Direct TV Free Trial Period Not A Free Trial Period Ripoff Baltimore Maryland

I signed up for a triple play with Verizon. There was a free 30 day trial period. The triple play included Direct TV.

The installer for Direct TV put the dish on my roof and also hooked the line into my telephone. It did not work properly when he installed it and he said he would be back to finish but never returned. Also, my internet stopped working properly. Since I need the internet for my work, this was a big deal.

I had to immediately find a reliable internet connection and I called Cablevision for their Optimum Online which worked very well.

I cancelled Direct TV and they sent me a bill for $142.81. I called them several times and they said I did not owe the money. But the bills kept coming.

I sent a letter to dispute resolution but I never heard from them. I kept calling Direct TV and they kept telling me that I did not owe them anything. They also kept telling me that my case was in dispute resolution--which I found out later--was not true. My case had been rejected almost as soon as I filed the dispute.

After 4 months of waiting for dispute resolution, I started getting calls from a collection agency. I called Direct TV and they told me that dispute resolution had called me at the end of April and had left a message on my phone but that I did not call them back. I told Direct TV that I never received a message from dispute resolution and that is why I kept making all the phone calls -- because I had not heard anything.

Direct TV also said that they had mailed me a letter that my dispute had been settled against me and that I owed the bill. I told Direct TV that I never received the letter.

They told me that they do not have a free trial period through Verizon and that they are aware that other people also thought the same as I did -- that there was a free trial period.

I asked to talk to the dispute resolution center--but no one seems to have a phone number for them -- because, according to the person I spoke to at Direct TV--they would have so many calls that they would not get anything else done.

I asked to talk to the legal department--but again, no phone number was available--they just gave me another address. So, access to anyone who may have to actually answer for the dishonesty of Direct TV is not available.

Because of my occupational position, I paid the bill today. I cannot chance having collection problems.

I also told them to get their dish off my roof -- but they said it was now part of the structure of the house and they will not remove it.

Dee
Long Island, New York
U.S.A.