"Stonecold," you're welcome to any opinion of me you'd like (and, by the way, my real name is Susan), but I'm unclear about what "conspiracy theory" you claim I'm perpetuating. I'm simply saying that DirecTV's semi-public practices (declared only in fine print) are very consumer unfriendly.
1) DirecTV "leases" equipment, demanding return (or charging HUGE fees), for the same price as "owned" equipment cost YEARS prior. And everyone knows electronic prices/costs go down, not up, over time.
I bought the same unit, back in 2006, for the same price, and "owned" it, as I do now for my leased equipment ... though all components costs of making these units have decreased dramatically since then.
2) DirecTV initiates two-year--an unusually long span--contracts without telling consumers they're entering into them for EVERY change, special offer, receiver upgrade/replacement, move, etc. Contracts are not, as is true in most company's cases, good only for new customers or those who partake in a special offers. You don't even receive guaranteed pricing in exchange for your "contract." And this "contract" is IN ADDITION TO the lease prices and monthly fees; not in lieu of, as is typical with this sort of thing.
I've NEVER once been told about a contract when I call to activate a receiver. Yes, I knew they exist, but only because I read forums such as these ... something only a small percentage of DirecTV customer's do. The vast majority find out they're "under contract" only when they call to cancel.
For instance, when you move, they automatically start a new contract if you keep their service but, on the other hand, won't let you out of a current contract if you're moving.
3) DirecTV's "contracts" require NO proof on their part that they even exist (i.e. why they were imposed) and are often, as evidenced by numerous examples on this forum and elsewhere, imposed incorrectly. Some are lucky enough to have these problems fixed, but it takes a good bit of work, time--calling, writing, etc.-- and luck, on the consumer's part, to make that happen and DirecTV is likely to fight you, even if they're in the wrong, hoping, I'm sure, you'll just give up and pay them a fee.
I've never before, with ANY other company, had someone claim I was "under contract," and not be able to show me a SHRED of proof as to why: A receipt, a signature, a work order, SOMETHING beyond a date on a computer screen I can't see. And to then be told DirecTV will not communicate with me on this matter again, after having been given three different "reasons," all of which I could contest, via written proof, is beyond the pale. (This is exact text taken from the final email from DirecTV I received regarding this matter: "… We're unable to provide you with a signed copy of the lease addendum signed during installations or a copy of the order confirmation letter sent when an order is placed through DIRECTV. … Since this response has been reviewed for accuracy, DIRECTV considers the matter regarding your programming agreement to be closed and any additional emails on this topic will not receive a response. …")
There have been documented reports of DirecTV dunning relatives for service people now deceased signed up for. There are no (official) exceptions for divorce, theft, relocation, natural disaster or any of the other terms that the vast majority of service providers (any service) take into consideration.
4) DirecTV reserves the right (per "stonecold's" own posting in another thread), to take money they deem owed for any of these fees from any account, at any time, without any notice. Something I was certainly never told when signing up for autopay.
5) DirecTV's contract also states that they can do anything they want--raise prices, drop advertised channels, reorder packages, switch to new satellites (requiring new equipment), etc.--and the customer has zero recourse. They can't even change providers. I can think of no other service provider whose contract allows them to completely change the service they provide without offering the consumer an out.
I've been with DirecTV more than a decade and none of these terms even existed when I signed on to the service, but I'm still held to them.
If these terms were so fair and normal they wouldn't be almost impossible to find out about it ... until it's too late. They'd be front and center in every ad, every brochure, part of every customer service call and explained in detail at install. Instead, DirecTV becomes insistent and clear about what you owe ONLY when you're already on the hook.
