Dish Network made me so mad this morning...

JD, good news is they came through, try that with the cable co. I swithced to sat from cable about 5 years ago and wont go back.

I use to work for DirecTV, and customers calling up to inquire about service could a get a free satellite. OR, they would be calling up with their bought equipment from BestBuy and would want to activate it. I never did cancellations, but do know that as part of "save-retention", that they would offer a new dish, and a (few) month(s) free to keep you on.

Of course, you would now be stuck in a years contract. So even though you think you're getting a deal, if you have even the slightest doubt...remember that you will be charged for a years worth of service apon calling to cancel (after your save retention call).

Mike

As long as we get what we're paying for, I don't mind staying for another year.

Even if we never would watch the channels, it's not fair that we've been paying for something we weren't getting.

That's cool that you were able to work it out. :)

~Mary

Don't let your guard down yet! These cable and satellite companies can be a little shifty!

They did something similar to us and we switched to Direct TV! :lol:

Our receiver went out and while they are giving them away, they wanted us to pay for a new one! :roll:

They'll be at our house at noon, so we'll find out.

Its rather amusing how our society has changed. I did not get cable until 1996 because I always thought it was a waste of money. Mainly got it because of the Golf channel back then.

Now and for the next 2 weeks I am doing without. Temporarily cancelled my cable to cut costs. Back to 2,4,7 and UHF. Its been kind of like going back in time for me.

LOL, that's a good point...I used to never watch TV, and when I did, Adelphia was only like twenty bucks a month. Now it's so expensive!!

~Mary :)

I really like to watch Discovery, and TV Land. And Gameshow Network. :)

I can HANDLE not having it, but am glad to have the good channels. :)

We had a few weeks left of the previous tenants' digital cable when we first moved in, the the account cancelled and the service ended. My husband balked at the idea of paying $50 monthly for cable.

Well, I am quite jealous...all I have is regular tv, and only 3 channels come in very good...we are trying to save money too. I would never get DirectTV again though. We had a big problem with them that led to $400 in bogus charges. They are expensive as it is, don't need the extra garbage along with it. I can't wait to get cable again though.

Everything got installed OK, no probs. at all. :) YAY!

Good deal!! Soapnet is ON!! :)

~Mary

But they don't play mine on Soapnet, I don't think....I like The Young and the Restless..lol

I would be surprised if they don't play The Young and the Restless...it seems like they have every soap opera ever on that channel!!

~Mary :)

I am going to pay to get cable restored next month. Kind of need it to watch the NBA playoffs.

For me its $45/mo for basic cable. Kind of a rip-off. I would try satellite but I do not have a south-west view for the dish.

Totally a rip-off, but necessary if you want to watch the playoffs :)

~Mary

I wouldn't recommend a satellite. Directv is raising prices again. We just downgraded our package and saved about $50.00 a month and now they are increasing the price of the package we have. But we are kind of stuck because we can't get cable where we live because the canle company claims that they can't do service here because we are to far out. We live straight behind the school and we are within city limits.

Ours went up $2 on Dish Network, and that's what drew my attention to the channels we were missing. $2 is $2...And I swear it goes up every year. We started this package for around $38.00, and it's now at $47.00.

Ours started at $34.00 and now as of March 1 it will now be $48.99 a month.

Gross. Just make sure you're getting everything you're paying for! That really made me mad.

I guess either way you are going to have to pay quite a bit.

I was doing a swap meet the other day for work, and I walked over to the directTV/dish network booth. The guy tried to talk me into trying to sell dishes along with my loans! LOL! I told him if he brought me a bunch of business, I might consider it :)

~Mary

I was going to sell dishes at one point, I think the pay was $50 per deal. I just didn't feel like doing all the leg work...lol

Well, I don't think it will really be worth it for me, I get a hefty chunk of money for each loan that I do, I may mention, "Oh yeah, I sell satellite dishes too, you want one?" and that's about it. I'm not going to put in any extra work :)

~Mary

Just to clarify a few points about cable vs. satellite. Here is the lowdown...I have inside sources (my husband works for the cable company). Each area is different and it depends on what is available in your area. If you live in a larger area, you have more options and usually a cheaper rate; due to competition. The reason that cable increases, etc. , is due to the networks. If they raise there prices to the cable companies, the cable company has to pass on the increase to the customer; so it really isn't the cable company, it is the major network corporations.

One disadvantage to satellite is if you have problems with the equipment or reception. Usually satellite installers are independent contractors and get paid by the job. You also usually have to pay if something is wrong with the equipment. With cable if there is an outage or you are having reception problems, you can call and get someone to fix it for free usually within 2-3 days. One thing you will notice is that a lot satellite, telephone, and cable companies are providing the same services (i.e. cable, phone, and internet). Eventually they will all become one more than likely.

I hope this clears up some of the questions and the differences. Sorry to go on a rant. It basically depends on the companies and where you live....

The things that you say are true. I live in a smaller area and we are not able to get local channels at all through satellite. That is mostly why I have stuck with cable - I don't want the trouble of switching and having a dish put up.

~Mary

For sure. My parents live in the country and are unable to get cable. Satellites do not provide local channels, so my dad put up an antenna to get the local channels.

Also with satellite dishes, the weather does sometime effect the signal they receive (snow, high wind, hail, etc.).

Our satellite will get local channels, but we have to pay $5.99 a month for them. Heck with that, we put an antenna outside on the garage, and they come in just fine. Sometimes it gets a bit staticy, but if we turn the fan on in the living room, and then turn it back off, it will clear up...lol Sounds funny, but it works.

LOL!

~Mary :)

What you did, Jessi, is similar to what anyone can do when it comes to your cell phone company. When your contract is up - if you like them, just call and say you want to cancel. You will go to a department that will just about open up the vault to keep you. You can usually snag a free phone and get twice as many min for the same price you are paying now.

---spam deleted, jessi.

Your situation reminds me of the time my direct tv went out. Now I started with primestar before direct tv bought them out. Now mind you I give these people about $65 month for years. Well wife on phone and they playing around and I finally got frd up and told woman either send me a tech to fix or tech can pick up receiver out my backyard when I chunk it out my house. These people got nerve. Lately it been the disappearing statement.We will go one month and get a call why didn't you pay. I am like wtf! Send me the dam@ bill and you might get paid. Last time that happened they were warned.You forget to mail my bill or call me about it and you are fired,terminated. Unlike some my contract has been expired for years.They call to upgrade and I am like no hell no.