Oh, and Dish requires the same. These companies are tired of getting ripped off by deadbeats who leave final bills. If you dislike the policies do not use their service. Go to the website and READ the terms. I bet your credit report is tore up from all the bad debts that you have not paid. And you call them thieves.

I had to cancel service bc of financial hardship and they would not let me suspend my account any longer than 6 months (my first complaint though their policy is understandable I GUESS).

Next, I tried several times to have boxes sent so I could return my equipment. Even though they updated my address and sent me my final bill, they were still sending the boxes to my old address!! I finally had someone in billing figure this out only AFTER complaing to them that they charged me a non-return fee but I had yet to recieve the return boxes. The first customer service people I spoke to said "oh, well as soon as we recieve your equipment you will be refunded." No one in customer service seemed to understand the principle of the matter or that now I had no money and an overdrawn checking account because of their mistake.

Third, I was also told initially that I could pay off the balance of my account in installments. I even made a payment that day. The woman I spoke to said everythimg was set and I could come back into my account online and make payments. I found out later this was not true and directv charged $500 to my debit card, leaving me moneyless for about 2 weeks now. I had no money for gas, food, diapers for my son, etc. Billing told me that they could only refund my non-return fee and could do nothing else for me. So a week later I still havent seen my "refund". Luckily I have nice family and friends that lent me money until I got paid today.

"I had no money and an overdrawn checking account because of their mistake."

You had no money because of a combination of your financial irresponsibility and inability to follow the terms of service with this company that you agreed to.

I discontinued my service 7/2011 have not received final statement 8/10/2011 my bank acct via debit card was charged for $147.91 money needed for the rest of my aug. bills. Vontacted direct tv customer service and was informed that i signed an agreement at the time of installation (installation was in 7/2010) stating that i agreed to allow Direct tv to charge my acct for unpaid charges.

I asked them to refund the monry stating that I did not receive paperwork at time of installation. Rep continued to challenge me not refund money. I have filed a complaint with the Oregon State Attorney general and the FCC I encourage everyone that is having problems to file complaints just go to the State website and find complaint info and file go to FCC website and file complaint. Direct tv is using predatory and deceptive practices to steal money from their customers jusdt like the credit card companies were doing until the politicians and lawmakers got smart and enact laws stopping the preditatory and deceptive practices. Go with DISH, much better company hopefully will never cross the line and steal customers money.

"i agreed to allow Direct tv to charge my acct for unpaid charges."

What are you complaining about?

Watch out Direct-TV . I was grandfather in to DIRECT TV because I was with company that was bought by Direct-TV .
I cancel there service bill was getting higher each year. After that Direct TV sent me bill for $450 for my equipment
that bought.many years ago

DirectTV is so frustrating to have! They are just full of BULLSHIT!! It's so upsetting how Customer Service can't help you with a simple thing. It's so fucking easy to see that what you need is manageable and they can't even do it. Is this even a legit company?? Are these people working educated or what?? I'm not even complaining fo my bill right now. Even though it goes up unexpectedly. You start off with one amount (not even the amount they informed you when installing, but something different) and later on it's something else again. I'm just trying to remove those movie channels they give you as a trial, but not being authorizied on the account, which I was suppose to be because I communicated with them during signing up. Now that's their mistake by not adding me, although my phone number and email is the one listed. I just don't get it how these people can be stubborn. And now leading me to corporate. BS!! I just asked for a simple thing. But no they want to wait until my trial is over so they can sneak up on charging us. I'm not even gonna go on my other experiences, I can't wait to move out where DirectTv is not the only cable option in my building.

I have been a customer of DirecTV for almost 10 years. From the day they installed it I have had nothing but complaints for DirecTV. It started with the contractor for DirecTV lying to me about the service. He had a hard time finding a place to put the satellite. I asked and he just mentioned the trees were in the way, so he would have to get a pole and charge us for it to put on the ground. This was done in the fall of the year so we had no way of knowing when the trees bloomed this would interfere with the reception of local channels. As the years went on it got worse and worse. Now from April until the end of November we get no local channels. This same contractor for DirecTV got us for $50. My husband told me to write a check for part of the bill and give him $50 cash. Well I was not thinking and gave him total amount on check and the cash. Caught it right away, called contractor on his cell phone, as he had called for directions. All he did was ignore me. Called office and they said there was nothing they could do because he was contracted out for company. Just had another mistake by company. I have been charged for 6 receivers for 5 months when I should have been charged for 2, of course we get 1 free. When I updated they gave me my 3 receivers but didn't subtract 3. I have used the same checking account since I purchased DirecTV. 3 Months in a row they put my account in wrong and charged me for the mistake. The checks kept being returned and found out through my bank they didn't put the 3 o's in that started my account. Had to pay over $400 to keep my account on. I was talked to and treated like someone who had their checks bounced. It is still on my account and have been trying to talk to someone other than a supervisor. At times they have been helpful, but for the most the representatives and supervisors have been rude. At times I was given specials but the money they have cost me and the aggravation is unbelievable. I broke my back so I relied on the TV to get by. I would never go back to cable, but want the people who work @ DirecTV get a course on how not to make so many mistakes, and how not to be so rude. We pay a lot for our entertainment. My husband and I are both disabled and on a fixed income. Left up to my husband we would be back on cable. The features are great on DirecTV, the mistakes not. They also made a mistake with our Baseball Package. Not understanding, they automatically give it to you the next year if you subscribe one year. They got us one year like that. The following year gave it to us again after telling them, screaming at them 4 times to not add it the next year, still cost us. We both are in and out of hospital and have bill paperless. Computer down most of time, so we just call in check to pay bill. After finding today's mistake, I will now have bills sent to house. Hope someone can help me with all these mistakes.

Why are you screwing over the long term customers that made you what you are today? I believe Krystal stated I had been a customer since 2003, I was looking to lower our monthly bill, AND get our outdated antiquated equipment replaced. The only way I could do that was to cancel my service and become a new subscriber... Krystal indicated that she understood and that she would process our cancellation. NEVER did she indicate that DirecTV would not allow the following.
So I cancelled my service and had my wife activate a new account so that we could get the whole home DVR service (tired of the 'record one, both or cancel notice), and new receivers and reduce our monthly cost by $20-30 while getting a greater DirecTV experience. Today you folks call and cancel our installation and accuse us of being 'criminals' and that DirecTV does not allow this and that we will now be without service for 24 months before we can re-subscribe.
That is a nice "Thank You for being your customer for so long".
Why can't LONG TIME subscribers get receivers and equipment upgrades (AT RESONABLE INTERVALS). Even the phone companies do that.
Our old 2003 Hughes RXs won't do HD, the DVR does 2 channels. Luckily last visit (DVR install) the technician put in a DTV antenna to replace the original DISH antenna that we had to use since our move in 2007.

So again I ask, "Why are you shafting us long time subscribers when you offer such a grand deal to new clients?"
BTW, when you deny an install when your own CS rep does not indicate any inpropriety and then infer that we are criminals for attempting this 'fraudulent act', we usually end up in the legal arena. Which will be fine by me, I can't wait for Dish and the media to get wind of this one.
So, there you have it, one VERY pissed off, dis-satisfied customer.
Likely no one will read this and we will get screwed by a company we have supported and made the premier sat provider on the planet. Unfortunately you forgot who put you there.

I can't wait for the calls to start. Missouri prosecutes 'No Call' violators.

I HAVE BEEN WITH DIRECT TV FOR YRS!!! I CALLED INTO TODAY FOR THIS SO CALLED SUPERVISOR NAMED SANDRA TO TELL ME THAT I SKIPPED A PAYEMENT AND THATS WHY MY BILL WAS SO HIGH!!!NO BABYGIRL STOP THE DAME PRESS !!! I PAY MY BILL FAITHFULY EVERY MONTH!!! I CALLED TO TELL THEM I WANTED MY PACKAGE REDUCED THEY SAID NO, NO VALUED CUSTOMER WE CAN DISCOUNT YOUR BILL EVERY MONTH FOR 6 MONTHS SO I AGREEDED.I STATRED GETTING BILLS SAYING I HAD PASS DO BALANCES THE HIGHEST WAS 294.00 DOLLARS???!!!SO I CALLED IN 6 DIFFRENT TIME AND GOT 6 DIFFRENT EXSPLINATIONS TO WHY THIS WAS HAPPING.NEVER DID ANYONE SAY I SKIPPED A PAYMENT THEY ALL SAID MY DISCOUNTS HADN'T KICKED IN. WHAT THE HELL???HOW DID YOU GO FROM MY DISCOUNTS HAND'NT KICKED IN TO THEY MADE A MISTAKE ON MY BILL ALL THE WAY TO I DIDNT PAY??!!I PISSED OFF!!! IV NEVER HAD THIS MUCH TROUBLE WITH THE SERVICE THIS FAKE SUPERVISOR DID NOTHEN TO HELP IN SO MANY WORDSSHE SAI I WAS TRYING TO GET OVER!!! I DIDNT ASK FOR ANY DISCOUNTS THEY OFFERD AND HOW CAN YOU GOIVE DISCOUNTS IF A PASS DUE HAS BEEN OWED FOR 5 MONTHS AND STILL HAVE MY CABLE ON???? THAT MAKES NO SENSE!!! IM MAD AND HURT !!! IWOULD NEVER TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY THING OR ANY ONE !!! THEY SAY MY PAST DUE BALANCEIS 155.00 THEY CAN HAVE IT!!!I WILL NO LONGER BE A CUSTOMER WITH THEM..IM NO THEIF AND I DONT APPERICATE BEING TREATED AS SUCH!!!

Have been with dtv under a year. Their customer service is a joke. Not sure where they find their agents. But they are normally useless and I always have to ask to speak to a supervisor. I have service plan protection. I had DTV come out because someone recently moved out of my complex causing disruption in my service. DTV billed me $55 on my next bill. When I called the agent didn't understand why I wanted a credit. After explaining it to him for15 minutes I waited on hold for another 20 minutes only to have the supervisor promptly fix it. Each time I call its a nightmare. After my contract is up I will be cancelling. And going back to my local cable provider.

Absolutely the worse customer service if that's what you can call it! I recently tried to get service with this company and apparently there was another customer with the same last name as mine who left a balance. They treated me like I was this person and spoke to me in an unprofessional manner. When I asked to speak to a supervisor they put me on hold and never came back. I am glad I never subscribed with them. There customer service is a JOKE!