BBB Flooded With Complaints About DIRECTV, Dish Network (Cancellation fees $$$)

tvpredictions.com ^ | Phillip Swann

[Las Vegas Dave]

Washington, D.C. (August 3, 2010) -- The Better Business Bureau reports that more than 53,000 consumers have filed complaints about their satellite TV service in the past three years.

According to the BBB, 39,000 of the complaints were filed against DIRECTV while 13,000 were against Dish Network.

Many of the complaints, the consumer group said, stemmed from fees and terms in the satcasters' customer agreements. The companies often invoke penalties if customers cancel their service before their agreements expire; the agreements are usually two years in length.

“Many complaints to BBB about satellite providers stem from steep cancellation fees,” Stephen A. Cox, President and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, said in a statement released today. “If customers aren’t satisfied with their service or they can’t afford the cost after the introductory period, it isn’t that easy to cancel because the early termination fees can run into the hundreds of dollars."

Customers also have frequently complained about confusing introductory offers, billing issues and contract term extensions after equipment upgrades.

The BBB advises that prospective satellite TV customers read their agreements carefully before signing up and check bills closely to ensure their accuracy.

In the past year, government agencies in Florida and the state of Washington have filed lawsuits against DIRECTV for alleged customer service infractions. The cases are still pending.

[Las Vegas Dave]

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[BigSkyFreeper]

Many of the complaints, the consumer group said, stemmed from fees and terms in the satcasters' customer agreements. The companies often invoke penalties if customers cancel their service before their agreements expire; the agreements are usually two years in length.

That depends.  Mine was one year.  I switched to DirecTV several years ago, and then came back to DISH Network.  Both instances I was locked in for a year and you are told up front about the penalty for canceling before the contract is up.  With DISH if you sign up for a year, you pay for a year in advance and if you cancel before the year is up, they penalize you for the months remaining in your contract.

Wildblue Satellite Internet is the same way.  You're locked in for 2 years and you pay a heavy penalty if you cancel early.

[MrPiper]

Which is why,

1) I fired AT&T years ago,

2)I have a TV, w/rabbit ear antenna

3)the TV is a 1982 19" Trinitron sony.

Screw technology,, who needs it.

[John W]

Well, as far as technology goes, you didn’t post this via tin can and string.

[Boucheau]

Which is why I don't watch much TV at all.

For my family I purchased ROKU and a subscription to Netflix. After purchasing a ROKU box for $89, I pay only $8.99 a month for access to literally thousands of movies and TV shows.

I will never go back to being raped by cable/satellite companies.

[screaminsunshine]

Cancelled mine cause it went out with every rain. It was a hassle.

[MrPiper]

Well, as far as technology goes, you didn’t post this via tin can and string.

Correct,, I'm using the stupid neighbors free WiFi :)

[MrPiper]

For my family I purchased ROKU and a subscription to Netflix.

HULU is free,, it has a few short commericals,, but some really great old black and white movies.. hulu.com

[databoss]

But you had to get a digital converter box right?

[pnh102]

So why do people agree to service which imposes an early termination fee if they cannot afford the fee?

[Right Wing Assault]

Correct,, I'm using the stupid neighbors free WiFi :)

Ah, you need your neighbor's technology.

[TSgt]

It’s not the technology, it’s the dumb people who don’t read or try to understand their contractual agreements.

[camp_steveo]

I’m an installer, and EVERYONE knows the deal with the agreements.

If you sign a contract....DUH

[Yo-Yo]

"Opulence, I has it."

[RayChuang88]

This is why I have a Comcast Digital Preferred tier cable TV service account. I've had VERY good luck with their customer service, and the recent Xfinity service upgrade means there are very few channels available on satellite that I miss with my current Comcast service.

[Celtic Conservative]

Didn't notice the dogs playing poker in the background before, thats a neat sort of "did I see that or not?" moment.

CC

[donozark]

In many cases cancellation has nothing to do with fees, rather, service or lack thereof. I had DISHNETWORK. From day one it suffered from “rain fade.” Pixellation. Picture would lock-up during winds.
Installer had assured me DISH had clear shot to SW where satellite reception. It did not. I gave them 10 days to fix it or I’d bring it back to installer. DISH din’t fix it, so I took it back to installer. They weren’t happy.
DISH hounded my as for 6 months in an attempt to get me to pay remainder of contract. They got 0 from me...
Had to file complaint with MO AG, as did hundreds of Missourians. DISH finally settled 2 years ago with AG for several million$.If DISHNETWORK was the only source for television in America, I’d listen to the f’ing radio!

[printhead]

I’ve told the cold-call salesmen that when they can upfront tell me what the monthly bill will be, taxes and all without all the fine print that I can’t see or understand I just may sign up.

[this_ol_patriot]

Comcast has no cancellation fees or contracts in my area which is good.

What is that Xfinity, I get every non-premium SD&HD channel Comcast has, all the way into the 800's, is Xfinity something else? I want to keep things exactly as they are.