I previously paid a DTV bill for my uncle back in 02/09 and 03/09. On 06/01/09 and 06/02/09, I was charged $574.19 from DTV. I called and explained to them this bill is not mine, therefore, it is not my responsibilty to pay for it. The customer service rep, Lauren, agreed and requested I fax a printout from my bank to her so this could be credited back to me. I did so immediately. She then called back as rude as she could be, stating because my card was previously used, it's on the account as a "payment option" and I lived at the address previously so it will not be refunded. I asked her to send me anything, even an electronic signature, with my authorization to be responsible for my uncles bill. She said, "We don't have anything with your name on it." Well dimwit, what gives you the right to steal my money? I asked to speak with her supervisor, but she flat out refused to give me his/her name. DTV is a scam company who will steal money from anyone they can, any way they can. Please, if you are considering DTV, read this and the previous complaints, and reconsider. They haven't heard the last of me. I filed a claim with my bank, who out right said they absolutley cannot get away with this. I have also filed a complaint with the BBB, Federal Trade Commission, as well as the Attorney General. I also sent a letter to the president of DTV, but I'm not holding my breath on that one. Please complain to these organizations if you have an issue with DTV. Maybe enough complaints will get them to change their shady and outright ILLEGAL billing practices.

I was mislead into signing a contract for 2 years. The only reason I signed up with this company is that I was told at the time of signing, that they carry “Arabic” channels and that I can add it to my account at any time without any additional costs.

When I was ready to add the Arabic channels to my account, I was told by Directv that they will no longer carry the Arabic channels effective June 1, 2009. My native language is Arabic and I would have NEVER signed up with this company if they did not provide Arabic channels.

They have mislead me into signing this TWO year contract based on their assurance to me over the phone, advertising and offering of “Arabic” channels which is still being advertised until now (06-06-09) on their website.

They have offered no resolution based on their misleading me into this two years contract and are demanding that I pay an outrageous fee for cancellation ($20/month x 20 months) for something I DID NOT CAUSE.


DirecTv will say anything you want to hear, if you call them to inquire about their service, just to get you to sign up with them. A fine print, with absolutely no mention of it, when you initially inquire the service, indicates that you will be fined $20.00/month for the remaining of a 2 year contract, if you want to cancel at anytime prior to the completion of the 2 years term.

The catch here is not just that you are stuck with the penalty for cancellation, should you change your mind, but they can drop any service at any time, and yet you are still stuck with the penalty, even if it is not your fault. In my case, it was Arabic channels.

I have a screenshot taken 06-06-09 still advertising the availability of the Arabic channels on their website

The only reason, I have signed up with Directv was the Arabic channels they offered. However after signing up, they simply dropped all Arabic channels, though they still have it advertised as indicated above) and instead of being a decent company, they turned out to be yet another corrupt corporation, demanding the customer pay the bill for their deceit and incompetence. Based on my experience, I can confidently say that Directv is involved in unfair and deceptive business practices, that should not go on unnoticed.

Don't waste your time reporting this business to BBB (Better Business Bureau). They are obviously in bed with Directv. I have email communications and the back up to prove that BBB was trying to assist Directv in shoving my complaint under the rug. In my personal opinion, BBB is a useless entity, sponsored by the same corporations they make you think they are trying to protect you from.

We recommend that you file an official complaint with government agencies as follows:

Federal Trade Commission - You can file your complaint online:
http://www.ftc.gov/

Consumer Response
Center Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania,
N.W. Washington, D. C. 20580
FTC toll-free number: 1-877-382-4357
1-202-326-2502 TTY

Your State Attorney General: http://www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php

If you have a similar case with Directv, we urge you to expose them on the internet.

Here are also, some other online services and blogs, where I suggest you post your case and make your voice heard. Don't let these corrupt corporations get away with your hard earned money they try to steal from you:

http://www.ripoffreport.com/
http://www.consumeraffairs.com
http://www.complaintsboard.com
http://www.my3cents.com/

Write to Directv at:

[email protected] Senior VP of Customer Care
[email protected] President of directv
[email protected]

Directv is claiming that I owe them $377.17 for early termination. I completed my 2 year commitment to them in Feb 2008 and canceled my subscription in June 2008. They billed my credit card, which I disputed with my credit card company, who investigated and subsequently removed the charges.

Since then, I have received two notices of collection (4/02/09 and 5/20/09) from two different "agencies" which I responded immediately in writing that I dispute the charges. It should be noted that both of these notices had 3 different addresses contained in their letter and no contact name or phone number.

I received today a letter dated 5/20/09 from Directv that they received my correspondence, reviewed all charges, that they consider the balance to be accurate and for me to remit the amount of $377.17 to their address listed below in the letter. Again, no name or phone number.

I am tired of dealing with this unethical company. I was with them for 8 years, never missed a payment and then when I cancel, they try to stick it to me. I would never go back to Directv and tell everyone I know to stay away from them, no matter how good of a deal they make it sound in their ads and brochures.

Wow - Just got off the phone with DirecTV "Customer Service" (hah) department. Due to the economy and the inability to keep their service for the full two year commitment (although they repeatedly messed up our service and billing over the past year), I called to cancel service. They would not waive the service fee. We now have to pay $140 to get them out of our lives. The moment I reiterated that we would cancel service, the Customer Service Rep went belligerent and combative with me. Refused to let me talk with her supervisor for a while claiming that she was as far as it would go, and when I finally insisted and placed on hold for over five minutes, a male Customer Service Rep, who wouldn't speak his name clearly for identification, proved to be even more belligerent than the first rep. Big business once again lords it over the customer who gets their hard earned money stolen. NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THEM! They do not follow through and when hardship happens, make that experience as unpleasant as possible for the troubled consumer. NEVER AGAIN. Absolutely not worth the hassle, hardship or heartache.

30 Months of Fraudulent Billing!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 10:50 a.m.

Called and spoke to David (U2631) at DIRECTV he informed me Amanda would return my call within 2 hours.
Amanda (R9631) at DIRECTV called offered me 60 days credit I politely refused and again informed that I would be suing in small claims court and filing criminal charges for unauthorized use of a credit card. Amanda kept telling me that DIRECTV had spoken with me and I had not called DIRECTV to confirm the disconnect and that DIRECTV had billed me for approximately 30 months before I noticed. I stressed to Amanda that I had never been contacted by DIRECTV after my initial E-mail in July, 2006 and that I had never spoken to DIRECTV about this account until February 24, 2009 when I discovered the fraudulent billing.

DIRECTVs position appears to be that I did not catch DIRECTV soon enough so DIRECTV intends to keep most of the funds that DIRECTV fraudulently removed from my bank account and that I did not catch DIRECTV quickly enough. The approximately $100 credit DIRECTV offered does not equal the approximately $1600 dollars DIRECTV obtained fraudulently.