Complaint Review: Satellite Systems

A company called Satellite Systems @ 135 Columbia, suite 100 Aliso Viejo CA. solicited me over the phone to purchase Direct TV and I did. I typed the conversation that day as it was. And here is what was agreed upon between and Sal their rep. and myself David John Bragga of 1591 Fall River Ave Seekonk MA 02771 Sal of Satellite systems and I made this agreement $134.00 paid on 3-21-2004 for (130) channels on Direct TV.

With insurance on al l equipment concerning all equipment necessary to own and operate Direct TV. Again this is a life time guarantee agreement, with Sal & includes installation, shipping, and insurance, Agreement # or research # (297487) Sal's ext. # 401Digital cable is the type of cable. Telephone # 1-877- 524-4759 or 800-615-0241 or 1-866-936-9777 The price is to be 29.00 dollars monthly and additional 10.00 after six months.

After five months will receive surround sound speakers times six of them, with DVD player. Have already paid for Satellite equipment and insurance again on 3-21-2004 with card @ xxxxxxxxxx again for life time insurance of equipment includes remote and basic installation fee's, Sal the representative states all equipment is life time guaranteed after paying the one time charge of $79.00 which was paid. Includes free up grades when satellites are upgraded or made better, plus free replacement of any damaged equipment for any reason includes remote for a life time beginning immediately after installation of said equipment. Moreover, I will own this equipment for a life time once delivered at Steere House 100 Borden street Providence RI 02903 which is where I work.

Approximately the time of delivery is sometime one week following today's date. I have provided my cell, work, and home telephone numbers for any communications required following this date in ending my conversation with Sal the rep from Satellite Systems. Now as of my complaint first of all they gave me the impression that they were in fact the company called Direct TV. However, of course they are not? As Direct TV tells me. So, I thought I was doing business with direct TV and did not have anxiety or was not apprehensive concerning purchasing an insurance agreement regarding a guarantee with them concerning my Direct TV equipment.

Nevertheless, the very next day after my installer installed the Direct TV equipment the receiver broke! I called Satellite Systems 12 - 15 times over the next day or so and after my promise of a life time of insurance/guarantee concerning my agreement for all equipment and up grades? Not only couldn't I get through in a timely fashion but they refused to help in anyway! So I called Direct TV & finally they told me to call Phillips the company that made the receiver and see if they would replace it since it only lasted a day? I did, and Phillips did replace the receiver box.

However, Satellite Systems refused to give me any assistance or help concerning my broken receiver and in fact told me it was not covered by them at all. As Sal had sold me and charged me for through my ATM/credit card on the phone 3-21-2004.. Well, after receiving the new box, all the rest of the equipment installed has worked fine. Nevertheless, the installer filled out some numbers on some documentation to be turned in 5 months after 3-21-2004 to receive my DVD and six surround speakers which I did as instructed. Hence mailing out all necessary documentation 5 months after 3-21-2004 including more documentation that I had to fill out in regards to very complicated paper work or documentation that Satellite Systems sent me sometime after the installer was done, in fact mabe weeks later.

In addition, after my box had broke Direct TV themselves stated they were not going to start my billing cycle until later for which date I'm not sure, but I sure can be obtained through billing. This was secondary to my in ability to use the receiver and the troubles I had concerning the receiver. Nevertheless, I did what I was being instructed too. However, recently I received a letter from Satellite Systems that I am not qualified to receive the surround sound speakers and DVD and in fact will not be receiving them at all. So, I called, and after 4 days of calling & calling and holding and holding I ended up speaking with a defensive and very rude women representative of Satellite Systems. She stated it was true I did not qualify any longer for the speaker's or the DVD as their other representative Sal and I agreed upon on 3-21-2004 and I had paid for.

In fact she stated that was the end of that. She sited that I filled out some paper work wrong and this was responsible for me not to qualify for the promotion sold to me over the phone by Satellite Systems. Of course as I stated my installer filled out the paper work for me regarding numbers and dates concerning what he stated I had to do to receive my DVD and speaker's. I simply mailed it out! Nevertheless, no chance to make it right (the paper work that is) just that I'm not qualified any longer as the women representative put it. NO that's all no other solution just as she put it your just not getting the speakers or surround sound speaker's, I am sill a customer of Direct TV and the have offered me & 75.00 off my bill for all my troubles and state that they are not a part of this company Satellite Systems.

When I told the women the man I had been speaking with Direct TV reported them to the Direct TV complaint dept. I thought she was going to laugh. As if maybe this is in fact just another branch of Direct TV? Moreover, I requested my money back on 9-7-2004 on the phone and in writing for my insurance which she stated she would not send me. However, she stated she would send me more documentation stating why I am not eligible for my money back concerning insurance and / or the DVD & speaker's They've just got my money and so far have not lived up to any part of their promotion or sales pitch on 3-21-2004! They just blatantly ripped me off and don't seem to care about it at all.

In fact I thought she was going to burst out laughing at me several times throughout the conversation as if she's been through this on a few times before, in fact when I call the company a rip off and her a charlatan, she stated she had been called that plenty of times and worse? I not sure on how to go about making sure that this company stops this scam rip off system that they have going for themselves? But I ensure you I will put plenty of hours in trying to obtain justice and stop these criminals in there tracts. I have been ripped off on the computer three times prior to this and in addition to this I have had it.

I have placed times two complaints about them over the computer through the Better Business Bureau today 9-8-2004, However, the BBB has no place in the complaint form to spell it out like this e-mail I'm sending you now. In addition, I hope someone at the BBB will help to put and end to this company rip off scam.

Nevertheless, I haven't much faith in the BBB as I stated I've been ripped off before and haven't got any help from the BBB in the past, that is the Better Business Bureau.

David
seekonk, Massachusetts
U.S.A.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!