Dish "Protection Plan"

hogwired

Member
Original poster
Mar 25, 2012
8
0
Arkansas
It is really nice for dish to be able to collect this. I am just leasing the receivers, yet I have to pay to maintain them. Normally when you rent or lease something, the "owner" has to pay to maintain or repair. What exactly am I getting by paying the extra $6.00 per month that dish shouldn't be required on leased equipment to provide anyway?
 
I chose to pass on it. What it boiled down to for me is $72 per year so if my receiver goes bad they will pick it up instead of me paying to ship it to them. I like to live on the edge.
 
You lease a car or rental equipment, and see what happens when you try to return it needing repairs.

We lease a fleet of vehicles. Guess who pays a fee up front, and for all maintenance and repairs?
 
Well when

If i wreck my leased car or break it, me or my insurance has to fix it - not the leaser

It is really nice for dish to be able to collect this. I am just leasing the receivers, yet I have to pay to maintain them. Normally when you rent or lease something, the "owner" has to pay to maintain or repair. What exactly am I getting by paying the extra $6.00 per month that dish shouldn't be required on leased equipment to provide anyway?
 
I too was wondering this. But found out if you need a tech visit, its $15 instead of $99 with protection plan. Not sure how often you will need it though.
 
For what it's worth, I've had my Dish system for about 15 months (2 hoppers, 2 sling adapters, 4 Joeys). In that time, both sling adapters and one hopper have died on me. The Sling adapters are owned and not leased (I believe), so I think I would have been out of pocket to replace those.

I suspect I have some heat issues, which I'm working to resolve, but still pretty happy I had the "Protection Plan" with equipment dropping left and right and 1 tech visit already...
 
The protection plan can be a good deal if you plan on needing more than 2 service calls a year or wanting to upgrade equipment.
 
Look at it from the other side. Ever since I went on the RV plan, I cannot have a Protection Plan. Something about wheels on my house.

I calculated the cost of the service calls or mailings I would have had during the years I did have the Protection Plan, I would have been about $30 less than what I paid for the Protection Plan.

But the Protection Plan is an insurance plan. A few bucks a month versus charges like $99. I would rather have the insurance plan but I don't have that choice.
 
You do know that you can add the protection plan when you need it, you don't have to have it every month to be able to use it. When you do add it the protection plan must be kept for 4 mo. or pay a penalty fee.
 
If i wreck my leased car or break it, me or my insurance has to fix it - not the leaser

No, your insurance company will DENY your claim. Then, MAYBE, your insurance will decide to pay your claim, but they will FOOTDRAG and not issue the check. By this time, the car rental company has SUED you, personally, and you now had better get yourself a lawyer as your insurance company will suddenly NOT return your calls. No one is going to cover your legal fees. Oh, and there aint gonna be a lawyer in the world who is going to take your case to sue the insurance company, et al. becuase that is a really LONG and EXPENSIVE road to go. And forget about your credit card covering you, as they claim. The CC companies require you to exhaust all other means of paying for the damage, which for most people means their own insurance company. But, again, even if one gets the CC company to agree to pay, they will FOOTDRAG, as will, and not cut a check for a really LONG time, and that brings you back to being sued, personally, by the car rental company. These cases have been documented. Even Consumer Reports had recommended adding the car rental insurance at the time of rental for the above reasons. It is unfortunate, but if one does rent a car, you are best to add the rental insurance offered by the rental car company, or live in hell for a long time. It shouldn't be that way, but our govt. lets them get away with it.
 
Warranty is another form of insurance; it's just a different sort of "PLAN", and all insurance is a rip-off. Statistically, you will never have a need for homeowners insurance, auto insurance, life insurance, ANY insurance, you name it because the odds are you won't ever need to file a claim, or, in other words, it is only the MINORITY of a population that ever suffers such a loss that ANY insurance plan will cover, and if some day you do, you still may have paid more in premiums than what they've paid in premiums. This is how insurance works and why the insurance companies are among the WEALTHIEST companies in the world. Of course, a good dose of denying legitimate claims also keeps the profits healthy, as well having deductibles that are higher than the damages of the vast majority of when things do go wrong: you still get to pay for it, even with a lower deductible, but a higher premium: insurance co's never lose . There are probably only a few GOOD plans out there, but most Joe Blows all have the BAD ones. Just about every building over 3 stories is owned by an insurance company. More stuff, but too long as it is.

Having said all that, why do people, including your truly, buy insurance, anyway? For peace of mind and not having to come up with a wad of cash or because your finance company or bank REQUIRES it. I think I think the Dish PP being good or bad is relates to each individual household. In my case, Dish had to replace about $1,500 of owned equipment that stayed owned after replacement. I estimate them having to stand behind about another $800 of leased equipment and LABOR. In my case the Dish PP has MORE than paid for itself. The numbers, over time, work in my favor. As soon as they see DPP on my account, no hassle, no haggling, no hesitations, they just make it happen, and there were a few times they had to do this 3 times in 2 weeks, but no hesitation whatsoever in sending replacements and techs at no costs (I have never been charged the $15, yet). I admit I have a larger system and more boxes/TV's. Now, I don't know if DishPP makes sense for a household with only one DP301 on their entire account. They may do better to pass on it.

Let's be clear, cable now charges for fixes and labor, and they too offer their own "protection plans" as does DirecTV, so this is an industry norm, not a Dish exclusive to get more money. This is an add on that customers choose for themselves if they want, as it should be. The "Lease" notion is just that you don't have to pay full retail up-front. The notion that it ought to include unlimited warranty is from the OLD days of MONOPOLY telephone, utility, cable TV companies where the govt. REQUIRED them to adhere to "full warranty" ONLY because they were monopolies. Since, then, local phone companies CHARGE for wiring repairs that are in your home and do charge for some services, such as moving areal lines to accommodate home improvement, etc., unless you have one of THEIR add-on warranties.

Dish is just like everyone else in this respect.
 
I myself hate the protection plan, but I'm a retailer. The protection plan is a typical warranty plan and covers the usual warranty issues according to the business rules but Dish, for some reason, gets to make up rules on the fly. When a customer gets a new TV, changes the input, moves their Dish or moves their receiver they should not have a covered service call, but Dish will cover it. Great for the customer I suppose but crappy for the servicer.
 
:rolleyes:
Warranty is another form of insurance; it's just a different sort of "PLAN", and all insurance is a rip-off. Statistically, you will never have a need for homeowners insurance, auto insurance, life insurance, ANY insurance, you name it because the odds are you won't ever need to file a claim, or, in other words, it is only the MINORITY of a population that ever suffers such a loss that ANY insurance plan will cover, and if some day you do, you still may have paid more in premiums than what they've paid in premiums. This is how insurance works and why the insurance companies are among the WEALTHIEST companies in the world. Of course, a good dose of denying legitimate claims also keeps the profits healthy, as well having deductibles that are higher than the damages of the vast majority of when things do go wrong: you still get to pay for it, even with a lower deductible, but a higher premium: insurance co's never lose . There are probably only a few GOOD plans out there, but most Joe Blows all have the BAD ones. Just about every building over 3 stories is owned by an insurance company. More stuff, but too long as it is.

Having said all that, why do people, including your truly, buy insurance, anyway? For peace of mind and not having to come up with a wad of cash or because your finance company or bank REQUIRES it. I think I think the Dish PP being good or bad is relates to each individual household. In my case, Dish had to replace about $1,500 of owned equipment that stayed owned after replacement. I estimate them having to stand behind about another $800 of leased equipment and LABOR. In my case the Dish PP has MORE than paid for itself. The numbers, over time, work in my favor. As soon as they see DPP on my account, no hassle, no haggling, no hesitations, they just make it happen, and there were a few times they had to do this 3 times in 2 weeks, but no hesitation whatsoever in sending replacements and techs at no costs (I have never been charged the $15, yet). I admit I have a larger system and more boxes/TV's. Now, I don't know if DishPP makes sense for a household with only one DP301 on their entire account. They may do better to pass on it.

Let's be clear, cable now charges for fixes and labor, and they too offer their own "protection plans" as does DirecTV, so this is an industry norm, not a Dish exclusive to get more money. This is an add on that customers choose for themselves if they want, as it should be. The "Lease" notion is just that you don't have to pay full retail up-front. The notion that it ought to include unlimited warranty is from the OLD days of MONOPOLY telephone, utility, cable TV companies where the govt. REQUIRED them to adhere to "full warranty" ONLY because they were monopolies. Since, then, local phone companies CHARGE for wiring repairs that are in your home and do charge for some services, such as moving areal lines to accommodate home improvement, etc., unless you have one of THEIR add-on warranties.

Dish is just like everyone else in this respect.
In regard to your general assessment about Insurance...can't wait until your D is in the tractor's nuts.
 
Warranty is another form of insurance; it's just a different sort of "PLAN", and all insurance is a rip-off. Statistically, you will never have a need for homeowners insurance, auto insurance, life insurance, ANY insurance, you name it because the odds are you won't ever need to file a claim, or, in other words, it is only the MINORITY of a population that ever suffers such a loss that ANY insurance plan will cover, and if some day you do, you still may have paid more in premiums than what they've paid in premiums. This is how insurance works and why the insurance companies are among the WEALTHIEST companies in the world. Of course, a good dose of denying legitimate claims also keeps the profits healthy, as well having deductibles that are higher than the damages of the vast majority of when things do go wrong: you still get to pay for it, even with a lower deductible, but a higher premium: insurance co's never lose . There are probably only a few GOOD plans out there, but most Joe Blows all have the BAD ones. Just about every building over 3 stories is owned by an insurance company. More stuff, but too long as it is.

Having said all that, why do people, including your truly, buy insurance, anyway? For peace of mind and not having to come up with a wad of cash or because your finance company or bank REQUIRES it. I think I think the Dish PP being good or bad is relates to each individual household. In my case, Dish had to replace about $1,500 of owned equipment that stayed owned after replacement. I estimate them having to stand behind about another $800 of leased equipment and LABOR. In my case the Dish PP has MORE than paid for itself. The numbers, over time, work in my favor. As soon as they see DPP on my account, no hassle, no haggling, no hesitations, they just make it happen, and there were a few times they had to do this 3 times in 2 weeks, but no hesitation whatsoever in sending replacements and techs at no costs (I have never been charged the $15, yet). I admit I have a larger system and more boxes/TV's. Now, I don't know if DishPP makes sense for a household with only one DP301 on their entire account. They may do better to pass on it.

Let's be clear, cable now charges for fixes and labor, and they too offer their own "protection plans" as does DirecTV, so this is an industry norm, not a Dish exclusive to get more money. This is an add on that customers choose for themselves if they want, as it should be. The "Lease" notion is just that you don't have to pay full retail up-front. The notion that it ought to include unlimited warranty is from the OLD days of MONOPOLY telephone, utility, cable TV companies where the govt. REQUIRED them to adhere to "full warranty" ONLY because they were monopolies. Since, then, local phone companies CHARGE for wiring repairs that are in your home and do charge for some services, such as moving areal lines to accommodate home improvement, etc., unless you have one of THEIR add-on warranties.

Dish is just like everyone else in this respect.

The odds aren't you will never need it, but that one instance you do, your crap outta luck.....

"Oh I didn't carry insurance because chances are I wont need it, I didn't anticipate a squirrels in my attic chewing wires......ooopps fire!"

Insurance like a condom, better to have it not need it than need it and not have it. Lol
 
I was offered rental insurance by Amex for $25 or so. Found for a lower liability I could get it for $15 IIRC. This is per rental up to about 2 weeks. Certainly a lot better than the rental companies which want that per day. You have to ask for it and charge it on that card. It paid off on hitting a underground garage pier in San Fran, which would have been ~$1000 as it knocked off the bumper. No hassle. I'm sure they paid less than the renter would have charged me with their fees.
-Ken
 
I myself hate the protection plan, but I'm a retailer. The protection plan is a typical warranty plan and covers the usual warranty issues according to the business rules but Dish, for some reason, gets to make up rules on the fly. When a customer gets a new TV, changes the input, moves their Dish or moves their receiver they should not have a covered service call, but Dish will cover it. Great for the customer I suppose but crappy for the servicer.

Yep, don't forget if they get it off input or they move it and they call within 12 days of the install or previous visit so not only does the servicer get hammered but the tech that was just there just got a Trouble Call as the CSR's are so quick to get them off the phone and push the "TC Button" that its becoming unreal. The protection plan is somewhat of a joke no matter how you look at it, as customers can just argue or threaten to cancel and get what they want at any ones expense usually the tech whom gets burned.
 
I always had the plan for a number of years when I first became a subscriber - Charlie, in my opinion, pushed it hard on those chats he had which I thought were informative (many folks used to complain I recall). I think the price was $5 then but I am not absolutely certain. For some reason, I migrated off of it maybe when pricing increased. Being retired I have to be careful and try to work within a budget for my old age!
 
I don't have the plan and when my box's have failed I call and tell them to send a replacement. As soon as they start the BS about a charge I tell them to change the order and just pick their chit up and be gone. They always have sent a replacement.

If I am leasing the equipment AND paying a daily fee to view the service then it is their responsibility to make sure I can, at a minimum, have the equipment to view what I am paying for. The service is ~ $4.50/day not to mention the loss of recordings and the PITA to deal with it. The failure is somewhat Dish's fault because they like to "refurb" this stuff well beyond its useful life. A couple of the replacement receivers have been dead on arrival.

I have been with Dish 11 years and needed 4 receivers so far .... I will quit them if I have to pay anything to get one replaced and I certainly am not going to give them another $6/month ... silly.

Why would anyone need a tech visit?
 
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Regardless of where you fall on the divine entitlement issue...

Any shipping charges are likely to be much less than the monthly fees paid. Further, I wasn't convinced that my customer service was any better with the plan than without.
 
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