Help Needed. Questions About Fees.

[Mojo Jojo]

Well, we are thinking about switching to E* from D*. We really like the Encores, The Movie Channels, MGM HD, and HD Net Movies. About the only movie channels (that are uncut and commercial free) we get with D* are TCM, IFC, and Fox Movie Channel. So, we are thinking about the Gold 250 with Gold & Platinum HD. We have a relative that has it (I just switched them a few days ago to Gold HD to Gold & Platinum HD without any problems, too.); so, that's how we found out about all the movie channels. We barely watch D* anymore; we are not big sports fans (no offense to anyone who is either). I actually find that E* has a lot of sports channels, too. I did a little "research" on E*'s website and came up with this list of fees of what we plan on getting: Dish Network--4 rooms Classic Gold 250 with locals $62.99 Gold & Platinum HD $10.00 DHPP Insurance $ 5.99 1st Duo Reciever $ 0.00 Included in Classic Gold 250 cost TV2 connection $ 0.00 if connected to continuous phone line (otherwise, an additional $5 charge) 2nd Duo Reciever $ 7.00 TV2 connection $ 0.00 if connected to continuous phone line (otherwise, an additional $5 charge) SUBTOTAL(w/o tax) $85.98 + tax Is this correct? Any other advice? I think installation, the receivers, and all are free for new customers signing a contract.

 

[MikeD-C05]

GO with CLassic GOLD WITH DVR and it will bundle your locals and dvr fee for the same price. ADD HD +Platinum pack for 10.00 and you will receive the Plat hd channels( 11 ) ,which includes Hdnet Movies , Mgm, Universal etc. You don't need the dish home protection plan at all. You can add this insurance and drop it as needed without a problem. Get a 722k dvr and buy the ota module for 29.99 and you can record 4 things at a time; 2 sat/2ota- ota antenna needed. This 722k can go to 2 different tvs and you can watch 2 different things at the same time on 2 different tvs ; main tv in hd and second tv in sd. Hook up the internet to the 722k and you can use Dishonline and download movies and free tv entertainment shows and you won't need a phone line , but you can hook up both for caller id on your screen. Yes ,the receivers and installation is free but you are on a lease deal with DISH once you go with them. Additional leased HD receivers are 7.00 a month and 5.00 for SD receivers.

 

[vtjman]

Or if you don't care about any of the other Classic Gold channels besides the encores then you can opt to go with the Classic Silver w/ DVR and add the encores a la cart for $4.99, saves you $5, BUT you do get a significant amount of extra channels going from silver to gold, just depends on if you are interested in them I guess.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

GO with CLassic GOLD WITH DVR and it will bundle your locals and dvr fee for the same price. ADD HD +Platinum pack for 10.00 and you will receive the Plat hd channels( 11 ) ,which includes Hdnet Movies , Mgm, Universal etc. You don't need the dish home protection plan at all. You can add this insurance and drop it as needed without a problem. Get a 722k dvr and buy the ota module for 29.99 and you can record 4 things at a time; 2 sat/2ota- ota antenna needed. This 722k can go to 2 different tvs and you can watch 2 different things at the same time on 2 different tvs ; main tv in hd and second tv in sd. Hook up the internet to the 722k and you can use Dishonline and download movies and free tv entertainment shows and you won't need a phone line , but you can hook up both for caller id on your screen. Yes ,the receivers and installation is free but you are on a lease deal with DISH once you go with them. Additional leased HD receivers are 7.00 a month and 5.00 for SD receivers.

I really do not understand the savings of the locals and HD bundle. Aren't locals $5 anyway, and isn't DVR service $5? I am just wondering really. Does this have to do with the Duo receiver? I thought the first receiver was included in the package price and that the TV 2 monthly fee of $5 is waived with continuous connection to a phone line. Are is that incorrect? I am a little confused about it coming from D*.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Or if you don't care about any of the other Classic Gold channels besides the encores then you can opt to go with the Classic Silver w/ DVR and add the encores a la cart for $4.99, saves you $5, BUT you do get a significant amount of extra channels going from silver to gold, just depends on if you are interested in them I guess.

Thanks for the suggestion. I am sure that a lot of people do not know about Encore a la carte. However, we like Boomerang and Chiller along with some of the other channels in the package. I also think the Welcome Pack is not a bad deal with the locals and Encores if that package is even still around.

 

[MikeD-C05]

I really do not understand the savings of the locals and HD bundle. Aren't locals $5 anyway, and isn't DVR service $5? I am just wondering really. Does this have to do with the Duo receiver? I thought the first receiver was included in the package price and that the TV 2 monthly fee of $5 is waived with continuous connection to a phone line. Are is that incorrect? I am a little confused about it coming from D*.

THe locals are 5.00 if bundled with other classic packs , 5.99 if not & the dvr fee is $5.98 PER DVR RECEIVER. So the WITH dvr pack you get the locals and dvr fee bundled. So you save .98 cents by using WITH DVR pack. You should also receive a $3.00 dvr credit as well on your bill. We did when this pack was called the dvr advantage pack the month before. There is no lease fee for the 1st receiver on your account and yes the 5.00 fee is waived on tuner 2 if you have a phone line connected to your receivers.

 

[empiretc]

So the WITH dvr pack you get the locals and dvr fee bundled. So you save .98 cents by using WITH DVR pack. You should also receive a $3.00 dvr credit as well on your bill. We did when this pack was called the dvr advantage pack the month before.

Yeah, but you either have to get into a 24month contract or sign up for paperless billing.

for the $11.76 a year in savings, it is not worth it. if you are already in an agreement, then it makes sense.

 

[MikeD-C05]

Yeah, but you either have to get into a 24month contract or sign up for paperless billing.

for the $11.76 a year in savings, it is not worth it. if you are already in an agreement, then it makes sense.

I should of said 3.00 dvr credit MONTHLY. That would make it 47.78 a year in savings.

 

[andreyk]

Hey Everyone, what i think its stupied that dish is charging $5.99 for no phone line fee

 

[lparsons21]

If you do a contract and do auto-pay, then you can get the Cinemax channels for $.01 per year, some even in HD. It is a good deal, and Dish doesn't tag your credit card/bank before you even see the bill as does Direct on auto-pay. That gets you a lot of movie channels for a very good price with the package you are already looking at.

Then unless you are enamored of the series on HBO/Showtime/Starz, you can see plenty of movies without subscribing to them at all. And for those series, a Netflix subscription can handle that as well as new movies for far less than the 'premium' movie channels.

 

[lparsons21]

Hey Everyone, what i think its stupied that dish is charging $5.99 for no phone line fee

I hope you weren't thinking that anyone would argue with that, but it is what it is and doesn't appear that Dish has any intention of changing that.

 

[fishman23]

I don't mean to hijack Mojo Jojo's thread but I have a somewhat similar question.

I'm considering upgrading to HD with D* or just flat out switching to E*. I was told by D* that they'd upgrade me to the 5 LNB and waive any install fees, but I would have to pay $199 for their HD DVR and another $99 for the standard DVR, which is what I am needing for my two televisions. There is also a $5.00 lease fee for the additional receiver. I find this to be insane compared to the deal I THINK I'll get from E*.

From what I understand on the E* site and from this thread, I can get the 722k for "free" (free compared to D* !!!) and it will operate with both televisions. Why would I even dare give D* $298 up front when I could get this free?

I have a third standard tv in a back room that I could connect a receiver (non-DVR) to. I had never even considered connecting this one because it would be another $69 to D* for just a plain old standard receiver. For just an additional $7 lease fee per month it says I can get the 222k for "free". Down the road I could invest in a fourth tv (another HD) and also connect it to the 222k.

From the E* website my monthly total comes to $89.99 per month...which is just epic considering I'm paying D* $96.47 a month right now for two standard def non-dvr receivers!!! I'll get the same premium channels I'm getting now plus glorious HD at long last.

ONE TIME FEES:
Activation Fee
$99.00
Activation Fee Waived
$-99.00

There are no other one time fees I need to know about? I read that the Activation Fee was charged up front but then credited on the first bill, is that accurate? I've also read about a $49.99 "Processing Fee". Is that accurate also?

$15.00 off for 12 months is just too hard to pass up if there are no more hidden fees. I really thought D* would do more to keep a customer of 10 years but I'll gladly switch and enjoy the benefits E* is offering new customers.

Thanks for any help in clearing things up.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

I don't mean to hijack Mojo Jojo's thread but I have a somewhat similar question.

I'm considering upgrading to HD with D* or just flat out switching to E*. I was told by D* that they'd upgrade me to the 5 LNB and waive any install fees, but I would have to pay $199 for their HD DVR and another $99 for the standard DVR, which is what I am needing for my two televisions. There is also a $5.00 lease fee for the additional receiver. I find this to be insane compared to the deal I THINK I'll get from E*.

From what I understand on the E* site and from this thread, I can get the 722k for "free" (free compared to D* !!!) and it will operate with both televisions. Why would I even dare give D* $298 up front when I could get this free?

I have a third standard tv in a back room that I could connect a receiver (non-DVR) to. I had never even considered connecting this one because it would be another $69 to D* for just a plain old standard receiver. For just an additional $7 lease fee per month it says I can get the 222k for "free". Down the road I could invest in a fourth tv (another HD) and also connect it to the 222k.

From the E* website my monthly total comes to $89.99 per month...which is just epic considering I'm paying D* $96.47 a month right now for two standard def non-dvr receivers!!! I'll get the same premium channels I'm getting now plus glorious HD at long last.

ONE TIME FEES:
Activation Fee
$99.00
Activation Fee Waived
$-99.00

There are no other one time fees I need to know about? I read that the Activation Fee was charged up front but then credited on the first bill, is that accurate? I've also read about a $49.99 "Processing Fee". Is that accurate also?

$15.00 off for 12 months is just too hard to pass up if there are no more hidden fees. I really thought D* would do more to keep a customer of 10 years but I'll gladly switch and enjoy the benefits E* is offering new customers.

Thanks for any help in clearing things up.

No problem. I do not mind. I do not know if you noticed this, but there are Printer Friendly LineUp Cards on E*'s Websites here: Satellite TV Programming & Local Channel Guide at DISH Network
I have found this to be very helpful because the regular package sites are not as organized in my opinion.