DirecTV sux...

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

I subscribe to DirecTV and while the service is generally good (unless it rains),
I think it is a bit overpriced. But then last week we had a big storm and I
think lightning hit my house because the next day my satellite box didn't work
(one was fried, the other two worked but one had to be unplugged to reset it).

I called DirecTV to deactivate the fried box and the teledude hinted that he
might be able to get me a free replacement, but after checking with his
supervisor he said all they could offer was a $25 credit on a new $50 box.
I politely declined the offer.

So today they call me and not only want to sell me a $6.95/month warranty
to replace fried boxes, they also try to hard-sell me an HBO subscription!
I already subscribe to Showtime and Starz and have been seriously
considering cancelling one of those because they keep jacking up the
prices on both regular and premium services. If I had wanted HBO I already
would have subscribed to it on my own volition. I thought it was very
rude, first to offer me a warranty for such a hefty price (I can buy a used
box for $15 so wouldn't pay $6.95/month for a warranty), and second to
try to hard-sell me a premium package that I already got a free intro to
for 4 months before deciding I didn't want it. I already cancelled their
guide magazine, as I didn't really use it and they kept raising the price
on it too.

While listening to their hold musak they kept pitching their PPV events.
First they insist the box be hooked to a telephone line at all times (the
installers made it seem like the fate of the planet depended on whether
the box was hooked to a telephone line). Then their holdmusak ads say
you can save $3.50 by ordering over the touchtone telephone, or save the
entire $5 by ordering online via their website. So let me get this
straight - a typical event might cost $19.99 then they charge me an
additional $5 for the privilege of ordering via remote control?!? They
must think their customers are pretty stupid. I'm so glad that the
government forbid their merger with EchoStar, and I'm inclined to think
that they should be broken up into at least 3 competing companies.

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

you know that is an interesting story
I had problems when it rained also until I installed a new dish
I live in PA and it is raining very hard right now and I still have a 72 on
the signal meter
so look at a new dish or your lines my have a bad ground
and when I talked to them they asked if I wanted the warranty and I said no
and
that was the end of it.
"Zim" <zim@irk.gov> wrote in message
news:CHt2d.3995$n16.3974@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>I subscribe to DirecTV and while the service is generally good (unless it
>rains),
> I think it is a bit overpriced. But then last week we had a big storm and
> I
> think lightning hit my house because the next day my satellite box didn't
> work
> (one was fried, the other two worked but one had to be unplugged to reset
> it).
>
> I called DirecTV to deactivate the fried box and the teledude hinted that
> he
> might be able to get me a free replacement, but after checking with his
> supervisor he said all they could offer was a $25 credit on a new $50 box.
> I politely declined the offer.
>
> So today they call me and not only want to sell me a $6.95/month warranty
> to replace fried boxes, they also try to hard-sell me an HBO subscription!
> I already subscribe to Showtime and Starz and have been seriously
> considering cancelling one of those because they keep jacking up the
> prices on both regular and premium services. If I had wanted HBO I
> already
> would have subscribed to it on my own volition. I thought it was very
> rude, first to offer me a warranty for such a hefty price (I can buy a
> used
> box for $15 so wouldn't pay $6.95/month for a warranty), and second to
> try to hard-sell me a premium package that I already got a free intro to
> for 4 months before deciding I didn't want it. I already cancelled their
> guide magazine, as I didn't really use it and they kept raising the price
> on it too.
>
> While listening to their hold musak they kept pitching their PPV events.
> First they insist the box be hooked to a telephone line at all times (the
> installers made it seem like the fate of the planet depended on whether
> the box was hooked to a telephone line). Then their holdmusak ads say
> you can save $3.50 by ordering over the touchtone telephone, or save the
> entire $5 by ordering online via their website. So let me get this
> straight - a typical event might cost $19.99 then they charge me an
> additional $5 for the privilege of ordering via remote control?!? They
> must think their customers are pretty stupid. I'm so glad that the
> government forbid their merger with EchoStar, and I'm inclined to think
> that they should be broken up into at least 3 competing companies.
>