Directv anniversary gift - anyone else ask for something else?

[sksjasams]

We just received an anniversary gift from directv. 3 months free of showtime and the movie channel. Not to sound ungrateful, since it is a "gift", but I really don't care for those two channels. Has anyone had the nerve to call and ask them for a different gift and been successful?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Karlzmom]

What in the world is an anniversary gift from DTV? We've had their service for years and have never gotten a thing, for any reason...

 

[*sarah*]

We've never got an anniversary gift from Directv. I would just be happy they gave you something, they didn't even have to do that.

 

[vicki_c]

We just got our second anniversary gift - it was a discount at Omaha Steaks and 3 free months of Game Lounge, I think.

The one we had before was free pay channels for 3 months, like you got.

And no, I wouldn't ask for anything else - what we just got is meaningless to me, but I don't really care.

We've had DirecTV for 6 years on our current account, although had it for 3-4 prior to that and I don't recall getting any gifts on that account.

 

[tmarquez]

We got 3 free pay per views.

 

[sksjasams]

This is our 7th anniversary, 3rd gift. One other time 3-months free showtime/tmc, and one time 3 free pay per view.

 

[HM]

They give you these 'gifts' in hopes that you'll keep them after the free period and pay for them (or forget to cancel them). If I weren't interested in Showtime, I'd probably just say no thank you.

 

[cricketgirl]

We have been with Direct TV for over 15 years, (back when you had to pay for everything. Like $1500 to start) Yep DH LOVES TV. Anyway we have never gotten any kind of anniversary gift from them. We continue to buy their recievers upgrade to HD recievers etc. Not ever gotten anything. I'd actually switch from them but DH just doesn't know how he'd live.
Note I wouldn't switch because we've never gotten an anniversary gift from them, just because I don't really care for TV or watch it much at all. And it is SOOOO expensive.

 

[MineMail]

I priced it out recently. DirecTV is cheaper than Dish and Time Warner when you factor in the committment and discounts. I'm happy with the current programming, too. My current rate is almost the same cost as the DirecTV new customer offers.

We're not movie watchers, so the free Starz and other packages don't excite me. I have called them in the past to say "No thanks" to special offers and what will happen is that they'll try to upsell you into a committment that costs more. You just have to be firm and keep saying "No thanks."

Ask if you can have a couple of free pay per views instead if you have the time to spend on the phone with them.

 

[EKW]

Beware of DirectTV and this scam. I got 3 months free when I signed up...except they never bothered to tell me about it. I found out about it on month 4 when they slapped a HUGE additional charge on my bill...and refused to take it off because it wasn't THEIR fault that I had no idea they were doing this.

This is the lousiest, lyingest company I've ever dealt with. I'll warn you, even if you call and get the name of the person you've talked to, they will not do what they say, then, when you call back, they get nasty, threaten you, and claim that the only records they keep are a log of call times, not what you discussed or who you discussed it with.

I CANNOT wait for next July so I can get away from these liars. My experience with them has been nothing but negative. Just trying to warn you...what looks like a free gift is an attempt on their part to suck a huge fee out of your pocket 4 months from now!!!!

 

[kaleighmariesmom]

Beware of DirectTV and this scam. I got 3 months free when I signed up...except they never bothered to tell me about it. I found out about it on month 4 when they slapped a HUGE additional charge on my bill...and refused to take it off because it wasn't THEIR fault that I had no idea they were doing this.

This is the lousiest, lyingest company I've ever dealt with. I'll warn you, even if you call and get the name of the person you've talked to, they will not do what they say, then, when you call back, they get nasty, threaten you, and claim that the only records they keep are a log of call times, not what you discussed or who you discussed it with.

I CANNOT wait for next July so I can get away from these liars. My experience with them has been nothing but negative. Just trying to warn you...what looks like a free gift is an attempt on their part to suck a huge fee out of your pocket 4 months from now!!!!

This happened to me too. I didnt know to cancel it and then they charged me and would not take it off. The customer serive rep YELLED at me over and over saying it was my fault!! I hung up and called to speak with a manager afer she REFUSED to put one on the phone!

it tok me like 20 phone calls to get the charges dropped for channels I never asked for or wanted. They just called last night to do the same thing again. I hung up cuase they wouldnt take no for an answer..

on a side note.. OP they will not change the channels. we got free showtime and DH asked for HBO they said no!

 

[kt_mom]

Beware of DirectTV and this scam. I got 3 months free when I signed up...except they never bothered to tell me about it. I found out about it on month 4 when they slapped a HUGE additional charge on my bill...and refused to take it off because it wasn't THEIR fault that I had no idea they were doing this.

This is the lousiest, lyingest company I've ever dealt with. I'll warn you, even if you call and get the name of the person you've talked to, they will not do what they say, then, when you call back, they get nasty, threaten you, and claim that the only records they keep are a log of call times, not what you discussed or who you discussed it with.

I CANNOT wait for next July so I can get away from these liars. My experience with them has been nothing but negative. Just trying to warn you...what looks like a free gift is an attempt on their part to suck a huge fee out of your pocket 4 months from now!!!!

Wow, I have not found this to be true with them at all. We've had Directv for years and for the most part have been pretty happy. Whenever I've had an issue with something I've called and they have corrected it.

I called a couple months ago to disconnect a couple of our movie channels. The rep offered me to keep them for half price for 6 months. So I agreed. DH loves to flip through the movie channels and I was just looking for a way to cut a few bucks from the bill.

I actually have 3 credits I get monthly right now for things I have called and complained about. I have always found that if I talk to them they will work out something for me.

 

[caitty13]

They gave of 3 months free of Showtime at the beginning of the year. Since it was a gift I didn't have to call and cancel, it canceled automatically on it's own. I would call and ask for anything else but that's just me.

 

[mcgrawfan]

We have been with DirecTV for 10 years now and have had wonderful customer service. If anything goes wrong with our channels my DH calls and always manages to get something out of them. We had lost our local channels for a morning and he called to ask what was up and they gave us 3 months free of HBO. We have also had charges to our bill that shouldn't be there and they have been more than accommodating to take them off or give us monthly credits to total the amount we were overcharged. So I say if you have the time and are curious go ahead and ask them. The worst they can say is no and really all you would be out is your time.

 

[*3*Mouseketeers]

I just noticed a couple days ago that we have Showtime and The Movie Channel also. I usually get a postcard from DirecTV telling me that it is my anniversary gift (have gotten them free for 3 months for the last 3 or 4 years). I have been with DirecTV since 1996 and have had nothing but good dealings with them. I've gotten free upgrades a couple times by calling and asking (nicely). When they have a promotion for "new customers only" I have called and asked what about loyal 15 year customers who have never switched to Dish Network? I have a co-worker who switches back and forth everytime their contract is up and the other offers a better deal. Oy.

 

[MagiKitty]

I received a gift a few months ago--one free movie. Bah.

But did just call up retentions today and asked what promos were available to me. Got one year of Showtime/Movie Channel for free and $20 off per month for a year, no contract extended. Score!

 

[Kitzka]

DH and I also got an anniversary gift from Direct TV. We ahve been with them for 12 years in 3 different homes. we got 3 months of the sports package (forgot which one) and 2 free pay per view movies.

Lara

 

[vicki_c]

I have to agree with the others in saying DirecTV has the best customer service of any TV-related company I've ever dealt with - I think they are fantastic. As I said above, we have been customers since 2001 and never had an issue ever, or ever been charged for anything in error or anything else.

And in my experience, you don't have to cancel at the end of your free gift period if you get free stations, they just go away. It's not one of those must call to cancel things in my experience, but apparently others have had a different situation.

 

[gshumaker]

Been loyal Dtv customer for 7 years and we end up getting Showtime free for 3 months almost every year. one year we got it for 12months. Called them and told them Showtime was useless to us but was told the gifts are random and nothing they could do to change it. This year called again and was given $10 off for 3 months vice free Showtime. So it can work to call to see if they will give you something else.

These types of freebies just go away when they end automatically. They never bill you afterwards. The ones to watch out for are when you call to see deals they have and they give you discounts for movie channel subscriptions that when the promo period ends go to full rate.

The anniversary gifts are often given but you never even know you get them. Had one one year and got a postcard from then about two weeks before it was set to end.

Like other posters DTV is one of the better deals out there but I just wish they would offer some of the new customer deals to us loyal customers.

 

[Melindarella]

Been loyal Dtv customer for 7 years and we end up getting Showtime free for 3 months almost every year. one year we got it for 12months. Called them and told them Showtime was useless to us but was told the gifts are random and nothing they could do to change it. This year called again and was given $10 off for 3 months vice free Showtime. So it can work to call to see if they will give you something else.

These types of freebies just go away when they end automatically. They never bill you afterwards. The ones to watch out for are when you call to see deals they have and they give you discounts for movie channel subscriptions that when the promo period ends go to full rate.

The anniversary gifts are often given but you never even know you get them. Had one one year and got a postcard from then about two weeks before it was set to end.

Like other posters DTV is one of the better deals out there but I just wish they would offer some of the new customer deals to us loyal customers.

I second that! I have been a loyal customer for 7 years, and have never had any problems, but do wish they would offer us some deals too. This is the primary reason I haven't upgraded to HD yet- don't have $199 to get an HD-DVR. However, if I were a new customer, I could get it at no charge and get free HD service.