Pause or cancel Dish?

[glowrdr]

So I've been debating over the years of cutting the cord. I'm debating on giving it a shot, but I'm torn on what to do. Should I just pause my service? I've never looked into it, so I'm not sure what "requirements" there are to do so. Or would I be better of just canceling outright?

Part of me says to cancel outright, so I am eligable for new customer discounts. But, then again - what if I decide I made a mistake a couple months out and want back in the club? I've paid the $99 to get HD for life (hate having auto-pay anything), and I've paid $200 for my hopper (which I also paid for the 922k and that was a total flop. Still annoyed that I paid to upgrade to that POS, and then it cost me another 200 to get rid of it)

So what's everyones take on here? Pause? Cancel? Ask DIRT for some "motivation" to stay? If I leave, I would just go with the HD over-air/Netflix/Hulu package and cut my costs down to about $15 a month. Money isn't really the issue, but it definately is making me think about it. Do I really need to spend $100 a month for TV? My answer to that is no. Come football, that may change. lol

 

[Tampa8]

Some considerations. If you pause, you keep your account number for very little a month, important if you have recordings you want to watch, and I believe if you want to keep the HD for life. The $99 deal is no more, you have to have auto pay and paperless billing. Pausing will give you plenty of time to decide if you made a good decision or not. Even if you decide you made a mistake you can still eventually cancel, wait about three months then become a new customer if you want the deals, but then the beginning of my post applies.
If money isn't the issue I'm not sure what DIRT would do to change your mind. If you are looking to cut a little off the bill you may get that.

 

[SomeDishGuy]

Ditto what Tampa8 said. I'd suggest pause, it is $5 per month, and you can keep your account on pause up to 9 months now (used to be 6 months).

In regard to getting something to sweeten the deal to stay, I'd suggest calling in, talking to a CSR about your thoughts about cancelling. You'll most likely be transferred to someone who will be an "account specialist in our loyalty department" who can review your account, your account history, and perhaps make an offer based on said history. A note, if you see someone say "Yeah, I called, and they offered me $XX off per month for XX months", do realize that not everyone is going to be able to get the same offer for many reasons (see my comments about account history).

DIRT does a fabulous job, and I think they've been awesome here, but I hope folks realize, they can't make any better offer than an account specialist can offer. They're bound by the same business rules that everybody in the company has to abide by.

Oh, another note: If you are currently under contract (due to the lease upgrade), any time spent under pause does NOT count toward the remaining contract time.

Hope this helps.

 

[glowrdr]

Yeah, I guess I will need to give it some thought. I'm not one for calling in to threaten leaving, so I hesitate in doing that. Granted, it may get me $10 off a month or something - but again, not doing it for the money (solely). I guess I should say that I'm not in a financial bind that is making me rethink my choice of pay-TV. I'm just rethinking pay-TV in general. Cheaper certainly is better though.

Maybe I will call in though. I am actually interested in getting my Sling back, as I used that alot more than I expeted with the 922. Now that they have the new hoppers with Sling, I wonder if I could work my way into one of those? I know, this is technically going against what this post is about. I do however consider adding benefits as something that could be considered cost effective. i.e. I left cable for Dish so I could have HDTV in 3 rooms vs 1, more channels, and better HD. My bill only went down a few bucks a month, but it was a better value to me.

Perhaps my toy has lost it's shine, and I just need to play with a new toy. This could certainly be the problem too, and I wouldn't deny it. Whatever it is. something has gotten me to reconsider Dish all together (It's Dish or nothing - won't even consider the other options, if you want to even call them that).

 

[Tampa8]

I actually understand that! lol. When it's not a financial bind, sometimes more value for the money is the answer. Sometimes I feel I am willing to pay more for this or that if I see more value or something I would really use. That's how I feel about the actual Slingbox for instance. The cost to buy one over a sling adaptor is far outweighed by how much I use it, the features, and not just for TV.

 

[SQUEEZON]

If its a matter of money thats one thing. But if it is because you are bored thats another. Do you alway run from decisions? do you want NFL football?
Moving all over the place between suppliers will, in the end, cost you much more. You will not receive a "new customer " status if you leave Dish. It may take a year
after talking to them last week ( I have many many friends at Dish). Make a decision like a man and do it.

 

[SomeDishGuy]

If its a matter of money thats one thing. But if it is because you are bored thats another. Do you alway run from decisions? do you want NFL football?
Moving all over the place between suppliers will, in the end, cost you much more. You will not receive a "new customer " status if you leave Dish. It may take a year
after talking to them last week ( I have many many friends at Dish). Make a decision like a man and do it.

Sorry, that's not correct. A former customer will be eligible for new customer pricing after 90 days (although, wait, I think that is now 60 days...but I am tired, at home, and nowhere near any Dish info).

 

[lucky86]

Its 90 days