Please find below the complaint I filed with the Federal Trade Commission, as well as with the Better Business Bureau. In November 2007, my receiver was smoking and quit working. I requested an updated model as a replacement, one that could be recording a program while at the same time watching another. Four weeks later the receiver arrived, after communications with Dish Network every 5-7 days ask where the receiver was in transit. It was supposed to arrive in less than 10 days. No television during this time. When the receiver arrived, four weeks later, it was not the requested upgraded model, but the same model we had that no longer worked. Didn’t want to wait any longer for television, canceled Dish Network. Dish Network sent a prepaid UPS box to return their receiver and dish main parts to them.

Returned the new, never connected receiver and dish working parts to Dish Network, in Dish Network provided box, which they (Echostar, 1285 Joe Battle Blvd, Suite A, El Paso TX 79936) received on 12/18/07 @ 12:00 p.m., per UPS documentation.

First, Dish Network charged my Visa card for the receiver, which they received. I disputed the charge to my credit card and, with supplied documentation from myself and UPS, my credit card company (US Bank) agreed Dish Network had received their equipment and I owed nothing. I forwarded this information to Dish Network. I have received a $200.00 bill every month since then. Each month I call Dish Network, discuss the issue with a supervisor of some sort (Melissa LVP and Mary Q33 were the last two I documented), and am told that I am correct, that I owe nothing and my account is cleared. I, yet again, received a bill on 7/8/08. I called Dish Network and was told that Corporate had reviewed my account and since I did not return the receiver I owed them $200. I was told there was nothing I could do about this bill, nobody to file a complaint or discuss the issue with at Dish Network, and that I had a choice of paying the $200, filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, or hiring an attorney. When I went to the local UPS Store, from where I shipped the receiver in December of 2007, I was told that store has heard many complaints from former Dish Network customers about this very issue – being accused of not returning equipment that has indeed been returned, and that I was lucky I had saved my tracking number. I have the tracking number/receipt and the documentation from UPS that Dish Network/Echostar did in fact receive the receiver.

I should not have to go through this monthly harassment to pay a bill I do not owe, nearly 7 months after you received your equipment.

I've been having an ongoing problem with my Dish Network service. I get intermittent long bursts of visual and auditory static, and the colour often reverts to black and white. I have been trying to correct the problem with the Dish Network customer service dept., and have had all kinds of horrible interactions, from waiting on the phone for someone to pick up, rude employees, one of whom refused to let me speak with a supervisor and actually hung up on me, and having the automated service CHANGE my service appt. window without my permission or notifying me. I can't seem to get anyone to address my problem. I am thinking of switching to Direct TV.

The company offered a $100 sign on gimmick. It was forgotten. When it was installed, the 100 Channels offered did not include Fox News and some other channels. "I have to have O'Reilly news, " I said so they added the next 100 channels that included Fox News. Now, I have 200 channels but of which are duplicates. In all the 200 channels, there are 20, maybe 21, that I watch. This does not include National Geographic or any Western channels, the latter was specifically asked for. There are western channels but that only means they are shown in the west! My first bill totaled $109.99 with a $39.99 adjustment taken out and $6.79 in taxes added. They advertise a $19.99 monthly charge. I wonder if anyone has ever had that charge. Is there somewhere else I can go to complain?

Horrible business practices. I was lured by decent pricing deals they advertised only to find out that after 6 months, it is virtually impossible to get the price they advertised. I made a 2nd career out of submitting rebate forms for "bundled DSL" through ATT for a $100 credit on Dish Bills. They refused after I met all the qualifications. Also called about 6 times about added programming charges on my bill, so watch out for $5 per receiver "programming access fees" they will charge these fees as though your receivers are not connected to working telephone lines- EVEN IF THEY ARE CONNECTED TO WORKING PHONE LINES!

I just canceled 6 mo into an 18 month contract because I got so mad every time I got their bill and I was overcharged. I will miss the choice of channels and great DVR, but at least my cable company tells me up front how horribly overpriced their service is, and the bill is consistent- no cheap rip-off pricing policies! Also nice to have Cable internet back. DSL was HORRIBLE slow.

By the way- 2 days after I canceled Dish I received a call from a Sales Specialist offering to make me a deal to stay with them. DON'T BE SHY if you are getting ripped-off by Dish. Just cancel and you'll get what you wanted- Apparently. I had already signed up for Cable again. Dish is PATHETIC in the practices they use in their advertising, billing and policies.

I have been a dish network customer for over 3 years. Last night my 3 year-old son ordered a UFC fight on pay-per-view and I called immediately to cancel the event.

We have never ordered anything like that but we do frequently order movies. After 30 mins of being told they will not refund the $49.99+tax, they finally said they would if I would put a code on my PPV account. After agreeing to these terms they informed me I can no longer order movies from the TV- I have to call and they will charge an additional $5.00 for the PPV events. No wonder DirecTV is #1 in customer satisfaction!!!