I got 'bundled'. Might go back to DISH

[N6BY]

Was a DISH customer from '97 till a few years ago. Then tried DirecTV.

We moved last November and the local cable monopoly had a great price for phone, TV, and internet. With all the hassle of moving, picking one provider for all 3 services was easy so we did it.

The phone and internet services are great (we have fiber to the home!) But the TV is not so great. Fortunately I'm only in a one year contract and look forward to December when I can go back to satellite. My cable company (SureWest) has very limited HD programming. For example, only one of HBO's channels are provided in HD. The rest are all SD. They don't have CBS Sports Network, and the cable DVR is barely adequate, not nearly as good as the 2 satellite companies offer.

I left DISH because in the 'Equipment' section of my online DISH account, they claimed ownership of the ViP 722 that I purchased from DishStore.net. I complained by phone and they said I had to prove it was mine. Fortunately I had the receipt, sent it to DISH, and they said OK, I was right (without any apology). I was mad at them, so I immediately cancelled service and then sold the DVR.

I'm thinking about giving DISH another chance. They had great customer service in the early years, but not so great later on (from my experience).

If I go back I will lease the DVR, not purchase.

Now to my questions: I know DISH has changed a bit since I left (Joey and Hopper). Should I go back to DISH in November, and if so do you have any recommendation on equipment, special deals, etc? And has their customer service improved in the last few years while I've been with other Tv providers? If not I might go back to DirecTV.

 

[garys]

It is likely that any deals in November may be different than what is being offered now, you may want to check for deals starting in October since it is closer to when your may resign. You should consider that not having Dish for over 6 months will allow you new customer deals so you should be getting a good one.

 

[N6BY]

It is likely that any deals in November may be different than what is being offered now, you may want to check for deals starting in October since it is closer to when your may resign. You should consider that not having Dish for over 6 months will allow you new customer deals so you should be getting a good one.

Thanks, will check this Fall for the deals. And my cable company will double my bill after November -- added motivation to leave them.

How is DISH customer service these days? Are they still farming it out to India?

 

[KAB]

How is DISH customer service these days? Are they still farming it out to India?

Service is outstanding as long as you work with DIRT...Dish Internet Response Team. You can PM them when you are ready to switch and they will take care of everything, without worry, and you'll be sure you are getting the best deals. You can find the members "on duty" by going to the bottom of the Forum page and look for logged on members in RED. So, stay OFF the phone!!!

 

[lparsons21]

DIRT certainly has been the best thing in customer support that Dish has done. Great, fast, and correct!

Also using online chat for virtually anything takes the worry out about misunderstandings, not to mention that accents don't show up in chat!

Also with chat you can have a record of the chat saved to your computer just in case there is an issue.

I can't remember when I actually called and talked to someone at Dish!

 

[Tampa8]

Well, at least now you know why the offer looked so good. The HD is always greener... As garys said when you are ready at the end of the year you might qualify as a new customer.
Companies make mistakes all the time if I was overall happy with service a non apology wouldn't really be on my radar. The particular mistake of Dish saying they own the receiver I have to say is getting old, numerous posts over the years identify that problem. They need to correctly enter into the system when a receiver not leased from them is activated.

 

[KAB]

As garys said when you are ready at the end of the year you might qualify as a new customer.

Since he left Dish "a few years ago", he would definitely get new customer deals, even though he might officially be designated a Returning Customer.

 

[Mochuf]

As garys said when you are ready at the end of the year you might qualify as a new customer.

Well since he said that he went to DirecTV after Dish and then moved on to the local cabelco, he would not have been a Dish customer for at least three years (unless he broke his DirecTV contract) when his cable contract expires. I would hope that Dish considers him a new customer.

Companies make mistakes all the time if I was overall happy with service a non apology wouldn't really be on my radar. The particular mistake of Dish saying they own the receiver I have to say is getting old, numerous posts over the years identify that problem. They need to correctly enter into the system when a receiver not leased from them is activated.

I don't get why people buy Dish receivers? You don't get any breaks with pricing, you're always under the threat of Dish trying to screw you over on ownership and you can't use it with another provider. The only positive is that you're not under a contract if you upgrade your receiver by purchasing it instead of leasing it. At least with a Tivo or HTPC dvr set-up, you can move it to different cable providers or even use it strictly for ota.

 

[N6BY]

Well since he said that he went to DirecTV after Dish and then moved on to the local cabelco, he would not have been a Dish customer for at least three years (unless he broke his DirecTV contract) when his cable contract expires. I would hope that Dish considers him a new customer.

I did break my 2 year DirecTV contract when we moved (after 1 year and 2 months), and had to pay the pro-rated fee for early termination. I didn't want them to lock me in for another 2 years after moving. .... So, it sounds like the best deal is for customers that have been away for 3 years.

I don't get why people buy Dish receivers? You don't get any breaks with pricing, you're always under the threat of Dish trying to screw you over on ownership and you can't use it with another provider. The only positive is that you're not under a contract if you upgrade your receiver by purchasing it instead of leasing it. At least with a Tivo or HTPC dvr set-up, you can move it to different cable providers or even use it strictly for ota.

You have an excellent point. I don't think I will purchase another receiver in the future.

 

[N6BY]

Well, at least now you know why the offer looked so good. The HD is always greener... As garys said when you are ready at the end of the year you might qualify as a new customer.
Companies make mistakes all the time if I was overall happy with service a non apology wouldn't really be on my radar. The particular mistake of Dish saying they own the receiver I have to say is getting old, numerous posts over the years identify that problem. They need to correctly enter into the system when a receiver not leased from them is activated.

I'm thinking that my cable company must not have enough bandwidth in that single strand of fiber going to my house to make more of the channels HD instead of SD. They only have one HD channel for each of the premium services (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, etc.). Does anyone know how the bandwidth of a single strand of fiber optic compares with a 3 LNB dish? (The previous owner of my current house left his 'Turbo HD' dish on the roof with 3 LNBs.)

... As for the ownership mistake, I'm think I'm over that. Will be leasing receivers in the future so that problem wont happen again.

 

[Mochuf]

I'm thinking that my cable company must not have enough bandwidth in that single strand of fiber going to my house to make more of the channels HD instead of SD. They only have one HD channel for each of the premium services (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, etc.). Does anyone know how the bandwidth of a single strand of fiber optic compares with a 3 LNB dish? (The previous owner of my current house left his 'Turbo HD' dish on the roof with 3 LNBs.)

Do you have a decent On Demand line-up? I read that Comcast was doing the very same thing of only having the main premium channel in HD and having the rest of the channels in SD, but then having all of the content available in HD via On Demand.

 

[mike123abc]

I don't get why people buy Dish receivers? You don't get any breaks with pricing, you're always under the threat of Dish trying to screw you over on ownership and you can't use it with another provider. The only positive is that you're not under a contract if you upgrade your receiver by purchasing it instead of leasing it. At least with a Tivo or HTPC dvr set-up, you can move it to different cable providers or even use it strictly for ota.

The only reason is to avoid the 2 year commitment or if your credit does not qualify.

 

[N6BY]

Do you have a decent On Demand line-up? I read that Comcast was doing the very same thing of only having the main premium channel in HD and having the rest of the channels in SD, but then having all of the content available in HD via On Demand.

Unfortunately, no. Most of it is in SD.

Early termination would cost me $130 for getting out of cable tv right now. Its tempting, but I can't decide. My one year contract is up on Dec. 11th.

 

[Tyralak]

Claude to enter with Dish bashing in 3....2....1....

 

[whatchel1]

Bull from cable

I'm thinking that my cable company must not have enough bandwidth in that single strand of fiber going to my house to make more of the channels HD instead of SD. They only have one HD channel for each of the premium services (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, etc.). Does anyone know how the bandwidth of a single strand of fiber optic compares with a 3 LNB dish? (The previous owner of my current house left his 'Turbo HD' dish on the roof with 3 LNBs.)

... As for the ownership mistake, I'm think I'm over that. Will be leasing receivers in the future so that problem wont happen again.

A single fiber could carry all the channels in HD as well as all the ph and net. The problem is they have bought too cheap of a modulator system when they 1st put in their system. Also they probably have SD receivers to pick up what ever service they are getting the channels. There is a possibility the provider is only supplying the channels to your cable co. the channels in SD. Thing is you are getting stuck w/it that way. Look into options to the services the cable co. is giving you. Dish for TV w/an over the air antenna as well. Then look what else is offered in your area for ph and net. Since your bill is doubling then you may be able to get better services in your area. You have plenty of time to do this research. DIRT is the only way to go to get the best deal w/ E*. They also are very good in being able to help w/ your service. Also when ever you talk to E* in the future use chat not ph. Then you have everything in text form. Always the best way to have all details saved to a folder. So welcome back this is often the case and by the time you switch you will have been gone well past the 90 days that gets you the new customer deals even if listed as a returning customer. Yes lease the Hopper Joey set up that fits you best. The 1st yr you will need to be under the protection plan. Then you can opt to drop that. Have fun finding what suits your needs.

 

[whatchel1]

Claude to enter with Dish bashing in 3....2....1....

You mean we haven't gotten him banned yet.

 

[JWKessler]

I don't get why people buy Dish receivers? You don't get any breaks with pricing, you're always under the threat of Dish trying to screw you over on ownership and you can't use it with another provider. The only positive is that you're not under a contract if you upgrade your receiver by purchasing it instead of leasing it. At least with a Tivo or HTPC dvr set-up, you can move it to different cable providers or even use it strictly for ota.

plus, receivers break from time to time. The hard drive died in my 722 after a year of use, but a quick call to Dish got me a new receiver and a switch to a full eastern arc with no hassles. As complex as these new DVRs are I would not want to buy one.

 

[navychop]

As to which equipment might be best for you- how many TVs do you want independent viewing at, how many can share a channel, how many are HDTVs? And are you looking at very minimal programming levels or do you like premium movie channels?

Side note: I misspelled "independent" and autocorrect changed it to "indecent"- glad I caught that one!

 

[N6BY]

plus, receivers break from time to time. The hard drive died in my 722 after a year of use, but a quick call to Dish got me a new receiver and a switch to a full eastern arc with no hassles. As complex as these new DVRs are I would not want to buy one.

Yes, I remember back when I was with DISH I had a 921 before the vip722. I think the 921 was replaced 4 times!

As to which equipment might be best for you- how many TVs do you want independent viewing at, how many can share a channel, how many are HDTVs? And are you looking at very minimal programming levels or do you like premium movie channels?

Side note: I misspelled "independent" and autocorrect changed it to "indecent"- glad I caught that one!

LOL, what guy doesn't want 'indecent' viewing?

One TV. I watch it mostly. My wife is usually glued to her iPad, and my 2 sons to their computers. Will get DISH's top package because I like Encore and The Movie Channels.

Speaking of iPads, could my wife use her existing iPad with the Hopper to watch independently? (Not the one DISH offers for $30 a month). Is there an extra monthly charge for that?

 

[navychop]

There is an iPad transfer feature that allows her to download programs from the DVR onto the iPad. Most stuff is copied, but the more heavily protected stuff (such as HBO, I believe) is moved. But then you watch it on the iPad, not something connected to the iPad.

There's also Dish Anywhere. GREAT feature. If you've got good Internet connectivity you can connect to your Hopper and watch live or DVR'd stuff. But not, currently, stuff on the EHD. And this can be done from laptops and computers, too. I suspect only one stream per Hopper is allowed at a time.

No extra monthly fees.


How many TVs ever? Just one? It is possible, thru a bit of a hassle, to get a single Hopper installation. You might want to consider a 1H/1J setup, just for the possibilities.

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