During the past year I have received some calls from DirecTV LA in Puerto Rico offering to replace my Hughes STB free of charge for a more modern one. I have both a Hughes and a Thomson box, but the Hughes (the older one) is my favorite. It is much faster switching channels and the EPG is color coded by programming type (movies, sports, etc.). In addition, it does not waste real state of my TV screen on banners and ads as the Thomson box does. They say that the replacement box is better technology, but nobody can support that statetement with hard specifications.
Obviously, I always rejected the offer. However the last month the frequency of calls increased, and instead of offering a better box they threatened that my Hughes STB would stop working on February 2009. When I asked explanation I got a customer service rep explaining that this is related to the technology changes mandated by the goverment to be effective on that date. I obvously didn't buy it. Not only I know that this is not true, but also DirecTV LA has a page explaining how the transition does not affect their customers.
So from my point of view, they are using FUD techniques (fear, uncertainty, doubt) to force me into a box full of ads. May be they expect to use to transition point to convince me into a more expensive package. I don't know. I just know that they are disinforming.
Do anybody at this forum knows what is this about? Is this true? How is that my 9 years Hughes received will stop working but my 7 year Thomson receiver will continue working without problems? As far as I know, none of them is HD, so what is the difference?
My other question is, what I have to loose if I wait until February to see of their argument is true? Well, they can certainly turn my box off remotely. They could also discontinue the free replacement STB offer too. That should work as the excuse that I'm looking for to ditch them at all. My wife prefers them, but I just too unhappy with the lastest price increases.
Obviously, I always rejected the offer. However the last month the frequency of calls increased, and instead of offering a better box they threatened that my Hughes STB would stop working on February 2009. When I asked explanation I got a customer service rep explaining that this is related to the technology changes mandated by the goverment to be effective on that date. I obvously didn't buy it. Not only I know that this is not true, but also DirecTV LA has a page explaining how the transition does not affect their customers.
So from my point of view, they are using FUD techniques (fear, uncertainty, doubt) to force me into a box full of ads. May be they expect to use to transition point to convince me into a more expensive package. I don't know. I just know that they are disinforming.
Do anybody at this forum knows what is this about? Is this true? How is that my 9 years Hughes received will stop working but my 7 year Thomson receiver will continue working without problems? As far as I know, none of them is HD, so what is the difference?
My other question is, what I have to loose if I wait until February to see of their argument is true? Well, they can certainly turn my box off remotely. They could also discontinue the free replacement STB offer too. That should work as the excuse that I'm looking for to ditch them at all. My wife prefers them, but I just too unhappy with the lastest price increases.
