Complaint Review: Dish Network

We paid for a receiver that we do not own, and then pay monthly rent (although they cleverly word it as fees, it is still rent) to use the receiver.

My husband chose Dish because they were the only choice for ESPN channels. We gave the $250 for the HDR receiver...which I later found out is NON-REFUNDABLE, and further that we DO NOT OWN the HDR receiver...as evidenced by the monthly service fees we pay; (HD fee $10.00 + DVR fee $5.98 + DHPP (insurance) $5.99 -required because we have the receiver). If we have a service call for any reason, they still charge us for coming out, although we're paying the DHPP.

We signed up with Dish before they made a deal with AT&T to offer package deals (phone+internet+Dish), and cannot cancel to get the package deal without a 6-month gap between services. During that time, Dish would take back the HDR receiver or charge us ANOTHER $250 if we keep it.

So if we give the receiver back, then we pay ANOTHER $250 to get it back when we sign up with AT&T. If we don't we continue to pay about $25 more per month by not having the services packaged. You must have telephone service to have Dish.

If service goes out, they do not refund you for that day's missed service; cable always did.

And don't get me started on their horrible ESL condescending customer service!

T
Round Rock, Texas
U.S.A.