As far as "needing" a credit card, its not mandatory. You can purchase the equipment and pay installation, that would keep you out of a commitment and wouldn't have to return anything. Granted you will pay more than the disconnect fee since that is to assist with dish already covering those costs. Seems to be something of your own fault.

I was a customer of Dish Network for almost 10 years. In August of 2009, I moved discontinuing my services with them. A week later, Dish Network sent me two boxes in which I was to return two receivers. I returned both receivers on 8/25/2009. Today, January 29, 2010, nearly 6 months later, I receive a letter in the mail from Dish Network indicating that my debit card would be charged $200 for an unreturned receiver. Obviously, I was upset and quite confused, so I called Dish Network. I cannot begin to tell you the rude and unprofessionalism portrayed by Dish Network with what was clearly a mistake on their end. I spoke to Mandy (U6T) and Darlene (6PR) with their manager Terry giving information to them intermediately.


When an account is closed with Dish Network, boxes are sent almost immediately for receivers to be returned, and I did just that – returned my receivers. Once again, I returned these receivers in August of 2009. If receivers are not returned within 30 days, the customer is billed for all unreturned receivers. My question to Dish Network was if my account was closed in August, AND if customers are billed 30 days later on unreturned receivers, why am I just now, in January of 2010 getting this bill? In response, Darlene and Mandy agreed that something went wrong within the system. I said “Exactly! Please remove this charge"! They refused to remove the charge unless I supplied them with a tracking number for the unreturned receiver. I said, “What if I can’t find the paperwork anymore? What if there was a fire? Then what do I do”? I was told that I could call the UPS main number and get that information. This information was completely false. When I called UPS, I was told that they could not supply me with that information. Fortunately, I was able to find the receipt with the tracking numbers I received from the UPS store from day I returned the packages. It took me hours of digging through paperwork, but I found it - thank goodness. My entire day was ruined because of this, but I had to find that receipt – it was my only recourse. When I called Dish Network with the tracking number, I was told my account would be credited on my next statement. I said “I haven’t received a statement from you folks in 6 months – my account has been closed. I don’t even live at that same address”!! At that point, I asked for some type of confirmation as proof my credit card would not be billed. Unfortunately, I was not provided any kind of confirmation – basically it was just their word. Scary!! I can only hope that Dish Network does not bill my credit.


In my opinion, this is a scam being run by Dish Network. Times are hard and these companies are looking for any way to make extra money. Many people do not keep receipts from packages sent six months prior. One would think the issue is over and perhaps discard the receipt, and that’s exactly what Dish Network seems to be banking on. My advice is when dealing with Dish Network receiver return system, KEEP YOUR TRACKING NUMBER DOCUMENTATION! This way when they hit you with a $200 bill for a receiver that you returned six months prior, you have some type of recourse. If you lose that receipt – you have nothing! No recourse at all. I hope this saves one person from the horrific experience I’ve been through with Dish Network.


P. Mackey

I had a similar situation, but unfortunately no means of recourse.
One of my receivers had gone bad and I contacted dish for support. They shipped the replacement soon enough, but my roommate returned the old box with their included USPS label... which had no tracking number or receipt.
Like clockwork, they billed me for the box three months later.

It was an expensive lesson learned.
I will be switching to direct TV in the near future, and ponying up for signature confirmation when I return the dish equipment.

It is called a TRACKING NUMBER. Get it and KEEP IT.