Done with Direct TV

[MickeyManiac]

WOW! I cannot believe the deal I just got. We are finishing our basement and I needed to add an HD DVR and have another receiver relocated. I called and the first person I got was very nice and was going to give me the HD DVR for free(?) and installation was $50. I was fine with that because it was only going to add $6 to my monthly bill and THEN she told me I had to have a new 2 year agreement. Ummmm...I've read enough Disboards threads to know that if I'm going to sign a new contract I BETTER get some good discounts. So, I told her I had to think about it and would call back.

Well I gave it about 3 minutes and called again this time telling the prompt I was going to cancel my service. I got another very nice CS rep and when I said I wanted to cancel because I didn't want to a 2 year agreement for new equipment and I would be changing over to Comcast he said "lets see what I can do for you", "loyal customer", yada yada yada...

By the end of my call here is what I ended up with:
$25/month credit (24 months)
Showtime for 6 months (that will automatically drop off at 6 months)
FREE Sunday Ticket - he originally offered it for 50% off and when I said no he said "I'll just throw it in"

Plus the HD DVR and free installation that I need for our new basement family room.

Yes, I did go with the 2 year agreement but my bill will be $19/month less than I'm paying now ($25-$6 receiver rental).

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU DIS'RS! I would never have known I had some bargaining power without you!

 

[lisa-upnorth]

WOW! I cannot believe the deal I just got. We are finishing our basement and I needed to add an HD DVR and have another receiver relocated. I called and the first person I got was very nice and was going to give me the HD DVR for free(?) and installation was $50. I was fine with that because it was only going to add $6 to my monthly bill and THEN she told me I had to have a new 2 year agreement. Ummmm...I've read enough Disboards threads to know that if I'm going to sign a new contract I BETTER get some good discounts. So, I told her I had to think about it and would call back.

Well I gave it about 3 minutes and called again this time telling the prompt I was going to cancel my service. I got another very nice CS rep and when I said I wanted to cancel because I didn't want to a 2 year agreement for new equipment and I would be changing over to Comcast he said "lets see what I can do for you", "loyal customer", yada yada yada...

By the end of my call here is what I ended up with:
$25/month credit (24 months)
Showtime for 6 months (that will automatically drop off at 6 months)
FREE Sunday Ticket - he originally offered it for 50% off and when I said no he said "I'll just throw it in"

Plus the HD DVR and free installation that I need for our new basement family room.

Yes, I did go with the 2 year agreement but my bill will be $19/month less than I'm paying now ($25-$6 receiver rental).

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU DIS'RS! I would never have known I had some bargaining power without you!

Isn't the Dis AMAZING!!!! I am thankful that I find so many helpful people that help me to live cheaper!!

 

[DawnM]

You just saved about $500.

WOW! I cannot believe the deal I just got. We are finishing our basement and I needed to add an HD DVR and have another receiver relocated. I called and the first person I got was very nice and was going to give me the HD DVR for free(?) and installation was $50. I was fine with that because it was only going to add $6 to my monthly bill and THEN she told me I had to have a new 2 year agreement. Ummmm...I've read enough Disboards threads to know that if I'm going to sign a new contract I BETTER get some good discounts. So, I told her I had to think about it and would call back.

Well I gave it about 3 minutes and called again this time telling the prompt I was going to cancel my service. I got another very nice CS rep and when I said I wanted to cancel because I didn't want to a 2 year agreement for new equipment and I would be changing over to Comcast he said "lets see what I can do for you", "loyal customer", yada yada yada...

By the end of my call here is what I ended up with:
$25/month credit (24 months)
Showtime for 6 months (that will automatically drop off at 6 months)
FREE Sunday Ticket - he originally offered it for 50% off and when I said no he said "I'll just throw it in"

Plus the HD DVR and free installation that I need for our new basement family room.

Yes, I did go with the 2 year agreement but my bill will be $19/month less than I'm paying now ($25-$6 receiver rental).

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU DIS'RS! I would never have known I had some bargaining power without you!

 

[Muushka]

After reading this thread I contacted Direct TV. We have been a customer for over 15 years. I explained what my issues were. She came back with a "thank you we appricate you being a loyal Direct TV customer so I will make you this offer" Her offer was $323 one time payment or I could go 6 monthly payments. But I had to do it now becasue she wasn't suppose to be doing this and she could get in trouble if I called later and tried to get the same deal with another rep. What a load of chocolate chips!!!!! Anyway, I explain I'm tired of being treaded like a second class citizen when we have been giving them our buisness for 15 + years and then new customers get all the peaks and special deals. She says she can totally understand where I'm coming from and offers me a "one time" special deal. $20 off for 6 months. Which brings the whole package down to $203. Are you freakin kidding me????
We are not under contract with them, but have so much invested in this that it is hard to walk away. I barely watch TV but my husband is a TV junkie. ARGHHHHHH Just needed to vent.
Oh, by the way I told her that we were tired of all of this and she says let me see if there are any other great deals like the NFL ticket that she might be able to get for us. I thanked her and hung up.

See bolded area below

My friend has directv aswell as I do..She called because of an issue of not getting some of her husband's favorite channels. She did not have the protection plan and they insisted they would come out and charge her to get fix it and automatically place her on the plan. Since her husband actually pays the bill, she handed the phone over to him at that time. He listened to their explanation then yelled into the phone-"Do'nt I pay enough to your company already and you want to charge me to get service fixed?" She got her supervisor who said every customer is entitled to one free service call a year and they would not be place on the plan.
When her contract was up, she started playing the game of negotiations on the phone. I did as well.
If you still aren't happy with their offers, tell them to send boxes so you can return their receivers and pick a date to tell them to shut off service. You will get inundated with calls for offers, pick one or negotiate further.
My issue with them is the satellite on the side of my house. During snow storms, snow sticks then turns to ice and because of that we couldn't get service. We didn't know that right off. The person that answered for Dtv was in Mississippi and said "sorry, you have to wait for the snow and ice to melt" Really? January in Ohio, I don't think so. While my husband was trying to talk to him because I was livid, I started to think. We have Deicer spray for our windshields, maybe that can be used. Course the Southern gentleman never heard of such a thing. Sure enough the ice slipped off with a thud and we got service back. I had switched to cable and cable telephone/internet that summer and during one month's time, electricity went out 3 times and the cable line to the outside box was faulty and needed replaced for free but never did.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

That is what we did, request the boxes. They really give the deals when they know you are serious.
Also, find a backup deal with another provider, just in case.

 

[tmarquez]

Well I am still in contract with DirecTV, but called after seeing this thread. Here's what I got:

$15.00 a month off Choice XTra for 24 months
DVR Service – 12 months for free
$6.50 (1/2) off Starz a month for 12 months
$5.00 a month off Showtime for 12 months
$20 a month off NFL – brings it to $33.00 per month for 6 months

We really are happy with the service and want the channels we have...so it's a pretty good savings all for making an easy phone call!

 

[Muushka]

Well I am still in contract with DirecTV, but called after seeing this thread. Here's what I got:

$15.00 a month off Choice XTra for 24 months
DVR Service – 12 months for free
$6.50 (1/2) off Starz a month for 12 months
$5.00 a month off Showtime for 12 months
$20 a month off NFL – brings it to $33.00 per month for 6 months

We really are happy with the service and want the channels we have...so it's a pretty good savings all for making an easy phone call!

You done good!

But the problem I have with DirecTv is that the breaks they give you are temporary. And you have to call every 6 months (or whenever the time is up) and beg for another. That is why I canceled them altogether. I got tired of calling and playing the games.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

Does anyone with Directv get chareged for leased recievers? I thought I owned the recievers but they are charging me $6 a month for them. Then they want tme to have a protection plan on recievers that I am leasing from them?

Yep and I asked if I went to Best Buy bought my own received and hooked it up myself if they would still charge me a $6 dollar lease fee. They told me yes.

 

[DawnM]

Not only that, but when you leave DTV you have to send them back! Even if you "paid" for them.

I got mine at Costco. I paid $200 each as I recall. They still aren't mine.

When I signed up they offered me 1 free HD DVR and one free HD regular receiver or a $200 upgrade to a DVR.

So, I got my free one and bought two more. I have to send them back.

Dawn

Yep and I asked if I went to Best Buy bought my own received and hooked it up myself if they would still charge me a $6 dollar lease fee. They told me yes.