Dish Network Pay per view and subscription charges we did not authorize, account was password protected. Nationwide
Again we found charges on our account that were not authorized. Dish Network promised us the last time this happened that if we programmed our boxes with a password and also put a password on the account and put our pay perview charge account balance to $0.00, there would be no way for anyone except the people who know the password to add, remove, order any pay per view or subscriptions of any kind. Not true we found out. Again, unauthorized charges were charged to our account, pay per view and subscription to a channel for $29.99 / month for the last 8 months since. A total of $273.91 this time.
Our local phone company bills for Dish Network, and beings my husband works for the local phone company, we do not receive paper bills, we have to access bills online. Like most people, I pay my bills through online banking and with that, you only receive the summary page of your bill, which does not have a break down of individual charges. Noticing the total was a bit high, but thinking that with internet, phone, and tv all on one bill, it could be high because of directory assistance or other silly things going up in price.
Now it is March 2009, I decide to call the local phone company to inquire about the exact breakdown of our billing. Come to find out....all these charges we have been paying every month. We are steaming mad, we were promised that without the password, there would be no way for anyone to order anything! Someone called up Dish Network, ordered pay per view, and subscribed to programming, just by verifying my name and address. We did not even think that this was possible beings we told there would be no way for this to happen. But, of course, Dish Network will not credit us for more than 30 days of the charges, even though their employees, promised us there would be no way for anyone to do this ever again to our account without a passdword. Beware of this company, I have heard more of things like this happening to a lot of people, now that we have been talking to others about this. Cable companys, like Charter have ways to block all pay per view completely, and you do not have to worry about the password bs that employees will forget to ask the person who calls in to order.
Kristijb
Hood River, Oregon
U.S.A.
14 Updates & Rebuttals
James
Guthrie,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
receivers
#15Consumer Comment
Fri, July 17, 2009
im not this is the problem. but when dish network comes out with a new receiver. it usually has a set of problems. the first 301 receivers had an eletrical problem . that when i was on a metal ladder working at the dish. i would grab hold of the coax connector to install my meter to align the dish. that i was getting shocked.turns out the coax ground had 60 volts ac on it. i check the outlet and couldnt find a proble. this happened mor thean once. but once the coax was connected tot he lnb everything was fine. three months later the 301 receivers went from having a 2 prong ac plug to a 3 prong ac plug. so i had a customer call me with a ppv problem. his account was being charged for ppv movies.but he was the problem . so i went out i put in a password into the receiver and didnt give it to him. about 3 months later he called me back to tell me he was still having a problem and i went back out. turns out the receiver was bypassing the passwords. he would go to themes then movies and then go down the list and highlight one of the ppv movies. he then would push select. it should have turned it to the ppv channel and then asked for the password. instead it pypassed the password and ordered the movie. i dont know if any of the receivers still have this problem . but it is possible.............
James
Guthrie,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
receivers
#15Consumer Comment
Fri, July 17, 2009
im not this is the problem. but when dish network comes out with a new receiver. it usually has a set of problems. the first 301 receivers had an eletrical problem . that when i was on a metal ladder working at the dish. i would grab hold of the coax connector to install my meter to align the dish. that i was getting shocked.turns out the coax ground had 60 volts ac on it. i check the outlet and couldnt find a proble. this happened mor thean once. but once the coax was connected tot he lnb everything was fine. three months later the 301 receivers went from having a 2 prong ac plug to a 3 prong ac plug. so i had a customer call me with a ppv problem. his account was being charged for ppv movies.but he was the problem . so i went out i put in a password into the receiver and didnt give it to him. about 3 months later he called me back to tell me he was still having a problem and i went back out. turns out the receiver was bypassing the passwords. he would go to themes then movies and then go down the list and highlight one of the ppv movies. he then would push select. it should have turned it to the ppv channel and then asked for the password. instead it pypassed the password and ordered the movie. i dont know if any of the receivers still have this problem . but it is possible.............
James
Guthrie,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
receivers
#15Consumer Comment
Fri, July 17, 2009
im not this is the problem. but when dish network comes out with a new receiver. it usually has a set of problems. the first 301 receivers had an eletrical problem . that when i was on a metal ladder working at the dish. i would grab hold of the coax connector to install my meter to align the dish. that i was getting shocked.turns out the coax ground had 60 volts ac on it. i check the outlet and couldnt find a proble. this happened mor thean once. but once the coax was connected tot he lnb everything was fine. three months later the 301 receivers went from having a 2 prong ac plug to a 3 prong ac plug. so i had a customer call me with a ppv problem. his account was being charged for ppv movies.but he was the problem . so i went out i put in a password into the receiver and didnt give it to him. about 3 months later he called me back to tell me he was still having a problem and i went back out. turns out the receiver was bypassing the passwords. he would go to themes then movies and then go down the list and highlight one of the ppv movies. he then would push select. it should have turned it to the ppv channel and then asked for the password. instead it pypassed the password and ordered the movie. i dont know if any of the receivers still have this problem . but it is possible.............
James
Guthrie,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
receivers
#15Consumer Comment
Fri, July 17, 2009
im not this is the problem. but when dish network comes out with a new receiver. it usually has a set of problems. the first 301 receivers had an eletrical problem . that when i was on a metal ladder working at the dish. i would grab hold of the coax connector to install my meter to align the dish. that i was getting shocked.turns out the coax ground had 60 volts ac on it. i check the outlet and couldnt find a proble. this happened mor thean once. but once the coax was connected tot he lnb everything was fine. three months later the 301 receivers went from having a 2 prong ac plug to a 3 prong ac plug. so i had a customer call me with a ppv problem. his account was being charged for ppv movies.but he was the problem . so i went out i put in a password into the receiver and didnt give it to him. about 3 months later he called me back to tell me he was still having a problem and i went back out. turns out the receiver was bypassing the passwords. he would go to themes then movies and then go down the list and highlight one of the ppv movies. he then would push select. it should have turned it to the ppv channel and then asked for the password. instead it pypassed the password and ordered the movie. i dont know if any of the receivers still have this problem . but it is possible.............
Aomara
Portage,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Happened, but caught in the act
#15Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 12, 2009
Most dish network systems have a two tv system, where you can use one reciever box for two tvs. Well we started seeing PPV bills showing up everywhere, so we went ahead and put a password on our main tv. anyways, they stopped for a while, but then one day i was watching tv and my 6 year old son was watching his tv, and i noticed him playing around with the remote... anyway, i went to see what he was doing, and as i suspected, he was ordering pay per view (dont worry, it was only movies :p).. i later found out two things
1. the password you set on the main tv does not go into effect for the secondary tv, you must set an indivisual password for that tv
2. pay per views dont cost money if the movie/event is not watched more than 5 minutes (saved me about $70 with the incident with my son)
anyhow, i suggest you set a password for BOTH tvs (if you have one) that only you know... and call dish network and tell them that you would like them to stop taking orders for ppv from the phone.
Aomara
Portage,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Happened, but caught in the act
#15Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 12, 2009
Most dish network systems have a two tv system, where you can use one reciever box for two tvs. Well we started seeing PPV bills showing up everywhere, so we went ahead and put a password on our main tv. anyways, they stopped for a while, but then one day i was watching tv and my 6 year old son was watching his tv, and i noticed him playing around with the remote... anyway, i went to see what he was doing, and as i suspected, he was ordering pay per view (dont worry, it was only movies :p).. i later found out two things
1. the password you set on the main tv does not go into effect for the secondary tv, you must set an indivisual password for that tv
2. pay per views dont cost money if the movie/event is not watched more than 5 minutes (saved me about $70 with the incident with my son)
anyhow, i suggest you set a password for BOTH tvs (if you have one) that only you know... and call dish network and tell them that you would like them to stop taking orders for ppv from the phone.
Aomara
Portage,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Happened, but caught in the act
#15Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 12, 2009
Most dish network systems have a two tv system, where you can use one reciever box for two tvs. Well we started seeing PPV bills showing up everywhere, so we went ahead and put a password on our main tv. anyways, they stopped for a while, but then one day i was watching tv and my 6 year old son was watching his tv, and i noticed him playing around with the remote... anyway, i went to see what he was doing, and as i suspected, he was ordering pay per view (dont worry, it was only movies :p).. i later found out two things
1. the password you set on the main tv does not go into effect for the secondary tv, you must set an indivisual password for that tv
2. pay per views dont cost money if the movie/event is not watched more than 5 minutes (saved me about $70 with the incident with my son)
anyhow, i suggest you set a password for BOTH tvs (if you have one) that only you know... and call dish network and tell them that you would like them to stop taking orders for ppv from the phone.
Aomara
Portage,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Happened, but caught in the act
#15Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 12, 2009
Most dish network systems have a two tv system, where you can use one reciever box for two tvs. Well we started seeing PPV bills showing up everywhere, so we went ahead and put a password on our main tv. anyways, they stopped for a while, but then one day i was watching tv and my 6 year old son was watching his tv, and i noticed him playing around with the remote... anyway, i went to see what he was doing, and as i suspected, he was ordering pay per view (dont worry, it was only movies :p).. i later found out two things
1. the password you set on the main tv does not go into effect for the secondary tv, you must set an indivisual password for that tv
2. pay per views dont cost money if the movie/event is not watched more than 5 minutes (saved me about $70 with the incident with my son)
anyhow, i suggest you set a password for BOTH tvs (if you have one) that only you know... and call dish network and tell them that you would like them to stop taking orders for ppv from the phone.
Steve
Garner,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
HUH?
#15Consumer Comment
Sun, July 12, 2009
You did not check YOUR bill for EIGHT months and somehow it's DISH's fault??
Angela
Aliquippa,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
It happened to me to!
#15Consumer Comment
Sat, July 11, 2009
Just this morning I happened to notice a channel which had a message on it stating "your pre order for this pay per view event is confirmed" (it was a sporting event scheduled to air in 6 days from now and cost $29.95). I immediately went to my account page to review pay per view orders and there the order was! But what's funny is that it was ordered at 5 am on the TV in the master bedroom. No one in our home was even awake at that time!! We have two children who have no interest in wrestling and would have been sleeping in their beds at the time (not in our master bedroom).
I called customer service and talked to someone with a broken accent who told me that he had no way of cancelling it and that pay per view events are non refundable. (even though I it hasn't aired yet, it is just a pre-order!). He said he would note my account and I should call back when I get my bill and have it credited. Well this has me feeling very uneasy as it would seem it would be more difficult to get a refund "after" the event airs than it would be "before" it airs. I followed up with an email noting the conversation, but have yet to recieve a reply. I don't like to be left with this unresolved issue and no proof that I actually spoke to a customer service rep who said they would note my account (all I have his his name and id number which could have been made up for all I know or he may no longer work there by the time my bill arrives and I call back.)
I just don't understand why they cannot issue a refund for a pay per view event that has not aired yet. They are Dish Network for cryin out loud! They have a satellite in space! And they want me to believe they cannot get into their system to cancel an order for a customer that doesn't air six days away?????
After doing some searching online I found tons customers who've experienced the same thing and was is really suspicious to me is that a few of them also mentioned how the ppv was ordered at 5:00 am! I am wondering if there could be some sort of glitch in Dish Networks system that is happening? The time of order on other pay per view orders we've placed have always been correct.
So those that have replied should really think twice before assuming that the person making the complaint is lying or oblivious to what goes on in their home. IT IS HAPPENING!! A simple online search will reveal many similar stories.
Angela
Aliquippa,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
It happened to me to!
#15Consumer Comment
Sat, July 11, 2009
Just this morning I happened to notice a channel which had a message on it stating "your pre order for this pay per view event is confirmed" (it was a sporting event scheduled to air in 6 days from now and cost $29.95). I immediately went to my account page to review pay per view orders and there the order was! But what's funny is that it was ordered at 5 am on the TV from the tv in the master bedroom. No one in our home was even awake at that time. We have two children who have no interest in wrestling and would have been sleeping in their beds at the time (not in our master bedroom).
I called customer service and talked to someone with a broken accent who told me that he had no way of cancelling it and that pay per view events are non refundable. (even though I it hasn't aired yet, it is just a pre-order!). He said he would note my account and I should call back when I get my bill and have it credited. Well this has me feeling very uneasy as it would seem it would be more difficult to get a refund "after" the event airs than it would be "before" it airs. I followed up with an email noting the conversation, but have yet to recieve a reply. I don't like to be left with this unresolved issue and no proof that I actually spoke to a customer service rep who said they would note my account (all I have his his name and id number which could have been made up for all I know or he may no longer work there by the time my bill arrives and I call back.)
I just don't understand why they cannot issue a refund for a pay per view event that has not aired yet. They are Dish Network for cryin out loud! They have a satellite in space! And they want me to believe they cannot get into their system to cancel an order for a customer that doesn't air six days away?????
After doing some searching online I found tons customers who've experienced the same thing and was is really suspicious to me is that a few of them also mentioned how the ppv was ordered at 5:00 am! I am wondering if there could be some sort of glitch in Dish Networks system that is happening? The time of order on other pay per view orders we've placed have always been correct.
So those that have replied should really think twice before assuming that the person making the complaint is lying or oblivious to what goes on in their home. IT IS HAPPENING!! A simple online search will reveal many similar stories.
Some One Who Knows
Cleveland,Ohio,
U.S.A.
ppv
#15Consumer Comment
Fri, May 29, 2009
i had a similar situation with ppv movies....u can put pswrds on the remote and on the account and set the ppv limit to zero....but if the subscription is still showing up then that means that someone in your home knows all this info...so dnt get mad at the tv provider get mad at the one ordering it and telling you they didnt bc they did.....u can always check your purchase history for ppv movies to see which recever it was ordered frm....my ex had a bing porno issue...but always said he did not order them at it was the companies fault so we did all this...it stopped for a mnth then the cahrges were bck bc he knew my pswrd and could not help but order it....someone in your home might be doing the same
Dezi
Northglenn,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Understanding
#15Consumer Suggestion
Sun, May 24, 2009
So, these Pay Per Views and subscriptions were just called in from others and placed on your account? The only time I have charges like this were when our daughter ordered ring tone services from her cell phone on our account, for which we took full responsibility and dealt with our child about the problem (instead of blaming the company).
Dezi
Northglenn,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Understanding
#15Consumer Suggestion
Sun, May 24, 2009
So, these Pay Per Views and subscriptions were just called in from others and placed on your account? The only time I have charges like this were when our daughter ordered ring tone services from her cell phone on our account, for which we took full responsibility and dealt with our child about the problem (instead of blaming the company).