Pricing Update from Dish Network

[Iceberg]

I just finished a chat with DISH, asking about the $5 fee for not having a phone line connected. According to this guy, I still have to pay it... unless I signup for autopay.

I found out on the 1st receiver everything is rolled into the price so the 1st receiver does not have the $5 fee

[Hemi 6.1]

I don't watch them, don't want them, and don't want to pay a "downgrade fee" to cancel them after the 3 months is up.

They don't charge downgrade fees on free promotions.

[cuda74360]

I found out on the 1st receiver everything is rolled into the price so the 1st receiver does not have the $5 fee

That's what I thought too, which is why I'm puzzled by what I was told in the DISH chat. Maybe it's because I haven't had a bill generated yet for February. My bill is always generated on the 26th, and my last bill still shows my package as Turbo HD Bronze for $29.99 and still lists the TV2 Connection Fee under the "Explanation of Charges."

I'll try them again after my Feb bill shows up.

[cuda74360]

They don't charge downgrade fees on free promotions.

I agree, but I don't want to take a chance on this... especially with the seemingly endless supply of clueless CSR's that DISH insists on hiring.

[sbsi]

I found out on the 1st receiver everything is rolled into the price so the 1st receiver does not have the $5 fee

The $5 fee for TV2 (Duel Receivers) is a SCAM. I always have a phone line connected to the receiver to avoid the previous monthly $5 fee. Right now, Dish will automatically charge customers $5.00 + $ 14.00 (Duel Receiver connecting 2 TV). $14 is already a rip off when Direct only charges $5.00 per receiver. I even try removing the 2nd Duel Receiver and added 2 solo receiver and the price still comes out the same. Right now, I am paying an additional $20.00 each month for 2 additional TV, $10.00 each (approximate).

Even Cable TV cost cheaper than Dish in some area and does not require any box to get the basic ESPN signal.

[SolApathy]

Monthly Charges
Mar 01 - Mar 30 Service Plan (15/0) 6.00 -What is this??
America's Top 120 With Locals 39.99
DVR Service 6.00
HD Solo Receiver 7.00 (One 211)
HD DuoDVR Receiver 17.00 (Two 622's)
HD & Platinum 10.00
$ 85.99

Yay... $24.00 Just for equipment... Considering I have had this same equipment for almost 3 years now...

I guess that is the trade off. They advertise low prices on programming and hit you on the back end with equipment charges.

Luckily U-Verse is finally coming to this area & I am out of contract.


I guess I'm just irritated that they charge so much for equipment

[Kheldar]

Mar 01 - Mar 30 Service Plan (15/0) 6.00 -What is this??

This is the service plan formerly known as "DISH Home Protection Plan".

[jrbdmb]

Now in my case I was paying a $7 fee on my new 722, even though it was the primary (part of the deal for getting the new receiver and 2nd dish). But I was paying no DVR fees since the 722 replaced my no-DVR-fee 721. I'll be very interested in what Dish does with my next bill, but in any scenario it will still be less than Comcast, so I'm sticking around for a while.

As it turns out I am now paying:

Multi Sport 5.99
Locals 5.99
Existing Customer Leased Primary HD Receiver 9.00 (VIP722)
Additional Outlet - Adjustment -7.00
Additional Outlet - Adjustment -2.00
Solo Receiver 7.00 (508)
HD & Platinum 10.00
Jan 31 Loyalty Credit 1 of 6 - Adjustment -2.00

For a total of $26.98 for February. This is compared to $33.98 in January. (AT250 paid annually.) At least for now my bill is $7 lower than before. They did increase the 508 fee, but eliminated the $7 charge for the VIP722 and didn't stick me with a DVR fee.

The only downside is if I decide to get a 2nd HD DVR upstairs (or am forced to do so by Dish to get the new HD on 72) my bill will go up by $12 for the increased receiver fee plus $6 for a new DVR fee. An $18/mo. makes Comcast look interesting, because frankly I'm tired of having to come on here to find out what channels have been added and what new dishes I need to have bolted on the roof. (Note this is a slam on Dish, not on this site.)

[Mark A Sparks]

Mar 01 - Mar 30 Service Plan (15/0) 6.00 -What is this??

Does anyone have any idea what the numbers in parenthesis are (15/0)?

When it used to be "DISH Home Protection Plan" I didn't have these on my bill but now I have them also.

[cruiser83]

I found out on the 1st receiver everything is rolled into the price so the 1st receiver does not have the $5 fee

Sure seems to be a lot of confusion on this charge, even within the ranks of dish. I spoke w/ a very nice and helpful rep. about 2 weeks ago (for about 35mins) when I upgraded my folks. I was quizzing him on the $5 phone fee on the 1st receiver. He basically admitted he was unable to answer the question because he didn't know. He checked with 2 managers and all he could tell me was they seemingly had conflicting information about the phone connection charge, whether or not it would apply to the 1st receiver and/or existing customers or just new customers. So, basically I hung up the phone with him saying sorry, but you'll have to see what happens on your bill because "we are just not sure"