Directv bill from year ago?

[Billie]

Hey ladies,

We cancelled our service with Directv months ago and finally got around to sending in our receivers. We received a refund for the return of the receivers several weeks ago. Today I received a bill from them for PPV movie purchases made in June.

I called and was told that because I had ordered through a remote and did not have a phone line hooked up, they had no way of knowing that the movies had been ordered until the receiver had been returned.

I remember trying to order a few PPV movies, but had received a message that I needed to connect a phone line in order to do so. I didn't have a line that would reach, so we never watched the movies. At no point was I told that I had been charged for them and since they hadn't shown up on the next months bill - I had assumed that I hadn't been charged.

He told me that since I didn't call to dispute any charges, then they have to assume I watched it. But, I didn't know until NOW, that I was being charged for anything. Again, I never received a message that my account had been charged - only that I would need a phone line in order to complete the transaction.

Is there any way around this? I asked about a timeline in which they were no longer allowed to bill me for a charge. I was told that there was a timeline, but only if it were to appear on the bill. Since this is 'just now' appearing on the bill, then the charge is legit and the timeline doesn't apply.

[adoremybabe]

We have had it happen twice where we were charged for a movie that we never watched. Since then we have disconnected the phone line to the receiver.

If I were you I'd call back and absolutely insist that you didn't watch the movies. Also strongly note that there was no way for you to dispute the charges if they never showed up on a bill to make you aware of them. Assure them that if they were charged, you would have disputed them at the time.

By the way, DH call Direct TV both times that we were charged and they revoked the charges.

[Billie]

He told me that he would take my word for it that I didn't watch them. However, I was told they could only revoke one of the charges. I can tell by the type of movies we were charged for that they were ordered from different individuals (myself, hubby, babysitter) - rather than trying to order one myself, having it not work and then trying to order a different one.

I told them that I wouldn't pay it and was told it would go to collections....

I tried everything I could think of to get out of the bill, but was told they could only remove one of the charges.

[mightymoo]

Call back again, talking to a different person can make a difference. If you don't get traction talk to a manager.

I've had folks I know get good traction by starting the conversation by asking to speak with someone who has the authority to rescind the charges. The rep you spoke to may not have had the authority to do so. Often times front line CSRs are given limited powers to give credits, etc.

[Viola]

Originally Posted by Billie

I remember trying to order a few PPV movies, but had received a message that I needed to connect a phone line in order to do so. I didn't have a line that would reach, so we never watched the movies. At no point was I told that I had been charged for them and since they hadn't shown up on the next months bill - I had assumed that I hadn't been charged.

Could you have watched the movies, or was that not even an option? The phone line connection is how they charge you, but if you were getting a message that you needed to hook up a phone line or call in (which is what we used to do sometimes when our DirecTV was not hooked up to a phone line), were you circumvented from watching the movie because of that?

He told me that since I didn't call to dispute any charges, then they have to assume I watched it

You are disputing it now, when you are getting the bill. It's been awhile since we've had DirecTV, but the way it used to work was it would allow you to watch a few movies without "paying" for them first, but after you hit a certain limit, you'd have to call in and authorize it or hook it up. I'm just trying to think if you could claim your ability to watch was impeded, and the fact that it didn't show up until now is proof. They still have to pay whatever it is they pay to the studios, so they are probably just willing to split the difference, but maybe if you got a hold of a manager, you could get the charge cleared.

[Billie]

Originally Posted by Viola

Could you have watched the movies, or was that not even an option? The phone line connection is how they charge you, but if you were getting a message that you needed to hook up a phone line or call in (which is what we used to do sometimes when our DirecTV was not hooked up to a phone line), were you circumvented from watching the movie because of that?

Watching the movies wasn't even an option unless the phone line was hooked up (which we didn't do). We got a message saying that the transaction wouldn't be complete without the phone line. I explained that to him and he said there was no proof of that.

I'll try calling again tomorrow and speak to someone else.

Thanks!

[4kidlets4me]

I used to work for Directv and the csr was correct. When there is no phone line connected the movie is never transmitted to DTV but it is stored on the card inside the receivers. When Directv gets the receivers back they check all cards for any unpaid movies and customers are then charged for them. Usually we could waive one of the movies but that is at the discretion of the managers and it's based on previous account history. If you constantly dispute pay per view you are less likely to get one waived because technically your contract states only one ppv movie waived for the life of the account.

As far as not being able to watch the movie, the receiver will allow 2-3 movies to be bought and watched without the phone line being hooked up then you get the message you have to hook up phone line. By that time there is already a few movies on that card you will be charged for eventually.

[Viola]

Originally Posted by 4kidlets4me

By that time there is already a few movies on that card you will be charged for eventually.

Oh, so they could be charging her for older movies before she got that message? Is it possible to watch movies after getting a transaction not complete message? I think that's the thing I don't get, why would they give you that message unless they wanted you to call in or hook up the phone line and authorize the charges? I would just assume I didn't buy the movies at that point.

How do they handle it if you own the receiver and never turn it in? Sorry, I guess this is all off the point.