24 month contract clarification

[bsk116]

Due to the latest price increase, It prompted me to begin research for a new provider (E) and found that I could improve my package, add one dvr and pay approximately $5 less than my current package with D.
However, D insists that my contract does not expire until 2/24/2010. My original install date was 11/20/2003 and on 2/12/2008 I requested and received a refurbished HR20.
Apparently D claims the equipment upgrade extends my commitment an additional 24 months.
I am communicating with D through email and they directed me to their agreements and addendum page, which I read, but can not find. It is very possible I have misread or do not understand the contract.
My question for any one with the time and knowledge is, can they start a new 24 month contract for an equipment upgrade?
I should also point out I was not informed of, nor agreed verbally or in writing to the new contract at the time I requested the equipment. Should they have informed me on 2/12/2008 that they will honor my request provided I agree to the new 24 month contract?
I have been a D customer for over seven years and never late with a payment, the latest price increase has made me look at my current programming and I can definitely do better, but prefer not to wait until 2/24/2010
I am being cordial and do not burn bridges, if I have to wait I will, but what happens will affect how I feel about D in the future. I'm sure they will not miss me
Thanks for reading my long rant and thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[boba]

SORRY but your stuck in a 24 mo. contract.

 

[TulsaCoker]

Yep sorry but your in a 24 month contract with any advanced receiver lease. It should be the original contract. When ever you upgade the new date is from when it's activated (or mailed).

 

[bsk116]

Looks like I'm sol..........I keep hoping someone is going to tell you your wrong

 

[boba]

Since March 1 2006 all receivers have been leases except a few replacements and special products. All have come with programming contracts from 1 to 2 years.

 

[toto]

Looks like I'm sol..........I keep hoping someone is going to tell you your wrong

I'm in a similar ship. Direct wouldn't honor the $23 a month credit for the final 10months, because unbeknown to me it was in the form of a rebate and I was a week past before I found out about the rebate. It may be possible for a new provider to buy part of your contract from Direct. I would check but still have 18mos on the contract. Besides keeping me as a customer (last service 11 years), they have cost themselves 50-60 per month for 21 months in reduced program commitments. Bean counters always fail to remember beans that can be removed from the table and anger of the subscriber.

 

[bsk116]

I'm in a similar ship. Direct wouldn't honor the $23 a month credit for the final 10months, because unbeknown to me it was in the form of a rebate and I was a week past before I found out about the rebate. It may be possible for a new provider to buy part of your contract from Direct. I would check but still have 18mos on the contract. Besides keeping me as a customer (last service 11 years), they have cost themselves 50-60 per month for 21 months in reduced program commitments. Bean counters always fail to remember beans that can be removed from the table and anger of the subscriber.

Are you pursuing D for the credit? Yeah the penny wise, pound foolish phrase comes to mind when talking about bean counters. I'm wondering how many people jump ship after each price increase.
I am presently waiting for a reply from D to my latest question (which incidentally has been "forwarded to a specialist for special handling") asking if they could please point out to me where in the contract it specifies this rule.
It's not a terribly big deal for me, but in times like this, I think they sometimes forget where their paycheck comes from. On the back of my check it says "from our customers".

 

[toto]

Are you pursuing D for the credit? Yeah the penny wise, pound foolish phrase comes to mind when talking about bean counters. I'm wondering how many people jump ship after each price increase.
I am presently waiting for a reply from D to my latest question (which incidentally has been "forwarded to a specialist for special handling") asking if they could please point out to me where in the contract it specifies this rule.
It's not a terribly big deal for me, but in times like this, I think they sometimes forget where their paycheck comes from. On the back of my check it says "from our customers".

When turned down, I asked to speak to a supervisor. I also told them that they were losing a customer in not honoring their commitment and that my programming would be less than it would have been if they would. Still turned down. I'm not a squeeky wheel (had 6 Dishplayers over a couple of years) but I will be gone at the earliest convenient time.

 

[bsk116]

When turned down, I asked to speak to a supervisor. I also told them that they were losing a customer in not honoring their commitment and that my programming would be less than it would have been if they would. Still turned down. I'm not a squeeky wheel (had 6 Dishplayers over a couple of years) but I will be gone at the earliest convenient time.

You obviously have a new provider in mind.............

 

[swampman]

A subscriber CAN buy out of a contract. Depending on how long you have left, it could be costly. I think I read somewhere that it is 20/month for each month you're shorting your contract. I'm actually looking at doing that myself. Can anyone elaborate on that?

 

[alletw]

Explain to me how they can tell me I have to send them my box back if I cancel, even though I purchased it myself through a third party.
After having service for well over 15 years, D is really starting to piss me off too.

By the way, don't tell me that you have the most HD channels when in your total you count 8 network feeds (80-90) and over 30 FOX sports channels, when, if you purchase them, all show the same damn show...

 

[dslate69]

By the way, don't tell me that you have the most HD channels when in your total you count 8 network feeds (80-90) and over 30 FOX sports channels, when, if you purchase them, all show the same damn show...

Don't count those, now who has more than D*?

 

[swampman]

Unfortunately people get all caught up the Directv sales gimmick of "more HD than anyone else." But realistically, how much HD can you watch? How much HD can you afford? How many of those HD channels just dont interest you? Someone posted survey results a while back, stating people only watch 17% of the channels we subscibe to.

 

[dslate69]

Unfortunately people get all caught up the Directv sales gimmick of "more HD than anyone else." But realistically, how much HD can you watch? How much HD can you afford? How many of those HD channels just dont interest you? Someone posted survey results a while back, stating people only watch 17% of the channels we subscibe to.

How much food can you actually eat? Should restaurants only serve the top 5-6 menu items? It's about choice and right now whether all of them interest you or not D* has more choices and that's what it is all about, gimmick or not.

 

[swampman]

How much food can you actually eat? Should restaurants only serve the top 5-6 menu items? It's about choice and right now whether all of them interest you or not D* has more choices and that's what it is all about, gimmick or not.

You're comparing watching TV to eating meals? TV=luxury- Food=necessity. Have you actually looked at some of those "so called" HD channels? But I get your take on it. And my guess is, you get mine also.

 

[dslate69]

You're comparing watching TV to eating meals? TV=luxury- Food=necessity. Have you actually looked at some of those "so called" HD channels? But I get your take on it. And my guess is, you get mine also.

Food is a necessity which is why I didn't use Grocery stores as an analogy. Restaurants are not a necessity which why it works for my point of "choice".
I do agree with you that I couldn't watch all the HD I have but I am glad I have the choice to pick and choose the ones that peek my interest. :up

 

[bsk116]

A subscriber CAN buy out of a contract. Depending on how long you have left, it could be costly. I think I read somewhere that it is 20/month for each month you're shorting your contract. I'm actually looking at doing that myself. Can anyone elaborate on that?

You are correct. If E would buy my 10 months remaining I would switch.

 

[iwc5893]

Explain to me how they can tell me I have to send them my box back if I cancel, even though I purchased it myself through a third party.
After having service for well over 15 years, D is really starting to piss me off too.

By the way, don't tell me that you have the most HD channels when in your total you count 8 network feeds (80-90) and over 30 FOX sports channels, when, if you purchase them, all show the same damn show...

Which third party? Was it an AUTHORIZED distributor of D* (Best Buy, etc..) where you pay the up front lease fee and don't actually purchase the receivers? Or was it a eBay/Craigslist distributor, who may have sold you their used equipment that was under lease that they didn't have the right to sell?

Either way, even if you get to keep your receivers, you are still required to send the access cards back to DirecTV. Those have always been their property, and they have the right to demand that you return them. And what good is your "owned" receiver without the access card?

 

[fanquon]

I had few D10-300 receivers got from customer back to three years ago when they cancel account and moved out of country, I though I can keep for as replacement receiver when my older boxes go bad, but my phillips and hughs receiver still work good after all these years. I don't give a damn the HD or DVR.

 

[Lem]

Over $300

Just called D* this morning to check on my commitment.I added a new DVR (standard definition, not HD) at the end of September, '08 and wanted to find out how it effected my commitment. CSR told me that my commitement was exended to 9/30/10, and to get out of it would cost me over $300. Rather steep, I feel.