Complaint Review: Prime Cast-Direct TV

     In late June of this year, 2011,  my wife and I decided to shop for another cable service, the cable service we had would not cut us a deal.  Since I have had AT and T mobile for over two years, I decided to contact AT and T to see about getting cable through them.  Without realizing it they forwarded me to Direct TV.

     I talked with a man--I don't even remember his name--we have talked to so many people at Direct TV and Primecast in the past three months.  Anyway--he quoted us a package of up to four rooms installed--we could have an hd dvr installed in two of the rooms--free movie channels for three months--and a special rebate we had to apply for by creating an account on line with Direct TV.  With the $31.00 rebate credit a month--our cost for this service would be $59.88 a month--tax included--for the first year.  At the time--he never even mentioned the contract was for two years--and what the cost per month would be for the second year.  He also said there was no equipment to buy-- or any start up costs and that the installation was free.

     Bare with me--I will be almost writing a book here. The man at Direct TV said he could have  our service hooked up on July 2, 2011--this was a Saturday.  I told him it all  sounded good and he then took my credit card info--he explained to me a processing charge of $21.00--which would be credited back after installation.  At the time--this struck me as odd--I mean he just explained to me--no start up costs. 

     About two days later--we received a call on our answering machine--from a company identifying themselves as Prime Cast--the person at Prime Cast stated that they canceled our service, because they were the installers of the equipment in our community--and they were not certain--what package we had ordered.  I was upset at this point-because I did not know who this Prime Cast was and what business they had in canceling my service--crediting back the $21.00 to my credit card--etc.  Also the first man I talked to at Direct TV explained to me --that if we wanted the rebate credit of $31.00 a month to take effect immediately--I had to create an account with them on the internet and apply for the rebate on line as soon as I got off the phone with him--he gave me an account number to use on line to submit my rebate--which I did.

     Being uncertain who this Prime Cast was--I jumped on the internet on my account I created with Direct TV--to check to see what my order status was and about the rebate.  When I put my account number in to check my rebate--I got an error message stating my account number was no longer valid.  I then decided to contact Direct TV by phone to see what was going on.  Like I said I could write a book on this--which would take me weeks--so I am hoping a lawyer in our area will contact me about all this.

  To make a long story short--I have received several bills from Direct TV and Prime Cast.  I have a few bills from Prime Cast stating I owe $199.00 for having the second HD DVR installed.  On July 25, 2011 we received our first bill from Direct TV amt $100.71.  After complaining to Direct TV about the $100.71--I thought it was suppose to be $59.88 a month taxes included--I have a print out of my account with Direct TV--showing a ($158.29) credit on 07-26-11.  After receiving bill from Prime Cast for equipment charge of 2nd DVR--which was never disclosed--in fact stated no start up costs--no installation fees--no equipment to buy.  I have a bill from Direct TV on 08-25-11 for $187.42--they claim this bill was generated that we owed--since they started to cancel our service per our many requests to do so over the internet--contacting Direct TV-via email to request cancellation.  On 08-16-11--I show a credit balance of ($53.58) after disputing the $187.42 with Direct TV.  I show a bill on 09-25-11 from Direct TV for $51.13. 

     I am sorry if this all sounds confusing--it just goes to show the confusing mess--frustration--and stress we have been going through with these two companies--Prime Cast and Direct TV--during this three months of their so called service.  I have mailed two money orders to Direct TV--money order 9065605098 dated 08-16-11 Amt $119.76--which equals $59.88 a month for July and August 2011.  I have a money order 9036904263 Amt $59.88 for the month of September--and am currently getting around to mail Direct TV another money order for the amt of $59.88 for the month of October. Most of the bills from Direct TV show the payment is due on the 25th of the month--so the payment for October will be due October 25, 2011 and I will be mailing $59.88 for October this week--by money order. 

     Why did I just explain the above?  Because I came home from work yesterday only to find out from my step daughter and wife that we were not getting any TV via the satellite.  In calling Direct TV last night--we spoke with a Janice--who explained this was due to Prime Cast for not paying for equipment--mind you--we have not received a bill from Prime Cast for a while.  We have talked to Prime Cast a few times about this bogus charge--one lady at Prime Cast said after reviewing our account we did have a promotion and should not be charged the $199.00 charge.  A guy rep at Prime Cast we spoke with after that said that the supervisors were confused and that our promotion was for a $100.00 off the equipment and that we still owed $99.00 and that he would get the bill corrected and mailed--never received bill.  I did record part of the conversation of the guy stating our charge should be $99.00 and he would get it corrected and mailed on my cell phone while my wife was talking with him on our land line--speaker phone.  This was about 2 weeks ago--never received bill--which I do not believe we ever owed to begin with. 

     So here I have paid Direct TV three months service at the price quoted to me.  Getting ready to mail payment for October--no service--no cable.  So I am paying for and being charged for no service at all--great businesses.  To be honest with you--my wife and I have no desire to even speak with Prime Cast or Direct TV.  We plan on contacting a lawyer sometime this week about this whole mess.  If anyone knows a good lawyer for consumer fraud in the Grand Rapids Michigan area, I would truly appreciate hearing from you.  I am saddened and frustrated by this whole mess.  I wonder how many other people have been scammed by these companies.  I am now aware of the many law suits from most of our states against Direct TV--Prime Cast also has a lot of complaints. My opinion is that both of these companies are playing a ponzie scam on people--working together to get all the money they can.  I would like to hear if anyone has had simular issues with these two companies.   Sorry for the confusion and any mis-spelled words.  My wife and I are both pretty frustrated and stressed out.