When we moved this January we decided to give DISH a try since we kept hearing how it was so much cheaper than cable. When the guy came to install it he must have done the whole thing in like 15 minutes, ridiculously fast, he said when spring came we *might* have some trouble with the trees but just to call dish and they would come out and readjust it. As he packed up to leave he had me sign some things including an 18 month contract, I said 'I didn't want an 18 month contract, no one ever said I'd have to sign up for that' he told me that they didn't offer anything but that and I'd have to take it. What choice did I have, it was already installed?
So for the first few months dish was great, $40 something a month including local channels and all the fees and taxes they tack on. THen MAy came, all of the sudden with no warning we lost all but like 8 channels. Fiance called DISH to see what was up, they couldn't figure it out over the phone and said they'd send a technician out.
Tech guy comes out, says its the trees and there is no sight line on our entire property, original guy should have known this he says. He tells us to call DISH and get them to let us out of our contract since we will not be able to receive the signal.
So the nightmare begins. I call dish, they say we have to be let out of our contract first by the local contractor that provided our service or we'll be charged something like a $300 termination fee. Call the local people, they say they'll cancel without fee only if DISH will. Call Dish back, they say well we have to send another technician out for a second opinion, but don't worry you won't be charged for this one! (THey acted like they were doing us a favor charging $25 for the first guy to come out when it was THEIR mistake in the first place!!!!) I was so fed up with all the run around at this point. Fiance calls and basically demands to speak to a manager about all this and finaly gets them to agree to cancel our contract and waive the fees.
It's over right?
No way!! I still have to call the local people and cancel with them. They tell me to return the equipment to them NOT dish or we might get charged for it. Guess what? Their nearest office is apparently 50 miles away!?! So we finally get ready to take the crap up there, thank god I called first. The girl at the store has no idea what I am talking about and has never heard of equipment being returned to the store. 'You need to call brooke back and ask her' she says (I've already talked to brooke like 500 times about all this!) MEanwhile dish is sending boxes for the equipment and calling about it. I also got at least one call from dish telling me I had to pay the cancellation fee. I had to set them straight!
It's been two months now and I fear this fiasco is still not over! Just last week I got a call from the local contractor saying I owed them a $200 fee for cancelling. I said "Um, I have spoken with Brooke many times about this and was assured I would not be charged by your company if DISH let me out of my contract with no fees, which they did."
All this because trees were blocking my signal and I never should have been allowed to sign up for DISH in the first place!!!
We have Insight cable now, and yes it costs a little more (not a lot). But we have had no hassle and they will come to your house and fix their problems for free!!!
Be careful with DISH!
- Don't even get me started with that nightmare) to Dish Network about three years ago. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!! 
We have two receivers and one is a DVR. Get all the locals, sports, very interesting channels. It has only gone out about once a year, usually only if EXTREME cloud cover. Does fine in rain, hail, even snow. Their service has been decent and they don't jack up the price on you.
