My family and I were pioneer subscribers to DirecTV service beginning in approx. 1992.(106 Briarwood Dr) When I moved out of my parents home in 1995, I transfered all related equipment to my father Manuel Amaral. He ended up opening a separate account, but, same equipment connected to my account was assigned to him. I paid my final bill in the amount of 84.00 due at the time.

When my father took over my account, he ended up selling one out of the two receivers I had. He sold it to a Tom Kennedy who in turn opened his own account.

My father went on for years paying the bill until his death in October of 2000. At that time, the account was transferred over to my mother, Agnes Amaral, who continued service. My mom maintained paying the bill on time, as same as my father, and enjoyed the programming.

In September of 2002, I moved into my own apartment (131 Fort St Unit #1 East Providence, RI)and contracted for service in my name. I maintained service at this address till I had a falling out with billing in June 2006. I indicated then to close service, final bill me and take the equipment away.

When I attempted to make these arrangements, someone in billing to me that an outstanding bill in the amount of 86.00 was due from June or May of 1995. This was for the following month after I transferred equipment and account to my dad's name.

The head of customer service at DirecTV told me that when my dad sold the receiver over to Tom Kennedy, the access card was never shut off from my name and apparently 86.00 worth of pay per view movies were ordered. The following month, Tom Kennedy opened an account in his name.

DirecTV then told me that if this bill is not paid, they will shut off my mom's service as she resided at 106 Briarwood Drive. THIS WAS 11 YEARS LATER. My mom paid the bill always on time and never was late. She was 80 years old at the time.

When I pointed out to DireecTV that it was their mistake, they refused to acknowledge and shut my mom's service off. I paid my outstanding bill from East providence and flatly refused to pay the 86.00.

It shocked me, to say the least, that it was worth DirecTV's reputation and financial bottom line to shut off an 80 year old womens TV service. And to beat, it was an account always in good standing for 11 years.

After this experience, I vowed never to get their service again & my entire family has stopped doing business with DirecTV.

When I got cable service for my mom from Comcast locally and explained what happened, they gave her 6 months of free basic service, HBO and Showtime. They even offered the installation to multiple TV's at no charge.

Just to let everyone know, be aware that DirecTV advertises itself as a direct competitor to cable, but yet, their customer service department claims they are a luxury service.

Since when does a vendor come on to a property with out the owner's permission and install a system damaging the building, drill holes thru walls etc... Also they installed a ground set pole directly over a underground gas line having the potential of having caused a leak or explosion--have these guys ever heard of (diggers hotline).

And what is with the automated voice transfer stuff--I have wasted hours tracking down the lunatics who did this only to be unable to contact a person directly.

This company and direct tv stink!

Iv' e been a customer for 10 yrs. I had a receiver replaced back in April 08 because the prior one was not working properly. When I called the guy told me they would send a newer one at no charge. At no time during the conversation did he say that excepting this unit I agreed to a two year extension . Even as I talked to your person about the HDdvr they didn't say anything about a 2 yr extension At the time I told him that I was getting an HDtv in a few months and was told that your company would upgrade me at no cost to me since I was a 10 yr customer. I called set up appt and person never showed up. I was told by the guy on phone at the 5000 number that tech had a accident. My appointment was to be between 12& 4PM on 8-22-08. He claimed that they called me. That is un true.

On 9-02-08 I called and wanted to reset appointment with a specific time . I wasted four hrs waiting for the tech to show up when I could have worked . I lost 370.00. The first lady I talked with today stated for my lost they offered to take twenty dollars a month off bill for 6 months. When I tried to set appointment the guy stated that I would have to wait until Oct. I told him that I would rather get cable then wait. He informed me that I would be charged a cancellation fee. I stated that I didn't have a contract with you. He stated that once I took last receiver I agreed to a new 2 yr agreement before It was sent. He stated that the tech had to inform me of this or they couldn't send the unit. I told him that in the ten yrs I've been with this company the only time I agreed to a contract was when first one was installed. The tech never once told me I needed to agree to a new contract. I told your man to check recording if they wanted. I have looked at several old bills and there is no place on them that has a place on it claiming I'm under contract.

Iv' e talked to several people who seemed to have had similar experience with techs not showing up. The last guy told me today that he doubted that because you had 17 millon customers. I'll bet not all of them are happy and I'm sure that you lost plenty due to the fact of the way they are treated by your office people and the subcontractors you hire. I may only be one customer out of 17 million and your company probably could care less how they treated me. I am going to let all my e-mail friends know the treatment I received. I will also check with the State to see how companies like yours can be forced to put on monthly statement bills contract time remaining or if they exist.

I am having the same problem with Direct TV. I am trying to cancel my service and am getting the same $300 cancellation fee for the supposedly "2-year" agreement. When I contacted them to see what they could do to keep my as a customer, they said to check my email for promotions. However, the day I tried to cancel, the offered me $50 off my next bill, $10 off each bill for 12 months and free HBO and Starz. It's too late, I already signed with another service. Had I been offered these services before, I wouldn't have shopped elsewhere. My new provider HONESTLY told me about their 2-year agreement up front!

Now I am in a fight with Direct TV. I will contact my bank and dispute this $300 fee as well.

My area trees have grown to interfere with my signal. I called DTV to come out, was charged $49.95 and then had to wait 2 weeks for a service person to come to my home. He found a new location but needed a pole to mount the satellite and his supervisor told him they would have a supervisor come out. I was told they would contact me the next day.

After 7 days I called and they said it would be 2 more weeks. Today, 2 days before the second scheduled appointment, they called and told me they had rescheduled my appointment to 1 day early. I was unable to be home and when I asked for their original appointment time, they said the next appointment would be in 4 weeks...

After insisting several times that I be transferred to a supervisor, I was put on hold for 20+ minutes and then when the person I was talking with came back on the phone, I was told they would make the initial appointment. Stay tuned...