Enough With the Unwanted Phone Calls- Is My Only Way Out to Quit Dish?

[JayStil]

There's still people without Caller ID? I don't answer any calls that I don't recognize the number. They can leave a message if it's important and I'll call them back.

 

[dare2be]

A few reasons:

1. I hear from friends who do auto-pay with various companies that it frequently gets screwed up- double billing, etc..

2. I want to be able to see my bill and make sure the charges are right before I pay. Like if I see an extra $15 for HBO and I don't subscribe to HBO, I don't want that $15 auto-withdrawn from my account due to an error (and then maybe risk not having that money that I might need for other things, or even risk an overdraft fee). I want to be able to sort it out with Dish beforehand and pay what I really owe. I like to see my charges before it actually gets charged to me and make sure everything is as it should be before I authorize it.

3. I like the freedom to pay early if I notice I'm getting the money early. To be honest, if I could, there are times when I might even pay a couple months ahead if, like, say, I had the money then but thought things might be tight in the months to come. Dish, like most companies doesn't allow that, which is fine. But I do like to at least be able to pay a week or two ahead right when I get my bill if it makes financial sense to me-- and I'm glad Dish and others allow me that at least that level of flexibility.

4. To be honest, I'd also like the freedom to maybe pay a day or two late if I ever absolutely have to-- i.e. a check or whatever doesn't clear and it's either pay for food so I don't starve or pay the TV bill. Never had that scenario, hopefully never will, but if it one day happened, I'd sure be kicking myself while I was starving to death because I signed up for auto-pay. Again, to be clear- I have never paid a Dish bill late. I never plan to. But in a rare emergency, I might theoretically have to prioritize food, rent, being able to buy a medicine I need, or whatever. Probably never would happen, but I like to be on the safe side where I know there's no way that bill is getting paid until I click submit online or mail a check or whatever.

1. I use auto-pay for every account I physically can, and I have never had a problem with any of them getting screwed up, including 10 years with Dish (the company in question).

2. You get an email the day your bill is available to view online, which is actually earlier than you would receive it thru the mail. So you actually have just as much, if not more time to review your account before it is due.

3. You still have the freedom to pay early. If you pay the full amount early, then the auto-pay will adjust and skip that months payment. If you pay partially for that month, then auto-pay will pick up the remaining balance. If you pay months in advance, then auto-pay will just continue to be dormant until your balance due is positive again. You don't lose any flexibility, except:

4. If you want the option to take a risk on not paying your bill on time, then Dish wants the option to remind you when your bill is coming due to mitigate that risk.

 

[HanoverPretzel]

There's still people without Caller ID? I don't answer any calls that I don't recognize the number. They can leave a message if it's important and I'll call them back.

Dish actually leaves a message. So even if I do check the called ID and decide not to answer the call, I later have to go into my voice mail and load that up and delete the message. I am not saying it's like a huge burden, but it is a annoying. I do have to deal with it one way or the other. If I choose to pick up the phone, a lot of times I just go hello several times and their robo call system doesn't engage and just hangs out on me.

I don't know, there are so many small hassles in this world. Many, you can't avoid. But I'm not accustomed to having a service I pay for try to hassle me and not being able to opt out. On-screen message obstructing my programming too some months. I'm out of town right now so I don't know if they did the on-screen stuff or not this month, but it's happened before, and you have to click okay to get it to go away, and then it comes back 2 or 3 times, right smack dab in the middle of the screen, ensuring you aren't able to see the program you're watching. And God forbid you misplace your remote control or are in another part of the room or something, because it'll just stay there until you get the remote and click okay.

 

[HanoverPretzel]

2. You get an email the day your bill is available to view online, which is actually earlier than you would receive it thru the mail. So you actually have just as much, if not more time to review your account before it is due.

I actually did switch over to paperless billing, which is great, no problems there (Though I appreciate that I do have the option to switch back to getting a paper bill in the mail in the future if for some reason I need to cancel Internet for a while or whatever). Dish let's you do just paperless billing or just auto-pay, you don't have to do both. So I did the paperless billing, which I like (Trying to cut down on clutter coming into the apartment). But I don't like auto-pay, so I didn't opt for that part.

3. You still have the freedom to pay early. If you pay the full amount early, then the auto-pay will adjust and skip that months payment.

That is good to know. So auto-pay is a little better than I thought in that regard. Still don't want to do it, though.

4. If you want the option to take a risk on not paying your bill on time, then Dish wants the option to remind you when your bill is coming due to mitigate that risk.

I'm just saying, if the bill is due on Friday, then wait until Saturday to call me, and only do it if you're sure I haven't paid. I try to be reasonable, if I agree to pay something or owe you money, and it doesn't get paid on or before the date we agree to, calling me the next day is fine. But I don't like being called and bothered about it before it's due or on the day it's due- I'll handle remembering to do it myself. If I find I'm having trouble keeping track of that in the future, then I'll set myself up a little reminder on my cell phone calendar or some other method I find less obtrusive than the phone calls.

And while Dish may have the legal option to "remind" me with phone calls and on-screen nags with bills that aren't overdue or are already paid (I guess they do, anyway, I'm not a lawyer), they should keep in mind that customers like me also have an important option. That's the option to switch to Comcast or Directv or some other company that doesn't handle things that way when our Dish Network contracts expires. Pester your customers and they may walk eventually. Not saying I'll walk over this, but it'll be one of many factors I consider when assessing which provider I want to be with going forward after my contract expires.

The place I'm hanging out at tonight (Not my residence) has a fairly basic Comcast setup. The TV I'm watching election coverage on now just has this teeny-tiny little box that's more like a cable card than a box, no on-screen guide, etc.. But it's not really bad. A promotional rate and the option to get a discount on my Internet bill may be very tempting when the Dish contract expires. And I'll bet if I got a relatively bare-bones service (equipment wise) like this, I might even save money after the promotional rate expires (And get a decent channel selection -- I note they MSNBC and NBC Sports Network on their regular tier- otherwise similar to AT120+. With Dish I have to always be choosing whether to go with AT120+, which is affordable, or high packages which are unaffordable, just because those two channels happen to be favorites of mine, and switching tiers from month to month sometimes. With cable, that'd be a non-issue). Of course, having to deal with Comcast customer service and installation scares me after the disaster that signing up for Internet after being away for six months turned out to be. The Internet service itself is great, but I had to make several trips out to their local office, there were several appointments at my place and missed installations, they tried to go back on their promotional offer, and all sorts of stuff. I may not want to risk going through that to get their cable tv again.

There are all sorts of factors.

But I am just saying- Dish, if you're listening- here is a simple thing you can do to put one less "con" in the mental pro-con list I'll be making when my contract expires. If you're a tv provider, you want to make things as hassle free as possible. This would be easy. It's not like signing up a new channel and having to pay the channel owner, or switching a channel's tier and raising your operating costs. It's not like having to invent some new receiver or box. It's literally as simple as letting me opt out of getting calls and on-screen messages I don't want. No cost to Dish, and I'd be a happier customer and at least slightly more likely to stick with them at the end of my deal.

Maybe the workaround of giving them their own phone number instead of my own phone number will solve the issue. Hopefully it does. But I could see it causing me other issues down the line when I call and they ask for my phone number for verification or whatever.

 

[dare2be]

I'd guess Dish probably at some point only called after the bill was past its due date, and probably got angry responses like "why didn't you call sooner to tell me, so that I wouldn't have late fees?!" Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

 

[HanoverPretzel]

I'd guess Dish probably at some point only called after the bill was past its due date, and probably got angry responses like "why didn't you call sooner to tell me, so that I wouldn't have late fees?!" Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

If that's true, simple solution: Make the calls early by default, but allow people who don't like them to online and change an option on the website somewhere to stop receiving said calls. The big thing to me was not getting the call the first time way back when, it was finding out that I couldn't opt to not get them in the future. That they were going to keep doing it whether I like it or not. Leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

 

[dare2be]

Well, it looks like your only option to opt out is auto-pay, which for an overwhelming percentage of customers is a convenience and benefit for both parties. Like you said, leaving may be an option, if you can find another provider that doesn't do the same.

 

[Tyralak]

Well, it looks like your only option to opt out is auto-pay, which for an overwhelming percentage of customers is a convenience and benefit for both parties. Like you said, leaving may be an option, if you can find another provider that doesn't do the same.

He's already opted out. He changed his phone number.

 

[dare2be]

Good luck with the phone number change.

I just read the part of the Residential Agreement regarding PrePay accounts...payments must be made "in advance" of the due date, so that implies not ON the due date, which could be part of your problem. If you were just to pretend that your hard fast due date is 2-3 days before the actual printed due date, it looks like you could avoid this nuisance. Just trying to find a solution you could live with.

 

[dwarren2]

Why not set up a pre paid credit card. Put maybe $20 over your monthly charge in it and set that up as auto pay. Then each month put the amount of your monthly bill in that account. Or just set up 1 credit card and only use it for Dish. They take the money out on the due date. You then have the option of when you want to pay off the balance. No worry. You can pay off the bill ech month the day after it is charged and contest it if there are any errors.

 

[castle rock kid]

This seems like much ado about nothing. Just pay the damn bill a couple days early and the won't call anymore and you will be relieved of the stress. Get over it for crying out loud.

 

[HanoverPretzel]

Well, it looks like your only option to opt out is auto-pay, which for an overwhelming percentage of customers is a convenience and benefit for both parties.

I don't like auto-pay and I shouldn't have to opt for it just to avoid harassing phone calls. If others like it and want to sign up for it, great, but it's not for me.

Like you said, leaving may be an option, if you can find another provider that doesn't do the same.

Comcast never called me for anything not related to installation or service visits. I'm under contract with Dish through the end of the year, but I may well go back to Comcast or to Directv afterwards. This wouldn't be the only reason, but it's one of the little reasons that add up. The fact is, as far as I am aware, Dish is the only television provider that calls people and puts on-screen nags over programming before a bill is due and after it's paid, intentionally, and won't let you off the call list when you ask.

Good luck with the phone number change.

Thanks.

I just read the part of the Residential Agreement regarding PrePay accounts...payments must be made "in advance" of the due date, so that implies not ON the due date, which could be part of your problem.

Not what the DIRT team told me. I was told the bill isn't overdue until the day after the due date.

If you were just to pretend that your hard fast due date is 2-3 days before the actual printed due date, it looks like you could avoid this nuisance. Just trying to find a solution you could live with.

Like I said, the money isn't always there a few days before the printed due date. I selected my service start date with Dish fairly carefully to get the billing cycle just part the leanest time of the month for me money wise and not in the midst of it.

Why not set up a pre paid credit card. Put maybe $20 over your monthly charge in it and set that up as auto pay. Then each month put the amount of your monthly bill in that account.

Seems like a hassle, and I'd have to commit extra time and money to getting it sorted each month. If I didn't have a debit card or a checking account, I guess I'd consider it, but I do have those things, so I shouldn't have to mess with this. Dish should just stop calling and take my money already.

Or just set up 1 credit card and only use it for Dish. They take the money out on the due date. You then have the option of when you want to pay off the balance. No worry. You can pay off the bill ech month the day after it is charged and contest it if there are any errors.

I don't qualify for real credit cards, so that's not an option either.

This seems like much ado about nothing. Just pay the damn bill a couple days early and the won't call anymore and you will be relieved of the stress. Get over it for crying out loud.

What's no big deal to other people is a big deal to other people. I'm not saying it like it's some sort of catastrophe, I'm just saying it's one more regular annoyance I have to deal with in life. And unlike other annoyances, this one would be entirely avoidable if Dish would just act like a responsible company instead of a shady telemarketing firm.

The more I have to deal with this stuff, the nicer a return to Comcast or a fresh start with Directv look to me. No final decision made, because that's like 10 months or so off when my contract expires and I don't know what my situation will be and what new factors will come up for me to consider.

It's awfully stupid on Dish's part, knowing they already have a problem with churn, to pull stuff like this that forces churn, though. Their annual reports already show they are losing customers at a really fast rate. You'd think they'd be trying to make existing customers happier with the service, not doing the equivalent of poking them until they're told to shove off.

 

[dare2be]

Many here have offered many different solutions, workarounds and useful tips that are within your control. If you plan to ignore all these helpful suggestions and just want to continue to complain here about something you have no control over, please stop.

 

[Scherrman]

Everyone hates paying bills. I hate when we send out invoices. A full week of people calling and complaining about their bills asking why they have to pay so much or why they have to pay at all. Dealing with customers can be such a pain sometimes.

 

[boba]

Goodbye

We don't need no noisy pretzels round here complaining.

 

[HanoverPretzel]

Many here have offered many different solutions, workarounds and useful tips that are within your control. If you plan to ignore all these helpful suggestions and just want to continue to complain here about something you have no control over, please stop.

God-forbid anyone criticize our Dish Network lord and masters. Let's just all kiss butt instead. If we keep quiet, maybe they won't take any more channels away from us and will limit next year's cost increase to 20%.

How are those 922s working out for you all? Must be almost as cool as the outdated SD (non-HD) equipment they forced me to pay out my rear to get installed last year because they didn't like my credit. But, don't worry, Hoppers and Joeys are just around the corner with more buggy overrated equipment that they'll want us to pay way too much for- except those of us who aren't even good enough to be ripped off.

Everyone hates paying bills. I hate when we send out invoices. A full week of people calling and complaining about their bills asking why they have to pay so much or why they have to pay at all. Dealing with customers can be such a pain sometimes.

Dude, it's not about paying the bill. I paid the freaking bill. I won't go so far as to say I was happy to pay the freaking bill, but I agreed to pay it, and I do it. My problem is being harassed during the process. If I don't pay the bill, that's when calls should start, not before.

Goodbye

We don't need no noisy pretzels round here complaining.

LOL. Gonna round up a posse and run me out of town? Maybe find a nice tree to hang me from and water the grass with my blood?

Actually, reminds me of the actual town I live in a little... I've literally had threats to my person from the retarded redneck street thugs out there. So excuse me if I'm not in the mood for crap from a forum like this.

I'm pretty sure at this point, I'm walking away from Dish the second my contract expires. I've been trying to keep an open-mind, but the whole Dish experience has really left me ticked. I kind of wish there was some way to work around having a television provider period, actually, because they all seem to suck. But I don't feel like staring at my way watching already dried paint, so...

 

[StevenD]

Sounds like if money is really that tight, pay TV isn't really for you. Dish doesn't have to give service to everyone. Just like any business, they can refuse to do business with anyone. You are lucky that they had a program for someone who is "credit challenged". But, apparently, it's not working out for you.

 

[R0ss]

Frankly I don't blame u for being upset. Too many companies get away with questionable practices. We r on the do not call list, still receive several calls a week from companies we have no association with.
Any way I'm with u if u are paying your bill on time thereis no reason forDish to call.
It doesn't seem like u will get any satisfaction either.
I guess it boils down to how much thecalls bother u.

Ross

Sent from my rooted DROIDX (Liberty Gingerbread) using SatelliteGuys

 

[navychop]

We eagerly await the end of your contract.

 

[Tyralak]

Frankly I don't blame u for being upset. Too many companies get away with questionable practices. We r on the do not call list, still receive several calls a week from companies we have no association with.
Any way I'm with u if u are paying your bill on time thereis no reason forDish to call.
It doesn't seem like u will get any satisfaction either.
I guess it boils down to how much thecalls bother u.

Ross

Sent from my rooted DROIDX (Liberty Gingerbread) using SatelliteGuys

Is something wrong with your Droid's keyboard? It appears you're having trouble writing complete words.