Direct overcharged thousands of customers

[Juan]

From CBS news

https://consumerist.com/2017/05/17/att-directv-reportedly-overcharged-thousands-of-customers/

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[dalyew]

Nah, ATT would never do that, it would be so out of character for them. They are always looking out for their customer's interest......NOT!!

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[Tampa8]

I'm not sure I'm buying the story fully. Obviously people do see an increase that sometimes should not be there and it can be nearly impossible to get it fixed or at least fixed quickly. Anyone who reads forums for the various providers see some stories about it from time to time that certainly do seem real.
But I am skeptical the increase is wrong as often as CBS is portraying even the cases CBS looked at. Just one example when CBS says it makes no sense that the Regional Sports fee varies wildly they are wrong. That is exactly how it works it is a surcharge based on what Directv is paying for your market.

 

[Juan]

I'm not sure I'm buying the story fully. Obviously people do see an increase that sometimes should not be there and it can be nearly impossible to get it fixed or at least fixed quickly. Anyone who reads forums for the various providers see some stories about it from time to time that certainly do seem real.
But I am skeptical the increase is wrong as often as CBS is portraying even the cases CBS looked at. Just one example when CBS says it makes no sense that the Regional Sports fee varies wildly they are wrong. That is exactly how it works it is a surcharge based on what Directv is paying for your market.

Across the street?

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[Tampa8]

Across the street?

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I missed that, if that is in the story then no, not different across the street in most cases.

 

[Juan]

I missed that, if that is in the story then no, not different across the street in most cases.

I think the issue is a combination of misinformed customers and rookie mistakes on the part of att

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[raoul5788]

Across the street?

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Possibly, if across the street is a different county/market/etc.

 

[mdram]

throw in the horror stories about the third party reps at sams, walmart, ect (think smart circle)

 

[RichManitoba]

Last night on the local news here in Madison, a person made public some questionable billing tactics by AT&T since they took over DirecTv. After months of a squabble, that person turned to the consumer help person at that TV station. They exposed them, then there was some kind of settlement.

I didn't catch all the details b/c a severe storm was in the area and the signal went out.

 

[IcEWoLF]

I've had issues with DirecTV billing since AT&T took over, but since I check my bills monthly they took care of things swiftly, You just can't rely on AT&T being on top of anything.
I have to say I've been pleased with Charter, even though I only have their internet service, their billing always been accurate.

 

[Jimbo]

I think this is all being blown out of proportion ...

All of us already know about everything that was mentioned in this article, its nothing new.

This is actually OLD news, we've discussed the RSF previously, we all agree that they are ridiculous.

As for the person that said thier bill went up ...

Sounds to me like they are in a 2 year commitment which everyone was at one time or another unless you go WAY back and haven't upgraded at all.
The 1st year is at promo rates, the 2nd year NORMALLY is not, thus the increase in price ... now it comes down to did the CSR tell them thier bill would be the same for 2 years, or did the customer hear what they wanted to hear ...

I'm not saying that att/D* is correct, but that is thier policy, been that way for years now.
I don't like it but it is the way it is.


I also think after your 2 years, or maybe 3, you shouldn't ever be put in a 2 year commitment for anything.

 

[edisonprime]

I've had issues with DirecTV billing since AT&T took over, but since I check my bills monthly they took care of things swiftly, You just can't rely on AT&T being on top of anything.
I have to say I've been pleased with Charter, even though I only have their internet service, their billing always been accurate.

This is why I don't like company mergers. And I have Charter myself for internet, and personally I think they are a pain in the ass.

 

[Jimbo]

This is why I don't like company mergers. And I have Charter myself for internet, and personally I think they are a pain in the ass.

Fwiw, you don't have to merge your bills.
If they ask, I just say No, I want to keep them seperate.

 

[edisonprime]

Fwiw, you don't have to merge your bills.
If they ask, I just say No, I want to keep them seperate.

That's not why I don't like them. I know AT&T were different types of companies with different types of services prior to AT&T's acquisition of DirecTV, but I still think it brings it that much closer to a monopoly. I want as much of a free and open market as possible. I find that makes it better for the consumer.

 

[Jimbo]

That's not why I don't like them. I know AT&T were different types of companies with different types of services prior to AT&T's acquisition of DirecTV, but I still think it brings it that much closer to a monopoly. I want as much of a free and open market as possible. I find that makes it better for the consumer.

Monopoly ?
With a company like D* when you were available everywhere, then that's a monopoly ...

Everybody is trying to be able to offer internet and TV ... that's no different.

 

[edisonprime]

Monopoly ?
With a company like D* when you were available everywhere, then that's a monopoly ...

Everybody is trying to be able to offer internet and TV ... that's no different.

I said mergers make it THAT MUCH CLOSER to a monopoly. I didn't say it already was. I just like as much competition as possible. For instance, I think there should be more than just DirecTV and Dish Network for satellite TV carriers. A lot of places only have one cable TV carrier while they should have a few. And Sirius and XM should never have merged and there should be at least one other satellite radio carrier besides those.

 

[navychop]

I generally agree. But I think if SiriusXM had not merged, they might not be in business today.

And frankly, I don't see great prospects for them. Their big market is in thin areas with little or no cell data coverage. Pandora and such, especially the free versions, seem the better option. This could all change if free Internet "radio" went away and the choice was still pay SiriusXM or pay company X.

Then the real competition would be SiriusXM vs thumb drives (& laziness in creating same).

 

[Jimbo]

I said mergers make it THAT MUCH CLOSER to a monopoly. I didn't say it already was. I just like as much competition as possible. For instance, I think there should be more than just DirecTV and Dish Network for satellite TV carriers. A lot of places only have one cable TV carrier while they should have a few. And Sirius and XM should never have merged and there should be at least one other satellite radio carrier besides those.

As for Cable companies, yes , more than one would be nice, but in most cases not practical ... think about it, you currently have a Cable provider and your in an established neighborhood ... another Cable company wants to come in to the neighborhood , yes, I agree thats a good idea for peoples choice, however, remember what I said about an established neighborhood ... New company comes in and now they have to tear up residential areas (if in buried plant areas) in EVERYBODYS yards, to place new coax/fiber whatever ... thats great ... imagine all the people pissed about thier yards being dug up, now think about the 80% of those that are not interested in that new service at all, they don't understand why your tearing up yards ...

Even if your in an Aer plant you still have people running new lines thru yards, not as evasive, but still things being done that most people have no idea whats going on.

As for Sirius XM, yes, that merger never should have taken place and most of the pricing that they said would result, hasn't as well as prices going up and up ... neither of the services are worth what they are asking.

 

[pattykay]

Just one example when CBS says it makes no sense that the Regional Sports fee varies wildly they are wrong. That is exactly how it works it is a surcharge based on what Directv is paying for your market.

Directv charges the Regional Sports Fee based on your zip code. It can vary wildly from one zip code to another, even in the same sports market.

I've had issues with DirecTV billing since AT&T took over...

Me too, but I also had issues with Directv's billing more than 12 years ago when I first had them. In fact, it is hard to think of a provider that I haven't had billing issues with. (Maybe USSB. That's the only one that I don't remember having any billing issues.)

 

[Tampa8]

Directv charges the Regional Sports Fee based on your zip code. It can vary wildly from one zip code to another, even in the same sports market.

Isn't that what I said?