So I have been a DirecTV customer off and on since 1997 and loved their service and programming. Last April I went to a local Best Buy and purchased a DirecTV HD DVR and a DirecTV HD receiver and paid almost $400 for both. I took them home and installed them myself, called DirecTV to activate them and was told that they would like me to sign a 1 year agreement for service. I agreed as I was committed to their programming. A few months ago, I needed to cut back on some extra spending and called DirecTV and reduced my programming package. I asked the rep before I made any changes, that if I went through with it, would it affect my contract term date. He specifically told me that in no way would it affect it and that my contract was almost up (in April 2009).

Cut to now that I'm moving from my house and my new residence has a contract with another company. I called DirecTV to cancel service and I was told that the receivers that I purchased were a lease!!! How can they be a lease when I paid for them??? After being transferred to some idiot and then another, I finally gave in and told them I would ship them to where ever they asked.

I then spoke with someone else to cancel my service and to my surprise she told me that I was under contract and that I had 1 year left!!! I flipped out on her. I explained to her the series of events and I asked to speak with a supervisor. She told me that there was nothing that they could or would do and that I just needed to either pay the term fee or transfer the service. She said that a one year agreement is standard, however, if you sign up for a HD package you are automatically put on a 2 year agreement. How can this be?

I will never sign up for DirecTV service again, they just lost a long time customer and will bad mouth them to anyone and everyone that will listen.

On a side note I then called back and cancelled service at my parents house as well. I'll be damned if they get any more money from me. FYI, Uverse from AT&T is a much sharper picture and has better features and user interface.

DIRECTV went in our bank account twice in the past 4 days 4/28.09 & 5/1/09 and pulled out a total of $821.32 for early cancellation fees and past due amounts. This occurred after they had agreed to arrangements to accept a $112.17 payment and restoration of services . They did not give our check time to post to the account before scheduled agreement date. Their CSR agent never mentioned the additional fees when I spoke with her on 4.25.09 when they removed teh first withdrwal of $315.42 so immagine our surprised when the morning after we deposited our check finding we had no funds available. 5/1/09 when they had taken an additional $505.42 They had turned our account over to collection 7 days earlier 4/15/09 for $390, 00. If it was turned to collections why did they raid my account and if they had the authorization they claimed to have had why did they turn it over to collections? Why is the amount they deducted from my account more than double the amount they sent to collections>They also want us to pay equipment charges for equipment purchased from, Walmart. what kind of rip off is this. We are also being charged for early termination fees. Their contract states that it is monthly contract. After taking the over $800 from our bank account they still say we owe them $758 when we had a zero balance 2/ 28/09. We purposely did not set our account for Auto because we do not like like permitting open access to our funds. They left us with out money for food or medications. I am filing with the BBB and any one else that will listen.

Feburary25, 2009

DirecTv
Attention: Billing Disputes
P.O. Box 6550
Greenwood Village, Colorado 80155
Dear Sir/Madame:
In regard to account # 33150851:
On 07/05/2006 I (E-mailed) (method corrected see correction note below) called customer service and requested this account be disconnected 08/01/2006. I just discovered that it was not disconnected and I have been auto draft paying this bill from my checking account ever since.
I called and had this account terminated 2/24/2008(9) (year corrected see correction note below) so it is no longer an active account.
I desire a refund of all monies paid to this account from 08/01/2006 to the present. Please advise. Thank You
Sincerely,
George F. Griepp
George F. Griepp

April 8, 2009

As of this date, I have not received a response from you. Please respond to this second inquiry ASAP. You may contact me at:
501 262-1849
Please leave a message on the answering machine if I do not answer.
Thank you

Friday, April 24, 2009

I have been a loyal and happy customer account #12872055, who is now very dissatisfied with your company and feel you have stolen from me. I have discovered numerous posts online alleging the same failure to refund erroneous over billing practices and your violation of the Do Not Call registry.

Please note the bolded corrections in my first letter dated February 25, 2009 above. Today I discovered I had typed an incorrect date in my original letter and have corrected the date with this letter. I was also informed today that I E-mailed requesting the service termination for August 1, 2006. My apologies for any confusion caused by my errors.
I have just completed two hours conversing on the phone with various offices of yours and was informed that the afore mentioned claim, account #33150851 was denied. I was never informed of this disposition, as you were apparently calling an old phone number.

“Ed” (R6211) at 310 535-5000 informed me that he would have to “go with” the decision of the representative who denied the claim because:
• Bills have been mailed each month to the account address
• That after my E-mail requesting termination you made a marketing call to the number on the account and that you were told “she would think about it and call you back”
• On November 29, 2008 an inbound call was made to you changing the name from “Faith” to mine.
I am requesting a further review of this claim and requesting a refund of all monies paid since August 1, 2006 because:
• I E-mailed you requesting termination.
• Any response to my E-mail service termination order should have been to me and only me, using the information contained within the E-mail signature.
• This address was no longer a valid service address after August 1, 2006, per my E-mail.
• I vacated the apartment prior to August 1, 2006 and terminated my lease on that date.
• I disconnected and stored the DirecTV receiver prior to August 1, 2006
• I did not call you on November 11, 2008 requesting a name change on account #33150851.

You have committed credit card fraud as you failed to comply with my original E-mail order to disconnect service at the Cabot, Arkansas service location. You continued to charge the credit card without legal authorization and in direct contradiction of my E-mailed order. In addition, your overly aggressive sales efforts to prevent disconnection of this account were in direct contradiction of my expressed E-mailed order, you failed to contact the authorized credit card holder, and you did not receive any authorization from me to continue charges to my credit card for the Cabot, Arkansas location beyond August 1, 2006.

If you fail to readdress this grievance I will terminate my current account (12872055), post numerous factual complaints online to give you the most widespread, unfavorable publicity possible, and be willing to share my story publically with any communication media. In addition, I will institute legal action to recover all monies charged to the credit card listed on this account since August 1, 2006, due to your credit card fraud.

I furnished you a correct phone number in my second letter, above and again, here is my correct contact information: 501 262-1849. Please reply to this letter or call me at the number listed herein. If I do not receive a response within ten days from today, I will institute legal action.

Sincerely,
George F. Griepp
George F. Griepp

Monday, April 27, 2009

Just spoke with Emily (BOIU 1710) from the Office of the President. She stated that they would not refund any of the charges due to:
• “notes on the account”
• My “failure to notice the charges”
After I asked for credit, she offered a credit on my current account of $10/month for 12 months.
I declined the offer and informed her that negative publicity and legal action will be forthcoming.
During today’s call I was told that the notification on 7/11/2006 had been by incoming call and that the representative noted “I would think about it and get back with them”
That is a lie I was already divorced and we were vacating the apartment 8/1/2006. I believe the representative did not want to assume the liability of a disconnected account.
It seems that every time I call I get different versions of what transpired in the past and how I contacted them.
I find it amazing that a company that made such a grievous error would not make a better good faith effort for customer satisfaction and retention.
I would have been willing to remain a customer and receive credit for a significant portion of the fraudulent charges on my monthly bill.

I called to DirecTV to verify plan pricing and after agreeing on a discount I agreed to sign up. two weeks later I get a letter stating that I will not receive a discount and I will be charged a $50 difference( I got this letter after they installed the equipment and signed the contract under the agreed discount) I call them to find out why and they give me the run around so I told them to either honor our agreemant or cancel my service and contract at no charge, they wanted me to pay over $400 to cancel and they hung up on me after putting me on hold for a manager. I have been dealing with this issue for months and have gotten nowhere, hours and hours spent on the phone and on hold, I told them I am not going to pay for anything and I wanted nothing to do with them. I thought that was that well today I was charged $739 from my account and my rent is due so I call them and they said they charged me for the unpaid service which I have not been getting any service after the first month when they shut it off, and the equipment they did not even ask me to return it or give me a notice to return it and if i didn't then they will bill me. THEY JUST STOLE $739 FROM ME with notice or authorization and after being on the phone for two hours a guy tells me that I was supposed to be given a notice and 21 days to return the equipment and he even says he doesnt know why they did not follow company policy, but I can't get my money back until I return the stuff. A week and a half at best and the guys says I agree with you but I cant dispute it, they can't even next day ship it, which means I am going to be late on several bills and pay the fee. I am not done with this I will file a class action lawsuit against this company for all of us who suffer from them.

I called to sign up for DirecTv after canceling a couple of years ago. I own four boxes, and already have an installed dish. I wanted to hook up all four boxes and get service activated. I was told that I would be charged a lease fee of $5.00 a month for each box over one. I said, 'even if I own the boxes?', the rep. said yes, there is an admin fee built into the lease fee so it will be charged. I debated for some time, spoke to a supervisor, and was told that nothing could be done. Total scam, they have adopted the great customer service policies of the cable industry.