My experience with Dish Network. It all started very good but then somethings were just unbelievably went wrong by Dish Network. Here is how it started. I moved in my new apartment where I could get Satellite TV. I wanted SAT TV because it offers some international Channels which Cable do not offer. I didn't have the number for Dish Network so I straight went to http://www.dishnetwork.com, hoping that it is the site for Dish Network which it was. I went to their "contact us" page and there were two numbers their one for "existing costumers" and one for "new costumers". I called Dish Network on this number 1-888-825-2557 which I found on their website in "contact us" section for new costumers. I just repeated my self to clarify that I got the number from their website not from any third party website.
I called and got a very helpful person on the phone. I discussed the package I was interested in and mention I do not like to sign a contract. She placed my order and gave me the date for installation. I made a huge mistake of choosing the option for auto pay. After placing my order with them I was very excited and started to explore their website. I notice on one page that Premium Channel "Showtime" is offering 3 months free. I called back the same number and ask for 3 month free promotion of Showtime. I was told, Yes, i will get 3 month free and IF after 3 months I won't call back to cancel I will be charge .
I understood that deal because that is how it works in most of the deals like that. On the date of installation a nice guy came in, on time, spend good 4 hours installing the product. He mentioned, since I don't have land line phone I'll be paying $5 more for "Programming Access fee". I didn't like this idea because when I was placing the order nobody mention this to me.
Things like these should be told at the time of order. I ordered some international channels which either needs 2 dishes or the new special dish which is little bigger and good for all the transmitting satellites that I need for the programming that I ordered. I had to call Dish Network again to make them all work and one thing Dish Network Tech told me, which kind of surprise me. He said that I ordered my service from third party and I should call them for my installation issues. I was very surprised and I told him, I called the number on their website and I don't know anything about a third party involvement in this. If they send a third party to install then it is not my problem and they should deal with them, in case if anything goes wrong. He put me on hold and then came back and gave me the appointment for another tech to come out to fix.
I was being understanding so far because things still were smooth and I though it wasn't as bad to have some installation difficulties since they are sending somebody out in 2 days to fix it. Some guys showed on the promise day fix everything. So far there is nothing unusual in my story. So far, I became a big fan of the system (DVR) and company was completely fine. Now, here are the dates which are important to remember. I got Dish Network Service on Oct 16th, 2007.
When I signed up on the phone for Auto-Pay, they told me, it will be the same date every month means 16th. November 3rd, I got a email by them to see my bill which is ready on their website. I checked out the bill. They charge me for 2 months, from October 15th till December 15th. On the Due date section it only says AUTO-PAY, no date mention when it will be deducted.
Today November 7th, when I went to my bank I found out Dish Network has deducted $138.38 from my account on 6th. I do not have much cash to keep in my account and I'm usually hand to mouth. My account went into negative and I'm charged over draft fees. I was very angry because, first of all, I was never told a head of time that they will be deducting that amount on that day and, at the time of order nobody ever mention I will be charge for 2 months in my first bill. I came home and check their bill summery online and found out they also charged me for Showtime's free promotion offer. I was charge $12.99 x 2 for two months. I just couldn't believe it. Here are 2 problems.
1. I was never told the date of deduction will be November 6th or 6th of every month.
2. Showtime was a completely free promotion for 3 months.
I called them and talked to some, no common sense, talking like computer assistance. One was the supervisor name "Chirssy". They do not tell you their last names for privacy purposes and I do not know now many "Chrissy"s working for Dish Network. Why can't company give them ID #s or something. I told Chrissy about Showtime charge and I was never told the due date will be November 6th. I asked her to refund money for Showtime and pay my Over Draft Fee, since I was charged OD fees because of their mistakes.
An hour and a half argument and she keep repeating her self saying, "She is apologizing for the mistake and she will refund the money for Showtime but NOT for my OD fees." I asked her why and here is the explanation. This is very interesting so read it carefully. She said, the phone number for new costumers on dishnetwork.com is not their number its a third party number. How can that be, it is YOUR website and it doesn't mention anywhere that this is NOT Dish Network's direct number. I would post a picture here if I could, it doesn't say anywhere its not our main number.
I never could find their main new costumer number on their website. So, her explanation for everything was since you called a third party to place order they forgot to put codes and that is way I was charge for Showtime. She said, since I called third party to place order that was their responsibility to tell me the Auto-Pay dates. She put everything on the third party and completely refuse to refund my OD fees. Now, remember there is a transaction came in my bank account without informing me the date. It was not mention when it will be deducted anywhere on their online bill and I have not gotten anything in mail. Most unbelievable thing is, the number on Dish Networks own website is NOT their number, how in the world can I believe that.
I think this situation happened to several people by now and we are all ready for Class Action Law Suite. So please all of you gather here and please some attorney take a look into this. Dish Network is constantly getting away with this, they need to be stopped by law. Help Us.
Rashid
Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.
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