Here's the story on my horrible directv experience wich is still ongoing.

I called directv in the first week of march 2010 to order service. The man I talked to assured me of some things I would be receiving with directv service. Now a friend of mine has directv and on all the receivers there are capable of recording two separate channels while you watch a THIRD CHANNEL, now if its supposed to be that way or rigged or what I don't know. So when I called to order service, I specifically asked if they offered a receiver for me that can do the same thing. All I wanted was two HD DVR receivers AND the ability to record 2 separate channels while watching a third. I also asked that the dish not be put on the roof but the side of the house. I was assured this is no problem, that he was configuring a package to fit what I wanted.
All I asked for was the two HD DVR's and to have it function like my friends service did with the HD DVR's. I was told all I had to pay was the 20 bucks to ship the boxes to the installers and they would be at my place 3/06/10, a sat morning between the hours of 8-12. So far I thought I was getting what I wanted.
Saturday morning the installer calls a little after 8 asking for directions, and then tells me that he wont be there until 11:30 or so. He shows up a bit before noon and gets to work with the installation. Once he starts hooking up the boxes I notice that they are standard receivers and not HD DVR's. Also I notice that the spelling of my last name is incorrect on his paperwork. So he takes the boxes and assures me he will handle it. He asked me not to contact directv so that he could fix the problem and get paid for his job.
After being on the phone on and off with him over the next day, he says he checked and I was right, that I ordered two HD DVR receivers and schedules a new installation for monday morning. On monday morning I called him to confirm when he was comming and he said he could not finish the installation because of a problem with Directv. The installer then gets me on a 3 way call with someone from Directv because I apparently need to make it a new order and account # because of the receiver mix up, although the installer says he has the boxes in his truck for me. The man from Directv tells me that I was being overcharged for what service I was getting and told me he fixed it, then charged 125.88 to my debit card for the additional receiver.
So after this I was assured I'd get my two HD DVR receivers and my monthly cost for first year would be 56.99 a month and for the second year it would be 85.99 a month for the package I wanted, and then I was given a new account number. And again I request that they fix my mispelt name. Finally the installation is rescheduled for tuesday morning.
Come tuesday no call no show, so I call the installer and he tells me that he cant get released to do the job until he talks to his suppervisor who is in a meeting. More phone calls throughought the day just to have the installer tell me the work order needs to be reopened and he needed an acctivity number, which I heard the man from Directv tell him the number when we were on 3 way call. So more calls to Directv to have them fix my mispelt name AGAIN and to get them to reopen the work order and get the acctivity number wich I give to the installer and reschedule the installation for wednesday morning.
Wednesday comes, no call no show from installer, and I get an automated call from Directv confiming an installation in the aftnoon hours between 12-4. Now this was not the time I scheduled, but I waited and two different installers show up in the afternoon with my correct boxes and do the installation, albeit rudely. So now I have working service as I ordered, or so I thought.
I work night shift and 12 hours shifts at that, so I went all week so far with very little sleep. After a short nap I tried to record two programs and watch a third station like I was assured I'd be able to do with the original person I ordered service through. I could only record one and the other I'd have to stop recording if I wanted to change the channel. So then I go inspect their installation and find out both guys put the dish on the roof where I did not want it, and the second installers didn't even use the same bracket, they put an additional one next to it... it was the same exact bracket.
So again I'm on the phone with Directv and they tell me the equipment is working fine that there is no way to record 2 channels and watch a third. They told me my friend must not of had Directv or that I was lying. My eyes work, I can read. My friends house has a Directv Dish, a Directv HD DVR receiver, and gets billed by Directv... But regardless on the fact they sold me on 3 stations and then told me they cant do that, I could of lived with it if they hadn't put the dish where I asked It not to be and caused damage to my roof.
So now it has rained and I have water leaking into my roof. So I call Directv again every day going through department after department getting transferred until I talk to someone that can handle all my problems. I only talk to supervisors or managers mind you. Eventually I talk to someone by the name of Patrick who is very sorry for my problems and after almost an hour on the phone with him alone, assures me that my 19.99 for shipping the two boxes that were wrong, and the charge for the second HD DVR of 125.88 would be refunded. He tells me that my 19.99 has already been refunded and the 125.88 would be mailed by check in 8-10 buisness days. Patrick also tells me that he marked it urgent refund.
I then ask to make sure that I will not be charged for any termination fees and that my account is closed out because I will not deal with a company that treats its customers that way. He ASSURES me that he closed my account, refunded my money, and that the service people would be out sat morning to remove the dish and all the wires laying around my house. He also gave me the information for the damage claims, and told me he put it in his system and that they would be contacting me shortly to resolve the issue.
Saturday morning the 13th comes and no service people show up in the 8-12 window I was told. So I call Directv again. They tell me the sevice appointment was cancelled and I have to contact the instalation company, Directec. When I ask for a contact number they tell me they have no numbers or no ability to even transfer me to someone who could get me in contact with Directec. If they have no way of contacting them, then how can they do installations when Directv says they have no way to contact them????
I'm also told I still have an active account, and refuse to put me in contact with with anyone other than the supervisor at the cancellation department. They also tell me no one higher up in the company has the ability to make sure my account is cancelled, even the president. So this man cancels my account, although I was assured by Patrick the other day that it was already cancelled. This man also tells he has nothing to do with me getting a refund or if I will get termination fees for a service I never had but for a few hours, that didn't even work as promised. He tells me thats a different department...
So after checking my bank account, I see that the 19.95 for the shipment of the boxes was refunded to me on 3/9/2010, but I still have not received my check for 125.88 and still haven't had the installers come to collect there boxes and dish.
I have pictures of the roof and damage and, and the bolts they discarded into my yard and left for me to clean up. This is a horrible way to run a company and I will not rest until Directv fixes what they have done. I am contacting the better buisness bureau and am filling a complaint. I am also contacting all local newspapers in my area to have this story run for everyone to know what Directv does, and how they mistreat and ripoff thier customers. I also have the address for the office of the president of Directv and will be writing them uncessantly until they resolve the issue. And If all else fails, I will take Directv and they Installation company to court to reimburse me for charges and damage to my house.

If you listen to anything, listen to this: DO NOT CHOOSE DIRECT TV. DO NOT FALL FOR "LOW PRICE" YOU WILL PAY FOR IT, TRUST ME. I have been lied to, hung up on, told something different every time I call. First, I was told my contract ended in May of 2009 (I wanted to cancel early, it was that bad). Today I call to cancel (July 2009) and I was told I can't cancel till May of 2010. By that time, my "new customer low price" will be over and I will be paying the regular rate (whatever that is). I truly dislike this company and all it represents-lies and manipulating the American consumer to benefit themselves, all the while not caring about what it does to the individual who uses the service. Never again. Never again.

I am disappointed in the quality of service that is given. The customer service is that of I don't care about our customers because there are many more out there in our network. I signed up for the rebate within the time frame that was given. I did not check on it until the third bill still did not show the rebate. 6-8 weeks to process but has to be done in 60 days. At that time I was told that I didn't. I was told that the only way is if I have a conformation number. I don't remember seeing one but I didn't look either. At the same www. directv .com/rebate is also the go green one time rebate. That one went through on the day in question. The elevated customer service person named Mark told be that the go green rebate is not on the same site. When I asked for a way to print screen and show him I was told there is nothing that I could do to get the rebate even after I caught him in a lie or lack of knowledge of the company web site. The service is fine for the money that I pay but I can not recommend a company with employees that lie and decieve instead of doing what is morally and ethically correct. For this I sadenly have to give my first bad review for a company. If there is anything I can do to resolve this please let me know.

I am issuing a formal consumer complaint against DirectTV for what has amounted to a 'bait and switch' scam. Three months ago I responded to a promotion advertising $32 a month satellite television contract from DirectTV. I signed up for direct billing expecting them to honor the price as advertised. My family was disappointed by the picture quality and obtrusive satellite dish, but we thought we could live with all that for relatively low price of the monthly service.

One day I was checking my credit card statements and I was shocked to noticed that DirectTV was actually charging $52 a month. I called to question the bill, and after being put on hold, redirected to recorded lines, and 'accidentally' hung up on three separate time I was finally told that I in order to get the price promised I had to complete a rebate that had since expired.

I was never told during the sign up process, subsequent installation, or by mail that I was expected to perform any additional work to get the rate promised to me. After speaking with a supervisor, I was subsequently told that DirectTV is not responsible for honoring their commitment and was then scolded for being "slow" in not reading the fine print of the promotional advertisements. I was then informed that I would have to pay $280 if I wanted to end my 18 month contract.

I have never been more insulted or frustrated by a company. I feel that I have been lied to and cheated by this organization. A simple internet search has demonstrated dozens of similar consumer complaints against DirectTV (see below for just a few).

In order to resolve the dispute I would ask for one of the following two solutions:

1) DirectTV honors the $32 a month price as promised upon sign-up and installation, and that my family should be reimbursed for difference in the higher $52 rate paid thus far.

2) For DirectTV to break my contract with them, free of charge, on the basis they have not delivered the services at the price promised.

Directv flat out lied to me! It is just about impossible to break their contract. Everytime I call them they give me a different answer, then take it back the next time I call. I would not wish Directv on my worst enemy!