Dish Home Protection Plan

[diwa]

Chatted with a Dish CSR today and I were told that:

Without Dish Home Protection Plan, if the hardware that I leased from Dish dies naturally, in order to get a replacement, I will be charged for a service call ranging in between $49.00 to $99.

With Dish Home protection plan, I will be charged only $29.00

Here is the summary of my chat:

Please wait while we find a representative to assist you...
You have been connected to (03) Diana B.
…..
(03) Diana B: Dish Home Protection Plan (DHPP) is the warranty for the equipment that is on the account.
(03) Diana B: The warranty covers everything on the account that has the Dish logo like remotes, receivers etc.
….
Me: if I do not have the protection plan, and the equipment that I leased from Dish dies naturally, will I have to pay in order to get a replacement?


(03) Diana B: I understand your concern.
(03) Diana B: Usually, a service call would range between $49.00 to $99.00. But with this warranty, it would be only $29.00.
....
Me: Back to my original question. so, if the receiver or remote dies, I have to make a service call to Dish and will be charged between $49 to $99 in order to get a replacement for the equipment that I leased from Dish? Do I understand you correctly?

(03) Diana B: Yes, you are correct. However, you will be charged only $29 if you have Dish Home Protection Plan on the account.
(03) Diana B: However, if you do not have Dish Home Protection Plan on the account, you will be charged $49-99 for service call.

Question:



how often does your leased equipment fail?



With or without the protection plan, how much have you actually paid in order to get a replacement from the good Dish Network?

Thanks for the info.

 

[boba]

Don't maintain a DHPP account just add it when you have a problem that needs a technician.

 

[diwa]

Don't maintain a DHPP account just add it when you have a problem that needs a technician.

Will that work? I thought / guess it will not become effectively until the next statement. Will the change become effectively immediately?

 

[nrholland]

That's what a CSR told me. She said that's what she does. I don't have it on my account. I will leave it off till I need it then add it online, then call Dish about the problem.

They're making thousands of dollars off us with that plan. Just like extended warrenties. Why do you think they push them so hard when you make a purchase? Because they care about you?

 

[wetz73]

My question to the CSR was that if E* owns the equipment, why do I have to pay for a warranty on something I do not own? I already pay a rental fee (built into the monthly fee), but now I have to warrant the rented equipment as well? I have no problem with paying a tech to come out and fix an alignment issue that happens with weather or with wiring problems, but why is it up to me to in a sense guarantee equipment that isn't mine to start with?

 

[hclarkjr]

that is odd, i have the protection plan and had to have a 722 replaced. i was never charged the $29.99

 

[OrlandoSGM]

that is odd, i have the protection plan and had to have a 722 replaced. i was never charged the $29.99

I've also had a box replaced with no fee

 

[wetz73]

$29.99 is only when a tech has to come out. If they send you one, no fee.

 

[dream1958]

$29.99 is only when a tech has to come out. If they send you one, no fee.

A tech came out and replaced my 722 without a fee.

 

[Stargazer]

My question to the CSR was that if E* owns the equipment, why do I have to pay for a warranty on something I do not own? I already pay a rental fee (built into the monthly fee), but now I have to warrant the rented equipment as well? I have no problem with paying a tech to come out and fix an alignment issue that happens with weather or with wiring problems, but why is it up to me to in a sense guarantee equipment that isn't mine to start with?

I agree wholeheartedly on this. If I don't own it, I ain't paying to get it fixed. The cable company don't charge you if your cable box goes bad.

 

[DishSubLA]

I agree wholeheartedly on this. If I don't own it, I ain't paying to get it fixed. The cable company don't charge you if your cable box goes bad.

Cable is mandated by different laws and would charge for the things the law currently prohibits because it is still viewed as a monopoly. BTW, Cable is lobbying congress to do away with these "cable pays for it" requirements because of all the new competition. However, even the cable cos. have gotten into the "Protection Plan" game because the law does allow cable to charge for certain technical services and visits.

The Dish HPP also waives any shipping fees.

You correctly criticize extended warranties for durable goods. They are bad because the are hundreds of $$ up front, then even more $$$ to extend them, and one may never use the coverage, or if you choose not to extend beyond the first 3 or so years, when the product does die, you have to go out and pay full retail for a new one. This not the case with Dish where one can continually upgrade for a discount. Dish is subsidizing the upgrade.

However, I don't mind the concept of the DHPP, as it is always about $5 per month, and you are free to cancel it. DHPP has MORE than paid for itself in this household with DVR RMA's (long lived HDD's finally fail) a termite inspector who mess-up one of my connections that was fixed at no charge and a few more little things (but big $$$) over the many years we have had Dish.

Considering Dish is subsidizing the boxes (the latest Tivo and Moxie DVR's approach $800) subsidize the other equipment upgrades, (dishes, LNBF's switches,etc.) fix its and dead HDD's do cost a lot of $$$ for any company. $5 per month isn't really that bad for EVERYTHING on the entire system covered.

 

[hclarkjr]

A tech came out and replaced my 722 without a fee.

same for me, they come out and replaced mine also