- Report: #139257
Complaint Review: Dish Network Echostar - Pasadena California
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Dish Network Echostar
P.O. Box 7203 Pasadena, 91109-7303 California, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-333-DISH
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
Dish Network, Echostar Ripoff Fraudulant advertizing customer service is stupid nonresponsive has a lot of trouble with the English language Pasadena California
Originally signed up with Dish Network after seeing Tv add and receiving "Special Offer" in the mail. I called the number listed on the Dish mail offer. The person I talked with had a lot of trouble speaking and understanding the English language. I recorded the call and confirmed what I was promised via a return E-mail to Dish Network. Installation was done on time and the system worked well.
Initial billing was incorrect and for twice the advertized amount. Dish Network finally corrected however; they charged tax (on labor) which was not mentioned. Dish Network sent a notice two months later that they were raising the monthly rates for service.
The Original Offers from Dish Network were:
1. Initial payment $49.99 (Actual $99.00)
2. First months service free. (Actual $49.99)
3. Second month approx. $10.00. (Actual $15.19)
4. Third month and after $29.99. (Actual $32.43)
5. No installation charge. (Actual $49.99)
6. Free DVR, HDTV, DVD after 90 days. (Requested DVR, received HDTV but did not receive DVR).
Telephone calls always ended up connected to someone that couldn't speak English. E-mails (4) were not answered.
This company is a master at fraudulent advertizing. Exceptions for free items are noted in very small print at the end of the (U.S. Mail document) solicitations to Sign up Today and all involve extra charges or time limitations. .
The word "FREE" is used 12 times in there mailed advertizement and all these FREE items have a hidden charge or time limit attached. This is mail fraud.
Paul
Prescott Valley, Arizona
U.S.A.
Initial billing was incorrect and for twice the advertized amount. Dish Network finally corrected however; they charged tax (on labor) which was not mentioned. Dish Network sent a notice two months later that they were raising the monthly rates for service.
The Original Offers from Dish Network were:
1. Initial payment $49.99 (Actual $99.00)
2. First months service free. (Actual $49.99)
3. Second month approx. $10.00. (Actual $15.19)
4. Third month and after $29.99. (Actual $32.43)
5. No installation charge. (Actual $49.99)
6. Free DVR, HDTV, DVD after 90 days. (Requested DVR, received HDTV but did not receive DVR).
Telephone calls always ended up connected to someone that couldn't speak English. E-mails (4) were not answered.
This company is a master at fraudulent advertizing. Exceptions for free items are noted in very small print at the end of the (U.S. Mail document) solicitations to Sign up Today and all involve extra charges or time limitations. .
The word "FREE" is used 12 times in there mailed advertizement and all these FREE items have a hidden charge or time limit attached. This is mail fraud.
Paul
Prescott Valley, Arizona
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Gary
Marietta,New York,
U.S.A.
This may be yet another violation of the May 22, 2003 "Assurance of Voluntary Compliance" by Dish Network/Echostar
#2Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 25, 2005
Paul, Don't lose that advertisement. You may want to do a search of the Colorado Attorney General's Website for the "Assurance of Voluntary Compliance" that these guys agreed to. The "News Release" URL is (http://www.ago.state.co.us/PRESREL/presrl2003/prsrl55.htm), without brackets, if Rip-off will allow it to appear. Here is an excerpt from the "release" on that subject: "The settlement requires EchoStar to clearly and conspicuously disclose, prior to sale or lease, all fees, including: required minimum programming fees availability of local channels additional charges for receiving local channels fees assessed for failing to return equipment fees associated with downgrading programming at the end of any introductory promotion period (so called free-to-pay fees)". You may want to contact the Colorado Attorney General about your problem with relation to the "clearly and conspicuously" part of that settlement. Although Arizona wasn't one of the 13 States involved with the settlement, I don't see why the disclosure requirements wouldn't apply in all States. (Otherwise the collectively involved Attorneys General would be turning their heads while Dish Network/Echostar continues the "at issue" practices in non-enjoined States. Doesn't seem likely!)
