Direct TV New install, old receiver Seattle Washington

Direct TV had a booth in Coscto advertising 'get a $200 coscto card when you sign up for Direct TV and buy a new HD TV. Enjoy Direct TV channels in HD!'

So I bought a HD TV, signed up for Direct TV, they came out, did the install, I signed the paperwork acknowledging the install, and after the installer left, I realize that they installed a reciever that is NOT HD compatible. I call Direct TV, and they tell me that I have to buy a HD receiver ($99). They also tell me that had I requested an HD receiver, they would have installed one at no charge. I ask them how would I know that the one they planned on installing WASN'T AN HD receiver in the first place? Regardless they won't swap my old technology reciver out for a HD compliant one. I even offer to do the install myself, they say 'no, I signed the paperwork, so they can't do anything now'.

I was on the phone with 2 different people, including a supposed manager for 45 minites. All I got was 'if you had requested an HD receiver before we did the install we could have given you one, now we can't.' This makes no sense, as I am LEASING the reciever. I asked what would happen if my leased receiver broke, could they send me an HD receiever as a replacement? 'No.'.

So WTF would I buy an new HD tv if I wasn't going to want to watch programs in HD like they advertise? Why do they still use recievers that use outdated technology? How hard would it have been to send me a HD receiver? Is losing a customer and potential future customers worth a friggin' receiver?

I am on a 1 1/2 year plan, but will drop them afterwards. I am tempted to drop them now, but it would be such a huge waste of money. I will also try going back to Costco, because they usually have fantastic customer service, and maybe they can work with Direct TV to rectify the situation, or at least stop selling Direct TV's crappy service in their store.

Rjames
Seattle, Washington
U.S.A.