Synopsis: DirectTV wants me to pay for three months of service that I did not use, at an address I do not live at, after they re-activated service without my authorization. All the while, my DirectTV receivers were in storage and completely unused.

Summary: In late July 2008, I contacted DirectTV to cancel service. We were selling our home and going to Singapore for several months. The customer service rep stated that I could suspend the account, keep the receivers, then reactivate the account once we returned and had a new home. There was no mention of a maximum time period that the account could remain suspended. And, I made it clear to the rep at the time that we were not returning to that address.

In early November 2008 I received an e-bill to my bank account from DirectTV for a month's service. I contacted them through email and explained that the service should not have been reactivated, we were not in that home anymore and that they should just cancel the service. We were still overseas, which is why I used email. I heard no response, and - wrongly - assumed the situation was resolved.

I heard nothing more from DirectTV until February 2009. I received an email stating that my account was disconnected due to non-payment. I responded stating that I should not have an account as I had requested it to be disconnected. There was no response.

In March 2009, $734.08 was automatically deducted from my bank account. I don't know about you, but I can't afford that kind of loss right now. I'm down to less than $200, which is supposed to last me several weeks until my next closing?? (I'm a realtor in the worst market in the nation. Lucky me)

I contacted DirectTV on March 6, 2009. After an hour and a half on the phone, with three different customer service reps, I was told "So sorry, can't help you". They stated that they would send a receiver return kit so that I could return the receivers and be reimbursed $400 once they received them. But, since my account was "over 60 days overdue" they couldn't help me and I would have to write to the "Billing Dispute" Department. By the way, the Billing Dispute Department has no phone number and no fax number. I was told that they would responde within 30 days as to what action they were going to take. Can you believe that?

So, on March 11 I received the receiver return kit. It was supposed to contain a return postage paid slip. It didn't. I had to call again, and was told that it would be here by Friday. Maybe. Then I asked to speak to a supervisor to again try to at least get my $334.08 back while waiting for the $400 for the return of the receivers.

The supervisor, who read a script the entire time, gave me the same song and dance about writing to the anonymous Billing Disputes Department to try and plead my case. Just out of curiousity, how the hell am I supposed to know if they receive my letter? And how am I supposed to check on the status of my complaint?

Great system - for them. Meanwhile, I have to tell the kids they're eating Ramen noodles and peanut butter for two weeks, while I try to find another job with a regular paycheck. Thanks DirectTV! And to think that I had really liked your service and had recommended it to everyone I knew. What a schmuck I am.

In November 2009 my HD receiver stopped working, and DirectTV sent me a new receiver. The box from which the new reciever arrived contained no mail back instructions or a return miling label. I spoke with a service representative and they informed me that since I owned the receiver and that it was "old" that I did not have to mail it back and IO could dispose of it however I wished. We received no notification over the next two months that we had to trturn the broken receiver. In early January I disposed of the broken reciever.

My January bill included a non-return fee of $240 for the broken HD recevier. I called DirectTV, and on a two hour phone call was told by two different people that they had charged me inc4240orrectly, that I did not have to return the broken receiver and that i would be credited the $240 on my next bill.

I received a letter this week telling me that i still owe the $240. I called DirectTV on a 90 minute phone call, where I was told that they felt my circumstance was unfair, yet they could not credit me the $240.

I followed instructions provided to me by a DirectTV representative, and because of those intructions i am being charged $240. I would have gladly mailed the broken receiver back had I been intructed to do so either verbally or by mail. I am asking for your help in this matter as I am being stonewalled by DirectTV and their representatives.

Today I received a congratulatory letter thanking me for signing for DirectTV's Protection Plan. The problem is I had no idea they even had one. They've signed me up for a monthly fee of $5.99 without my consent.

I can only guess that the jerk who handled my complaint call, about the crappy installation job, (disconnecting the cable internet from the splitter underneath my house), decided to add this service to my account.

It's Christmas day so, I'm not surprised that no one was available to take my call... Wait just a minute! This DirectTV Protection Plan promises 24 hours a day, 7 days a week service! Well now I know just how that promise is kept.

I did, however, get an automated system to agree to cancel the service. But wait, there was a $10 dollar CANCELLATION FEE! You've got to be kidding. I have to pay to cancel a service I've never signed up for in the first place!

As far as the Protection Plan, the coverage is for services the average person would expect as standard service maintenance or regular cost associated with doing business and not something they'd be expected to pay extra for.

Services being offered by Protection Plan:
*Technical support over the phone
*Replacement of bad rented equipment
*Home technical support if needed to restore service

As you can see these are are basic cost of doing business for this type of company, and there for should be incorporated into the monthly fees charged for the services being offered.

I can't believe DirectTV seriously thinks these types of business practices are even remotely ethical. As consumers, we've got to put our foot down on this type of nickel and dime billing practices and scams. We need to let DirectTV and others like them know that we will look else where for more fair minded business models.

I was forced to purchase DirectTV's service in my apartment complex because they building would not allow the local cable company to provide service. I moved to another location and switched to cable because I never wanted DirectTV in the first place. DirectTV is now trying to charge a $200 termination fee for ending service in less than a year. I believe the fee is completely unfair since I was forced to purchase the service since the building manager allowed DirectTV to monopolize my area for all cable network services despite the fact that their service is inferior and not likely to be purchased by those who have a choice. I received no benefits in the form of discounts or enhanced services from DirectTV's monopoly over my apartment building. The arrangement was completely unfair to consumers who typically have choices for who provides their cable network services, and a termination fee should not be a term in a such a dubious contract.

While hooking-up a new DVD player we were unable to access our DirectTV service. Calling custome service we were informed we need a new access card and would be without service for 3-5 business days AND charged $20 maintenance fee. We were also informed that we were continued to be billed for a defective receiver since Sept. 2007 (automated payment for 16 months at $5 per month). 47 minutes on the phone with customer support supervisor "Richard" in Alabama: he refused to credit our account the over-charge, claimed it was not DirectTV's policy to check/correct errors to our accounts...we are to do so and notify them within 60 days...and did not end the conversation with a good-bye...he just disconnected the line. Knowing the line was still active we waited until the rep. got on the line then got Richard's ID #! I've written to DirectTV. Let's see what they'll do now!