DirecTV Contracts

[built2last]

Hello, are there any DirecTV experts out there that know what causes a contract extension? I've been with DirecTV for years, and I was always under the impression that your contract did not get extended unless you accept free hardware from them. As long as you were using your own recievers, or used ones, you were OK.

Now they are saying that a used reciever I added caused an automatic 2-year extension. So I ask of you...

Does just adding a reciever cause a 2-year contract extension? When did this get added to the terms and conditions?

Are they required to tell you if you are doing something that is going to extend your contact (I would never agree to it if they did)?

Any help ya'll can provide would be appreciated.

 

[ComcastOgre]

I can almost guarantee that, by law, they have to tell you about the extension at some point during the conversation.

 

[Jhon69]

Welcome to the Forum.May I suggest you read the customer agreement at directv.com and if it doesn't look right you need to contact DirecTV to discuss your problem.If you don't get satisfaction with a CSR ask to speak to a Manager.Hopefully they will be able to solve your problem or at least explain it to your satisfaction.Good Luck! and again

 

[loki23]

There are a couple issues here that determine if you should have a new commitment.

1. If the used rcvr was on your account previously then there is no question you do not have a new commitment.

2. If the equipment was used by someone else you are ok if D* verifies the prev account and that the original commitment (other owner's) was fulfilled you are set. If the rcvr was never activated or was activated and prev owner did not fulfill their commitment you would have the commitment(or they might not activate it.)

When activating "used" equipment with the second scenario you would have to purchase a new access card. Since you did not mention anything about that I assume you had the equip prior to this, and in this case you should have no other charges ie. access card), and they should remove the commitment.

hope this helps

 

[branchbouncer]

If you are replacing a receiver then I belive there is no contract issues,but if you add a receiver (an addition to your existing receivers)then the contract get extended

 

[built2last]

Thanks for the response guys!

Here's some more info if it matters any:

The reciever was an additional reciever, making the total # of recievers larger. I read all the ToS from the website, but did not see anything about adding a reciever causing a contract extension. In fact the only time I saw it mentioned anywhere was in the equipment lease agreement. Any idea where it might say somethin to that effect branchbouncer?

The reciever was purchased used. There was a little bit of trouble getting it activated, because the previous owner had it leased, not purchased, but the CSR switched it to "owned" and said it was OK. I think this might have caused to contract to erroniously extend.

I have always bought used equipment specifically to aviod contract extensions. I have never gotten new access cards, for the same reason (I thought there might be some back-door contract extension, plus who wants to pay $20 and wait two days?) I always just got the used cards reauthorized.

Does anybody know a group or CSR's to get to (aside from retentions) that might be better suited to handling this than the normal first tier?

 

[branchbouncer]

Since your equipment was purchased used, not through D* or store bought, you would figure that there would not be a contract extension.I was told once by CSR that since I was replacing a unit that had failed there was no contract extension,when I ordered one for my son's room adding to the number of stb's that the contract was again one year. The same thing happened when we bought a stb for our daughters room from BB the contract was again one year

 

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the response guys!

Here's some more info if it matters any:

The reciever was an additional reciever, making the total # of recievers larger. I read all the ToS from the website, but did not see anything about adding a reciever causing a contract extension. In fact the only time I saw it mentioned anywhere was in the equipment lease agreement. Any idea where it might say somethin to that effect branchbouncer?

The reciever was purchased used. There was a little bit of trouble getting it activated, because the previous owner had it leased, not purchased, but the CSR switched it to "owned" and said it was OK. I think this might have caused to contract to erroniously extend.

I have always bought used equipment specifically to aviod contract extensions. I have never gotten new access cards, for the same reason (I thought there might be some back-door contract extension, plus who wants to pay $20 and wait two days?) I always just got the used cards reauthorized.

Does anybody know a group or CSR's to get to (aside from retentions) that might be better suited to handling this than the normal first tier?

Normally they will next day you an access card.
Just call the regular number, most of the other numbers have been shut down, too many people calling, just have them forward you.

With normal adding a receiver , adding a standard unit is a 1 year extention an HD or DVR activates a 2 years contract.
Now, Keep in mind , that is for that receiver only, if you have another reciever (HD) that is 22 months into a commitment, you still only have a 2 month commitment on that receiver.

Jimbo

 

[built2last]

Hey all, here's some updated info for you.

Adding a reciever *DOES NOT* extend your contract, only getting new equipment will. After being lied to by Retentions and Tech Support divisions, I finally got to a competent Account Support CSR via the Billing department. He was able to escalate to the Accounting Dept and get it resolved.

So as I've told all my friends, ALWAYS BUY YOUR OWN DIRECTV HARDWARE USED! This keeps you from getting stuck in a contract. I cannot imagine paying $300 for the honor of being able to lease a HD DVR for another $60/yr!

As for requiring access cards for used hardware... I know they usually transfer you to Access Card; but who wants to pay $20 and wait two days for something that can be done in 15-seconds, by adding the old card to the new account? I think this is a left over policy from getting away from P3 cards. Smart CSR's (1 out of 3 or so) know the way to reauth a card.

Now for my second question, for a friend:

When did DirecTV start doing 2-year contracts for Tivo's? I know there was a time when "advanced hardware" did not get a second year added; does anybody know when that ToS change was made? I think it might have been when they started "leasing" equipment instead of selling customer owned equipment.

Hello, are there any DirecTV experts out there that know what causes a contract extension? I've been with DirecTV for years, and I was always under the impression that your contract did not get extended unless you accept free hardware from them. As long as you were using your own recievers, or used ones, you were OK.

Now they are saying that a used reciever I added caused an automatic 2-year extension. So I ask of you...

Does just adding a reciever cause a 2-year contract extension? When did this get added to the terms and conditions?

Are they required to tell you if you are doing something that is going to extend your contact (I would never agree to it if they did)?

Any help ya'll can provide would be appreciated.

 

[Jimbo]

When did DirecTV start doing 2-year contracts for Tivo's? I know there was a time when "advanced hardware" did not get a second year added; does anybody know when that ToS change was made? I think it might have been when they started "leasing" equipment instead of selling customer owned equipment.

The 2 year commitment for "Advanced equipment has been going on for at least 2 years that I know of.
1 year for standard equipment.
Advanced consists of ANY HD or DVR equipment.

Jimbo

 

[cariera]

As for requiring access cards for used hardware... I know they usually transfer you to Access Card; but who wants to pay $20 and wait two days for something that can be done in 15-seconds, by adding the old card to the new account? I think this is a left over policy from getting away from P3 cards. Smart CSR's (1 out of 3 or so) know the way to reauth a card.

Actually the smart CSR's are the 2 out of 3 that would make you buy a new card. The lazy ones are the ones who reauthorize a card. Since I have had it both ways, I can't really complain. But their policy is used equip=new card.

 

[airforcevet123]

How to Get Help w/Contracts

I was told by a DirecTv representative at the CES Convention last January-2006, how to get satisfaction from talking to a Customer Service Representative.

SOLUTION simple: Ask for the Manager to call you back in 24-hours.

Watch how fast you get satisfaction, almost guaranteed. It works.

 

[Newshawk]

When did DirecTV start doing 2-year contracts for Tivo's? I know there was a time when "advanced hardware" did not get a second year added; does anybody know when that ToS change was made? I think it might have been when they started "leasing" equipment instead of selling customer owned equipment.

Two year committments for advanced products started in August of 2005. The lease program started in March of 2006

 

[Newshawk]

The reciever was purchased used. There was a little bit of trouble getting it activated, because the previous owner had it leased, not purchased, but the CSR switched it to "owned" and said it was OK. I think this might have caused to contract to erroniously extend.

That would be where the committment attached, but for the reason that the receiver was still leased. As a leased receiver, the person you purchased it from had no right to sell it to you... the owner of the receiver is D*, not the customer. Since you basically reimbursed the other person for his up front fee for his leased receiver, you assumed the lease for him. Unfortunately, D*'s ToS do not allow for transferrence of an existing committment, so D* had to start the clock over.

Of course, that's the way I see it... and I could be wrong.

 

[texasbrit]

I cannot imagine paying $300 for the honor of being able to lease a HD DVR for another $60/yr!

QUOTE]

It does not cost you an extra $60 a year to lease a DVR. The "lease fee" is exactly the same amount as the additional receiver fee. It is called a "lease fee" for accounting reasons, but the end result is that you pay the same. And DirecTV went to leasing the boxes for accounting reasons also. It allows them to depreciate the boxes......

 

[texasbrit]

The reciever was purchased used. There was a little bit of trouble getting it activated, because the previous owner had it leased, not purchased, but the CSR switched it to "owned" and said it was OK. I think this might have caused to contract to erroniously extend.

You were very lucky that DirecTV allowed this to happen at all. Since it was a leased box, the previous owner was in fact selling a box he did not own. DirecTV would have been within their rights to demand for you to return the box to them and then you would have to chase down the previous "owner" to get your money back.

 

[Jimbo]

I cannot imagine paying $300 for the honor of being able to lease a HD DVR for another $60/yr!

QUOTE]

It does not cost you an extra $60 a year to lease a DVR. The "lease fee" is exactly the same amount as the additional receiver fee. It is called a "lease fee" for accounting reasons, but the end result is that you pay the same. And DirecTV went to leasing the boxes for accounting reasons also. It allows them to depreciate the boxes......

NO it cost you an addl. 72 dollars
The lease fee and the addl rec. fee are one in the same and cancel one another,but if you are getting a DVR for the first time you will be charged a $ 5.99 p/m fee for the ability to use the DVR funtion.
I could understand this when it was a different company suppling theDVR (TIVO) they chanrged $4.99 i think, there is really NO reason why D* has to charge the addl $ 5.99 other than to make more money.
I was hoping that D* would discontinue this fee when they got thier own product on the market, but I guess not.
It would increase the population with DVR's if there were no fees.

Jimbo

 

[dishcomm]

Hello, are there any DirecTV experts out there that know what causes a contract extension? I've been with DirecTV for years, and I was always under the impression that your contract did not get extended unless you accept free hardware from them. As long as you were using your own recievers, or used ones, you were OK.

Now they are saying that a used reciever I added caused an automatic 2-year extension. So I ask of you...

Does just adding a reciever cause a 2-year contract extension? When did this get added to the terms and conditions?


Are they required to tell you if you are doing something that is going to extend your contact (I would never agree to it if they did)?

Any help ya'll can provide would be appreciated.

3 questions...
1. did a tech do the work?
2.did you agree to ANYTHING remotely resembling an extension on your current contract when the EQ was activated thru DTV?
3 did you sign anything that stated you agreed to a contract extension...
If the answer to all these is in the negative, you have no agreement to extend your contract with DTV...
I am not an attorney. I am however smart enough to know that a contract requires two important items..1.Equal consideration and 2. an agreement to the terms between two responsible parties..

 

[EdGrimley]

For the record, here's the response I got from DirecTV customer support...

>>
Dear Mr. xxx,

Thanks for writing. You can add a used receiver to your account, but there are certain guidelines that we ask you to follow:

1. The person who gives you the DIRECTV System should call DIRECTV to de-activate the DIRECTV System access card. This is for the original owner's protection.

2. You, the new owner, should call 1-800-DIRECTV to order a new access card. We will charge you $20 for the new access card, which we send out via Federal Express, along with a postage-paid envelope to make returning the old card easy.

3. You can install the equipment personally or call a professional installer for help. The installation manual and owner's manual — and any other information that came with the equipment — can be especially helpful in this process. If you don't have the manual for the new receiver, we have copies of most owners’ manuals on our web site at DIRECTV.com/manuals.

Once you get your new access card, you can activate your new receiver by calling 1-800-531-5000. Make sure you tell the Customer Service Representative that you have pre-owned equipment and want to start programming.

Moreover, when you activate the used receiver, there will be no additional commitment.

Thanks again for writing and stay tuned to DIRECTV.com for the latest news and information about our services.

Sincerely,

Christie
DIRECTV Customer Service
<<

 

[KimmiKat]

Supose you're swapping out an HD Reciever for a HD DVR, doe that triggure an commitment?