Switching to DirectTV?

[annettemarie]

We have Dish Network, but they're raising their prices. We got something from DirectTV with a similar package for $19.99 a month. Anyone want to share their experiences with DirectTV? What should I be aware of when switching?

Thanks!

[BellaLuna Rayne]

You should check into packages because they are raising their prices again soon. I like their service, have only had a problem 1 time. That was when it was snowing pretty bad and the dish got a bunch plus ice. Only one channel went out though

[Porcelain Interior]

We don't have any service anymore, but we did at one time switch from DishNetwork to DirectTV.

The only thing I didn't like was the menu. The DirectTV menu is really hard to read in comparison to the DishNetwork menu, and it was harder to differentiate between different user lists, as we had set up one for my husband, one for me and one for the kids. I believe the DirectTV menus weren't color coded.

I don't recall exactly, but it bugged me enough that I wrote to them over it.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by BellaLuna Rayne

You should check into packages because they are raising their prices again soon. I like their service, have only had a problem 1 time. That was when it was snowing pretty bad and the dish got a bunch plus ice. Only one channel went out though

I'm pretty sure the $19.99 is for a year. You do have to commit to 2 years, though, so who knows what the prices do that second year.

[dogmom327]

I have had lots of problems with DirectTV. Be aware that the price they are quoting you is very temporary and will be raised (dramatically) shortly. Meanwhile, you are locked into a multi-year contract so ultimately you get stuck with expensive TV.

My main problems though have been general incompetence on their end. It took a half hour to change my address with them and they managed to mess up my local channels in the process. Two phone calls and maybe another hour of phone time later, they fixed that part but turns out they didn't actually change my address so I had to call back and fix that again.

Our contract is up in May. We will be switching to something else (don't know what yet).

[griffin2004]

I've had DirectTV for years and I love the service! I've never had one bit of trouble with any aspect, including customer service.

I have their HD service now which is so super cool.

Love, love, love me some DTV!

[TheBluebird]

I just got DirecTV a couple months ago. I would have prefered to stick with what I had before, but they didn't have it here yet. So far I haven't had any problems with them.

One thing I really didn't like was that my grandparents also signed up (in their 80's and finally getting something other than rabbit ears!) and they didn't read the fine print and no one explained to them in advance that they'd have to go online and give their email address to get the "service credit" on each bill that would make the cost of monthly service actually be what was advertised in big print on the front of the ad.

Of course, they don't have email so I had to do it. Which was fine, but it seemed annoying that we had to do that instead of just getting that price!

So read your fine print.

Speaking of: I used to have AT&T U-Verse, it's still being rolled out slowly across the country, so it's not everywhere yet. But it was great!!

[Mamafreya]

OMG! DO NOT get direct tv! I am sooooo upset with them right now. My hubby wanted to bundle with them through qwest and it has been nothing but a nightmare.

We were quoted a price but are charged at least $30 more each month than the quoted price. They never told us or informed us that there was a two year contract. I really wanted to go back to dish network but if I do that then I have to pay Direct TV $400.

They claim that by signing the work order you are in fact signing the contract.

So now we're stuck with them and I think they are awful.
I really want to go back to Dish Network.

[Porcelain Interior]

Originally Posted by Mamafreya

OMG! DO NOT get direct tv! I am sooooo upset with them right now. My hubby wanted to bundle with them through qwest and it has been nothing but a nightmare.

We were quoted a price but are charged at least $30 more each month than the quoted price. They never told us or informed us that there was a two year contract. I really wanted to go back to dish network but if I do that then I have to pay Direct TV $400.

They claim that by signing the work order you are in fact signing the contract.

So now we're stuck with them and I think they are awful.
I really want to go back to Dish Network.

OH yeah, I forgot in my post above that I bundled with Qwest and was quoted that everything (phone internet cable unlimited long distance) would be under $100 after local taxes and everything. So my bill without TV service was 87. Theoretically adding in a semi basic DirectTV package should have raised the bill by no more than $13 according to 2 Qwest reps. So we did it. The bill went up to $125. I don't think that was DirectTV's fault though, I think Qwest is a major scammer.

[Mamafreya]

Originally Posted by Porcelain Interior

OH yeah, I forgot in my post above that I bundled with Qwest and was quoted that everything (phone internet cable unlimited long distance) would be under $100 after local taxes and everything. So my bill without TV service was 87. Theoretically adding in a semi basic DirectTV package should have raised the bill by no more than $13 according to 2 Qwest reps. So we did it. The bill went up to $125. I don't think that was DirectTV's fault though, I think Qwest is a major scammer.

I think they're in cahoots together. That's exactly what they told us and when we called them back they told us that since Direct TV is resposible for the pricing there wasn't anything they could do. Although, after talking to Direct TV twice and being told that they were giving us a $15 discount and then not getting it. We called Qwest back and the guy we talked to went ahead and fixed the bill. Still though we are paying more than we were before we bundled with them.

[Porcelain Interior]

Originally Posted by Mamafreya

I think they're in cahoots together. That's exactly what they told us and when we called them back they told us that since Direct TV is resposible for the pricing there wasn't anything they could do. Although, after talking to Direct TV twice and being told that they were giving us a $15 discount and then not getting it. We called Qwest back and the guy we talked to went ahead and fixed the bill. Still though we are paying more than we were before we bundled with them.

I believe it. Most businesses are out to confuse the consumer. Hence the lengthy dramatic contracts and tiny type on everything.

We just cut TV period. We have free TV now because I got so fed up, that's off topic though! (Sorry)

I still prefer if we had TV to go through Dish Network. I thought they were more professional and had a better interface on their guide.

[MadameXCupcake]

I used to work for DirecTV..Its pretty good you just need to get the right person when you call, but its like that with any call center. Just hang up and call back if the person you are talking too isn't so bright.

As to the Qwest bundle you have to talk to Qwest NOT DirecTV it is their issue and DirecTV really doesn't have a thing to do with it.

Some of you guys having problems or want your bill lower call and ask for the customer retention department, they have some awesome deals.

[dogmom327]

This is a good point...I bundled with Qwest too. Never again. Granted the main problems I've had have been with Direct TV themselves but having to go through Qwest for somethings doesn't help.

[annettemarie]

I don't even know what Qwest is. I only want them for their cable.

[griffin2004]

I wouldn't bundle my neighbor's cat with Qwest. I hate that company beyond all imagining.

[annettemarie]

OK, I have to ask. What the heck is Qwest?

[Mamafreya]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

OK, I have to ask. What the heck is Qwest?

It's our local phone company. I think that Qwest is a west coast phone company? They suck. I wish we had other options besides cable. Anyway, that's off topic.

[annettemarie]

Oh, OK.

I don't want Qwest.

[Viola]

I think Qwest is a phone company, Internet, etc.

We had DirecTV for over 10 years and we really liked it, but we had problems with the reception when it was really rainy. I don't remember it being bad in in rain or snow until we moved to Nevada, so I thought maybe it was partially a positioning issue. I actually really liked the DirecTV interface option, but that was comparing it to the really clunky cable interface menus. I've never had Dish. We tried digital cable in the 90s, but it was really bad in comparison to DirecTV, so we got rid of it and went back.

We have cable now, and have the same issue with our actual rates being different from what we were quoted, but it's so confusing it is hard to know. And if you call to set up service, you never know what you are going to get. Someone may call you and give you a price that sounds really good, but when you call and try and get that price, it's like it doesn't exist.

[2cutiekitties]

Originally Posted by griffin2004

I've had DirectTV for years and I love the service! I've never had one bit of trouble with any aspect, including customer service.

I have their HD service now which is so super cool.

Love, love, love me some DTV!

same here!