Frustrated -- anyone know what Dish Network's vacation suspension is called?

[tar heel]

I'm so frustrated. As I've posted before I lost both my parents last summer. I'm an only child and, in addition to the emotional black hole, there's been a lot of crap to deal with. Most companies have been wonderful. Some have been a little crazy -- like electricity and phone treated me as a brand new customer and had to have a full application, credit check, etc., while the oil company (a much, much larger bill) just asked for my address and expressed their condolences. The cell phone folks were not nice and got the not nice part of me, too.

Then there's Dish Network. I can't pay the bill by phone because a payment was returned when their checking account was frozen by the bank after they died. Because of mail forwarding, I didn't get it in time to pay without a late charge by mail until, finally, last month. I forgot to mail it this month, so I tried again tonight to pay it by phone. Got nowhere fast for a while, then I figured out their pin. (They have an online account and my dad has an email! If you had known my parents, you would know how funny this is. Definitely no computer or computer usage in their house.) I paid the bill because I'm a person who pays my bills and this "feels" like mine.

I actually want to keep the service, downgrade a little and put it on temporary suspension for the rest of the winter. I was told I could do this and pay $5 a month, six months maximum. I can't find it on the website, though -- does anyone know what it's called. I was told by one of their reps in October that *I* could do this. Now it seems *I* can't unless I do it through the online account.

I'm not sure I'll be able to stay with them regardless. In my frustration tonight, I asked to just cancel the account and was told I didn't have the authority to do that! Interestingly, they need the most documents to prove that my dad is dead of anyone yet -- it took fewer to get into their safe deposit box than Dish wants. They also say they need a Power of Attorney which the clerk of court determined I did not need.

Sorry this is so long.

 

[pyrxtc]

I'm so frustrated. As I've posted before I lost both my parents last summer. I'm an only child and, in addition to the emotional black hole, there's been a lot of crap to deal with. Most companies have been wonderful. Some have been a little crazy -- like electricity and phone treated me as a brand new customer and had to have a full application, credit check, etc., while the oil company (a much, much larger bill) just asked for my address and expressed their condolences. The cell phone folks were not nice and got the not nice part of me, too.

Then there's Dish Network. I can't pay the bill by phone because a payment was returned when their checking account was frozen by the bank after they died. Because of mail forwarding, I didn't get it in time to pay without a late charge by mail until, finally, last month. I forgot to mail it this month, so I tried again tonight to pay it by phone. Got nowhere fast for a while, then I figured out their pin. (They have an online account and my dad has an email! If you had known my parents, you would know how funny this is. Definitely no computer or computer usage in their house.) I paid the bill because I'm a person who pays my bills and this "feels" like mine.

I actually want to keep the service, downgrade a little and put it on temporary suspension for the rest of the winter. I was told I could do this and pay $5 a month, six months maximum. I can't find it on the website, though -- does anyone know what it's called. I was told by one of their reps in October that *I* could do this. Now it seems *I* can't unless I do it through the online account.

I'm not sure I'll be able to stay with them regardless. In my frustration tonight, I asked to just cancel the account and was told I didn't have the authority to do that! Interestingly, they need the most documents to prove that my dad is dead of anyone yet -- it took fewer to get into their safe deposit box than Dish wants. They also say they need a Power of Attorney which the clerk of court determined I did not need.

Sorry this is so long.

I'm confused... Are you trying to keep the services on at your parents home ? Are you living there ? If that's the case, then I see why the phone and electric companies treat you as a new customer. If you just wanted to keep the stuff going while you cleaned out the house then you could have just left it in their name.

As far as Dish is concerned, just call and talk to a supervisor. They will listen when you say your parents are deceased and you want to cancel. If they don't, let them keep billing after you have notified them (in writing too) and they won't get anywhere. Te cell phone folks probably asked that you pay off their remaining time which you don't have to do. the contract they had was with your parents and it became void when they passed on, as did the contract with Dish. Do not continue to pay the Dish bill. You notified them and it is out of your hands now. Just write "return to sender, deceased" on the bill when you get it. they will shut off the service for non-payment and try to get you to pay but you will have a copy of the notarized letter they received and they will have a copy of the phone call and letter and you won't owe any money after notification.

You could always call and pretend to be your mother and change the service. When my mother was in the hospital last year, my sisters and I did this multiple times to get her accounts in order.

 

[Trentmom]

I'm so frustrated. As I've posted before I lost both my parents last summer. I'm an only child and, in addition to the emotional black hole, there's been a lot of crap to deal with. Most companies have been wonderful. Some have been a little crazy -- like electricity and phone treated me as a brand new customer and had to have a full application, credit check, etc., while the oil company (a much, much larger bill) just asked for my address and expressed their condolences. The cell phone folks were not nice and got the not nice part of me, too.

Then there's Dish Network. I can't pay the bill by phone because a payment was returned when their checking account was frozen by the bank after they died. Because of mail forwarding, I didn't get it in time to pay without a late charge by mail until, finally, last month. I forgot to mail it this month, so I tried again tonight to pay it by phone. Got nowhere fast for a while, then I figured out their pin. (They have an online account and my dad has an email! If you had known my parents, you would know how funny this is. Definitely no computer or computer usage in their house.) I paid the bill because I'm a person who pays my bills and this "feels" like mine.

I actually want to keep the service, downgrade a little and put it on temporary suspension for the rest of the winter. I was told I could do this and pay $5 a month, six months maximum. I can't find it on the website, though -- does anyone know what it's called. I was told by one of their reps in October that *I* could do this. Now it seems *I* can't unless I do it through the online account.

I'm not sure I'll be able to stay with them regardless. In my frustration tonight, I asked to just cancel the account and was told I didn't have the authority to do that! Interestingly, they need the most documents to prove that my dad is dead of anyone yet -- it took fewer to get into their safe deposit box than Dish wants. They also say they need a Power of Attorney which the clerk of court determined I did not need.

Sorry this is so long.

First, I am very sorry for your losses

2nd, Power of attorney ceases when someone dies.

I think they mean you need to prove executorahip of the estate. I believe you go to your county's surrogate office and apply to be executor there. I have never done it, but believe that is what you do

I did some googling and it looks like what you want is called Dish Pause


I hope this helps a little bit

 

[tar heel]

Trentmom -- thanks for Dish Pause! I told the person I talked to tonight that you couldn't have a power of attorney for someone after they die. The clerk of court appointed me executor immediately but has skipped some of the paperwork b/c everything is so simple. There is no probate, for example, and an estate will be "opened" only if I decide to sell the house within three years.

The cell phone was paid for almost two months after my dad died. They sent me a bill over a month after I had sent them a death certificate.

The person who told me I wasn't authorized to cancel Dish said my mother wasn't on the account either, that only my dad or his estate could do that.

I wanted to keep the TV on so I wouldn't have to have the hassle (and I guess expense) of getting it reinstalled. I don't live there and that would be very inconvenient. Since there's no internet or cell service, I'm not sure I can get my family to go up there if there's no TV either! I know I've paid more than I needed to, but Dish TV was pretty low on my priority list of things to deal with, so I just paid it to keep from having to do anything.

I am not living in the house but intend to keep it for the time being. Dish has annoyed me enough that I'm now thinking I might cancel it ASAP, then pick up internet through the phone company after the winter. I'm going to be keeping a landline as long as own the home b/c there's no cell service. We can watch movies on the TV and stay connected on a computer -- I can live with that.

 

[Scrap4me]

Tarheel,

First, let me pass along my condolences..it is never easy.

Second, Howdy Neighbor! I am your next door neighbor in Salisbury...

If Cabarrus County is the one who declared you as executor of the estate, have they provided you with a "date filed" executor's form? It would be the simple form that they place on file in the clerk's office for tax purposes. That form faxed to dish will help you a bunch.
Having dealt with that company previously in a similar situation, sometimes it is better to just let it get shut off. It took almost 6 months of back and forth phone calls, faxes and irate emails for them to even acknowledge that , in fact, their customer was deceased (the death certificate did no good)-and if they wanted to talk to her, well--a good seance was in order. She was the only person authorized on the account and they simply would not shut off the service. I finally had to send them copies of my executor status, and copies of her final bank statements that showed accounts were closed. At that point-- I made them eat the balance.
Good luck.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Trentmom -- thanks for Dish Pause! I told the person I talked to tonight that you couldn't have a power of attorney for someone after they die. The clerk of court appointed me executor immediately but has skipped some of the paperwork b/c everything is so simple. There is no probate, for example, and an estate will be "opened" only if I decide to sell the house within three years.

The cell phone was paid for almost two months after my dad died. They sent me a bill over a month after I had sent them a death certificate.

The person who told me I wasn't authorized to cancel Dish said my mother wasn't on the account either, that only my dad or his estate could do that.

I wanted to keep the TV on so I wouldn't have to have the hassle (and I guess expense) of getting it reinstalled. I don't live there and that would be very inconvenient. Since there's no internet or cell service, I'm not sure I can get my family to go up there if there's no TV either! I know I've paid more than I needed to, but Dish TV was pretty low on my priority list of things to deal with, so I just paid it to keep from having to do anything.

I am not living in the house but intend to keep it for the time being. Dish has annoyed me enough that I'm now thinking I might cancel it ASAP, then pick up internet through the phone company after the winter. I'm going to be keeping a landline as long as own the home b/c there's no cell service. We can watch movies on the TV and stay connected on a computer -- I can live with that.

DISH is a pain. Cancel it asap.

Sorry for your loss.