I canceled my Direct TV service on August 13th and was supposed to receive return shipping materials. On August 20th I received a box that contained inadequate packing materials to protect the two receivers that I need to return. The return shipping label was also missing. I contacted Direct TV the same day and was told that they would reship the return packing materials and confirm shipment with an email. I received neither. I again contacted Direct TV on August 26thand escalated my request to a lady who told me her name was Sekl. After quite a bit of discussion, she said she would send out a return package and that I would receive an email confirming the shipment within 24 hours. At this time August 30th I've received neither. I've been told I have 16 days to return the receivers and controls in good condition or I would be charged $250 for each receiver.

SHAME ON ME FOR NOT CHECKING FIRST WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU REGARDING AT+T'S SATELLITE & CABLE SERVICE PRIOR TO INSTALLING THEIR SATELLITE!

DAY 1-7 FIRST WEEK OF SERVICE CONSISTED OF CALLING EVERYDAY TO TELL THEM MY SERVICE DID NOT WORK AS IT WAS RAINING.IT IS NOW ONLY DAY 11 AND NOTHING CHANGED!

I WAS TOLD EVERY CALL THAT IT WILL NOT WORK IN THE RAIN(REASON I GOT IT WAS TO KEEP TRACK OF STORMS FOR MY FAMILY'S AND OUR HOME SAFETY)THEY SAID THEY WILL CALL THE TECK TO COME FIX IT.

THEN THEY HAD THE TECK CALL EACH TIME TO TELL ME HE WOULD NOT COME, BECAUSE IT WILL NOT WORK IN THE RAIN.

I RECALLED TO CANCEL THE SERVICE, AS I DON'T WANT OR NEED SERVICE THAT DOES NOT WORK, WHICH IN FACT I WAS TOLD IT WORKD BETTER THAN ANY OHTER SERVICE DURING A RAIN STORM.

I WAS TOLD THEY WILL BILL ME $480 TO CANCEL.

SO ON THAT NOTE- I WILL BE CANCELLING MY AT+T CELL PHONE SERVICE FOR GOOD NEXT MONTH, I WILL THEN CANCEL MY AT+T'S HOME PHONE SERVICE THE FOLLOWING MONTH, THEN I AM PUTTING ADD'S IN THE PAPER AND STARTING MY OWN CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT.

SOME COMPANY'S DO NOT KNOW WHO THEY ARE DEALING WITH!

HOW DARE THEY SCAN HOMEOWNERS AND INDANGER OUR FAMILY'S SAFETY AND OUR HOMES!!!

Starting several months ago, Direct TV tried to charge me additional fees for continued service after my contract had expired.
I told them verbally, and in writing, that I would not pay anymore than the last negotiated price, with no reduction in service.

I gave them the option to cancel my service. They continued to bill me for the additional amount, where I would call, or write to notify them to either pick up their equipment and discontinue service, or honor the prior agreement.

They tried to get $180 additional funds out of me Tuesday, and when I refused to the demand, the said they would have some one in retention call me.
Instead, they simply cut off my service, after they just received my payment for this coming month's service.

I just spent 2.5 hours retelling this story to over 7 Direct TV representatives. After dumped calls, and much repetition, I dialed "The President's Office at 310-964-5000. This resulted in a contact with a pleasant woman who told me I could hang up with the other folks(on my other phone line) at Direct TV who had had me on hold/standby for over 45minutes on that particular round. She assured me that she was the end of the line, and that a resolution and final result would end with her, at the "President's Office!".

I re-explained the details of situation, and she remained very attentive, and seemed to be understanding.
She stated that the expired agreement required that if I made any payment towards any Bill, that action would make that increase acceptable regardless of my repeated objections to the increase and refusal to pay the increase. That rolled forward into a revised balance, approximately $100.00 off from what i had ever agreed to.

Yet, after not being able to negotiate a reasonable package for my $66.16 per month I had previously agreed to; she (ever so politely) threatened to charge my credit card for their perceived remaining balance due (infact they owe me a credit). I informed her, that I did not have a valid credit card on file with them, and her demeanor changed from that strategy.

We then agreed that there was not a resolution; and she still maintained that I owed the balance in question, and I maintained that I was due the payment I had sent in, plus a reconciliation of the overcharges still reamining on my account.

She said that i was responsible for the payment, and that she would send return boxes out for the equipment.

I told her I would not be returning the equipment until I got a satisfactory and fair balance reconciliation. She said i would be additionally be billed for equipment.

I told her that they would not be getting the equipment from me, but that I would take the equipment, and the boxes to either the Local Justice of the Peace, or Sheriff's Office, whichever entity was most appropriate to file my complaint with.

We agreed that there remained a chasm in our understanding.

She called back a few minutes later offering a package with similar, albeit a few less channels for slightly less than what I had been paying. I told her I though t that was reasonable, as far as plans go, but would not accept any contract, and wanted my balance to be paid in full through this coming month's billing cycle.

She agreed to make the adjustment, and pro-ration to reflect our new agreement, and we both agreed that any price increase would have to be pre-authorized, and that if I did not accept the increase, that I would simply request a disconnect. (I did this with the initial price increase, yet continued to receive service, and no adjustment to my account.

I have no doubt that if I had a credit card on file, I would have not been given this "concession", or in my assessment nearly fair treatment, after several hours invested.

The Woman at the President's office was no doubt a skilled negotiator dealing with my principled Brick Wall.
The "policies" of Direct TV are probably no more pompous, or unilateral than most pig headed Corporations.

I am offering this, not to blow smoke at my own negotiating abilities, but to provide others some hope as to resolving problems with Direct TV. I wish to assure you, it is probably not you if you are getting the run around from them.

I also believe it is high time that we all start quoting more of our own policies to them, and be very careful as to how you trust Direct TV or any other Business with Credit card information. When they have all the cards, you become the servant, not the customer.

John L.
Texas

I ordered direct tv service last month in the middle of the conversation I asked the sales rep. to give me an installation date, because depending ont he date you give me i dont want you to chare my card.He said ok i wont after giving me a date i told him that was too long and he charged me anyway $220 thats goona take 2 months for me to receive back in a dispute.

After they took an unauthorized withdrawal of too much money.
Their system for reimbursement of funds is outrageous. They have been holding almost 700.00 dollars of my money for 28 days and will not release it 2 days early I am a heart patient and a diabetic and can not get my hear medication refilled. One being Plavix another Diovan and the other is Metoprolol and Metforman. I call to see if they would make an exception of a couple of days because my meds run out on the 25th of this month and they have most of my money on hold. They tell you it could take up to 30 days but that is not true they wont even consider it until the 30 days are up then you have to wait another 3 to 5 days for it to go through. The only reason I can figure it would take so long is they want to collect interest on your money before they decide to give it back. No consideration for peoples health. The service will be up in Jan and you can believe it will be canceled them and all receivers returned promptly. Never again will I deal with people like this. The service was turned on for my daughter its not even mine and they told her to have someone turn it on for her to avoid a deposit. She got laid off and she requested that they suspend her service for a while until she could find another job and in stead this was Direct TV's answer to the problem. Take it out on me and hold my money or almost 700.00 for 30 days so I can not refill my heart meds.
Do not trust them they do lie to you there is no up to 30 days it is a flat 30 days before they will even consider giving you your reimbursement of your money.