I am disputing the charges from DirectTV for $477.85 on 1/26/08. On December 13th 2007 I had DirectTV installed in my home. The reason I tried DTV was because they were doing a year-end promotion. The promotion was $39.99 for one year with a $20 off coupon per month for that time. They also had a 30-day return policy for this promotion. Obviously it was too good to pass up so we had it installed while keeping our regular cable company just in case since we had thirty days. On December 25th I emailed them (emails attached) to cancel the service, within the 30-day trial. I then saw on January 26th they charged me the above amount. I called and talked to Clover who stated I was correct and she would forward the email to the Management team for evaluation. I followed up with a email on their website inquiring about all this and never received a response back. Of course, you cannot get a copy of the contract you originally “signed” on line at the time of sign-up. So it is hard for me to prove this since it is not available to me.

This practice is unacceptable by DTV and I refuse to give them what they are NOT due. They are a bunch of lying thieves and no one in the legal system seems to care!

On or about December 21, 2007 I called Directv to start a service in a house that my wife and I had just purchased. The attempted install took place on December 26, 2008. That day I was told that I would need another card for the Tivo that was left here and after that all of the tvs would work. The cost was $20.00. I used my debit card on the installers phone to a customer service rep said they would promptly mail the card. The installer told me that all I would have to do is install the card and everything would work.

I received the card on December 30, 2007. That evening I installed the card and nothing. So I called technical support on the issue. A few hours of reading numbers on the back of the tivo, the card, hitting reset buttons, turning the tivo off for several five minute intervals and speaking to 4 different people, the entire system still did not work!

After several frustrating hours I was then told that the tivo box was still in the original owners name and if I would wait until February 7, 2008 they could get the system in my name and make it work. I called the previous owner on December 31, 2007 and asked him if he would call DirecTV and give them the ok to put the box in my name. He agreed to do so and actually did. On the evening of December 31, 2007 I attempted again to get it to work... NOTHING!

On January 2, 2008 I called and asked customer service if they could just get me a new tivo. Their response was yes, for $95.99 and I could receive in 7 to 10 working days. This was the best that they could do, and still no guarantee that it would wok then.

On January 3, I called to speak to a manager. I was asked why. I gave the reason why and the young lady tried to get me to go through the system of troubleshooting. I told her that I was past that and wanted not even try anymore. She asked me to hold on. Then connected me to the Disconnection Department who immediately tried to sell me a service that I no longer was willing to work with.

I rudely asked to speak to a manager! Once connected and I went through all of the issues with him and told him I was not interested. Then he told me that I had an eighteen month contract and would be charged $340.00 to terminate their service. I asked him, “What service, up to this point I haven’t had any service! I do not want to deal with you anymore!”

On February 1, 2008 DirecTV illegally withdrew $324.35 from my account using my debit card without my permission and without providing me with the first bit of service. Beware!

I worked for DirecTv for 9 months, but I finally had to quit because I couldn't stand how the company treats its customers. I felt like I was an immoral person because of the immoral policies the company has. For example, DirecTv decided to change a very important policy. Supposedly they sent out information regarding this, but every single customer I spoke to who was affected by this said they received nothing of the sort. The policy change was this: If a customer closed their account with DirecTv, if we have their credit or debit card information on file, and if there is still a balance owed on the account, they will immediately take out the money owed from your credit or debit card account. Nice huh. Oh, and since no customer knew about this policy and were not informed about it when closing their accounts, many people incurred charges from their credit card or bank accounts. The policy also stated that we cannot refund any of this money. Basically, they're screwed.

Also, about 50% of the calls I received had to do with a problem with the satellite system. These satellite systems don't work. If you order this system, you will have problems with it at some point or another, and usually it will be a major problem that you the consumer has to pay for out of your own pocket. Unless you have what is called the 'Protection Plan', which costs $5.99 per month. You're still paying for it.

Another thing is, when people order DirecTv for the first time, they either aren't informed about a lot of things, (such as a 'free' magazine that you'll be charged for after 3 months, or that you will be charged hundreds of dollars if you decide to cancel the account) or people were told they would be getting a package for so much per month, end up getting charged for something completely different, and if they want to change to the original offer, that cannot be done and they have to get a package at a regular price.

One of the commercials that DirecTv has going right now is promoting their HD service. They advertise that you can get a package with HD starting at $29.99 per month. This is a lie. Packages do start at $29.99, but this is the basics of basics. It doesn't include any real channels that you would get with basic cable. You can add HD on for $9.99 a month. Just to let you know, most of the HD channels are sports channels that you can only get if you order an insanely expensive sports package, local channels that many people can't get, or channels that you don't really watch. Oh also if you have the least expensive package, the only HD channels you can get are your local channels.

Now I will let you know about the sports packages. They are a ripoff. The NFL package is about 300 dollars. The prices go down from there, but DirecTv is making a huge profit off of these packages. Oh and if you want sports in HD, even if you have the HD package, you have to order a separate sports HD package at 100 dollars.

Another ripoff is when DirecTv decided to add new HD channels. Everyone has a receiver that you need in order to get the service. Since DirecTv 'upgraded the type of HD feed', not only do you have to pay for crappy HD channels, but you also have to order a new receiver if you want to receive these HD channels. These start at 99 dollars.

I would say that 85% of the calls I got a day (on average 200 calls) were from people who not only had a complaint but were enraged by a variety of DirecTv's mistakes or practices.

I suggest that if you want something more than basic cable, go with someone like Time Warner Cable.

I worked for DirecTv for 9 months, but I finally had to quit because I couldn't stand how the company treats its customers. I felt like I was an immoral person because of the immoral policies the company has. For example, DirecTv decided to change a very important policy. Supposedly they sent out information regarding this, but every single customer I spoke to who was affected by this said they received nothing of the sort. The policy change was this: If a customer closed their account with DirecTv, if we have their credit or debit card information on file, and if there is still a balance owed on the account, they will immediately take out the money owed from your credit or debit card account. Nice huh. Oh, and since no customer knew about this policy and were not informed about it when closing their accounts, many people incurred charges from their credit card or bank accounts. The policy also stated that we cannot refund any of this money. Basically, they're screwed.

Also, about 50% of the calls I received had to do with a problem with the satellite system. These satellite systems don't work. If you order this system, you will have problems with it at some point or another, and usually it will be a major problem that you the consumer has to pay for out of your own pocket. Unless you have what is called the 'Protection Plan', which costs $5.99 per month. You're still paying for it.

Another thing is, when people order DirecTv for the first time, they either aren't informed about a lot of things, (such as a 'free' magazine that you'll be charged for after 3 months, or that you will be charged hundreds of dollars if you decide to cancel the account) or people were told they would be getting a package for so much per month, end up getting charged for something completely different, and if they want to change to the original offer, that cannot be done and they have to get a package at a regular price.

One of the commercials that DirecTv has going right now is promoting their HD service. They advertise that you can get a package with HD starting at $29.99 per month. This is a lie. Packages do start at $29.99, but this is the basics of basics. It doesn't include any real channels that you would get with basic cable. You can add HD on for $9.99 a month. Just to let you know, most of the HD channels are sports channels that you can only get if you order an insanely expensive sports package, local channels that many people can't get, or channels that you don't really watch. Oh also if you have the least expensive package, the only HD channels you can get are your local channels.

Now I will let you know about the sports packages. They are a ripoff. The NFL package is about 300 dollars. The prices go down from there, but DirecTv is making a huge profit off of these packages. Oh and if you want sports in HD, even if you have the HD package, you have to order a separate sports HD package at 100 dollars.

Another ripoff is when DirecTv decided to add new HD channels. Everyone has a receiver that you need in order to get the service. Since DirecTv 'upgraded the type of HD feed', not only do you have to pay for crappy HD channels, but you also have to order a new receiver if you want to receive these HD channels. These start at 99 dollars.

I would say that 85% of the calls I got a day (on average 200 calls) were from people who not only had a complaint but were enraged by a variety of DirecTv's mistakes or practices.

I suggest that if you want something more than basic cable, go with someone like Time Warner Cable.

I worked for DirecTv for 9 months, but I finally had to quit because I couldn't stand how the company treats its customers. I felt like I was an immoral person because of the immoral policies the company has. For example, DirecTv decided to change a very important policy. Supposedly they sent out information regarding this, but every single customer I spoke to who was affected by this said they received nothing of the sort. The policy change was this: If a customer closed their account with DirecTv, if we have their credit or debit card information on file, and if there is still a balance owed on the account, they will immediately take out the money owed from your credit or debit card account. Nice huh. Oh, and since no customer knew about this policy and were not informed about it when closing their accounts, many people incurred charges from their credit card or bank accounts. The policy also stated that we cannot refund any of this money. Basically, they're screwed.

Also, about 50% of the calls I received had to do with a problem with the satellite system. These satellite systems don't work. If you order this system, you will have problems with it at some point or another, and usually it will be a major problem that you the consumer has to pay for out of your own pocket. Unless you have what is called the 'Protection Plan', which costs $5.99 per month. You're still paying for it.

Another thing is, when people order DirecTv for the first time, they either aren't informed about a lot of things, (such as a 'free' magazine that you'll be charged for after 3 months, or that you will be charged hundreds of dollars if you decide to cancel the account) or people were told they would be getting a package for so much per month, end up getting charged for something completely different, and if they want to change to the original offer, that cannot be done and they have to get a package at a regular price.

One of the commercials that DirecTv has going right now is promoting their HD service. They advertise that you can get a package with HD starting at $29.99 per month. This is a lie. Packages do start at $29.99, but this is the basics of basics. It doesn't include any real channels that you would get with basic cable. You can add HD on for $9.99 a month. Just to let you know, most of the HD channels are sports channels that you can only get if you order an insanely expensive sports package, local channels that many people can't get, or channels that you don't really watch. Oh also if you have the least expensive package, the only HD channels you can get are your local channels.

Now I will let you know about the sports packages. They are a ripoff. The NFL package is about 300 dollars. The prices go down from there, but DirecTv is making a huge profit off of these packages. Oh and if you want sports in HD, even if you have the HD package, you have to order a separate sports HD package at 100 dollars.

Another ripoff is when DirecTv decided to add new HD channels. Everyone has a receiver that you need in order to get the service. Since DirecTv 'upgraded the type of HD feed', not only do you have to pay for crappy HD channels, but you also have to order a new receiver if you want to receive these HD channels. These start at 99 dollars.

I would say that 85% of the calls I got a day (on average 200 calls) were from people who not only had a complaint but were enraged by a variety of DirecTv's mistakes or practices.

I suggest that if you want something more than basic cable, go with someone like Time Warner Cable.