Out-of-the-Blue DTV bill for "Tax Adjustment"

[JonUrban]

I just received a bill from DirectTV, a service which I have not had for at least 4 years. It says I owe $13.40 for a Tax adjustment.

Is this legit? I tried to login to their website, but my account is obviously not good anymore. Is this some kind of scam or is it real?

I didn't see anyone else post about this, so I thought I'd ask. I mean, $13 ain't gonna kill me, but I want to make sure it's for real before I send off a check.

It looks real!

 

[Ronnie-]

If you havent had the service for several years, then ignore it. Most likely it is a scam. Even if it is real, you are not obligated to pay for their billing error after that much time.

 

[thedamaja]

Personally I'd call them and ask what's up.

Would hate to ignore it and have it sent to a collection agency.

 

[raoul5788]

Personally I'd call them and ask what's up.

Would hate to ignore it and have it sent to a collection agency.

I agree, I would at least call and see if it's at all legitimate.

 

[charper1]

Ditto to NEVER ignore any collection attempt. Discuss it and DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! Names, times, questions, answers...... etc

 

[w6pea]

Personally I'd call them and ask what's up.

Would hate to ignore it and have it sent to a collection agency.

X4
Been there done that by the time it ended it would have been cheaper to pay the $5.00 to Dish.

 

[navychop]

Make sure you call a legit DTV phone number and not necessarily the one they provided.

And please let us know how this turns out.

 

[JonUrban]

Here's the deal. I called the Direct TV number on the web page and found out the bill was legit, or so they say. My service was disconnected by my choice in 2006. They claim they did an audit on Federal Taxes collected, and the I was undercharged the $13.40 and now I have to pay it.

So, for $13.40 I'll send it in, but it sure seems pretty lame. I guess they need every dollar they can get their hands on.

Anyone else getting one of these, it's probably legit.

THANKS TO EVERYONE for the advice and responses. SatGuys is the BEST!

 

[gadgtfreek]

That should fall under the three P's for Directv

 

[raoul5788]

If you owe the money, it's not to Directv, although they are collecting it.

 

[Ronnie-]

If you owe the money, it's not to Directv, although they are collecting it.

Actually, most likely its Directv that owes the money, to the IRS.
The IRS told them to pay it, and you can try to get it back from the people that you under billed, but that is your (D*) responsibility to pay it

We had something similar happen a few years ago.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I got one too, but it says they owe me $81.21!

Wonder when I will get it?!

 

[navychop]

I got one too, but it says they owe me $81.21!

Wonder when I will get it?!

When the place of eternal damnation experiences a cold snap?
When Bob wins the big lottery and lives happily ever after?
When......

Actually, I'm sure you'll get it. "Soon."

 

[navychop]

Here's the deal. I called the Direct TV number on the web page and found out the bill was legit, or so they say. My service was disconnected by my choice in 2006. They claim they did an audit on Federal Taxes collected, and the I was undercharged the $13.40 and now I have to pay it.

So, for $13.40 I'll send it in, but it sure seems pretty lame. I guess they need every dollar they can get their hands on.

Anyone else getting one of these, it's probably legit.

THANKS TO EVERYONE for the advice and responses. SatGuys is the BEST!

Odd thing is, I'm sure it cost them more than that to collect it. They should have factored in a minimum to go after.

Although I suppose, if most people just sent in the small amounts without question, they might come out ahead.

 

[lparsons21]

I've read a few bills from both D* and E* in my time, and I cannot remember any line item or even a note with a bill that indicated there were any 'federal taxes' ever billed. For that matter, what 'federal taxes' are there on the consumer of the service? I can't think of any.

 

[jcrandall]

What tax are they adjusting? In some states they have sales tax, a few may have satellite entertainment type use taxes.

In Michigan we only pay .36/mo for each leased receiver fee, no tax for programming, which is very nice.

That said the sales taxes are on the bill each month, I'm just wondering what they screwed up for so long that they would actually send the customer a collection request, versus just making the main payment themselves and writing it off.

 

[tvropro]

There is no tax in Illinois. If Direct ever sent me a bill down the road for back taxes after I disconnected or not it would meet up with my shredder.

 

[tvropro]

I got one too, but it says they owe me $81.21!

Wonder when I will get it?!

LOL

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Here is a copy of my credit.

 

[jcrandall]

So I'm guessing they were collecting taxes on the pre-discount price during new customer promotions in some states and they weren't supposed to?

In other states they may have not been collecting and they were supposed to?

That is the only way that would explain some getting credit and some charged.