2 year contract question...

Status
Please reply by conversation.

swampman

SatelliteGuys Pro
Original poster
Jul 22, 2006
503
3
South Louisiana
Has anyone ever gotten out of the 2 year contract due to repeated hardware or service problems? As I've mentioned in other posts, this is my third HR20 since September. :(
 
Other than Defective HR 20's are you happy with the overall programming and service??? If you are next time one dies be asked to be transferred to customer retention and see what they can do to make you happy, IE free programming etc...
 
Other than Defective HR 20's are you happy with the overall programming and service???

I think you just answered your own question ;)

If you are next time one dies be asked to be transferred to customer retention and see what they can do to make you happy, IE free programming etc...

What good is free programming when you cant depend on the hardware to view it? I mean really...3 HR20s in a about 4 months is inexcusable in my opinion.

But I appreciate your point.
 
DirecTV provides me with a DVR per the contract. I record programs that I don't have time to watch live. I try to watch programs that I've recorded and they freeze up or crash or are unwatchable for some other reason. DirecTV replaces the DVR and I lose everything that I've recorded. Happened at least four time in the first year of the contract! Has DirecTV fulfilled their end of the contract? Should I be required to fulfill my end?

Gary
 
DirecTV provides me with a DVR per the contract. I record programs that I don't have time to watch live. I try to watch programs that I've recorded and they freeze up or crash or are unwatchable for some other reason. DirecTV replaces the DVR and I lose everything that I've recorded. Happened at least four time in the first year of the contract! Has DirecTV fulfilled their end of the contract? Should I be required to fulfill my end?

Gary

Well that's sortof my point. I signed up...not for sporatic service but for good full time service. I have not had that ever since I had them come and install the new (bigger) dish and new POS HR 20. I wish I'd stayed with my original setup with my Tivo. But that part is water under the bridge now.

Being nobody has chimed in about relinquishing a contract, I assume no one has tried or no one has succeeded.
 
I'm working on it but I don't know how far I'll pursue it. (I've got about 10 months left on my contract and DirecTV tells me that the early cancellation fee would be $440.00.) My lawyer could probably get me out of either but the legal fees would probably outweigh the savings.

Gary

Well that's sortof my point. I signed up...not for sporatic service but for good full time service. I have not had that ever since I had them come and install the new (bigger) dish and new POS HR 20. I wish I'd stayed with my original setup with my Tivo. But that part is water under the bridge now.

Being nobody has chimed in about relinquishing a contract, I assume no one has tried or no one has succeeded.
 
Well I know one thing, I'll never sign another 2 year contract. That's the hook Directv uses...a very sharp hook when things go badly. Very expensive to leave. But then thats the nature of a contract. :rolleyes:
 
I just paid my cancellation fee Saturday. 168.17. I too will NEVER EVER NEVER sign a contract for TV again. NEVER.

And to add insult to injury, I made it easy on them and paid it with my CC, and they had the GALL to charge me 5.00 to PAY with the danged CC! I saved them the time and expense of printing and mailing a bill, and they charged ME to help THEM.

I am on a mission now, I tell EVERYONE I meet about D* and their policies, no inflation or stories, just the facts. Talked a guy out of D* this morning when I told him he couldn't cancel the service at any time without penalty, told him my story and how they just RAISED the cost of the end of contract fee, and that he had to pay a significant amount of money UP FRONT for the DVR and HE STILL didn't OWN it...

DIRECTV SUCKS! :)
 
2 year contract question. . .

Why is it some cancellation fees less than others? Does it pertain to how much contract you have left?


It's prorated based on how many months left you have on your contract.

D* subsidizes the cost of the HD DVRs heavily when you initially acquire them. The contract is to guarantee that you will stay with them long enough to recover the cost of the unit. Hence, the proration if you cancel early.
 
Why is it some cancellation fees less than others? Does it pertain to how much contract you have left?

I've been paying a small monthly fee since September when I stopped watching it, for basically nothing, they switched me to the Family pack after I sent back my DVR's. I had an owned SD receiver so I was okay with that. My contract was renewed in May of last year because I got a R15 to replace (poorly to be sure) a SD TIVO that died on me. I wasn't aware that getting the R15 was going to renew my 2 years, but it did. I knew the HDDVR I got in December 2006 had a two year extorsion fee attached, but not the R15. That was MY error though for not understanding. So yeah its based on how many months of the contract you have left.

My fee was initally over 200.00, but I paid the 29.95 for a couple months while I made sure I wanted to leave. I had already taken the dish down and threw it away, and threw the receiver in a box in the closet. After doing our taxes last week, we decided we had the money to sever our relationship with D* for good.


It's prorated based on how many months left you have on your contract.

D* subsidizes the cost of the HD DVRs heavily when you initially acquire them. The contract is to guarantee that you will stay with them long enough to recover the cost of the unit. Hence, the proration if you cancel early.


You know what, everyone says that, but I don't buy it. Simply because DIRECTV STILL OWNS THE BOX! I could agree IF we paid the cancellation fee and KEPT the DVR, but to have to send it back, AND get charged PLUS pay up front to begin with? Directv is making out like a BANDIT on that deal.
 
a two year extorsion fee attached,

LMAO

You know what, everyone says that, but I don't buy it. Simply because DIRECTV STILL OWNS THE BOX! I could agree IF we paid the cancellation fee and KEPT the DVR, but to have to send it back, AND get charged PLUS pay up front to begin with? Directv is making out like a BANDIT on that deal
.

Absolutely.
 
It's prorated based on how many months left you have on your contract.

D* subsidizes the cost of the HD DVRs heavily when you initially acquire them. The contract is to guarantee that you will stay with them long enough to recover the cost of the unit.
Hence, the proration if you cancel early.

But they still own the equipment! :D When a person pays the "buyout", the DRV goes back to Directv. Probably to use as the refurbished unit I'm forced to use right now !sadroll
 
But they still own the equipment! :D When a person pays the "buyout", the DRV goes back to Directv. Probably to use as the refurbished unit I'm forced to use right now !sadroll

And DirecTV has a lot more money invested in a customer than just the receiver. They have to recover the costs of the receivers, the dish, and the installation (to pay the HSP for consumable equipment and tech time).

And yes, the Early Cancellation fee is different from the fee they charge you for failing to return the leased equipment.
 
And DirecTV has a lot more money invested in a customer than just the receiver. They have to recover the costs of the receivers, the dish, and the installation (to pay the HSP for consumable equipment and tech time).

I had been with Directv since 1996. They made their money off my back MANY times over even if I KEPT ALL the equipment. :D
 
I wonder what the steps of prorating/per month equals to. I'm 6 months into my contract. :(


IIRC it WAS 12.50 per month of contract left, or thereabouts.

NOW, (I don't remember when it changed but it has), its 20.00 a month per month left of the contract.

Lovely, ain't it? And DON'T FORGET, sports fans, there is NO trial period. :D
 
IIRC it WAS 12.50 per month of contract left, or thereabouts.
NOW, (I don't remember when it changed but it has), its 20.00 a month per month left of the contract.

20! OMG! Lets see...say... $20x24 months=$480! :eek:

I can understand requiring a contract for new subs. But in my opinion, anyone with 5+ years of loyal service shouldn't be required to sign any contract. Or at least bring it down to a 1 year contract.
 
Status
Please reply by conversation.

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 0, Members: 0, Guests: 0)

Who Read This Thread (Total Members: 1)

Latest posts