Sorry to hear you also got taken for a ride by direct tv.
As you can guess they told me one thing several times ended up to be something entirely different .
One thing I would like to warn you of an to watch for is so called rebates to get the package price offered often you dont get them an pay more every month.
How ever you pay be it debit card credit card check either way direct tv saves your account information even if you dont sign up for auto payments .
They in turn will use it to charge you in the end for large amounts even if so called contracts are up.
the only way to stop this is to make sure you cancel the cards used or the account used if done by check .
It should also be done prior to canceling or calling direct tv they will make sure the charges get in there quickly .
I also found out through the bank that the stop payments do not work they will ad a penny drop a penny kinda thing an do it until an amount goes through so again canceling the card ? account is only way to stop companies like that that claim to have the right by the contract you signed or even didnt sign just by accepting the boxes an service .
Good luck to you I would cancel everything at bank then direct tv i would cancel without paying this fee you didnt aggree to the terms so in fact you didnt aggree to the fee they say you have to pay .
In long run you will come out better paying the cheats less .