Anyway around the 2 year commitment for new customers?

Nope.

 

I don't think it matters.

I think when you activate equipment owned or leased there's still a 2 year commitment.

I think there's no way a new customer can get out of the 2 year commmitment thing.

 

Just out of curiosity, what would you do without the two year commitment; (Dish has some of the very same commitments by the way) play one provider against the other to constantly get the best promotional deal? I do think it's noble that you are willing to pay a one time charge ($200 sounds ridiculous) for the right to terminate service even in the first year. We suggested customers with 'X' number of sub years (say 10+) without ever switching providers be given no commitment but it all boils down to them subsidizing their equipment/installers/support so I doubt we will ever see that. In the mean time, once you establish a long term relationship with them, they pretty much give you whatever you ask for within reason. I remember not too long ago subs had both DTV & Dish Sat's & would constantly switch between the providers; voila, 2-yr commitments for all.

 

I just signed up for DirecTV last week, They make you sign off on the work order after it is installed stating it is for 2 years.

So, no - there is no way around it. I am very happy with the service and have no issues staying with them for 2 years and more. Nobody else out their can offer me all the sports they do.

If you dont like sports, then go with someone else.

 

Depending upon the equipment the customer wants, $200 is ridiculously low. To purchase an HD-DVR, for example, the cost was several hundred dollars. The $200 might be enough to purchase a non-DVR SD only receiver and dish but that would be about it.

 

I'm not sure, but it might be cheaper to just go ahead and break your contract and pay the penalty fee than it would be to pay up front for your equipment.

 

It is tricky ,

I got my aunt signed up with out a 2 year.... cost a pretty penny though

1x HR21 Pro $404

Paid local installer to install a SL3 AU9 120

Then fought with Activations that since they did not out lay anythign they could not put me under a contract. It can be done but it is a fight.

 

At a cost of $524 ($404 + $120), it would have been cheaper to sign the 2 year contract. Maximum cancellation fee is $480, and goes down $20 per month completed.

In this case avoiding the commitment didn't make any sense. You paid more. The only benefit was the possibility of being able to sell the HR21 down the road.

 

Well it was one of mine I gave to my aunt .


I did not say it made more sense .... I just said it was possible.

 

What are you planning? A grand tour with DTV, D, UVerse, FIOS, Comcast cable, etc for 2 weeks a piece?

 

My 2 cents worth is...If you're already trying to think of ways to break your contract or not sign a long term contract then maybe you should go with cable and leave any time you want. I'm a new customer and I love Direct even though they have a lot more rules and commitments than cable, but I knew that going in. It's nice we have choices.

 

Nobody wants a 2 yr commitment but that is the rules and there is not much you can do unless like StoneCold said you need to own your own equipment. I think they can't set you up as a new customer with only own equipment I could be wrong on that.

I know my uncle had dishnetwork for 10years and when a receiver went bad they said he needed a 2yr comm He canceled that was 3 yrs ago and still up on OTA and my cousins hate it.
I still don't why he canceled just for that reason

 

You don't get the promotional deal without commitment, thats how it is with dish anyway, you can pass on the commitment but have to pay full price for programing and $99 for activation, they will probably lease the equipment to you with the $100 upfront for each box, but I am not sure about all the details. But you won't get the discounts or free offers a new customer who signs for two years would get. I think the op just doesn't want to be stuck with the provider if he does not like it. I think fios is the same way.

 

Its like the cellphones

I'ts just like how the cellphone carriers do it. You can FULLY buy a reciever/dvr ONLY thru DTV BUT the catch is you will pay big. For example a hddvr costs you 199 to lease and yet to fully buy it (499.00) when you fully buy the boxes then you dont have to get caught in those stupid contracts. The cellphone carriers do the same thing. you can buy that ATT phone for like $99 at Walmart or $299 w/o the contract.

 

I think even with Comcast cable, I had to take a 2 year deal to get their special package that I signed up for. I'm not sure, but I think it's the law that ANYONE can bail within 30 days without penalty.

I don't understand why the concern about a 2 year deal is unless you're going into the military, the slammer, a marriage where the future spouse already has a subscription, moving to Europe, going on welfare or losing your job in 6 months, etc, etc. With the upfront costs, why would anyone want in unless they were going to be in long enough to amortize the upfront costs.

 

Nope. Maybe a state or local law in certain areas, but no such law, at least not nationwide.