I should probably take this to a consumer forum instead of Dkos, but I'm so angry that I'm going to start screaming if I don't get this off my chest.
I didn't notice it until the second month because it's on autopay, but my Directv bill was suddenly $47/month higher starting in July. Last night I noticed it on my August bill. Luckily I haven't received September's yet.
I tried to keep the bill low. I don't have any premium channels. When I ordered the service early this year I went over all the charges very carefully before I committed, because I know these companies have a habit of springing extra charges on you and burying things in fine print. The agent and I went over what the charges would be the first and second year, and she affirmed that there would be nothing extra. Not one word was said about a free trial of NFL football that I would have the responsibility of cancelling after six months. I never would have agreed to it. I hate football. You'd have to tie me down to get me to watch it.
Now they're telling me that not only can't they reverse the charges for for July and August, but they can't cancel the package. I am committed to it for another 18 months. They don't care that no one ever told me about it or that I never wanted it - there was a notice on my bill that I had to cancel by Sept. 20th therefore I'm stuck with it.
After 30 more minutes on hold, I reach someone supposedly higher up. He tells me the same thing - yes, they have a right to give me a service I never wanted and put the burden on me to cancel it; it was on my bill and I didn't call them therefore I agreed to it. No, there is no one else I can talk to; he is only a supervisor, but he is the highest-level customer service person in the company who takes phone calls from customers. He can't tell me how I can file a formal dispute. He can't connect me with the legal department. He can take $10/month off the package, or I can write a letter to the president of the company - that is all. Nothing I say makes any difference. He is absolutely not going to help me in any way. He is a stone wall.
So I tell him I want to cancel my service. I am trembling. I know I am going to be charged a hefty early cancellation fee and I intend to fight it, but all I can think about now is not giving them any more money. I was already intending to cancel when my contract was up. It's too much money and not worth it.
But then, miraculously, I am connected with someone who I think is going to close my account who suddenly says she can remove the NFL package and reverse the August charge for it. The only thing I will have to pay is the July charge. The guy who just had me in tears for 15 minutes was lying when he said that that no one in the whole company could do anything. All I had to do was threaten to close my account.
These companies are crooks. I don't care if something is in the fine print. I don't care if they have the legal right to do it or not. A legitimate business doesn't trick its customers into paying for things they haven't ordered and don't want. And they don't treat them like garbage when they have complaints.
I've had Comcast and Dish and hated them both. I thought Directv was better. It's no wonder these are among the most hated companies in the country. I can't wait to wash my hands of the lot of them.
I'm still being robbed, but only of $47. It's amazing how they get you to think that's a good outcome.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Wed Sep 25, 2013 at 2:33 PM PT: UPDATE: Not suprisingly, Directv turns out to the the only company I can remember dealing with to send me an email hoping I was satisfied with the service I receive but NOT ASKING ME IF I WAS and providing no avenue for feedback. Figures.