Complaint Review: DirecTV - Lousiville Kentucky

 I opened my account with DirecTV in 2004 (act# xx290). I was a subscriber that had an auto transaction taken at the beginning of each month so my account was never late or past due in the almost 10 years I subscribed with them.

In March of 2013 My service stopped. The auto payment was made and no tech was dispatched to the issue. After relentless calling the DIRECTV number, and getting many different operators and offices a tech was dispatched.

The tech showed up in a late model car in poor condition. The tech was in blue jeans and did not have a trusting personality. The tech did not bother to examine or listen to the problem but immediately told me to upgrade to a new receiver and sign another 24 month contract. The receiver the receivers that I had were all less than 3 years old and were new in my opinion. When I refused the tech rudely departed with many rude comments.

A full month passed with no service and an auto charge was made for the month of no service. I called DIRECTV many times and was told a tech will be getting in touch with me yet none ever did. Another month passed with no service and another auto charge was made, this would make for 2 months with no service. Again I was told a tech was on the way out and my service would be restored. I clearly told several rep that no more payments would be made until service was restored. I was charged for a 3^rd month even after I expressly told DIRECTV that I did not grant them permission to take any further charges.

At this time I was asking for refunds for the 3 months of paying for service that I never received. I was told a full credit would be made once a tech restored my service. For the following 3 months I was told that a repair tech was on the way that I should her from him by the end of the week, yet none ever did contact me.

With the auto charge off the monthly bill increased. I was told that I needed to be up to date on my payment before a tech could be dispatched. I refused to pay any further monthly bills. Even with the DIRECTV rep fully aware that I was not getting service I was told to pay and credit would be applied later.

After 7 months I decided to demand return of the 3 months that was paid for without service. The DIRECTV rep agreed to refund the 3 months of no service that I paid for. I was given a confirmation number and a date as to when the my card would have the charge back made. The date came and went with no refund. When I called DIRECTV to inquire I was told the rep was in error and a refund would never be made. Only credit would be taken against future service. The DIRECTV rep was rude and demanded that I pay an outstanding debt or a charge would be placed on my credit card for the remainder. I clear told the DIRECTV rep that I would not allow a charge to be made. I was told I had no choice and a charge would be placed on my credit card regardless if I agreed to it or not.

Both my Wife and I instantly called Sun Trust Bank, the holder of our debt card , to report this unauthorized (illegal) charge. We were told to stop the charge we would need to cancel our bank card and get new ones. The Sun Trust rep inquired about what company it was that made this threat. When I told the rep that it was DIRECTV she told me there was a procedure just for DIRECTV unauthorized charges. I was told there was a vast amount of them DIRECTV unauthorized charges. I was told to immediately stop all my credit cards and to use a method that would guarantee a charge would not me made. The Sun Trust rep alleged that DIRECTV was “sneaky” and had ways to charge my new cards.

After being charged more than $360 for service I never received and no service for 7 months my relationship has been terminated with DIRECTV. I spoke to several attorneys and was told there is no way to sue DIRECTV being told they have a user agreement that somehow you auto agree to each month (I never signed any contract from Direct TV save for by initial install in 2004). I was told that for me to argue my case it would take in excess of several thousand dollars and I would most likely receive a default dismissal.

If you call DIRECTV explain that you want to send a certified letter your told that you cannot do so. I explained that I wanted to bring court action and was laughed at with the comment “good Luck” and never given an address.

In the 7 months I have made more than 100 calls and explained my case each time. It seemed nothing that had taken place was recorded and I always was greeted by a rep that wanted me to explain in great detail in an almost defensive manner what I had been through.

DIRECTV has blatantly broken the law charging me for service when none was supplied. DIRECTV blatantly broke the law when I was told to continue paying for no service when they openly admitted that I did not have service. DIRECTV blatantly broke the law when they threatened to charge my credit card even after I told them they did not have my permission.

To resolve this issue I require $400 check to be mailed to me. I do not trust DIRECTV with my new credit cards that I was forced to get. The $400 includes a harassment fee of $60 for all the wasted calls made to DIRECTV and forcing me to change out my credit cards.