Complaint Review: Dish Network & Progressive Cable

This company is a complete joke! They advertise on TV about the "cable pigs" raising rates and guess what... After only a few months of service I get a mailing announcing my first RATE INCREASE!

Yet again, this was a secondary problem to the fact the service never worked and was simply a mess-of-pixels on the screen... Then, every Sunday it would go out completely and just keep searching for a signal.

So, I called to for service. It seems that even though they installed a service that NEVER WORKED I would either have to fork-out $99 for a repair or agree to pay $5.95/mo + $29.95 for the repair. Ummm... Pay to get it fixed!? They sold/installed it broken and now I have to pay for repairs?!

Ok, I cancelled. On the phone they stated that because of my plan there are NO CANCELLATION FEES & THE EQUIPMENT IS MINE.

Surprise! The next day the company that sold me the junk system called and said "We're going to be charging you a $240 disconnection fee and collecting the equipment"...

Apparently when you join dish network you are subject to third-party agreements! Of course, when you call to cancel this doesn't come up. I was never told of the possibility of being charged in excess of $350 ($240 + $150 for the equipment I had already paid for) on the phone!

Either way, the bottom line with Dish Network is:

1) Terrible Performance - it NEVER worked!
2) Non-Existent Customer Service - they had a complete "tough sh*t" attitude. I spoke with Kirsten Lovelace at customer service.
3) Hidden Charges - No cancellation fees turned into $350+
4) Pay to Fix Their Problems - If they can't get their service working you will have to pay to help them get it fixed.
5) Price Increases - They advertise cable will increase your price and then they do!! You can sign a contract at $50/mo but still be stuck with it when they decide to charge you more.

STAY AWAY, STAY FAR AWAY! Dish Network is a SCAM.

Chris
Pioneer, Ohio
U.S.A.