DishTV charges hidden fees
I purchased a DishTV from a local Radio Shack and was told that if I had cable TV, I could bring in the bill and receive a 2 receiver dish set for $99.99 and free installation.
I took the top cahnnel package, the America's top 150 channels for 39.99 and was scheduled for a installation. The company that insallated the dish and receivers didn't install the set right and I had to perform the installation myself with the assistance of a phone customer service technician.
After getting the system setup, the customer service technician told me that I could get a free offer of 3 months of free movie channels and could cancel at the end of 3 months for a $5.00 fee and keep only the channels I wanted.
At the end of 3 months, I started receiving a bill for $83.00 and was told by customer service that I was locked into a contract for a year and that I couldn't change my service without being forced to pay for cancelation.
I attempted to talk to a customer service supervisor and was told I wouldn't get to talk to one because I didn't need to talk to one. Another rep hung up on me. When I did talk to a supervisor, I was told that was the way it was and it was too bad.
DishTV has no customer service when you are trying to resolve a complaint about money. I suspect they have been told to stall customers and force them to accept whatever they are told to accept.
I am not paying one more cent until I receive some satisfaction from this company. I love the service, but the cost I was told I would have to pay and what they are charging me is not the same.
Beware of hidden charges and a customer service deparmtent that is geared up to stall you.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Hays,Kansas,
U.S.A.
How is Dish Network a "rip-off" compared to cable?
#2UPDATE Employee
Wed, November 24, 2004
First, I actually work for a company called "Blue Sky Satellite". I am a warehouse manager in my region. We are a Regional Service Provider (RSP) for Dish Network. Meaning we do their installations. Now that I have established my credibility, it's time for my rebuttal.
Note: all of this is based on how our business is run in our area, and our company works FOR Dish Network, so what they say, we do.
Ok, I'm not sure where you're getting this "Top Channel package, the America's Top 150 channels for 39.99," because Dish network has no such deal. They do offer a Top 120 channel package for 39.99, but that is not even close to their "Top channel package." The "Top channel package" would be Americas Everything Pack, which is $82.99 for up to 2 TV's as long as there is a phone line connected to a 322 receiver. Now, it sounds like you had a bad installation. It happens. Dish network cannot control all of the independent contractors or even the RSP's in some cases, because there are so many. It is, however, the job of the RSP's to ensure that the installation was performed satisfactorily. Now, if it was done by an independent contractor, more than likely it does not meet Dish Network standards. In the case that the installation was incomplete, or unsatisfactory to the customer, the customer must contact dish network within the first 90 days after the installation, and Dish will then contact the appropriate RSP to correct whatever shortcomings were left. If the customer fails to contact dish within 90 days of the install (read the back of the yellow form that should have been left with you at the time of the installation for details, it explains all of this conveniently for you.), then the customer has to pay for whatever services they require, or perform the services themselves. As far as your "hidden charges," I think every american out there should know by now you have to read and research everything to find out exactly what you will be paying. And we all know that there are taxes on everything, and taxes are usually not included until the final sale. (which I happen to believe is a marketing tool, just like when they tell you something will cost $99.99, which for some strange reason sounds better than $100, and it is only one penny shy.) Now, I know from experience that a customer service rep will not hang up on anyone unless they are using vulgar language in a derogatory manner. (being hateful to the person on the phone who is just trying to do their job by listening to millions of complaints a day. How do you think they feel at the end of the day?) Also, occasionally Dish will try to comfort a disgruntled customer by offering them a deal. When they do this, make sure to listen to all of the details, and get at least their name. They will usually offer you their OP-ID as well. If they don't, you should ask for it. If you were told to cancel these channels within 3 days after 3 months had ended, you should have done so. I do not know what promotion you signed up under dish with, so I cannot comment on the 1 year contract deal, because some of their beginning offers have a 1-year contract. But, seeing how old this is, and that you have not modified it since (which means you probably never took the time to look at it again), I would say you probably were locked into a 1 year contract back then. And this concludes my rebuttal. If you desire more info, please, don't hesitate to e-mail me through this site. I'm sure there is some way they can connect us.