Has anyone else experienced a Directv Nightmare? We signed up (leaving Dish Network for them), expecting the promised "incredible" picture quality, big savings, new DVR, etc., etc. What a total disappointment. To be fair, the good points were: (a) an installation guy who was on time, friendly, not afraid of our Rottweiler, and who got the job done quickly; and (b) very tidy equipment that didn't take up much space. The bad points take up the rest of this blog, so brace yourself.
We discovered during installation that, if the installer has to do any "extensive" work or wiring in your attic, Directv charges you extra, despite the "free installation" claim. By the way, "extensive" = if the installer has to run a line from the telephone box in your attic down to your entertainment center - you know, the usual stuff done in installations.
Later that day, remote control in hand, we experienced the first of what would become daily frustrations. The screen displayed the message "SEARCHING FOR SATELLITE 771" sometimes in the middle of a program, sometimes in the program guide, and nearly always if we were recording something. After awhile of this nonsense, it switched to a blue screen with the Directv logo bouncing around on it. We learned that, if we moved fast enough, we could get our original screen back; otherwise, it meant resetting the damned equipment - a good 30 minutes of time wasted waiting.
We called Directv, foolishly expecting customer service/support. What we got was this: "Oh, your problem is obviously in your connections. Go through and check both ends of all your connections; and that will take care of it." So that's what we did. It had no effect whatsoever. We called Directv again, tried to explain the problem remained, and received the same advice more emphatically (Is this like shouting at someone who speaks a foreign language?), this time suggesting that we check ALL the connectors, including the ones in the attic. It's a good thing I had someone to help me with this, as I'm gimpy and couldn't possibly climb a ladder.
You can guess what happened next, right? We did the whole check-the-connectors-routine, and again, it didn't work. But we were in a pattern now: We call Directv, and they give lousy customer service. They simply couldn't go past the "check your connectors" stage.
So in the three weeks we had Directv, we didn't have ONE SINGLE DAY of uninterrupted service. Not one. Seriously. Wait, now, it gets better. The change to Directv was supposed to save me money. I just received my first bill (for 3 weeks of service?) and it was $22 MORE than Dish's bill for a full month of service! AAARRRGGHH!!!
After a rotten three weeks of this, I called to cancel my service, so I could return to Dish. Only then did I learn that we supposedly had "a contract" with Directv - news to me, as they neglected to mention this during our sign-up. When I explained that we hadn't known about, much less signed, a contract with them, they tried to tell me that when we signed our approval of installation - after the fact - that was the contract. Ha Ha Ha! What crap.
I told them that it's illegal to try to impose a contract after the fact, but the representative didn't believe me. When I explained the nightmarish situation we'd dealt with for three weeks, only then did they offer a service call - finally. But I told them that it was too little, too late, and told them to send me the boxes to return their crummy equipment. And that's what we did.
Yes, they did send me a second bill for over $400, claiming it was a "termination fee," but I told them to forget it. Nice try, though. (Further research online showed me that Directv has a reputation for sending clients old/refurbished receivers, which often don't work. Consumer websites have pages of complaints about this.)
We're back with Dish now, and very happy.
Okay, deep breath. . . inhale - - - - - exhale - - - - - - okay, I'm relaxed now. Totally relaxed.
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