Complaint Review: DIRECTV - LOS ANGELES California

FYI everyone, there is a current class action suit filed against Directv and Best Buy regarding the sale/lease deception. I found it doing a search.

Directv changed their business model some time ago and went to a lease program. The price you pay in the store or from Directv is just a portion of the total cost of the unit. Hd DVR's for instance actually cost about $599 rather than the $199 that they retail for now. I don't know how it worked in your case but on the boxes at Best Buy where I shop there's a sticker that clearly states it's a leased unit. The paperwork I received from Directv after activating my last DVR clearly stated it was a leased unit. And, the CSR I talked to when I activated the unit also reminded me it was a leased unit and that I was subject to a commitment. I'm not saying this happens in every case but that's how they've operating in the past 6-9 months.

Directv changed their business model some time ago and went to a lease program. The price you pay in the store or from Directv is just a portion of the total cost of the unit. Hd DVR's for instance actually cost about $599 rather than the $199 that they retail for now. I don't know how it worked in your case but on the boxes at Best Buy where I shop there's a sticker that clearly states it's a leased unit. The paperwork I received from Directv after activating my last DVR clearly stated it was a leased unit. And, the CSR I talked to when I activated the unit also reminded me it was a leased unit and that I was subject to a commitment. I'm not saying this happens in every case but that's how they've operating in the past 6-9 months.

Directv changed their business model some time ago and went to a lease program. The price you pay in the store or from Directv is just a portion of the total cost of the unit. Hd DVR's for instance actually cost about $599 rather than the $199 that they retail for now. I don't know how it worked in your case but on the boxes at Best Buy where I shop there's a sticker that clearly states it's a leased unit. The paperwork I received from Directv after activating my last DVR clearly stated it was a leased unit. And, the CSR I talked to when I activated the unit also reminded me it was a leased unit and that I was subject to a commitment. I'm not saying this happens in every case but that's how they've operating in the past 6-9 months.

I have also fallen victim to the leased reciever issue. I bought 2 HD recievers and an HD DVR reciever from Best Buy. I spent over $500 for the three recievers. I noticed that I was being charged $4.99 for each reciever on my bill and called them to inform them that these recievers were purchased and I owned them. I shouldn't be paying a lease fee if I spent over $500 for recievers that will be obsolete in a year should I??? I was told by DirecTv that I do not own the recievers. Best Buy just facilitates the leasing of the recievers, they don't actually sell them. So basically, I spent $500 for the privilege of LEASING 3 recievers. Don't listen to the suggestions of buying them from a store... It's a ploy! The DirecTv guy told me that I can only purchase recievers directly from DirecTv. If I buy them at Best Buy, I'm only agreeing to lease them.

DIRECTV, Inc. 2230 E. Imperial Highway El Segundo, CA 90245 US +1.3109645000 fax: +1.3109641093 Hope it helps, good luck!

Hi Sharon, Boy do I sympathize with you. I finally filed a complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs here in Los Angeles. No outcome yet. Also, I must have made 100 phone calls to Directv to try to resolve this. They were complete jerks and continually refused to provide me with the phone number for the office of the president (supposedly located in Colorado.) I found the number with the help of the Better Business Bureau. The corporate office is in fact here in Los Angeles as well. I spoke at length with a nice gentleman who kept offering me more and more bill credit. I told him I did not want credit but only for them to stop lying to their customers and restore my rights to the receivers I purchased and paid good money for. I recommend you call the corporate office here in LA and file a complaint of your own with the FCC, Department of Consumer Affairs, and Better Business Bureau. I wish you well.

I had been a customer for years. Their service went downhill. I had a box, but it wasn't working, replaced a box (from a store. the receipt says SALE). In the box with the box was a note stating that THE CARD had to be returned to them, not the box. Long story short, the service continually got worse and I went to another company. When I cancelled, they told me if I didn't return the box, it would be $300.00. Then I got a bill for $200.00 and an additional amount of $200 something for "early cancellation". Excuse me? I was their customer for 7 years. Early cancellation? I don't think so. They refused to give me the street address of DirecTV, a PO Box ONLY. I was going to Federal Express their "card" directly to the CEO's office. I wrote to the CEO, my AG and their state AG, BBB of both states and am now awaiting a response. NOTE: When I replaced the last receiver and called them to activate it, I explained that we thought it was a bad receiver. Guess what? They didn't ask for THAT receiver back. I hear you Jennifer, we bought 'em and they want them so they can resell them. Sounds a little shady to me, too.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings G, but even though you 'bought' your equipment from Best Buy, you are still leasing. We 'bought an H-20 receiver from Wal-mart in September 2006 for 104.66 and cancelled our service in October 2006. DirecTV informed us that even though we got our receiver at Wal-mart, this is considered a lease. We were then told that we would have to return the receiver to them and be out the 104.66. We were also told that we owed them 190.00 for programming the we 'signed a contract' for. We are now receiving collection calls from some agency in Michigan threatening our credit and it's only been 2 wks since they sent us our last official bill and the box to return the receiver. We were their faithful customer for 10 & 1/2 years. That made no difference to them. Just some food for thought. My husband and I know where Jennifer is coming from.

G, I've tried to get them to take the receivers back so I can buy them from Circuit City as planned. They refused. they offered me credit and free programming which I refused. I have made complaints with the Better Business Bureau, and Los Angeles County Dept of Consumer Affairs. I really think what it's going to take to end their theivery is a class action suit. Thanks for your input, I've got it under control for now...

Thank You , I am a nice gentleman and NO I dont work for Direct Tv , All I can say is that they did change policy for leasing as I stated in previous post, I am shocked that you are having this problem because anytime I call with any type of question I am treated with the Respect I deserve as a Customer. I dont want to tell you what to do but if it were me I would return what I got from them and get refunded the money & purchase it locally to avoid the lease deal and you would own the equiptment. I Realize that does not change the behavior of the people you had talked to but I would also contact Direct TV and demand to speak with someone higher in the company and would explain the situation and I would let him know that I EXPECT a reasonable and fair resolution that is acceptable to you. With my past experiences with small issues they have been wonderful and I have NO Complaints with Direct Tv. I think that they will do what needs to be done. Good Luck

The exact point is they lied to me and didn't tell me they were leased. I have been a Directv customer for 10 years, mostly without incident. It seems over the last few years, a pattern of lying to customers has emerged which is unacceptable. I am told by the Directv people I can't buy receivers from anyone anymore not even from Best Buy (something I also know to be a lie.) I asked for a phone number for the corporate office and was told they had no phones (more lies.) Come on, how dumb do they think we are?? Funny, but your explanation sounds exactly like that of the only nice gentlemen I talked to at the corporate office. Are you sure you don't work for them?

HI I AM SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH DIRECT TV . I HAVE BEEN WITH DIRECT TV FOR 6 1/2 YEARS AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM , I DID NOT GET MY RECEIVERS FROM THEM I PURCHASED THEM AT BEST BUY (I HAVE 4 RECEIVERS & TRIPLE LNB DISH). I FOUND OUT THAT DIRECT TV HAS CHANGED THERE TERMS TO EQUIPTMENT BEING LEASED BECAUSE WHEN THEY BROUGHT EQUIPTMENT TO CUSTOMERS BEFORE AND WHEN PEOPLE DID NOT WANT DIRECT TV ANY MORE THE RECEIVERS WOULD GET THROWN IN THE TRASH - BUT NOW BY HAVING RECEIVERS LEASED IF YOU DECIDE YOU DONT WANT DIRECT TV YOU NEED TO RETURN THE RECEIVERS OR GET CHARGED FOR THEM --IT JUST KEEPS RECEIVERS FROM GETTING THROWN OUT IN TRASH. IF I COULD MAKE A SUGGESTION -IT MAY BE INCONVENIENT BUT IT WOULD AVOID THE LEASE ISSUE - YOU COULD RETURN THE RECEIVERS AND DISH & THEN PURCHASE THEM FROM A BEST BUY AND THEN ALL THE EQUITPMENT IS YOURS THAT IS WHAT I DID. JUST A THOUGHT

HI I AM SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH DIRECT TV . I HAVE BEEN WITH DIRECT TV FOR 6 1/2 YEARS AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM , I DID NOT GET MY RECEIVERS FROM THEM I PURCHASED THEM AT BEST BUY (I HAVE 4 RECEIVERS & TRIPLE LNB DISH). I FOUND OUT THAT DIRECT TV HAS CHANGED THERE TERMS TO EQUIPTMENT BEING LEASED BECAUSE WHEN THEY BROUGHT EQUIPTMENT TO CUSTOMERS BEFORE AND WHEN PEOPLE DID NOT WANT DIRECT TV ANY MORE THE RECEIVERS WOULD GET THROWN IN THE TRASH - BUT NOW BY HAVING RECEIVERS LEASED IF YOU DECIDE YOU DONT WANT DIRECT TV YOU NEED TO RETURN THE RECEIVERS OR GET CHARGED FOR THEM --IT JUST KEEPS RECEIVERS FROM GETTING THROWN OUT IN TRASH. IF I COULD MAKE A SUGGESTION -IT MAY BE INCONVENIENT BUT IT WOULD AVOID THE LEASE ISSUE - YOU COULD RETURN THE RECEIVERS AND DISH & THEN PURCHASE THEM FROM A BEST BUY AND THEN ALL THE EQUITPMENT IS YOURS THAT IS WHAT I DID. JUST A THOUGHT

HI I AM SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH DIRECT TV . I HAVE BEEN WITH DIRECT TV FOR 6 1/2 YEARS AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM , I DID NOT GET MY RECEIVERS FROM THEM I PURCHASED THEM AT BEST BUY (I HAVE 4 RECEIVERS & TRIPLE LNB DISH). I FOUND OUT THAT DIRECT TV HAS CHANGED THERE TERMS TO EQUIPTMENT BEING LEASED BECAUSE WHEN THEY BROUGHT EQUIPTMENT TO CUSTOMERS BEFORE AND WHEN PEOPLE DID NOT WANT DIRECT TV ANY MORE THE RECEIVERS WOULD GET THROWN IN THE TRASH - BUT NOW BY HAVING RECEIVERS LEASED IF YOU DECIDE YOU DONT WANT DIRECT TV YOU NEED TO RETURN THE RECEIVERS OR GET CHARGED FOR THEM --IT JUST KEEPS RECEIVERS FROM GETTING THROWN OUT IN TRASH. IF I COULD MAKE A SUGGESTION -IT MAY BE INCONVENIENT BUT IT WOULD AVOID THE LEASE ISSUE - YOU COULD RETURN THE RECEIVERS AND DISH & THEN PURCHASE THEM FROM A BEST BUY AND THEN ALL THE EQUITPMENT IS YOURS THAT IS WHAT I DID. JUST A THOUGHT

HI I AM SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH DIRECT TV . I HAVE BEEN WITH DIRECT TV FOR 6 1/2 YEARS AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM , I DID NOT GET MY RECEIVERS FROM THEM I PURCHASED THEM AT BEST BUY (I HAVE 4 RECEIVERS & TRIPLE LNB DISH). I FOUND OUT THAT DIRECT TV HAS CHANGED THERE TERMS TO EQUIPTMENT BEING LEASED BECAUSE WHEN THEY BROUGHT EQUIPTMENT TO CUSTOMERS BEFORE AND WHEN PEOPLE DID NOT WANT DIRECT TV ANY MORE THE RECEIVERS WOULD GET THROWN IN THE TRASH - BUT NOW BY HAVING RECEIVERS LEASED IF YOU DECIDE YOU DONT WANT DIRECT TV YOU NEED TO RETURN THE RECEIVERS OR GET CHARGED FOR THEM --IT JUST KEEPS RECEIVERS FROM GETTING THROWN OUT IN TRASH. IF I COULD MAKE A SUGGESTION -IT MAY BE INCONVENIENT BUT IT WOULD AVOID THE LEASE ISSUE - YOU COULD RETURN THE RECEIVERS AND DISH & THEN PURCHASE THEM FROM A BEST BUY AND THEN ALL THE EQUITPMENT IS YOURS THAT IS WHAT I DID. JUST A THOUGHT