During the summer of 2009 I decided to change from cable because of the very poor customer service and started researching changing to satellite. I was leaning toward another company when I received a sales solicitation call from Dish Network. I'm not sure wether it was corporate or the local reseller. I was interested in an HD DVR for my main room and was informed of a product called the ViP922 SlingLoaded DVR. I work in sports and entertainment industry and this product sounded perfect for both personal and business use. I agreed to order the product and set up the installation. Then much to my surprise the installer informed me the 922 is not even released yet and I would have to settle for the 722 model. I immediately called to cancel. I was assured that if I continue the installation and sign a contract I would be able to trade out the current 722 for the 922 at "no additional cost". I agreed and allowed the installation to continue. Then before installation was complete I discovered another false claim this time about the 722 and called Dish Network back. The problem was resolved and I was once again assured I would receive an upgrade to the 922 with no problem and to check back in October. On October 8th I called back into Dish Network to find out if the box was released. I was told another estimated released date and became frustrated and was transfered to another agent. I was told to keep checking back every month or so and once again assured "customer was told he would receive 922 at no additional cost". I have since called sporadically and each time informed the agent of my situation only to be assured I will have it soon to keep checking. Finally the product I was sold and continually assured I would receive at no cost, the product I was promised in order to continue the installation, has been released. I call to have the exchange set up and am informed for the first time during this 9 month process that I can upgrade but at a charge of $400. Now I am being told they can not find any documentation in my account I would receive it at "no additional cost". Then I am told they found it but that the notation means something else and then I was given a few different excuses including "well maybe the agent was just simply repeating what you were saying". Now the story has changed to "well maybe you were told that, but we can not waive the fee regardless". This is unacceptable and illegal, this is bait & switch and false advertisement. Even though I was told I would receive the upgrade at "no additional cost" two different times in order to talk me into continuing the installation and confirmed later by an additional agent and never contradicted by multiple agent until the release I am now told "we will not be able to help you". I am not simply trying to get something for free, first off I would just like the product I was promised almost a year ago, secondly I would simply like Dish Network to obey the terms they agreed to before I continued the installation. It is not right that I have to hold up my end of the contract but they can disregard a documented agreement simply because "I shouldn't have been told that".
