I signed a contract through AT&T that included what was supposed to be a discount on Direct TV service for agreeing to this plan. I was told by the AT&T rep to wait 30 days after downloading a coupon to mail it in. I discovered I was supposed to send it in before 30 days. I was misinformed. Even if that's not true and it is my 100% fault for confusing what I was supposed to do? WHAT KIND OF COMPANY HOLDS CUSTOMERS TO THE LETTER OF THE LAW TO DENY A BENEFIT THEY OFFERED LIKE THIS? Why do they make it so hard? Why not simple like they do with all the term contracts? You sign up and you just get the discount? I explained this to Direct TV and AT&T both, I said I was misinformed by the rep who signed me up and they replied there is nothing they can do. They suggested I file an appeal. File an appeal? WTH? I filed and they of course denied it. MY POINT and THE ONLY POINT should be that I signed up for a package deal that included DSL, Home Line Phone, and Direct TV - I SHOULD BE GIVEN A CREDIT EACH MONTH. They made it confusing and difficult and that includes "misinforming" me. Copy a Coupon from the Internet and then mail it in?
Why? AT&T was capable of providing me an instant and immediate discount for the other services without this trouble. I was supposed to get a rebate check for switching over from Cable to Direct TV - I received two from AT&T and nothing from Direct TV - I called to inquire and suddenly no one knows anything about any rebates. Amazing. I'm stuck with Direct TV for another 6 months and they will lose my business forever. I hope my story affects the decisions of other people regarding Direct TV.

Want more? I suffered a heart attack and was laid up for quite a spell. Fact. I was hospitalized for a long period and then in bed at home for another period. I did not pay my bill on time. I was out of work. That's not the issue because that issue is all my responsibility. This is the issue though. Without my knowledge or approval they charged my account for $480 one day. They assumed I was abandoning my residence and my account and charged me the full price for this. That account had less then $480 in it so it caused an "over draw". I had outstanding bills out for payment as well. As a result those bills I thought I was paying bounced. I had no idea Direct TV had even done this until things started bouncing because they should not have bounced. They fixed the problem and apologized for unauthorized charges on my account but did not pay all of the fees incurred. The three months I was down? I can assure you I was not watching TV so if you think I was neglecting my bill on purpose and enjoying free Sat TV? Think again.

Do you want to risk doing business with Direct TV when you realize just how badly and hyper technical they can be with Customer Relations and Service? When it comes to their precious contracts they will hold you to the letter of their law over it. When they drop the ball and they flub up? They apologize only and are not responsible or accountable for violating the contract on you. It's a contract that serves and suits Direct TV for their priority and reasons only. The contract provides you (the one paying them) 0, noda, nothing, squat. My opinion is that Direct TV strong-arms the customer with a contract that serves their interest only and how anyone can view that as customer friendly or better service is then being lied to and mislead.

People should form Co-ops and force Direct TV to kneel and sign a contract that serves us as customers or pitch their deal to the next in line, cable, dish, whatever ?