Can't add a 625 to my account!

[digitalman12]

I am a little confused here. I have had dish for a little over a year now, with a 322 dual tuner receiver. Finally got the bucks for a dvr, and was looking at those new 625 dual tuner/output dvr's, but when I called dish to check out (to see if it had a previous balance) the receiver I was gonna buy (off of ebay), they told me that these are "lease only" units.

When I asked for further explanation, they said that unless I was a new customer, nobody (except an authorized dish dealer) could legally sell any of these receivers, and that I could not "add it" to my account, since I was already an existing customer.

So, I went out and got a pvr721 (which is now having issues with the yellow smartcard, and will have to send it in to get it replaced with)

But upon reading in here, I am seeing two different websites (dishdepot and one other) that sell the 625's outright, and state that they are available for all!!

What's the deal here? I already got all my money tied up in this 721, and can't afford to buy a 625 right now anyways, but I'm a little pissed at this.

When dish told me that they would r&r my 721, and send me one out that will work, I asked them if I could pay the diff and get a 625 instead, and they still said no way I could add a 625 onto my account!

 

[stone phillips420]

i got my 625 from dishstore, i was an existing customer when i purchased my 625 i had 6 receivers on my account, i was able to add 625 to my account as the seventh receiver i did have to talk to the executive office to get the 625 activated then i had to talk to receiver audit team to get it fully functional
625 is a great receiver

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Yes the 625 is available for purchase, you just cant purchase them from Dish.

Give DishStore.NET a shot, their prces are the best around and the service is second to none.

 

[digitalman12]

Yes the 625 is available for purchase, you just cant purchase them from Dish.

Give DishStore.NET a shot, their prces are the best around and the service is second to none.

Scott, if you reread my above post, you will see that I WAS going to buy one off of e*, and I was calling dish to see if it had a previous balance and to see if they would activate it on my account (not to actually buy one from dish network store).

Good thing I did that BEFORE I bought it, as they were adamant about NOT activating it on my account (don't know why, I have been with them for over a year now on the lease deal, and have always payed my bill on time) Again, according to them, the ONLY people that can get these receivers activated are NEW customers.............

Anyways, that's the story I was given by three different service reps.

I also have been reading thru the forums here, and wanted to let future 721 dvr owners to know that as of 7/15/05, dish informed me that they DO charge a $4.99 dvr fee for the 721pvr that I just had activated on my account!!! I see some people say that they do NOT charge this dvr fee for these 721's, but maybe they grandfathered in on the deal, as they are definately charging me a dvr fee! (I asked them a couple of different times, as I also thought the 721's did not have a dvr fee) Not so anymore........

I haven't had the pleasure of a dvr yet, but I hear they're real cool and great. The ONLY thing about my dish network plan is that I'm on a month to month basis, and didn't have to sign a big contract, and now I own my own equipment! One 721pvr, and maybe more to come.......

 

[stone phillips420]

if you have a 721 get a 625
you should like it
but you need to make sure a phone is connected otherwise a 4.99 per month fee will be charged
unless you sub AEP

in my opinion i prefer my 625 over my 721 personally
but I'm very happy with both

 

[digitalman12]

if you have a 721 get a 625
you should like it
but you need to make sure a phone is connected otherwise a 4.99 per month fee will be charged
unless you sub AEP

in my opinion i prefer my 625 over my 721 personally
but I'm very happy with both

Well, I don't have any more money right now! I would have loved to get a 625 instead of this 721, but since they said they wouldn't activate a 625 for me........

And there is and has always been a phone line hooked up to my receiver. Yes, they told me that the phone line not being hooked up is $4.99, but the 721pvr also include a $4.98 dvr fee as well........

 

[stone phillips420]

on my 721 ive never had that fee

 

[Pils]

if you have a 721 get a 625
you should like it
but you need to make sure a phone is connected otherwise a 4.99 per month fee will be charged
unless you sub AEP

in my opinion i prefer my 625 over my 721 personally
but I'm very happy with both

Needs clarification.

The 625 will have a $5/month charge for not being plugged in regardless of package.

The 625 will have another $5/month pvr fee unless you have AEP.

 

[Dishpointer]

Well, I don't have any more money right now! I would have loved to get a 625 instead of this 721, but since they said they wouldn't activate a 625 for me.......

They will activate a 625 for you if you purchase one from a retailer that has never been activated! All others are considered leased and are the property of Dish. If and when you do purchase a 625, send an e-mail to CEO@echostar.com with your account number, the receiver and smart card number, and a contact number. They will get it activated for you.

 

[digitalman12]

Ok, thanks for the scoop dishpointer. I will remember this info!

 

[larrystotler]

Scott, if you reread my above post, you will see that I WAS going to buy one off of e*, and I was calling dish to see if it had a previous balance and to see if they would activate it on my account (not to actually buy one from dish network store).

They probably would not activate that 625 because it was a leased unit and it is illegal to sell a leased receiver. I have fought many idiots over on ebay about this. Once a receiver is leased from E*, it CANNOT be sold. A lot of people are leasing them and then disconnecting and trying to sell them on ebay. Once more: Buyer beware. Purchasing a leased receiver technically puts you in possesion of solen property and you can kiss the money spent goodbye.

I also have been reading thru the forums here, and wanted to let future 721 dvr owners to know that as of 7/15/05, dish informed me that they DO charge a $4.99 dvr fee for the 721pvr that I just had activated on my account!!! I see some people say that they do NOT charge this dvr fee for these 721's, but maybe they grandfathered in on the deal, as they are definately charging me a dvr fee! (I asked them a couple of different times, as I also thought the 721's did not have a dvr fee) Not so anymore........

As usual, I got a complete idiot at the standard 800 #, repeated myself 3 times, asked for a supervisor and just hung up and then I called my retailer hotline and the answer is: There is still NO VoD fee on the 721. I believe that you probably had a completely clueless CSR that had no idea what they are talking about. Please check your bill and let us know if you do end up with he charge or not. If you added this as a new receiver, then of course you will have a $4.99/month additional outlet fee. Most CSRs have had no experience with the 721 and unfortunately you get these problems.

 

[digitalman12]

Update

Well, I started having troubles with the 721 not wanting to get authorized with this new yellow card, so I sent the 721 back for a refund, and am now definately going to buy a new 625 in the next month or two!

Thanks for the info guys. Yes, after reading here and calling them back, I finally did get a csr that confirmed that if I bought one from an authorized retailer that I could indeed get it added onto my account!

 

[digitalman12]

Follow up:

I finally got a 625 pvr from dish depot, and I love it! Although I must admit to be a bit dissapointed with the "VOD" feature on it. I thought that they were going to be really new releases, but so far, the stuff is so old.....I already own the dvd's! That's pretty sad.

Other than that, the pvr function and two tv output is great! Now if they would just let me put another one on my account!