Complaint Review: Dish Network

In August of 2010 I signed up with Dish thinking I would save money and get away from the horrible customer service at DirectTV. 

When the tech showed up at my house to install my HD receiver and satellite dish, he was unable to find an HD signal.  I opted to keep the HD receiver, the VIP622, because I have a friend who is privately contracted with Dish and I knew he would be able to find the signal with no problem...At the time I actually didn't realize this friend was contracted with Dish, I only knew him from DirectTv...but when I called for advice I realized right away I had made a mistake trusting Dish's inexperienced tech.

My friend came over and asked why Dish's Tech had given me the older model DVR VIP622, instead of the available model that was a step up.  I told him I wasn't sure and he let me know I would have nothing but problems. Unfortunately he couldn't switch it out because I hadn't called him for the install.  He immediately found the signal and hooked me up.

6 months later my receiver refused to give me a guide. I called wonderful tech support and tried every trick under the sun to no avail.  They said they would ship a receiver out, but I would lose all of my recorded programs unless I wanted to pay $50, and the only way to do that, was to pay a tech $96 to come do it.  So they shipped the receiver...

I continued to have problems with the new receiver, like randomly recorded shows, loss of sound, freezing and hour recordings that lasted 4 hours. It also like to delete ALL of my scheduled recordings.

Like clockwork, we're 6 months in, and my receiver is freezing and overheating every hour. I have to keep a fan blowing on it to keep it on that long.  I called and immediately let them know that this time I wanted a tech, my programs saved and an upgrade to the receiver they should have installed.

While they readily admitted I should have gotten the newer model, they would only give it to me if I re upped my contract for another 2 years. They wouldn't send a tech, even though I am disabled and it's my second receiver...but I could pay $96 for it, and the extra $50 to save my programs.  I COULD buy new insurance for 6 more bucks a month, and then everything was covered except the new model.  So I'm trapped.

If I don't get the new model, and renew my contract, I'll be doing this again in 6 months...even though it's THEIR admitted error.

I haven't been able to make the call, even though I know I have to.  Biggest mistake I ever made switching to Dish. While DirectTV had horrible customer service, my receiver worked unfailingly for 4 years.

BEWARE people searching for satellite....stay away from Dish. My daughters Xfinity in higher quality definition, and she doesn't have to deal with a satellite dish company...