NOTE:
This was taken off the WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT of JUSTICE site and doesn't pertain to any legal action that may occur because of the new "lease" system. But in effect it says you can't be made to sign an agreement and give up your rights because D* says to.
Direct TV to Pay $115,000 Over Violations of Wisconsin Consumer Protection Laws
Wisconsin Consumers Are Eligible For Refunds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 28, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MADISON - Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager announced today that her office has settled a consumer protection lawsuit against DirecTV, Inc., over violations of Wisconsin's telecommunications laws.
DirecTV, a California corporation, provides satellite broadcast services to residential customers throughout the United States, including Wisconsin. Under the settlement, DirecTV will pay a total of $115,000 in forfeitures and litigation costs. The company has also agreed to correct the practices cited in the civil complaint which was filed in Dane County Circuit Court.
The lawsuit alleged that DirecTV violated state law by failing to disclose to consumers all of the material terms of its customer agreements at the time a customer subscribed. The complaint further alleged that DirecTV violated Wisconsin law by requiring customers to agree to mandatory arbitration of disputes, thereby surrendering their rights under Wisconsin law to certain remedies, such as recovery of double damages and attorney’s fees.
“Wisconsin’s consumer protection laws are designed to ensure that subscribers have all pertinent information about services and all accompanying costs,” Lautenschlager said. “In addition, consumers should not be expected to give up their legal rights when ordering telecommunication services or any other product.”
The settlement requires DirecTV to make the disclosures required by Wisconsin law, including disclosure of any fees for disconnecting before the end of a prescribed subscription period, and to ensure that any arbitration requirement does not compel consumers to waive any remedies provided by state law.
The settlement also requires DirecTV to provide restitution to any Wisconsin customer who has filed a written complaint with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) since January 1, 2003, or who does so by July 28, 2006. Complaint forms can be downloaded from the DATCP website, at http://datcp.state.wi.us/cp/consumerinfo/cp/complaint-form/cp_complaint_form.jsp, or can be obtained by calling 1-800-422-7128.
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Moria Krueger approved the settlement and entered judgment on February 28, 2006. Assistant Attorney General John Greene represented the state.
This was taken off the WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT of JUSTICE site and doesn't pertain to any legal action that may occur because of the new "lease" system. But in effect it says you can't be made to sign an agreement and give up your rights because D* says to.
Direct TV to Pay $115,000 Over Violations of Wisconsin Consumer Protection Laws
Wisconsin Consumers Are Eligible For Refunds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 28, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MADISON - Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager announced today that her office has settled a consumer protection lawsuit against DirecTV, Inc., over violations of Wisconsin's telecommunications laws.
DirecTV, a California corporation, provides satellite broadcast services to residential customers throughout the United States, including Wisconsin. Under the settlement, DirecTV will pay a total of $115,000 in forfeitures and litigation costs. The company has also agreed to correct the practices cited in the civil complaint which was filed in Dane County Circuit Court.
The lawsuit alleged that DirecTV violated state law by failing to disclose to consumers all of the material terms of its customer agreements at the time a customer subscribed. The complaint further alleged that DirecTV violated Wisconsin law by requiring customers to agree to mandatory arbitration of disputes, thereby surrendering their rights under Wisconsin law to certain remedies, such as recovery of double damages and attorney’s fees.
“Wisconsin’s consumer protection laws are designed to ensure that subscribers have all pertinent information about services and all accompanying costs,” Lautenschlager said. “In addition, consumers should not be expected to give up their legal rights when ordering telecommunication services or any other product.”
The settlement requires DirecTV to make the disclosures required by Wisconsin law, including disclosure of any fees for disconnecting before the end of a prescribed subscription period, and to ensure that any arbitration requirement does not compel consumers to waive any remedies provided by state law.
The settlement also requires DirecTV to provide restitution to any Wisconsin customer who has filed a written complaint with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) since January 1, 2003, or who does so by July 28, 2006. Complaint forms can be downloaded from the DATCP website, at http://datcp.state.wi.us/cp/consumerinfo/cp/complaint-form/cp_complaint_form.jsp, or can be obtained by calling 1-800-422-7128.
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Moria Krueger approved the settlement and entered judgment on February 28, 2006. Assistant Attorney General John Greene represented the state.
