Direct TV question....(rant) your thoughts?

[Richard]

Scenario: Got into an apartment about 2 years ago. I've had continuous service of DTV at my house in TN for maybe 13 years. I setup service in this apartment.

They installed the dish on my (the apartments) privacy fence. 12 months later, I along with many people, get a notice from the new management/owner that all have to be removed from the privacy fence.

Personally, I understand that. My memory here is vague as this would have been last September. I think I showed DTV the letter from 'new management' so he could see exactly what they wrote. He pulled the dish down, put a pole in the corner of the private patio and dumped some concrete in it.

Frankly, he did a nice job. Memory tells me I paid DTV $50 for this service call.

Last week, I get another letter from the management (gestapo?) saying that all dishes have to be at or below the privacy fence line AND, have to be tripod mounted.

I attempted to find my original letter and even went to the office to ask for a copy of it "so I could show it to DTV how they messed up last time"

Can't find it.

I call DTV the other day to inquire about fixing it yet again. She says it will be another $50 service call.

I let her know I was still a bit rankled about this whole situation....and by the way....was this a recorded line? (yes)

I then asked quite exactly "is this $50 to pay the guy to show up and say "hi" or, is it to get the re-install done?"

"Its to get the re-install done"

"Great...because I don't want to think I'm paying $50 (again) to fix this issue and have someone come out and upcharge me. Get him out here."


So, an hour ago, guy shows up and I went over what the letter said with him. He said it's going to be $90 because this is now a non-standard install.

I said I had an issue with that as I had already paid DTV.

He gets his boss on the phone (local group)

His boss says they have to charge more because they have to use a non-invasive stand,they don't have a tripod. Said it's (from what I gather) a flat steel plate that is movable if need be but otherwise, sturdy AND has to be weighted down with bricks.

I laughed a bit and said I could install it in a bucket full of concrete for less than that.

He held his ground and my cell phone rang. It was DTV calling to see if they'd yet showed up and wanted my opinion...

I mentioned to her that the very thing I had verified with her office was now ironically, unfolding.

She hung up saying she'd have a/her superviser call me back (still waiting)

I told the manager on the phone to call his guy back. He said something about the guy gets paid $22.50 for showing up. said I already paid DTV and at this point, was going to expect a full refund since I paid to have a service done and they've done nothing.

I handed the phone back to the install guy and came inside.

Install guy talked on phone for couple more minutes... then left.


How out of line was I?

 

[J F]

That was a looooong post. (just my thought) :laughing:

 

[J F]

Ya got the cliff's notes?

 

[Richard]

Yep, here's the cliff note version.

Just hung up with DTV's supervisor. She said the total cost will be $65 for me and is waiving any other mentioned charges.

Hope that's Cliffy enough.

:thumbsup:

 

[murphy1244]

Yep, here's the cliff note version.

Just hung up with DTV's supervisor. She said the total cost will be $65 for me and is waiving any other mentioned charges.

Hope that's Cliffy enough.

:thumbsup:

:laughing::thumbsup:

 

[wedge40]

How many changes or service calls did you have with DTV when you owned a house? I'm guessing none or not to many. I've learned that once they have you hooked, they nickle and dime for everything. If your service is non-HD then I'd suggest doing it yourself, if it's HD you're going to have to pay.

Wedge

 

[J F]

Yep, here's the cliff note version.

Just hung up with DTV's supervisor. She said the total cost will be $65 for me and is waiving any other mentioned charges.

Hope that's Cliffy enough.

:thumbsup:

Yes...and touche'. :laughing:

 

[Clint S]

Richard that is the way of business now a days. Charge for whatever you can, get what you can. If the costumer complains throw them a bone. My propane company every year charges close to $1 more a gallon than anyone else. I do not use alot and get a yearly fill up. Every year they fill me up, every year I call and complain and every year they drop the price 75c a gallon. Last year I tried hard to use it all and tell them to shove it. What do they do, come 2 months early and fill me up I had less than 10% left. I told them to come and get it. They told me in order to that I would have to pay my bill then they would come and pump it out and pay me back $2 less a gallon that I paid. I called their bluff and they knocked off 85c a gallon. This year I have a lock on my tank so they will have to call first if they want to fill it/

 

[Sparks45]

Scenario: Got into an apartment about 2 years ago. I've had continuous service of DTV at my house in TN for maybe 13 years. I setup service in this apartment...How out of line was I?

I don't think you were. We've had Dish Network for 15 or 20 years. Two HD receivers and dish on the roof. We have a travel trailer that we keep set up 5 or 6 months a year at a campground. I take one of the receivers to the trailer and hook it up to a tripod, antenna and HD dual LNB I bought online. Only other part needed was a ~4' piece of thinwall pipe at the local borg that sticks in the tripod and the antenna clamps to it. Total cost was less than $100. I have an app (GPS Compass) on my cellphone I use to aim the azimuth - elevation and skew is set mechanically on the back of the dish. It takes me about 20 minutes to set everything up and we have full service. Tools used were a 6" adjustable (Crescent) wrench and 1/4" socket drive set. I tie a cinder block to each leg of the tripod to hold it down.
You can do the same. Search online for "satellite antenna system" and then call. I don't recall the company, but I dealt with a guy in Texas that was amazingly helpful. When I ordered, he reminded me that I'd need a couple of short cables to hook the LNB to the diplexer switch. At first, I had problems and I called him on a Sunday afternoon to leave a message - he answered the phone! A few minutes later, after following his instructions I was watching TV. YMMV but I'm betting you can do it.
Charlie

 

[Stimw]

Tell them you will get back to them, you have the cable company on the other line!
I have Dish, I bought a new manufactured home two years ago and sold old mobile home.
I called Dish Moving that they advertise big time, gave the old address which was the new address. Was told a $90. fee.
I got a supervisor on the line and explained the move. She made the move for free AND upgraded me to HD for the same monthly rate!