On August 6th, 2008 my fiance called Direct TV to settle on our past due account of $807.76(charges for fees on boxes unless returned or account is reinstated.) Direct TV settled on $225.00(we reinstated our account.) Within a day or two I went to make a withdrawl and there was no money left in my account. After going over my account I realized Direct TV withdrew two seperate amounts, one was for $225.00 and the other was for $582.76, turns out to be a total of $807.76. I immediately called Direct TV and spoke with a supervisor by the name of Marisol. Marisol agreed it was there mistake and they would return $585.09 (with taxes). I then explained to her my account was already insufficient and was accumalating fees. She assured me if I faxed in a statement to her all monies would be returned to my account by Friday August 15th, 2008. I was so excited about finding my money and knowing it would be returned to me that I did not realize how long I would have to wait. Today, (Monday August 11th, 2008) my fiance tried to get in touch with Direct TV to explain to them we needed the money returned sooner. Direct TV stated (Jared)they would be unable to return it any sooner. My fiance asked if we wrote a check for groceries if they would pay the "bounce fee, " he also stated they would be unable to pay the fees. Now for the dilemma, we have five children and that was money needed to buy some groceries, fuel for my car to get to work, and school supplies (school starts on Wednesday), and whatever else I needed to do with "my money." So I guess what I am asking is what am I supposed to do until Friday. I borrowed $20.00 last night to buy $7.83 worth of food for seven people for three meals for today and I put the rest in gas at $3.64 a gallon. I need food for the rest of the week and do not have the resources to beg or borrow. How can someone take your money so quickly and easily out of your account. Yet, take as long as they need to return it. I also had two credit cards I needed to pay and they are now past due (first time.) If anyone reads this and can call Direct TV and ask them to please put a rush on this we would greatly appreciate it. Marisols voicemail is 956-784-7088 or you can call 1-800-531-5000 and ask for Marisol or another supervisor. If I can get several people to call maybe we can get them to speed up. A check in the mail would get here sooner. Thanks again, Mother of five in McLoud, Oklahoma.

I was offered a special package/rate deal due to being a "loyal customer"(5 years) and the fact that Direct TV was discontinuing the Total Choice Plus package that I currently have in a few months. I was told since I was a "loyal customer", I could get the sports package and all movie channels for $10 dollars extra for the next 4 months. After which, I would have to call and cancel if I didn't want to continue with it.
Three days after receiving this new deal, my bill went from $70.96 to $162. I was told that my bill included a $49.95 charge from having a defective receiver changed out by a tech(wasn't informed about the fee by the service dept), but that still doesn't explain why I'm now paying $41.00 dollars more. I tried to cancel the deal, but they claim I'm under contract for 4 months and another 18 months due to the new received that I'm leasing from them...what a CROCK!.
I really hate the way they leave out the details or completely omit them while their locking you into these deals.
Consumer BEWARE. This is the first time in 5 years of doing business with them that i've had an issue, but the way this started and the way it's being handled is totally unethical and unprofessional.

Stay away from Direct TV:
Direct TV never gave us a form to complete and send in to get the $29.99 monthly rate. Instead, they charged us $#59.99. So we dropped them. We shouldn't have to pay the cancellation fee but better to do business with a reputable company than a corrupt one. Then they said they'd send us a box to send their equipment back in. But they haven't done so. Direct TV reflects all that's terrible with insensitive American corporations who only care about profits and could care less about their customers. Never ever do business with Direct TV. The top managers are greedy and unethical.

My cable bill was out of control so I called Direct TV last month and asked about their options. I was told their options and chose one which best fit my family. I was told I would get a discount for one year if I agreed to a two year contract. I agreed. They said I would get a discount if I bundled and included ATT as my internet provider. So, I checked the price of ATT internet prices and they were equal to what I was currently paying, so I agreed.

She told me what my total was for my Direct TV and that included four receivers. I asked her if the price she just quoted me was a one time charge for the receivers or monthly, she chuckled, of course it was only a one time charge, so, I agreed.

I got my first bill and there was no discount for anything. Then I got my bill for this month, the second bill. They had charged me for the receivers again and there was still no discount for the two year contract agreement or for signing up for ATT.

I called Direct TV and was told that I had to pay monthly for each of the receivers and I must have misunderstood the sales person. I am now paying way more for my cable then before I signed up for direct TV. She woman on the phone said that I was not receiving my discounts because they had never been activated so she activated them but would not make them retroactive to last month's bill. My bill is not exactly what it was before I switched to Direct TV.

I asked the woman on the phone to pull up the recorded conversation of my order where the woman tells me that the receivers were only a one time charge when I ask her. The woman told me that she could not listen to the conversation and if I wanted the recorded conversation, I would have to subpoena the recording.

When I told her to cancel my service, she said that she would have to charge me $400 for canceling my service. I was outraged. They lied about charging me for the receivers and then when they did not hold up their end of the bargain, they wanted to charge me $400 to cancel my contract.

I will continue to get hosed by Direct TV and after my contract is over, I will not stay with them. Do not sign a contract with Direct TV and record all your conversations with them. They are scam artists.

I have been a customer of Direct TV for several years. I have always paid my bill on time and although it took me over a year to get the billing streightened out, I have had few other problems with them.
I am retired and live on a limited income. I pay all of my bills on the 15 th of the month including Direct Tv. This month, my car needed repairs so I called Direct TV among a few others and told them I would be making payment on the 26th instead. The girl I spoke to said no problem, she would notate my account. On the morning of 11/25 my TV was shut off!! I called Direct TV and was told no notation was made and that I was late making payment. I explained that the payment was scheduled to be electronically delivered on the 26th. Their attitude was we will turn it on when payment is posted to your account... in 7 - 10 days. The money has been deducted by my bank and it shows that it was received by direct TV but so far not "posted" to my account. Tomorrow I plan to call the corporate office in California and do some serious complaining. What else do I have to do? I can't watch tV.