Posted: 9/21/2014 3:15:00 PM EDT
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We've been loyal Direct Tv subscribers for at least 6 years, and our latest 2 year contract has expired.
For whatever reason, we're not eligible for any upgraded equipment (6+ year old boxes) or eligible to receive any discounts. It angers me that new subscribers get $19.99/month, 3 months of movie channels, Visa Gift Card rebate, Genie DVR, and NFL Ticket. This is the first year we've been without the NFL Channels. I couldn't stomach paying $300+ for another season of football when new subscribers get the shit for free. How does a company like this retain any loyal customers?! We've called about getting upgraded equipment and all they'll offer is movie channels for 3 months (We could care less about the movie channels). I've tried getting them to give me a rebate/lower cost on the NFL Network and again, all they offer is the stupid movie channels. Question: Has anyone successfully dropped/canceled DTV, then resigned up in a spouse's name to take advantage of the new customer rebates/discounts/channels/equipment? |
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Yes. In fact, I call the TV service provider (whichever it is) about every 8 months to quit the service. I usually get the "new customer" deal as a concession for keeping it.
People don't spend enough time dickering with their vendors, in my estimation and experience. If you're paying list, you're the sucker in the arrangement. |
| We have been loyal customers for about as long as you. Our bill was $80 or so a month. We were ready to drop and just do local channels and Netflix. My wife called and was dead set on canceling, finally getting through to the cancellation dept. They offered up a few months of NFL, six months showtime AND dropped our bill down to $40 something, no contract. We took it. I couldn't believe she got them to do it. But we were dead set on cancelling and she haggled them down to that. Just give it a shot and see, you never know. |
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Yes. In fact, I call the TV service provider (whichever it is) about every 8 months to quit the service. I usually get the "new customer" deal as a concession for keeping it. People don't spend enough time dickering with their vendors, in my estimation and experience. If you're paying list, you're the sucker in the arrangement. You must be a better negotiator than me or the wife. I just got off the phone with them, I received the Genie and Genie Mini upgrades, and $15/month off our bill. The best they would do is $191 (pro-rated) NFL Network. I still think it's absolutely ridiculous that we're paying over about $100/month without any premium channels while new customers get all the goods. Since the bill is in my wife's name, can we drop our service, then I'll sign up as a new customer and use my information to receive the new customer deals? |
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We have been loyal customers for about as long as you. Our bill was $80 or so a month. We were ready to drop and just do local channels and Netflix. My wife called and was dead set on canceling, finally getting through to the cancellation dept. They offered up a few months of NFL, six months showtime AND dropped our bill down to $40 something, no contract. We took it. I couldn't believe she got them to do it. But we were dead set on cancelling and she haggled them down to that. Just give it a shot and see, you never know. This. Guy I work with did the same thing. I personally ditched DirecTV and went with a Roku. Couldn't be happier. |
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254? It's still there... Quoted:
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I noticed I don't get AMC anymore on directtv. My plan hasn't changed or anything, just don't get the channel anymore.  254? It's still there... says I have to pay more for it to get it. Upgrade to next channel package. When I got direct tv 5 months ago I had that channel because I was watching walking dead at home. Now it shows up as grey and when I click it, it tells me to call to upgrade. |
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I noticed I don't get AMC anymore on directtv. My plan hasn't changed or anything, just don't get the channel anymore. You're not missing anything...nothing but mesothelioma, AARP and insurance commercials with a few minutes of mediocre shows in between. |
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Seems pretty variable depending on who you talk to.
I called last week because I am on a years-old HR-20 and asked about upgrades. They wanted me to pay. Called a couple days later and the girl was happy to give me a free Genie and Genie Mini upgrade and drop my bill a bit. Same with SiriusXM. I shoot for about $80 a year. Sometimes it takes 2-3 representatives to pull it off. |
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Seems pretty variable depending on who you talk to. I called last week because I am on a years-old HR-20 and asked about upgrades. They wanted me to pay. Called a couple days later and the girl was happy to give me a free Genie and Genie Mini upgrade and drop my bill a bit. Same with SiriusXM. I shoot for about $80 a year. Sometimes it takes 2-3 representatives to pull it off. We're going to try back later in the week and see what happens. Unfortunately we don't have cable run down our road, so we're very limited in who our internet and satellite providers are. |
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We've had great luck calling to bitch about the unreliability of the DVR.
The last place I lived, we had four boxes in the house. There were constant issues where one box wouldn't record (with no other recordings happening at that time) or a different box not being able to play back recorded material. Worked like a charm. Also, bitching about having a recorded program that was very important to you but when you go to play it, the signal was garbled. One time I bitched about wanting to watch an episode of a show but when I played the recording fuckin' Obama was jabbering instead. The rep laughed pretty hard at that, got him to break composure. |
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If they will not give you new subscriber rates cancel them. Within 2-3 weeks you will be getting correspondence to rejoin at the new rates.
I was still paying extra for HD and they would not take it off. I cancelled them and immediately used my wife's name to order new service at the discounted rates. Since that time they have sent me at least 10 letters offering me the new subscriber rates to come back. |
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It already has been mentioned, just call an ask to disconnect service, and they will do allot just to keep you. My usual line of questioning is just to call and ask when my contract was up, have done this 3 times, got an extra receiver for the first time, then got free DVR the second, then the last time they just dropped my price by $20.00 just because |
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Anyone have a direct line to their retention department? We really need new equipment but I don't want another contract. 1-800-824-9081 i think. I called them right before they announced that they are getting the SEC network and told them that I was going to swtich to dish. They offered me $20 off per month, free movie channels for three months, and Sunday Ticket for half price. I kept haggling with them and they eventully gave me the Sunday Ticket for free. *If you get the Sunday Ticket for free, remember to cancel it after the season is over, otherwise I think it reups automatically next year.. You have to call and cancel the HBO, Showtime etc..too if you don't want it. |
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Used to pay the threaten to quit game and then realized that even the good programs are 30 minutes of content and 30 minutes of ads per hour. Got tired of paying to have advertisements beamed at me every 5 minutes and just dropped it completely. Don't even miss it. When I quit they were trying to hit me up for $75 a month. So I am now $900/year ahead.
Next to go is Time Warner Cable. They charge me $65/month while advertising $14.99/month. Tried to get my cable reduced to that and got a very rude female on the line who said that I could not get the lower service once I get the higher level of service. |
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Used to pay the threaten to quit game and then realized that even the good programs are 30 minutes of content and 30 minutes of ads per hour. Got tired of paying to have advertisements beamed at me every 5 minutes and just dropped it completely. Don't even miss it. When I quit they were trying to hit me up for $75 a month. So I am now $900/year ahead. Next to go is Time Warner Cable. They charge me $65/month while advertising $14.99/month. Tried to get my cable reduced to that and got a very rude female on the line who said that I could not get the lower service once I get the higher level of service. DVR solves all commercial issues. I haven't intentionally watched a commercial in three years. |
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You wont get new equipment without getting stuck with a 2 year contract. You can get your bill knocked down by quite a bit if you arent under contract by simply calling and telling them you want to cancel and go to Dish Network bc its cheaper. I got about 40 a mo. taken off my bill in 5 minutes by doing this.
If you're on a contract they wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire. |
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I got tired of Directv prices going up and channels disappearing. Drop it, build an antenna for local channels and get a roku or something like that. More tv to watch right there for cheap. I don't understand anybody paying big money for tv anymore.
If you are really hooked on them, as others have said cancel and wait. I still get offers for new subscriber packages and "come back" deals and it's been about 5 years now. |
my dad was one of the first 1000 subscribers, they wanted to make him sign a 2 year contract for a new box, he was going to trade them the ORIGNAL box for a new one... he told them to go fuck themselves! he ripped the dish off the roof and threw it at the guy as he was driving away  
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| I've got Dish Network. When I was adding the sports pack to my subscription about a month ago, they told me I was eligible for a free equipment upgrade. They came the next day and installed all the new goodies. I've been with Dish since 2001 and as long as they keep treating me like they have thus far, I plan on sticking with them. |
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Went with them after DISH Network lost the ability to provide local NYC stations.
Told Direct I wanted the same programming and same pricing as I paid to DISH. Girl at DIRECT said ok and when my bill came it was much higher. Had the same equipment for several years, they never offered me an upgrade or anything free. Than they raised my monthly on the equipment part of the bill. I called and asked how are you charging me more for old equipment, her answer was BS Had a power surge last Oct that killed all of my electronics in the house, including my two Direct TV boxes. Direct told me my boxes were old so I would not have to pay, but they would charge me to come out and do a new install unless I did a 1 year deal. No free anything, no lower intro price, no DVR offers, nothing. Guy comes out and only gave me one box saying that was all that was on the order despite Direct telling me and recording me saying that if I did not take the second box that I would have to pay. Said if I cancel I would have to pay. Turns out the Sat dish part and main line were fine and it was only the boxes that were bad and than they raised my bill. FUCK DIRECT TV. When the year is up (soon) I want something for free or a reduction on the bill. |
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You wont get new equipment without getting stuck with a 2 year contract. You can get your bill knocked down by quite a bit if you arent under contract by simply calling and telling them you want to cancel and go to Dish Network bc its cheaper. I got about 40 a mo. taken off my bill in 5 minutes by doing this. If you're on a contract they wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire. I got the discounts mentioned my previous post above within 10 months of moving and having to renew my contract. They said it would cost me $200+ to cancel and I said fine. You have to be really willing to leave and be sure to contact the retention people |
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We've been loyal Direct Tv subscribers for at least 6 years, and our latest 2 year contract has expired. For whatever reason, we're not eligible for any upgraded equipment (6+ year old boxes) or eligible to receive any discounts. It angers me that new subscribers get $19.99/month, 3 months of movie channels, Visa Gift Card rebate, Genie DVR, and NFL Ticket. This is the first year we've been without the NFL Channels. I couldn't stomach paying $300+ for another season of football when new subscribers get the shit for free. How does a company like this retain any loyal customers?! We've called about getting upgraded equipment and all they'll offer is movie channels for 3 months (We could care less about the movie channels). I've tried getting them to give me a rebate/lower cost on the NFL Network and again, all they offer is the stupid movie channels. They also have a $12 a month free electronics replacement for a total of $6000 per year, $2000 per device. My TV and computers are old, so I am tempted to cost them some money. I haven't read the fine print to see why this might be a bad idea. I had to have my LNA replaced twice and my dish moved because of the growth of a neighbor's tree. My DVR was replaced last week. Free. The service contract is a good thing to pay for if your warranty has expired. (1 Year) Question: Has anyone successfully dropped/canceled DTV, then resigned up in a spouse's name to take advantage of the new customer rebates/discounts/channels/equipment? My brother did it a few months ago. All he did was cancel and then restart in his own name, about 1 week apart. He got the Genie and could have gotten a new dish if he had removed the old equipment. Tell them you are moving into an apartment with free cable so they won't waste a lot of time trying to talk you into keeping your connection. |
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If not already claimed, I might take you up on that when I cancel and my wife subscribes Quoted:
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Also DirecTV just sent me two of those $100 vouchers for new subscribers. So if anyone wants em, I gots da hookup yo. If not already claimed, I might take you up on that when I cancel and my wife subscribes Sure thing, just shoot me a message and I'll relay a code. |
| I had dish everything package and time warner internet and was at 240 a month and was sick of time warner going up every 3 months so i switched to uverse for both services and pay 148 for 3 hd tvs and dvr. The picture is not as clear as dish but im saving about 95 bills. Ill go back to dish after this contract expires. |
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I have dish and the hopper. we have the New hopper w/sling, 1 super joey and 1 regular joey. the sling feature is awesome, and the Hopper is the best DVR system i've ever played with.
i watch a lot of football, but can't understand paying for an NFL package on direct TV. guess if your favorite team isn't in your market that would be one reason. we have the dish 250,plus HBO. pay 120 a month. |