Cutting the cord unless overwhelmed by retention....

[tj218]

My wife and I are sick of the misc. fees tacked on to our bill so we are thinking of cutting the cord and just getting basic cable. We would save $65 a month.

We have been loyal customers since 2004, but we do have 4 months left on a contract.

We would consider staying if they could shave off all the extra fees indefinitely. Has anyone been successful with this?

 

[charper1]

Sure have; I switched to DirecTV years and years ago after a long stint with the BUD and giving cable (YUCK!) a short try)

 

[raoul5788]

My wife and I are sick of the misc. fees tacked on to our bill so we are thinking of cutting the cord and just getting basic cable. We would save $65 a month.

We have been loyal customers since 2004, but we do have 4 months left on a contract.

We would consider staying if they could shave off all the extra fees indefinitely. Has anyone been successful with this?

to Satelliteguys!

What fees are you referring to on your bill?

 

[harshness]

We would consider staying if they could shave off all the extra fees indefinitely. Has anyone been successful with this?

No.

As a matter of interest, what do you think makes you you shouldn't have to pay fees? Would you feel better if they were hidden?

 

[Mr Tony]

what "extra fees" are you getting?

The only "extra fees" I have are a DVR fee (since ai have 2) and an extra receiver fee

 

[JUCJ85]

Yeah, I dont have an extra hidden fees.

I only get taxed in the Protection Plan and Receivers.

I dont pay city taxes just state.

Big difference with Cable, At least for Time Warner. They tax everything, packages, boxes, etc.. You get taxed twice basically.

I would pay between 12-15 in taxes a month, compared to 2 bucks a month.

 

[tj218]

what "extra fees" are you getting?

The only "extra fees" I have are a DVR fee (since ai have 2) and an extra receiver fee

$10 HD fee
$7 DVR fee
$6 (x3) fee for each receiver (this for some reason includes the HD DVR too) . We only use the 2 other basic receivers about once a week.
$35 a month.

Total bill = $95/mo

I can get basic cable (I live in a somewhat rural area, I can hardly get 1 channel with an anetnna) with locals in HD, for $23 /mo + tax. I am not expecting DTV to beat that, but if we can get our DTV bill down to $40-50 /mo I would consider staying.

 

[tj218]

No.

As a matter of interest, what do you think makes you you shouldn't have to pay fees? Would you feel better if they were hidden?

The market system: competition.

I am frustrated with the total bill; the fees are an easy source of blame, but also the paying for stuff that we hardly ever watch while all we have is the basic package.

 

[Mr Tony]

$10 HD fee

go on auto pay they will wave that

$7 DVR fee

if you have a DVR this is normal

$6 (x3) fee for each receiver (this for some reason includes the HD DVR too) . We only use the 2 other basic receivers about once a week.

so why not return them and save the $12?
You get the 1st receiver included so it sounds like you have 4 receivers on the account.

 

[charper1]

The market system: competition.

I am frustrated with the total bill; the fees are an easy source of blame, but also the paying for stuff that we hardly ever watch while all we have is the basic package.

BUT you surely can't compare basic cable with everything you are currently carrying on your DirecTV account; if you did compare like to like your cable bill would be comparable or higher.

Knock your DirecTV services down to "basic" and you will be much lower. Its that easy!

 

[tj218]

go on auto pay they will wave that

if you have a DVR this is normal

so why not return them and save the $12?
You get the 1st receiver included so it sounds like you have 4 receivers on the account.

I'm already on auto-pay.

My wife still wants something on the other two for when she does use them (again maybe once a week more as background noise)

Re: 4 receivers? We only have 3, I just figured each one had that fee.....so Directv has been overbilling me for a year and half?

 

[tj218]

BUT you surely can't compare basic cable with everything you are currently carrying on your DirecTV account; if you did compare like to like your cable bill would be comparable or higher.

Knock your DirecTV services down to "basic" and you will be much lower. Its that easy!

I just have the Total Choice package with no premiums. The only "splurges" are the DVR and HD service. If I could pay ala carte' I gladly would.

I know basic cable will be much different. But if my choice is between a basic package at $95 /mo vs. minimal necessary channels at $23/mo. It seems like a no brainer.

All this being said, I didn't come here to troll. I am satisfied with DTV service, just not the cost. I know I will definitely miss the MLB EI package as MLB.tv isn't as high of quality (plus it lacks MLB network) and my wife will miss HGTV (a limited version is available via Roku). I will miss the occasional NatGeo or Discovery channel documentary but really about 95% of the channels don't ever get used and with a growing family, $800/yr in difference between the two means a lot.

 

[Mr Tony]

if you are on auto pay then call in and ask for the free HD promo.

If you only have 3 receivers then check the bill more. There is a primary receiver fee of 6.00 then a credit of 6.00

 

[Jimbo]

All your billing is listed at the top with the programming and the credits are at the bottom.

 

[charper1]

I just have the Total Choice package with no premiums. The only "splurges" are the DVR and HD service. If I could pay ala carte' I gladly would.

I know basic cable will be much different. But if my choice is between a basic package at $95 /mo vs. minimal necessary channels at $23/mo. It seems like a no brainer.

All this being said, I didn't come here to troll. I am satisfied with DTV service, just not the cost. I know I will definitely miss the MLB EI package as MLB.tv isn't as high of quality (plus it lacks MLB network) and my wife will miss HGTV (a limited version is available via Roku). I will miss the occasional NatGeo or Discovery channel documentary but really about 95% of the channels don't ever get used and with a growing family, $800/yr in difference between the two means a lot.

I hear what you are saying; cut back and ask if they can work with you, but like you said most of what you carry on the account really isnt being used so basic cable may be the way to go. A la carte would be crap for DBS services a lot of niche would go away and all the exclusives and special events (like sport season passes, mix channels live concert events, etc) would likely not exist anymore, the total sub base number would likely plummet and then per channel cost would be crazy high and the ending bill prices would not be anywhere near as low as people think. Let a basic cable line and OTA cover that ultra-low cost market.

 

[tj218]

All your billing is listed at the top with the programming and the credits are at the bottom.

StartEndDescriptionAmount

Previous Balance0.00

09/03
Payment - Thank You - MasterCard -101.48

Current Charges for Service Period 09/02/11 - 10/01/11

09/02
10/01 TOTAL CHOICE Monthly 60.49

10/01 HD Access Monthly 10.00

08/15
11/14
MLB EXTRA INNINGS 2011 Early Renewal in 6 Payments 0.00

09/02
10/01 DIRECTV DVR Service Monthly 7.00

09/02
10/01 DIRECTV CINEMA Tune to Ch. 1000 for more info 0.00

08/19 PPV: VOD:The Conspirator on receiver 1390-845095 5.99

Fees

09/03 Additional Receiver 6.00

09/03
Additional Receiver 6.00

09/03
Leased Receiver 6.00

AMOUNT DUE$0.00

This was our most recent statement cut+pasted. Obviously the PPV is not DTV's issue. But we only have 3 receivers (basement, 1st floor and 2nd floor) and I don't see any credit. It has been that way since we got the HD DVR service in Apr. 2010, so has our bill (they waived the HD fee for a year when we upgraded).

 

[Neutron]

If the Mrs. uses the other 1 or 2 just for background noise, why not run an RG6 out from one of the other receivers to the other room and just have her turn the channel on the main room for it to be displayed on the other room, instead of having a separate receiver?

 

[Daddy Dithers]

Had a NLOS install a while back (apartment facing wrong way/patio mounting only). Customer showed me her Comcast bill-basic rate wasn't bad but followed by an extensive list of fees/taxes that made the price crazy high. Don't know if that is the norm, but I would be very suspicious of what is advertised as a pricefor any cable service. The Devil is in the details.

 

[dishrich]

tj - obviously first & foremost, you need to get that extra receiver charge removed; before you call D*, you best get a list of all your receiver's smartcard#'s, so that you can compare to what D* has in their system.

While I understand about you wanting to lower costs, you should also know that Total Choice pkg you are now on, is a grandfathered pkg & is NO longer offered to new subs. If you would either switch to a lower pkg, or disco your service altogether, you will NOT be able to get it back again. It's replacement pkg (Choice) actually costs about the same, but is missing over a dozen+ channels you ARE getting now in TC - so you might want to think about that carefully before ditching it.

There is also a "hidden" pkg that the retention dept can offer you that are cheaper than TC; there's info about it here:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/258968-july-2011-directv-package-lists-including.html

Again, if you DO switch your pkg, you will NOT get TC back...

 

[tj218]

tj - obviously first & foremost, you need to get that extra receiver charge removed; before you call D*, you best get a list of all your receiver's smartcard#'s, so that you can compare to what D* has in their system.

While I understand about you wanting to lower costs, you should also know that Total Choice pkg you are now on, is a grandfathered pkg & is NO longer offered to new subs. If you would either switch to a lower pkg, or disco your service altogether, you will NOT be able to get it back again. It's replacement pkg (Choice) actually costs about the same, but is missing over a dozen+ channels you ARE getting now in TC - so you might want to think about that carefully before ditching it.

There is also a "hidden" pkg that the retention dept can offer you that are cheaper than TC; there's info about it here:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/258968-july-2011-directv-package-lists-including.html

Again, if you DO switch your pkg, you will NOT get TC back...

Wow! Thanks for pointing to that! That family package makes things very interesting. If we could get that package and they minimize the receiver fees (maybe just keeping the DVR) it would be a tough call.

This also assumes they make right that receiver charge for the past 18months.