Dish Network Charged My Bank Account and I Don't Even Have Dish Service Nationwide

 I am not an attorney, but this doesn't sound legal to me.  Regardless of whether allowed your cousin to use your debit card or not that is between you and your cousin.  Regardless, if your cousin signed a contract which stated they could debit from that account if he was to default on his contract shouldn't matter.  That is not his account to give approval of such a transaction.  It his not his account to approve a transaction or not.  I think that is a fraudelant transaction on the part of Dish network.  You never signed a contract with them stating that they could charge your account if he was to default.  If I were you I would contact your bank and tell them that it was a fraudalant charge, you had never signed a contract with them and they took money out of your account without your permission.  I would also contact the Attorney General from your State and notify them of what happened.  Don't allow Dish Network to do this without going down without a fight.

Lesley B.,

 It sounds like it was your credit card and information used to qualify the account for activation and service, which would make you the rightful account holder responsible for anything that happens with the account, regardless of whom the service is actually intended for.  This is just what it sounds like from what you're explaining and I would be happy to take a further look at everything to tell you for certain if you could please email me the account or phone number at michael.lemar@dish.com.  Thanks!

To get the Dish service, he signed a two year contract with a pro-rated early termination fee.  He also agreed to return their equipment or pay a charge for it.  He cancelled after a "few months" and hasn't returned the equipment.  His signature agreed to both and YOU got taken.  Be sure to thank your cousin for his consideration. Dishes contract also allows them to use whatever payment method was used to get the service to collect any other money owed them.  Your cousin is a non-caring deadbeat and ripped YOU off. Ask your cousin to promptly reimburse YOU for Ripping YOU off.  BTW, if your cousin charged any pay per view movies they will soon bill for those too.

You will lose your dispute with the bank, YOU became responsible for the cancellation fees as you were in fact vouching for him by paying for the installation.

Nope, don't work for Dish, but have had thier service for many years with no problems.

 This is a issue that YOUR family member got you into. It is clearly spelled out in the contract that your cousin signed. If you cancel your service before the contract end date, then whichever card is on file will be charged for the ETF and non returned equiptment. You can dispute this all you like, but it was agreed to by your cousin and you paid it. That makes it partially your responsibility as the person who your cousin roped into paying. Dont blame Dish for ONLY holding to the terms and conditions of the contract that your cousin signed. By paying you became like a "co-signer". One would think you would be MORE upset at your deadbeat cousin who is costing you this much. It should concern you that they feel its perfectly ok to bail on a legally binding contract.

Dish was NOT made aware of the deal YOU had with your cousin, but your cousin IS aware that there would be a ETF Fee charged to the card on file. Its in the contract that they signed. If they DID NOT read it and just signed then its ALL on your cousin. Yes, Dish taking the money out of YOUR account isnt really cool but its not illegal because it was agreed to by both parties.

Next time someone wants YOU to put up a deposit, tell them NO!!!!! Tell them to go and pay $5 and get a prepaid debit/credit card. YOUR cousin did this to you, go after them. Because you really cant blame Dish for only doing what they have to by the terms and conditions agreed to.