Done with Direct TV

[David 1980]

I have been a customer with Direct TV for 6 years and see they are offering New Customers NFL Sunday Ticket for free? I called and asked what about current paying customers and the best they could offer was to take $10.00 per month off?? I guess being a long term loyal customer means nothing? Oh well just thought if any one has Direct TV this might upset them also? I know with the way the world is today this should not upset me but we are huge Football fans and do not think this is fair?

 

[2002Disneybride]

Yes...I saw this and agree that it isn't fair...another offer to rope people in... They could have done better than $10 off...I didn't even bother calling.

 

[rnorwo1]

We have been with them for 13 years, before they were called Directv (were they Primestar or something then?) Anyway, we called a few months back and told them we were going to cancel since Dish was sending us so many great offers, and they offered the sports package and showtime for free for 6 months, free HD for 5 years, and $10 off of total bill for 6 months. Maybe try again and see if you get someone else? Good luck!

 

[Planogirl]

They only offer these freebies for a limited time. You could bounce over to Dish and get whatever they have for free for a while and then go back to Direct TV to get the free offer. I wonder how long you have to stay with them?

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

We quit Direct TV for same reason. You sign up for a 12 month or 24 month program and I guess that means-- Screw those customers-- They are ours now-- do not take their calls-- customer service ya right they will learn there is no customer service once they sign a contract. They are ours and we are going to ignore the new customer.

I got to the point I would call and go to the extension for people wanting new service. I got some one on the line in like 2 mins or less. If I went to customer service it might take 20-30 mins for an agent to respond. Once they did I found out fast they just answer the phone -- they can not take care of product problems or complaints. Sigh --I had forgotten all this now I am remembering how much I hate direct TV.

No flames unless I can treat you like Direct TV treated us for duration of our contract-- then you can flame me if you want.

 

[pixiedustaholic]

I called to cancel NFL Sunday ticket and they offered me $20 off and I told them I just couldn't afford it so I was put on hold and he came back with another $10 off for a total of $30 off per month. I also hate that DTv usually gives all the good deals to new customers.

 

[DawnM]

I don't even want that service! I just want less expensive TV......we just cancelled Directv!

Dawn

 

[ICF]

I have been a customer with Direct TV for 6 years and see they are offering New Customers NFL Sunday Ticket for free? I called and asked what about current paying customers and the best they could offer was to take $10.00 per month off?? I guess being a long term loyal customer means nothing? Oh well just thought if any one has Direct TV this might upset them also? I know with the way the world is today this should not upset me but we are huge Football fans and do not think this is fair?

They gave it to me last night for $75 -- a $250 credit.

Here's what you do.

Call up --- say cancel / cancel at the prompts that ask you why you are calling. This will get you to retention.

Be NICE to the person on the phone and say you saw the commerical and wondered what they could do for you as an existing ccustomer. They may NOT lead with their best off. If you dont like the offer, say you had a friend that was able to get $250 off and are you eligible for that offer.

I dont know your situation, but I've had DTV for 2 1/2 years and never have had ST before....but do sub to the baseball package.

My total total time on the phone yesterday was 5 mins.

This is after I called up and asked for a year of free showime in June and they gave that to me to w/out any hassle.

Edit to add - If you dont like what one CSR tells you, call back and get another one.

Here's a long thread about it on a Direct TV forum:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=194822&page=19

 

[RangerPooh]

We're having a similar issue with Time Warner. Our bill came today and our 1 year new customer package just expired. As a result our bill jumped $100 a month We didn't care for Dtv which we had year ago, so we just signed up for Dish Network. I just wish that cable prices would come down or at the very least cable companies should let you choose what channels you want (individually) instead of packages.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

so glad I saw this!! Now I am a GOD to my husband!! He has wanted this Sunday Ticket for years but at $324 I told him no way! Say this thread and gave them a call. I have had directv acct since 2006 at current address-and 12 yrs at old address.
Called and ask you guys told me I said Cancel when asked first 2 questions.Was put on hold a few minutes and then nice lady came on (in Alabama). We chatted and I told her hubby had seen commercial for free ST(which I admit was a lie since he had no idea ) Mentioned that he had always wanted that package and we wanted to confirm it was free.She said that was for new customers but she would see what she could do.Brought up my acct and offered $20 off for 12 months.That left a bal of $84. I told her that was still more than I wanted to spend on football-sorry! I told her my cousin had just got it free so that's what we were expecting.She said "well let me see what I can do". She then offered to give the $20 off for 12 months AND to give me my DVR service free for a year-which would be a $7 for 12 months,AND $5 off for 6 months.SCORE!! I took that deal

Thanks again BECAUSE-
Any dollar saved is another dollar for DISNEY!!

 

[momtosam]

Just a warning, if you score a cheap Sunday Ticket subscription make sure you CANCEL before next season. They will automatically renew you at full price. They will do this to all the new customers who are getting it free this year, too.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

thanks for the reminder

 

[ORDisneyfans]

I call direct tv about every 6mos to cancel and every time they offer me more off and free premium channels etc. We have been with them for about 12 years and I too get annoyed by the new customer specials.

This last time I was determined to cancel and they called me back within 4 hours and offered me $200 credit now, $20 off each month for 6 months and 6 mos. of premium channels free. It is almost impossible for me to cancel them...

I would call and always say cancel at the prompt it will connect you to the customer retention dept. Also don't take the first offer, say I have to ask my hubby etc. They usually come back with a better offer! More money for disney!!

 

[DawnM]

Even with their $20 off offer it was still $100/mo with taxes. It wasn't a good enough deal to get me to stay.

We had Total Choice Plus with HD, DVR and 3 TVs hooked up.

They offered me the Family package for $29, but once you add in HD and the DVR service and 3 TVs, it still came to over $65 with tax and it got rid of most of what we watch! For free I can get HDTV over the air and for $25/mo at most I can get Netflix and Hulu+ and watch what the $65 offer won't give me.

I realize this is a personal choice for us, but I was SO FED UP with paying high prices to watch TV.

Dawn

I call direct tv about every 6mos to cancel and every time they offer me more off and free premium channels etc. We have been with them for about 12 years and I too get annoyed by the new customer specials.

This last time I was determined to cancel and they called me back within 4 hours and offered me $200 credit now, $20 off each month for 6 months and 6 mos. of premium channels free. It is almost impossible for me to cancel them...

I would call and always say cancel at the prompt it will connect you to the customer retention dept. Also don't take the first offer, say I have to ask my hubby etc. They usually come back with a better offer! More money for disney!!

 

[lorax123]

I called DirectTv to try and get a few bucks off, right after our contract expired. Our bill was at $106 a month, with nothing more than their basic DVR+ package. I was told, the best they could do was $5 a month off. Phooey. I switched back to Dish. Plus DirectTv equipment is crappy. I replaced all the recievers DVR's (3 total) at least once in two years and another was not working again.

Of course, while I'm canceling Direct want's to offer me a great deal. It was too late, the guys where installing my equpiment during the call! Now they keep flooding my mail box with offers to come back.

Wouldn't it be easier if these companies just realized, offering new customers great deals helps bring in Noobs, but it encourages provider jumping? If you keep coming up with new equipment and cheaper services, what's my incentive NOT to switch? Now you spend money every month, trying to get me to take your service. Before that, you didn't even have to send me a paper bill, you just took a chunk right out of my checking account. D'oh!

On a side note. We went with a low end package to save money. We have most of our primary network stations, but are missing a lot of the networks we got with the next package up. Why don't they assign credits to each network and let you build a package for each price point?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Why don't they assign credits to each network and let you build a package for each price point?

Do you want me to get bicker over here to explain that to you? Pretty much, it's because the networks charge the cable and satellite companies, per customer, for the privilege of transmitting the programming to our homes. In addition to the infrastructure and equipment (and maintenance) costs those companies have to cover by charging us, they also have to pay the networks. The cost per channel is between $4 and $10 per channel per month - or was, the last time bicker posted numbers, it's been a while. Some channels are cheaper, some a lot more expensive - like ESPN.

I think basic cable in my city is $15 a month, and digital starter (50 more channels) is $62. For that $7.50 average if the cable company went á la carte, I coul get eight channels instead of 70. Even if I happened to pick all $4 channels, that's still only fifteen. I may not - okay, don't - like the cost of the cable alone, but I like the value of the 70 channels 366% better than the value of just 15 choices for the same money.

 

[Zachsmom4]

I called to cancel NFL Sunday ticket and they offered me $20 off and I told them I just couldn't afford it so I was put on hold and he came back with another $10 off for a total of $30 off per month. I also hate that DTv usually gives all the good deals to new customers.

We had the same thing happen to us yesterday. They got it down to $30 off per month. I still told them to forget it.

 

[Dax]

I am in the opposite boat...I have had Verizon FIOS now for 4ys, and the prices just keeps climbing. I jumped off FIOS for my TV and went to DTv..the price was to good to pass up for the year.

I wish I could take the free ST and use it for something else..I HATE football, and have zero interest in this...maybe now that I am signed up I can swing something else...but don't know. I will probably cancel the ST as soon as football season starts so I dont forget.

I tried to stay with Verizon, but they offered me NOTHING to stay...so...boo to them!

 

[Millermom0606]

I called and had no problems with getting it for free, even though we have been customers for years Good Luck to all

 

[lorax123]

Do you want me to get bicker over here to explain that to you? Pretty much, it's because the networks charge the cable and satellite companies, per customer, for the privilege of transmitting the programming to our homes. In addition to the infrastructure and equipment (and maintenance) costs those companies have to cover by charging us, they also have to pay the networks. The cost per channel is between $4 and $10 per channel per month - or was, the last time bicker posted numbers, it's been a while. Some channels are cheaper, some a lot more expensive - like ESPN.

I think basic cable in my city is $15 a month, and digital starter (50 more channels) is $62. For that $7.50 average if the cable company went á la carte, I coul get eight channels instead of 70. Even if I happened to pick all $4 channels, that's still only fifteen. I may not - okay, don't - like the cost of the cable alone, but I like the value of the 70 channels 366% better than the value of just 15 choices for the same money.

Oh, I realize that each channel charges our providers a fee to carry them (though, I didn't realize it was that much!) That's why I don't like a la carte. I'd like to see a plan, similar to the old e-ticket or dinning plan.

For example, let's say they have a $30, $50 and $80 plan. I choose $50 and I get 100 credits. Part of my fee is their service charge to get their service and they give me local networks for free (which I can get for free, if I decided to get an antenna) and satellite music, pay per view and their provider specific channels (like DTV's 101). But then I can mix and match the channels. You want ESPN, for main ESPN, it's 5 credits. For extended (west coast feeds, ESPN2) it's 8 credits. Then I can decide what I'd like in my package. I'd wind up getting less channels than my current 120, but at least I'd have the ones I really wanted.

I never, ever watch ESPN. So that's a total west. But the kids would love HUB, Boomerang, DXD and Nick Jr back. But I have to go up another $10 a month to get them those. Plus, I'd like SpeedTV back. I miss Sunday night Wind Tunnel.

I always felt a la carte itself would wind up hurting the public pocket. But, if you are already offering packages, let me pick and choose! So many channels are zero interest channels for me.

It's a little different than a la carte. but I imagine the providers have some kind of deals worked out with the networks and that's why they are all bundled the way they are.