Getting Direct TV to lower price

[eeyorethegreat]

Hi All


I know some of you have been able to get Direct Tv to lower your subscrition price when you call and tell them you are going to switch to cable or another satellite service. I have had really good luck with DTV however every few months the price has creeped up a few $$ here and there so that now I am paying Total Choice Plus for just over $70 with a DVR a plan that they no longer offer. Anyway I really am thinking of moving to cable just because I could bundle it with my phone and internet. It wouldnt save $$ but it would be one bill to pay rather than to so just more convient. Anyway what things have you said to get them to lower your rate and are you always successful in getting the rate lowered? Just wondering about others experiences so I can call armed and ready getting the best chance at having my rate lowered. THX

 

[C.Ann]

Not Direct TV, but I have done this with the cable company a number of times.. I just told them I couldn't afford the new rates - and wasn't there some kind of "special" they were running or something, anything that would help me out.. When they said no, I told them I would have to drop them if they couldn't find anything.. Usually I would be put on hold and then they would come back with a "customer loyalty rate" for a 6 month period and I would take it.. When the 6 months was up, I would do the same thing again.. If it ever comes to a point where they "won't" give me a break, I will cancel - because I know for a fact that when you do, they start mailing you all kinds of crazy specials to get you to sign back up again..

Don't be angry - or complain about their price increases.. Just stick to the "I really, really can't afford that" - "Are you sure you don't have any specials - maybe a customer loyalty rate or something?" - and if they won't budge, go ahead and cancel.. In a week or two they will be sending you all kinds of great deals to get you back as a customer..

And just as a side note, I really could not afford what the new increase was this year for just the "Standard Service" - not to mention that out of all of those channels, there were "maybe" 12 to 15 that I watched - and over 30 that I never watched.. Unfortunately - up at the lake - my "only" option (television wise) is the cable co. for tv and internet together - but I refuse to pay over $100 a month (even if it fit nicely in my budget) for so many channels that I don't watch.. If I don't get a "deal" next year, I will either drop down to the "Basic" - or cancel it - and wait for them to try to get me to resign with a special..

Good luck - and don't forget what I said - persistent, but polite - and just not "affordable"' for you..

 

[dclfun]

The problem with Direct TV is that lengthy contract, so they have you for at least the two years- if you cancel you'll be subject to the penalty so they don't have the same kind of incentive as the cable company who has no contract and more incentive to offer you a lower price to keep your business. Of course if you've already had the service for minimum required length of time, then that's a different story.---Kathy

 

[DawnM]

I currently have free HD and an extra $10 discount per month. I believe this will run out, but not sure when. I currently have Total Choice plus with DVR service and 3 DVRs hooked up. I pay $74 with tax.

My current 2 year plan expires in April and I will call back at that time and threaten to leave (in a polite way!) and see if I can get it closer to $60/mo. with no services dropped.

Dawn