Tri-State Satellite Ripoff unethical business practices misleading contract incorrect information Evansville Indiana
On Nov. 03, 2004, we subscribed to Dish Network through Tri-State Satellite in Evansville, IN. We soon realized that it was not what we wanted. We would frequently loose the satellite. This would sometimes last for the entire day. We had subscribed to HD. The technician did not install it correctly and our 20 year old grandson corrected the installation. We were to receive a DVR with the program that we subscribed to. We didn't get it and after 3 calls to Tri-State we still did not get it. Our remote would frequently need to be reprogrammed because the neighbors remote would change our channels.
Many times I tried to call Tri-State during their office hours, which was on the answering machine, and would reach no one.
In October, I called Tri-State to cancel the program. I was told I could not cancel because a year was not up. I asked when I could cancel. They told me anytime after Nov. 1. This proved to be false information.
I called Dish Network on Nov. 22, 2005 and cancelled. They instructed me on disassembling the equipment and how to return it. This I did. Dish Network told me that I owed no money at all.
I heard nothing from Tri-State. In January 2006 I received a threatening, harrassing, intimidating, rude, and nasty phone call at my place of employment from a collection agency, Howell and Associates in Florida. They said I owed $1100 because I cancelled 8 days early. They said my contract was signed on Nov. 30.
The contract we had at home showed the installation date to be Nov. 9, 2004. It also was not signed by either my husband or myself. We never received a signed contract.
To adequately resolve this matter we hired a lawyer. This whole mess cost us $775, $500 to Tri-State Satellite and $275 to our lawyer.
I believe Tri-State to be unethical and misleading in the true dates of cancellation. We should have been given a contract with the dates and signatures on them. Anyone dealing with these people should be very aware of these practices.
Wiletha
Olney, Illinois
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
The Goat
Evansville,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Read the fine print; they took you legally.
#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, June 14, 2008
I would like to comment that I have no good feelings about this company.
However when you are in the moment of the sale you actually agreed to this with a signature.. And it's not good business practice to be straightforward about these things when you are preaching no contract length sales.
Here's how it works folks. Your satellite equipment is subsidized by the company that fronts the money for the equipment and is paid contractually by dish network and early cancellation throws a monkey wrench in their monetary cogs.
Buyer beware.
They are in the business to sale regardless of truth in advertising by the employees (which are well trained in product and salesmanship but not mentored for honesty).
In interest of professional respect for a ex employer I will not speak any more about the logistics of this company but again, buyer beware.