Complaint Review: Dish Network

Dear Readers,

I was deceived and cheated by Dishnetwork in not just one but TWO ways over the last 1 2/3 years. 

One began at the time of service.  I was duped into thinking I had to sign up for "HD Platinum," in order to receive HD channels by the original telemarketer I spoke with.  They are marketed as HD CHANNELS, conning the consumer into thinking that they have to pay the extra 10 dollars a month in order to receive HD, when in reality their HD service is free of charge and included in all packages.  I requested a refund of $50 that I had paid over the course of five or so months since I NEVER watched any of the bogus channels, for which I was granted no refund. I have JPG images listed on my flickr account showing how this is deceptive on the following site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25957393@N07/5491057966/

I was also conned by DISHNETWORK over the last two weeks.  I lost my job in November and have been trying to limit my monthly expenses, so one of the first things that came to mind was TV.  I was told that I would be charged a $200 fee for disconnecting my service, so I asked the representative to show me where it says in the contract I supposedly signed that this is the case.  They called me today telling me that they lost the contract, but that they would still charge me $99 for an activation fee if I disconnected.  How can a company charge me $99 for a fee at this time? They should have charged me at the time of activation if this is the case.  The DISH representative told me that they could charge me this because they only offer two types of accounts, month to month with an activation fee, and a two year contract with no activation fee.  Well, DISH, I'd hate to say it, but your logic is dead wrong.  You can't assume that I was in a month to month service because I was given $15 off on my monthly service for the first year, which is only offered to people who sign a contract.  You can't assume I was in a contracted service because you lost the proof of this.  You can't charge me $99 for an activation fee because you should have charged me that when I signed up if I was supposedly in a month to month agreement.  You are in the wrong here are in a pickle because YOU lost the documentation.  You can't just makeup fees as you go along, and you can't charge someone money when you LOST the contract!

Do the right thing here guys.  I'll be waiting for your phone call. 

Sincerely,
-Philip Johnson