Dish Network, Direct TV, ripoff Manitowoc Wisconsin
I hear all this cutting down about the cable company and about how great "dish" is, so I decide to give then a try since they claimed that they were much cheaper than cable. What a mistake that was.
My current cable in Manitowoc is COmcast Cable. Their monthly charge is $37.00 a month. Dish claimed that they were only $29.00 a month. Well, they forgot to tell me that this was for only 1 TV. Who has only 1 TV these days? I have 4 TV's, so that jacked my monthly bill to $50.00 a month. Then they forgot to add all of the taxes, fees, thinking about tax fees, fees to cover the taxes for the person who is collecting the fees, and taxes on top of those taxes again.
By the time I was done, I was looking at an $89.00 bill
with one movie unpopular movies tier. Let's see, cable at $37.00 or the equivalent of dish at $89.00?
Even though they forgot to tell me the minor details, I knew I was getting ripped off the minute they arrived. Not at all like the Pig in the Dish claims! Then it was time for the unprofessional installer to begin. Instead of explaining everything as the Cable Company Technician did when he hooked me up, the DISH SNAKE just grabs his pliers and gets ready to start cutting into my existing Comcast Cable outlets. At that time, I asked him what I was paying for in a new install if he was only going to cut up my existing lines. He said that this is the way they do all of their installs. So I told him to hold on while I called Comcast and made sure they did not mind.
Well, guess what, they told me that those line were owned by Comcast, since they installed them, and that when I decided to come back to cable, there would be a charge to have these lines replaced since spliced lines cause picture quality problems and that their policy is that they can not reuse them. So I explained this to the dish pig, the snake got really angry, said that he was not able to complete the job unless he cut into the existing Comcast Cable line, and at that time, he packed up his hammer and pliers, got into his truck and left.
I have to admit after talking about to other sad satellite owners, there must have been an angel watching over me that day, because the nightmare would not have ended there. I was told that this special was not always that low, but after 6 months, it would go up to $129.00, and because I was in a 1 year contract, there was nothing that I could even do about it because the monthly fees were taken directly off my credit card. That is, unless I wanted to pay a $400.00 penalty for canceling early. I have to say, Cables the best and THANK YOU COMCAST for everything, including the great customer service.
Jerry
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
James
Whitewater,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
Do your research first before buying....
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, December 19, 2005
Hello, I have been a customer of directv for 3 years now.Before that, i had Warner cable for 10 years and every year without a good excuse they raised the rate(S).The customer service is good and it will always depend on who you get to come out to your house to install the equipment.The first time I moved, the guy they sent was excellent! Very through with the dish position and everything else.The second time I relocated(all less than 6 months with no cost to me,just to re-up my current contract),the guy they sent wasn't very good. He did get the job done though cause he was smart enough to call his boss to get the right info on installing the dish and equipment.You do have the right to refuse someone just like any other tradesman if you don't think that they are capable of doing the job correctly.I, myself came within a inch of saying someone else until I had the full confidrence that he could do the job and if he screwed up that they would sent someone else to hook me up asap!I wouldn't go back to Warner cable if you paid me!!!For all those who have beenthinking about changing from Warner Cable to Directv, DO IT ASAP!You will kick yourself in the butt foir not doing it sooner like I did to myself. I love the on-lineprogram changing access that I have.PUTit this way, if Warner cable is all there was left, i would just have rabbit ears!Don't go with charter cable either.They tried to take money out of my girlfriend's banking account without her consent!!!NO WAY YOU CAN GO WRONG WITH THE DISH UNLESS IT SNOWS OR RAINS ON THE RIGHT ANGLE! THEN, YOU CAN GET A COVER FOR THAT TOO IF YOU CHOSE TOO?Just make sure that you call directv not no other 3rd party people.Always ask for specials too. they dont hide them like the cable companies do. and the cables on your house that comcast cable claimed were theirs? Well, if they were, why didnt they come back and get them then?I beleive that home owner would disagree with that statement. I'd have to say it would belong to me if they are installed on MY HOME!The cable companies don;t care about losing customers either!!!Directv works with you if you have a big problem where the cable compaines blow you off!!
JW
Myrtle Beach,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
call Directv first and not any of these fly by night rip-off companies
#4Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 05, 2004
I 100% agree with Cody. I have been a DirecTv customer now for 9 years, and NEVER have I had any problems like the ones Jerry encountered. As a matter of fact, we just moved, moved our Directv service with us and had the installer out the same day we closed on our new house. He was very professional, went over each step and was finished in less than an hour. So, best advice is like Cody said, call Directv first and not any of these fly by night rip-off companies. I will never go back to cable.
Cody
Soda Springs,Idaho,
U.S.A.
Please be clear with your information.
#4UPDATE Employee
Thu, April 01, 2004
This information I am willing to provide to you has to do with a standard Direct Tv installation. Your first mistake was not doing your homework on your purchase. The company that you called for your installation was not Direct Tv specifically, but was one of many third party contractors looking for a quick sale. If you contact dtv for an install, here is what you get.
1. 1,2, or 3 room system for only the handling and delivery, installation free.
2. A standard installation which includes intallation of all the equipment (the dish, CABLING, and receivers).
3. A 20 minute tutorial on how to work your system.
Yes, you do have to pay $4.99 for each additional reciever on your account past the first one. (for 2 receivers, one charge of $4.99, 3 receivers - 2 charges of $4.99 and so on down the scale.) If you would have called dtv specifically, they would have informed you of all of this during your purchase, directly off the confirmation page.
Direct Tv provides 100 percent digital picture, exclusive access to the nfl ticket, about 50 channels worth of available pay per view movies, excellent customer service, the ability to change your programming immediately by online service - the automated phone line - or customer service, and 24 hour customer support.
Yes, the normal price for service is $39.99 for the total choice plus with locals package, but right now for the first 6 months you get 10 dollars off that as a new customer discount. For this amount you get over 130 channels including 100 percent digital local channels if available in your area. How many channels are you getting for $37.00 a month thru cable??
If this was direct tv service and not dish network you were about to purchase, your information is incorrect. The price would not have gone up to $129.00, but by just $10.00 to the normal price. (unless you added more programming) And yes there would have been something that you could do about it, just lower your programming a little to save. Your are not committed to that same package the whole year, just keeping your service active with at least the minimum package on your account. Also, the cancellation fee is not even close to $400.00. More like a maximum of $150.00, or pro-rated to $12.50 cents per month you don't keep the agreement.
When it comes down to it, you always should do what makes you happiest, but maybe you should give direct tv a 2nd try. Try calling 1-800-531-5000 to place your order, rather than thru a 3 party contractor. If you have had good customer service thru comcast, that is great. But most comcast customers do not get the same. Direct tv is number one in customer service (according to jd power and associates) and is always willing to work with customers about pricing issues, or discounts. I wish you well with comcast if you stay with them, but direct tv is definately the better selection.