DirecTv Stay away from Directv! Unlawful billing! Dishonest personel!! Greenwood Village Colorado

We never had a problem with the service during the three years of our subscription. The picture quality was good, the equipment was fine and the installation was done very well. But we decided to switch to Dish Network because our local phone company could include this service into one bill. So we thought we would give Dish a try and cancel our Directv. No problem right? Well that's what we thought.

We had ordered a new receiver because one had went out on us about a month earlier. We had the $5.99 service plan and the original equipment was purchased (not leased) so the old stuff was ours to keep. We were sent the new receiver and along with it we were given a prepaid FedEx box to return our old one in. Well we called DirecTv to set up our new receiver and asked why they had sent us this return box. The very nice lady confirmed that we owned the original equipment and that we did not have to send back the receiver.

So we thought all was good, not! About a month later we noticed our credit card had been charged $240 with no warning. So we inquired and found out that in fact the old receiver did need to be returned and that the new receiver was our to keep. So luckily we had kept the prepaid FedEx box and returned the receiver as requested. We called our bank and disputed the charges and they were reversed a few days later. We found out that DirecTv was very good at these sneaky charges and that we were not the only ones disputing DirecTv. Anyways the charges were reversed and all was well right? Nope!

We went ahead and canceled DirecTv and took our credit card off their automatic billing system and requested our final bill to be a paper bill sent to our postal box. The customer service person was very friendly and assured us that we would receive our final bill (prorated month) and wished us on our way. Well next month credit statement came in and found that we were charged the $240 again plus our last prorated bill.

We called DirecTv to find out why this was and they informed us that they never received the receiver and that we were responsible for the charges. The only way we could get it taken off was for us to track the package and confirm that DirecTv had received it. Well that sounded simple except that I did not have a tracking number.

Remember that DirecTv had sent me a prepaid FedEx box and I did not think to get the tracking number before sending it off. I called FedEx and there was no way for them to track it without it. So I called DirecTv back to speak with a Supervisor thinking that they would feel somewhat concerned. Ha! They told me that there was nothing they could except wait for the package to show up. Well this was a month after I sent it so I was thinking I was screwed, it should have showed up by then.

I contacted my bank again to dispute the charges and they offered to conference call me with DirecTv. We talked to a few different people and finally got someone that was thinking like we were. We told them that since they had sent us the prepaid package that DirecTv should have the tracking number. Well of course! They looked and searched for about a half hour and finally found the tracking number and showing that the package was of course in their possession. Boy, talk about being relieved and pissed off at the same time! This just happened tonight and I will be awaiting my refund in 3-5 days. Let's see how this goes.

My recomendation would be to stay as far away from DirecTv, never give them authorization to credit cards or checking accounts and keep track of all employee numbers, conversations and request that what you have talked about be put into you account notes.

Karl
Elko, Nevada
U.S.A.