Billing dispute with Direct TV

You have posted on a forum for credit/debt advice. You have a customer service question.

However, if you recieved the hardware and no contract was ever signed, it looks like you are out of luck, unless you can get a refund on the hardware.

Perhaps posting to a customer complaint bulletin board will likely be more useful to you.

This is not legal. You need to dispute the item with the company. Write a letter to the manager and tell him about your payment done. If necessary, show proof of the debit in your bank statement. The manager should post your payment towards the account.

Go to www.ftc.gov. Review info. on the fair credit billing act and the equal credit opportunity act. There may be enough in those statutes to help with a dispute.

Here is what I believe happened. When you paid with your debit card,they pulled your credit or they pulled their inhouse records and seen that you owed them money. So they said no tv for you. I am not sure of the legality of what they did since you were not a signed up customer when they kept your money. Dispute with them. If it doesn't work out,then file consumer complaints with your attorney general and the better business bureau.

:oops: Forgot to mention something very important. Since you paid with a debit card and goods/services were not to your satisfacton,go to your bank and do a chargeback. This is a procedure disputing that they have no reason to have your money so you want it back in your account.

I think they should have told you they were going to do that. It sure seems like what they did was less that honest, but I feel what you and your husband are doing is also less than honest. I used to collect for a phone company, and we ran into this type of situation all the time. Wife owes, husband or child tries to get new service at same location without paying old bill in their name. It really is a shameful thing to do. That being said, I'm not really sure what they did to you was "legally" right.

:oops: I misunderstood the part about you owing them. Disputing the charges for the hardware would only work if the couple did not recieve the hardware, unless your bank dispute policy applies to customer service issues. Additionally, we are all unaware as to whether or not a contract was signed.

Also, you owe money, and you paid with YOUR debit card. You might have to refer to your old contract with them...

I think that directv is starting to mess with their books. I have (well had an account with them until this happened) We were a directv cust for 2+ years and then we missed one months payment. About 1 week after payment was due we got a letter from a CA telling us that we owed the money. Oue Directv service was still active and just showed that had a outstanding balance along with our current month bill. We paid it all to Directv and then I closed the account/canceled service. The CA kept calling and calling about the money. I told that a$$ that we paid Directv in full. But he kept telling me that is not his problem, until they update it with him then he will keep calling. Then I got creative, He called one day and I had the time. I asked if he could hold on the line for a min. I then 3way'ed directv billing in the call also. And I made them tell the ca that we were paid in full. The CA then requested some other crap but it was taken care of. Just beware that I think they are starting to get creative with their books right now.

Count Vlad, are you saying that an active account was sent to a CA? I am in customer service for directv, collections being part of my job, and have never heard of such a thing. If you don't mind can you provide more information? I would be more than happy to look into this. I am very curious about it.

Guest,

Yes the account was sent to a CA and it is still active. But because ao the service that we have recieved from directv (not directed at you) we have canceled it and are now going with cableinternetphone with our cable provider. All 3 of those with the calbe company saves me about $65 or more a month. So I get to drop verizon and their crappy dsl too. Hook up date is thusday.

As I spoke to Count before this post,this is directed at Guest who is supposed to be with directv. I can believe it. That company is on my last nerve. Fail to send me a bill and then have the nerve to call.Where's my money? Where the hell is my statement? You guys over there should realize there are federal laws that dictate disputes with creditors. Directtv has one last chance,if they forget to send my statement ever again,out the back door your receiver shall go!!! Guess you can tell I don't like you guys much.

Cajun, They hit my last nerve already. I just had a very pleasent surprise. The cable company had a guy reschedule for next week in my area and called me and asked it I wanted to get hooked up today. I said, he!! yeah. LOL So now I have a good impression of the cable company so far. To bad Directv could not think of their cust's like this.

cajunbulldog, I work for directv, and don't care whether you believe it or not. It is my job not my life. I have a wonderful family that is my life. I was just very interested in Count Vlads situation. Thats it. Nothing more. If you feel service is unsatisfactory, then by all means do something about it. Count Vlad did and appears to be happy with his decision. Only you can change what you do not like. Please don't get negative on me and infer I am not what I say because you are angry. Do something about it. Have a nice day.

For Guest,
As long as you hide and remain unregistered in this forum, your word will not be taken too seriously. So you work for direct tv,that's good. Everyone has to work somewhere. My comments were not a personal attack in any way.I am simply stating that your firm's billing department has issues it needs to address. For you to take it personal shows me there is some truth in what I say. Have yourself a good day and remember if you want happy customers then provide the service they contracted for.

You are one miserable person cajunbulldog.

:mrgreen: I won't even deem your post as worth comment.

Quote:

No comment says the blind mouse to the deaf cat.

I just switched from Directv to Dish Network myself. I had billing issues with Directv too, such as getting billed for pay per views we did not order. We didn't have a phone line connected to the receiver in months but every month something new popped up on our statement. Plus, the average price was going up and I thought the quality in our area kept getting worse. Now with Dish, everything has been great so far. They were here on time to install the new equipment, etc. The installer was very nice and answered all of our questions. I have to say the quality if so much better than with Directv. When I paid the last bill to Directv, it was like saying good riddens to bad rubbish.

Iam writing for a friend she has Direct tv and is very unhappy with them.They have done other things but last time they came to install a box for another room they somehow cut the wire to her internet through the cable co. and she had to havecable guy come out for 3rd time because of these people. She is trying to cancel with them and they want her to pay a portion of the annual bill and I don't think she should have to pay anything because all they do is screw up.Thanks please reply

Judy,since your friend had the service installed,they would be obligated under agreement/contract with Directtv. For them to breech contract without paying remainder of balance,they will have to show that company did not perform their service according to contract.I think the first direction to take is what I call "the public complaint". They would file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau,Attorney general in their state and state where directtv is located. I am not sure of that location. Hughes Network Systems owns them.

To whomever reads this, Right now, I am very angry. Last Oct. we signed up with Quest for phone, broadband and Direct TV. At the time of the agreement WE WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT THE $20.00 VOUCHER WE WERE TO SEND TO YOUR COMPANY. When we signed up, we agreed to $29.99 monthly for one year. We put our tv on vacation the end of November until April 1. We received a bill on May 27 with the amount of $128.13 for April and May. This is a far cry from $29.99 a month. I called immediately and was told it was because we hadn't sent in a $20.00 coupon that we NEVER received we were being charged the full amount of $62.39 and $67.76. (Far cry from $29.99) I talked to Jesse in Idaho and he told me that there would be a fee of $87.50, but the amount would be discounted the charge for the days we were charged for but didn't have your service. Now, today, July 5, I received a call to call 800-913-6581 concerning our bill. When I finally reached some one they said our bill was now $106.00 for disconnection. WE WILL PAY YOU THE $76.22 THAT WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD BE CHARGED BY JESSE, ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE. WE WILL NOT PAY $106.00. THIS IS A ROTTEN THING YOU ARE TRYING TO DO TO US. MAYBE YOU HAD BETTER TRAIN YOUR PERSONNEL BETTER SO THAT THEY AREN'T LYING TO US. WE WERE VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOUR COMPANY OVER THIS. WE WILL NOT RECOMMEND DIRECT TO ANY OF OUR FRIENDS, OR ANYONE WHO ASKS US.
YOU CAN LOOK FOR A CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $76.22 AFTER WE HAVE HEARD FROM YOU.

I currently subscribe to Dish Network and have for a few years now and throughout my experience with them I have been really happy with their collections of services. Ironically, I started working for them so I had a great seat for the technological boom that took place thereafter. I've always had great experiences when ever calling in for questions on billing or on the few occasions where I've required tech support. One of the best things I have come across recently has been the Sling Adapter, you all probably know this as "TV Everywhere". There are a lot of companies trying to make their mark with this new concept however from what I've seen, Dish has really outdone themselves. The Sling Adapter, a small easily installed piece of hardware is the lifeline for turning your mobile device into a roaming television. The only other piece of the puzzle missing from your lifeline is the down-loadable app for a variety of mobiles. Quite simply an amazing piece of fun especially for those who travel frequently or even for those who just have the hottest new technology. Either way I'm all for watching the future unfold at Dish.