year for Sunday ticket and they claim that that only entitles me to NFL network during the season. This is all just before the Draft. I consider the NFL Network's coverage of the draft to be way better than ESPN's. So I'm pretty peeved. Of course they offer to upgrade my subcription (for about double what I pay now) I tell them to go F%$^ themselves, that their customer service sucks.

What do you know? Two weeks after the draft I have NFL Network again. Just out of the blue, well before the season starts. Go figure. I thought that was pretty despicable.

Frazod · 07-09-2009, 12:41 PM

I'm waiting to hear back from a consumer advocacy attorney as to whether or not I have a decent case to sue them. They've been charging me for deactivated receivers for years (only one of which showed up in the fine print of the bill) and have told me they'll only credit me for their obvious mistake going back two months (because I didn't notice their ****-up before now, it's my fault).

With any luck this attorney (who has won a case for us in the past) will take the case and turn it into a class action. Eight years with these mother****ers, all the problems I've had, all the times they'd randomly add shit to my account hoping I wouldn't notice, and I can't switch because of their unholy hold over Sunday Ticket.

What a horrible, horrible company.

rambleonthruthefog · 07-09-2009, 12:44 PM

i'm still pissed cause they are the only cable company that carries "sunday ticket". on top of that they charge to much for it. for all of it. and i'd probably still pay it if they could offer an internet package, but they don't even offer internet. f them. i'll watch the games on the internet or at the bar.

Deberg_1990 · 07-09-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I can't switch because of their unholy hold over Sunday Ticket.

What a horrible, horrible company.

Wow....seek help man. I would have dumped them a long time ago if i had your history with them.

Its just football. You can always watch the free Bears games.

underEJ · 07-09-2009, 12:51 PM

I bug them regularly about the limited subscription choices. More people need to ask for a la cart options. I want my locals plus the 5 or 6 regular cable channels I watch, plus 1 hbo, 1 showtime, all in hd for a reasonable price (well under 50 dollars.) I don't want the hundreds of channels I have to pay for to get the few I watch. If it wasn't for Sunday Ticket, I wouldn't be a customer, and they know that. I need to find a good sports bar and be rid of them.

kepp · 07-09-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Yeah?

But they don't broadcast in 1,000,080 dpi.

Looks like someone just leveled the playing field.

kepp · 07-09-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I'm waiting to hear back from a consumer advocacy attorney as to whether or not I have a decent case to sue them. They've been charging me for deactivated receivers for years (only one of which showed up in the fine print of the bill) and have told me they'll only credit me for their obvious mistake going back two months (because I didn't notice their ****-up before now, it's my fault).

With any luck this attorney (who has won a case for us in the past) will take the case and turn it into a class action. Eight years with these mother****ers, all the problems I've had, all the times they'd randomly add shit to my account hoping I wouldn't notice, and I can't switch because of their unholy hold over Sunday Ticket.

What a horrible, horrible company.

We had them for a long time (probably 6 years) a while back. They were fantastic the first few years, but then we noticed the customer service and billing going downhill fast. We ended up switching to Dish Network. They've been great so far as well, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see them go down the same path.

**BigMeatballDave** · 07-09-2009, 01:19 PM

To me, Directv are like crack dealers. Only the 'crack' is football. They know most people have their service because of Sunday ticket. I wish I could just have a hand full of channels plus network programming and the ticket. Bastards!

Frazod · 07-09-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

We had them for a long time (probably 6 years) a while back. They were fantastic the first few years, but then we noticed the customer service and billing going downhill fast. We ended up switching to Dish Network. They've been great so far as well, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see them go down the same path.

I find it impossible to believe that not removing those receivers from my account was an oversight (basically, I was still getting charged for old units after upgrading to DVRs). I was on the phone with a DTV customer service rep during the entire process - he knew I was upgrading and also knew I only had three active TVs. Was it really necessary for me to tell the guy, "Now make sure you don't bill me for the old units I'll never use again"? Was the guy an idiot? The only options are (1) idiot, or (2) thief. And IMO this sort of thing has happened too often for option 1 to be the answer. I think these people are operating according to company policy, and goddamn, I'd sure love it if my lawyer ended up being the guy to shove it up their greedy asses.

JD10367 · 07-09-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtebbe

I figured "what the hell" I'll complain about having to pay $99 extra to get Sunday Ticket in HD, and explain that I won't be renewing sunday ticket this year because of that. So I did just that.

My bill shows up this month, and Sunday Ticket early renewal is on there, along with free SuperFan.

It's hard to have a problem with that.....

This has nothing to do with DirecTV and everything to do with "the squeaky wheel gets the grease", which is something I absolutely hate about consumerism in America. EVERY company does this sh*t and it pisses me off. It's the equivalent of buying off your silence. Do you have a problem, real or imagined? Just complain, and the first thing they'll do is throw something free at you and hope you go away. So if a company f**ks their customers with a fee, 1% complain and 1% get that fee taken off, and the other 99% who don't complain get screwed. Not to mention it undermines employee morale; no matter where you work, "the customer is always right" and, even if you've followed procedures to the letter and/or the person is OUTRIGHT LYING to your supervisor about what happened, it's easier for them to give the griper free shit and shake their finger angrily at the employee instead. Now Americans EXPECT that they'll get something for free if they complain... so they complain, even if they have no right to complain. Meanwhile, if there WAS an actual issue, they rarely attempt to resolve it; they don't really care one way or another, they just don't want you going up the food chain to THEIR boss and getting THEM in trouble with more complaining.

**The Bad Guy** · 07-09-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I'm waiting to hear back from a consumer advocacy attorney as to whether or not I have a decent case to sue them. They've been charging me for deactivated receivers for years (only one of which showed up in the fine print of the bill) and have told me they'll only credit me for their obvious mistake going back two months (because I didn't notice their ****-up before now, it's my fault).

With any luck this attorney (who has won a case for us in the past) will take the case and turn it into a class action. Eight years with these mother****ers, all the problems I've had, all the times they'd randomly add shit to my account hoping I wouldn't notice, and I can't switch because of their unholy hold over Sunday Ticket.

What a horrible, horrible company.

I'm not trying to break balls here, but how in the hell can they charge you for an extra receiver you're not using and you not know about it? The amount of receivers are clearly stated on the bill and what the charge it.

I have never had one complaint with DirecTV. They have really taken care of me for the 10 years I have had them. No complaints what so ever.

07-09-2009, 12:23 PM
dtebbe 3M TA3 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: SoFlo Casino cash: $9993039	DirecTv makes it hard to not like them... Ok, so I've been a DirecTv customer (and Sunday Ticket subscriber) since 1996. I had decided this year that I would not renew Sunday Ticket, since they charge $99 extra for the "SuperFan" package which you have to buy to get the games in HD. So I get an email a couple weeks ago, thanking me for being a long-time subscriber, and saying that it was my anniversary so they were giving me 3 month of free Showtime as an anniversary gift. Cool, I thought... Then towards the bottom there was a link to click if you had any complaints or compliments about DirecTv service. I figured "what the hell" I'll complain about having to pay $99 extra to get Sunday Ticket in HD, and explain that I won't be renewing sunday ticket this year because of that. So I did just that. My bill shows up this month, and Sunday Ticket early renewal is on there, along with free SuperFan. It's hard to have a problem with that..... DT
Posts: 4,305

07-09-2009, 12:28 PM	#2
wutamess MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lee's Summit Casino cash: $4711637	I got free Showtime for 3 months also. I'm not renewing Sunday ticket because I'm starting to not see a need for it. I watched the first half of the season but towards the end/second half of the season i found myself not watching as much football and actually having a family social life on what used to be "MY SUNDAY". Unless I get it really cheap (got it free one year and really cheap last year), won't be getting it.
Posts: 8,290

07-09-2009, 12:35 PM	#5
donkhater Brilliant!! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Indiana, USA Casino cash: $10014051	Oh, I don't know. I've got a gripe. One week before the NFL Draft, Direct TV cuts NFL Network off of my susbscription package. I call them up and they say that they have reorganized their packages (giggity) and NFL Network isn't on mine anymore since the one that I signed up for is ancient. I explain to them that I pay a few hundred dollars a year for Sunday ticket and they claim that that only entitles me to NFL network during the season. This is all just before the Draft. I consider the NFL Network's coverage of the draft to be way better than ESPN's. So I'm pretty peeved. Of course they offer to upgrade my subcription (for about double what I pay now) I tell them to go F%$^ themselves, that their customer service sucks. What do you know? Two weeks after the draft I have NFL Network again. Just out of the blue, well before the season starts. Go figure. I thought that was pretty despicable. __________________ The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants
Posts: 3,994

07-09-2009, 12:41 PM	#6
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-556615	I'm waiting to hear back from a consumer advocacy attorney as to whether or not I have a decent case to sue them. They've been charging me for deactivated receivers for years (only one of which showed up in the fine print of the bill) and have told me they'll only credit me for their obvious mistake going back two months (because I didn't notice their **-up before now, it's my fault). With any luck this attorney (who has won a case for us in the past) will take the case and turn it into a class action. Eight years with these mother**ers, all the problems I've had, all the times they'd randomly add shit to my account hoping I wouldn't notice, and I can't switch because of their unholy hold over Sunday Ticket. What a horrible, horrible company.
Posts: 121,704

07-09-2009, 12:44 PM	#7
rambleonthruthefog Veteran Join Date: May 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Casino cash: $3065026	i'm still pissed cause they are the only cable company that carries "sunday ticket". on top of that they charge to much for it. for all of it. and i'd probably still pay it if they could offer an internet package, but they don't even offer internet. f them. i'll watch the games on the internet or at the bar.
Posts: 1,403

07-09-2009, 12:51 PM	#9
underEJ Veteran Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles Casino cash: $6183141	I bug them regularly about the limited subscription choices. More people need to ask for a la cart options. I want my locals plus the 5 or 6 regular cable channels I watch, plus 1 hbo, 1 showtime, all in hd for a reasonable price (well under 50 dollars.) I don't want the hundreds of channels I have to pay for to get the few I watch. If it wasn't for Sunday Ticket, I wouldn't be a customer, and they know that. I need to find a good sports bar and be rid of them.
Posts: 1,240

07-09-2009, 01:19 PM	#12
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	To me, Directv are like crack dealers. Only the 'crack' is football. They know most people have their service because of Sunday ticket. I wish I could just have a hand full of channels plus network programming and the ticket. Bastards!
Posts: 59,997