Refer-a-Friend

**NateCohen** · 10-12-2009 05:43 PM

So I signed up for DirecTV about 2 months ago. I signed up using this website.

DIRECTV: Referral Program

Since my Mom has an account I decided to take advantage of the refer a friend offer.

On the website it says to call 1-800-507-4045 and give the DirecTV rep the account number of the existing customer.

So I call that number and I let the lady know I want to sign up and use my mom as a referral. She said no problem and asked for the account number of my moms account.

So anyway I get my first bill when I first sign up and noticed there wasn't a credit for refer a friend so I called and let them know it didn't show up and they ensured it would show up on the next bill.

Well I just got my second bill a couple weeks ago and still no credit for refer a friend. So now I call again and explain the situation. They say there's no record of refer a friend and asked what number I called.

I give them the phone number on the website and the rep tells me she's sorry, but that's not the number you call for refer a friend and the correct number is 1-866-443-8869.

I told her that's no the number advertised on the website and she once again said sorry but you need to call the correct refer a friend number.

What the hell is wrong with these reps? How can you advertise a totally different phone number on the website and then deny the credits because you call the number advertised? Am I the only one who has gone through this?

**jcrandall** · 10-12-2009 07:38 PM

Send an email to this account, and include your account number and your mothers. Make sure to explain the situation thoroughly.

eafilipiak@directv.com

**Tommyboy** · 10-15-2009 12:13 AM

Thay did this to me 2 time .The first time I let it go but the 2nd time I told them if thay do not give if to me I will switch to cable tv. so thay gave me $10 off for 12mo`s =$120

**PaulC1978** · 10-25-2009 01:11 AM

Wow, I just had the exact same thing happen to me. No difference at all. My buddy called the number and I got a letter today stating that he didn't use the correct phone number even though they told him that he was all set. DirecTV better watch out or they might have some FTC folks looking at them very soon. I'm sure we aren't the only few people that have had this happened to. Sounds like false advertising to me.

**bmetelsky** · 10-27-2009 10:02 PM

I had the same experience with the refer a friend program. I knew we followed the proper procedure to the letter (because I had read about bad experiences on these forums). I figured no way would it happen to me.... It did. It took about a dozen emails back and forth before they issues a $10/month credit for 12 months to both our accounts. They did not call it the refer a friend credit, though. It certainly has the appearance of impropriety on their part.

**NateCohen** · 11-06-2009 06:50 PM

This is such bull. So it has been about a month since I started this thread and I still haven't received the credit I was promised. I called again and they said they didn't see anything on my account for a credit and I called the wrong phone number.
I'm about to file a complaint to the BBB since this is complete false advertisement.
Also when I talked to a supervisor the rep said it would be about an hour to talk to one.

**NateCohen** · 11-06-2009 07:07 PM

I'm just going to file a complaint with the BBB. I called again and they said that my request for refer a friend was denied because I went through a wrong dealer or something. I guess calling the number provided was the wrong dealer.
I hate filing a complaint but if that's the way they want to treat their customers.

**wildbill129** · 11-06-2009 07:47 PM

Did you email Ellen at the email address Jason gave you? She and her staff are usually good at fixing these sort of things. Here it is again:

eafilipiak@directv.com

I would try it first, then file the BBB complaint if you don't get some satisfaction from her office. Let us know how it goes....

**stonecold** · 11-06-2009 08:03 PM

And I am always here to help.

**ftaisawesome** · 11-13-2009 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by NateCohen

So I signed up for DirecTV about 2 months ago. I signed up using this website.

DIRECTV: Referral Program

Since my Mom has an account I decided to take advantage of the refer a friend offer.

On the website it says to call 1-800-507-4045 and give the DirecTV rep the account number of the existing customer.

So I call that number and I let the lady know I want to sign up and use my mom as a referral. She said no problem and asked for the account number of my moms account.

So anyway I get my first bill when I first sign up and noticed there wasn't a credit for refer a friend so I called and let them know it didn't show up and they ensured it would show up on the next bill.

Well I just got my second bill a couple weeks ago and still no credit for refer a friend. So now I call again and explain the situation. They say there's no record of refer a friend and asked what number I called.

I give them the phone number on the website and the rep tells me she's sorry, but that's not the number you call for refer a friend and the correct number is 1-866-443-8869.

I told her that's no the number advertised on the website and she once again said sorry but you need to call the correct refer a friend number.

What the hell is wrong with these reps? How can you advertise a totally different phone number on the website and then deny the credits because you call the number advertised? Am I the only one who has gone through this?

What a ridiculous business practice. That same number is still on their website.

It's really too bad there isn't more competition. It would be much better if Dish Network and cable had the exact same programming offerings as DTV. Competition would be good for all of us. I'm making my choice of DTV because I'm a sports fan. I want my regional sports network in full time HD as well as the option to get basically any sports package. I haven't pulled the trigger yet. It's hard to when you read some of the stuff they are pulling on these forums.