Complaint Review: Directv

I cancelled my DTV and was informed that I had several more months left on my contract. Apparently, when the equipmnent fails and they send you a replacement box, it is only a lease, and that means you extend your contract another 2 years. News to me, no one ever said this to me and I never received a customer agreement even after I asked for one by phone.

I asked then if the first box was purchased by me then why did they send a threatening letter along with the new box saying send the old box back or we'll charge you up to $ 477.00. "That's just our policy" the customer no service said. Why would DTV want my box back if it was not repairable? Why pay for the call back tag (FED EX) and bother to ship and receive it if they had no use for it? I asked how much would they have charged me for the box if I had leased it the first time and then NOT returned it. She said at that time it would have been $99.00, I said then I want a credit of $99.00. Ma'am the box was broken it was of no use to you, why would you want it? I said I like shiny boxes and broken or not it was mine. She said it was in a warehouse somewhere and they would have no way of sending it back. You mean they actually pay for some giant warehouse to store broken HD boxes too!

DTV has Nationwide Credit Inc. calling me now to collect the $137.00 they say I owe even though my letter to the billing dispute dept. has never been responded to. I could really use some advice, my credit score is currently around 800 (nearly perfect), and I don't want to ruin it, but, I also don't want to give into the bully with the deceptive practices. HELP....PLEASE

Carrie
Gulf Breeze, Florida
U.S.A.