Extra charge if not connected to phone line?

[csete]

I called the other day about what it would take to switch out my 625 DVR for another Vip622. The quoted $149 is a bit steep, but I'm still considering it. There were two things that the rep said that caught me off guard and I didn't really understand.

1) He said something about there being a $5 programming access fee if the DVR not connected to a phone line? Huh? Is that true? I don't have either my 625 or Vip622 connected to a phone line at the moment. If I connect them will I suddenly save $10/month?

2) He said that the DVR is not mine... So, I spend $149 for what? The right to use it? Don't they also charge a monthly fee?

Not sure if I just misunderstood the rep, but some of it didn't sound quite right to me.

Thanks for any insights,
Craig

 

[Andrewwski]

You get charged $5 per month for each dual tuner that is not connected to a DVR. So yes, connect your receivers, you should be saving.

I think the rep was wrong on the "not yours" part. They'll lease four tuners and anything after that you buy...which means you own it. They will charge you monthly fees on it.

 

[RandallA]

"He said that the DVR is not mine... So, I spend $149 for what? The right to use it? Don't they also charge a monthly fee?"

Correct in all counts. The $149 is for the right to lease it, it's not yours and you also pay the $6.00 to lease it. You need to connect the dual tuners to a phone line if you don't want them to charge you $5.00 extra.

 

[csete]

Interesting that the installer didn't say anything about connecting to a phone line when he did the installation. Any idea why that is done? What do they do with the phone line? On a positive note, I do have caller id, so connecting it would give me that support.

 

[steve4810]

They are playing word games - And so are you, a little. "Switch out"? Your used 625 is worth zero to Dish. And when they say "it will cost you $149" they mean installation and shipping charges. They are leasing it to you for six bucks a month.

If you do want to buy a 622, Dishstore.net sells them for $429.00. A good price and you would then own it and would save the six buck a month lease fee.

 

[csete]

Sorry if I appeared to be cutting too hard on Dish. On one hand, I don't remember ever paying my cable company an up front fee for any of the hardware. On the other hand, their monthly fees were quite a bit higher... If only everything were free

 

[Andrewwski]

Whoops...never read it was an HD DVR...yes those are more expensive to buy than SD receivers...stupid me...d'oh!

 

[steve4810]

Dish ain't cable and I'm glad!!

But those price shocks are, to say the least, shocking.

Wait till a CSR tells you it'll be free after rebate.

TINSTAASFL and NEVER forget it!

 

[jerryez]

Have you ever leased an automobile?

 

[csete]

Nope... which may explain some of what I'm missing.

 

[csete]

Backing up to the programming access fee... Looking at the two DVR's I don't have a phone line near either one of them, but I'd really love to save that $10/month. I've seen talk recently about the internet connection stuff (which I have nearby both DVR's)... Can that be used instead? Does that work for both the 622 and 625?

Does anyone know what flows across the phone line connection?

 

[Andrewwski]

It dials an 800 number a few times a month to report back to Dish. They usually happen in the middle of the night (or so they say), they will not dial out when someone is on the phone, they will hang themselves up when the phone rings or you pick it up.

Another option is wireless phone jacks.

 

[RandallA]

Backing up to the programming access fee... Looking at the two DVR's I don't have a phone line near either one of them, but I'd really love to save that $10/month. I've seen talk recently about the internet connection stuff (which I have nearby both DVR's)... Can that be used instead? Does that work for both the 622 and 625?

Does anyone know what flows across the phone line connection?

The ethernet port is working for the 622 only and yes you can use it if you don't have a phone line near it.

 

[Jim5506]

If you are a current Dish SD sub, You should get the 622 for $149 with a $99 programming allowance for a net of $49.

I thought they did away with the rebate and just charged $49.

I paid $299 lease fee up front for my 622 18 mos ago. $149 is not that bad.

 

[skyroniter]

Get the "Phonex Easy Jack." Costs about $40 and allows you to turn any electrical outlet into a phone jack. I have it and it works great. Dish offers it on their site: DISH Network -- Accessories

 

[Bob Haller]

after being and on again off again phone line connected person I relocated boxes and ran all the lines, to save the money and end the nag screens...

I locked the receivers so a visitor or errant remote user in a different home cant buy PPV, porn or otherwise.

 

[skottey]

If you do want to buy a 622, Dishstore.net sells them for $429.00. A good price and you would then own it and would save the six buck a month lease fee.

I clicked on your link and Dishstore.net gives me a price of $479, not $429. Does it change day to day?

As far as leasing vs owning and saving $six a month, it would take 80 months of leasing to spend as much as I'd pay to buy it outright. Would a DVR last nearly 7 years before crapping out? I think one would be better off leasing, since they'll probably have an 822 and a 922 out by the time seven years passes us by. $six/month is not that much and you'd have to get 7 years out of it before it breaks to come out ahead if you bought the unit.

 

[skottey]

Backing up to the programming access fee... Looking at the two DVR's I don't have a phone line near either one of them, but I'd really love to save that $10/month. I've seen talk recently about the internet connection stuff (which I have nearby both DVR's)... Can that be used instead? Does that work for both the 622 and 625?

First of all, if you'd been paying the $10 month ($5 x 2 units), you'll know it from your bill, as it will be itemized.

Secondly, I never had my 622 connected to a phone line and I never paid the $5 month, nor did I even know about such a fee (installer, csr, this website - nobody ever told me).

Ethernet can be used instead of the phone line. The thing is, once you hook it up to either a phone line or Ethernet and then unhook it, you will start getting warnings on the screen about avoiding the fee by hooking it up to the phone line or Ethernet. I read on this website that Ethernet was working so I plugged my 622 into my network. I then changed my room around, which was a big job, and in the process unhooked the Ethernet from the 622 for a few days. I started getting warnings and plugged it back in. I think that you are OK by not hooking it up (at least I was) but once you hook it up, you always need to leave it hooked up to either Ethernet or the phone line. If not they will hit you with the fee.

I'll probably get people replying to this that say I am wrong and that it must be hooked up but I never paid the $5 and was never warned until I hooked it up and then unhooked it. I went months!

 

[steve4810]

I clicked on your link and Dishstore.net gives me a price of $479, not $429. Does it change day to day?

Perhaps I'm going blind.

As far as leasing vs owning and saving $six a month, it would take 80 months of leasing to spend as much as I'd pay to buy it outright. Would a DVR last nearly 7 years before crapping out? I think one would be better off leasing, since they'll probably have an 822 and a 922 out by the time seven years passes us by. $six/month is not that much and you'd have to get 7 years out of it before it breaks to come out ahead if you bought the unit.

I agree completely.

One thing; these guys are always vague about is who is responsible for repairs. It seems like when it craps and you call it's a throw of the dice to see if you get a nice CSR that tells you can upgrade for free if you just sign up for X. Or maybe you can get a new one for shipping of 49.95. Or you get someone pissed off you tells you "tough it's out of warranty" so fork up 479 bucks. Or they tell you you can ship it at your expense and they will fix it and return it... price and time known.

 

[Bruno]

I am a DISH dealer and have had two customers just call me and said they had a 622 offer in their last Dish bill to get them a 622 for $49. I told them to go for it..I dont know any of the details but lot better deal than i could give them. IMHO its just a matter of time and you will be getting taken care of Dish and DTV employees... Goodbye Retailiers