DISH won't come get their dish; want me to remove LNB from 4-story roof?!?

[Terp]

After being placed on eternal hold trying to speak with a manager (three times, for a total of 1:47 hours), Dish expects me to get up on my 4-story roof of the rental property and remove the LNB to return the equipment?

I am moving and was going to drop the package and keep the german channels. They said I would have to purchase the equipment, given that I didn't maintain the minimum package. Therefore, I said just pull the plug on everything. Then she dropped the "you will be responsible for removing the LNB off the dish and returning it to us, or you will be charged for it." She would not listen to reason.

Any ideas how I could get them to come get THEIR LEASED equipment? I told them that I was renting and my landlord never authorized the installation, and she wants the crap gone before the new owners of the house go to closing.

Could I call back and say I am moving, just take the boxes with me, then cancel after a month? Or does the move and reinstallation automatically extend the contract? HELP!!!

 

[mikew]

Find out how much they'll charge you for the LNB. Search for the LNB on EBay. A move will extend your contract. Currently a Dish 500 Dual LNB is on Ebay for $1.25 plus $10.00 shipping.

 

[Hall]

Any ideas how I could get them to come get THEIR LEASED equipment?

Think about it, if you don't return it, they'll get their money and it will be *your* equipment. You DID agree to return these items when you cancelled your service.

I told them that I was renting and my landlord never authorized the installation

How did it get installed then ??

For what it's worth, when I cancelled, the rep on the phone said I needed to return the switch, LNB(s), receiver(s), etc, etc, unless they were inaccessible to me. My dish was mounted on the ground and the switch was mounted to my house, 2-3' off the ground. I could have told him it's on my 2nd story roof and 1) I'm afraid of heights and 2) don't have a ladder and I think he wouldn't have made an issue of it. One could argue "I didn't tell them to mount it there, but it was the only place that would work".

 

[SmityWhity]

But.... Does Dish ever go and retrieve dishes?

On the Dish Move, they tell you grab your receivers, remotes, and shoes, and go, and they will install a new dish at the new location. I've always wondered if they just leave them for the property owner/new owner to disposal of at the owners discretion.

 

[hobojoe]

i thought the dish wires and switches are yours to keep the reciver is the leased item? but if they are going to get sh!tty about it id get one from ebay.

 

[SmityWhity]

If that's the case, and the job was done well, maybe the current owner will suggest to the buyer they should keep it and all will be okay.

But I could see the current owner wanting it down and repairs made before having to possibly warrant the roof from future damage caused by the dish.

 

[iafirebuff]

Gee, they have a hissy if you want to install the dish yourself, due to the equipment being "delicate", but want you to take it down. Kinda like how you can add channels via the web or phone, but can't cancel them that way

 

[Hall]

i thought the dish wires and switches are yours to keep the reciver is the leased item?

You either don't have Dish service, don't have a lease deal, or don't read the agreement you signed when you got service. As I noted, and it's clearly stated on the paperwork, when you cancel, Dish wants the receiver(s), LNB(s), and multiswitch(es) returned to them. They do NOT want the dish itself most likely because of it's low cost to produce and it's weight.

I'm sure they'll happily let you keep the wires....

 

[SummitAdvantageRetailer]

You either don't have Dish service, don't have a lease deal, or don't read the agreement you signed when you got service. As I noted, and it's clearly stated on the paperwork, when you cancel, Dish wants the receiver(s), LNB(s), and multiswitch(es) returned to them. They do NOT want the dish itself most likely because of it's low cost to produce and it's weight.

I'm sure they'll happily let you keep the wires....

Absolutely. You hit it squarely on the head.

Now the rest is to the original poster (OP):

As ridiculous as it MAY sound, you DID agree to return the LNBF to DISH Network. And don't include that retort about not getting landlord permission since that's your responsibility to get permission for ANY work done on your home (adding a deck, altering the exterior of the home, having a dish installed on your home, and etc.).

Some cable companies make you bring back their analog box to their local office that may be 15-45 miles away. They don't even ship you pre-paid boxes to return 'em. That's what I had to do before switching to DISH.

Now that we cleared up on who's at fault for agreeing to this and not thinking it through on the ramifications, let's discuss this ridiculous policy of having to also return the LNBFs or switches to DISH Network. I don't know why DISH Network makes customers return LNBFs because they rarely remind that to the customer at the time of sale and when the customer is ready to cancel, whatever bad or good impression they had prior to hearing that just gets worse. You see, DirecTV doesn't expect their dishes, LNBFs, or switches back since DirecTV only considers the receiver (I don't think even the remote control counts) as leased equipment. So it's a little hard to believe why DISH Network requires LNBFs or switches returned. Granted DISH Network switches are generally much more expensive than DirecTV but a DP Twin doesn't cost that much to require a customer to return back.

I've heard cases where people refused to send in the LNBFs or switches to DISH Network and weren't charged any fees for not returning 'em. Your mileage may vary (YMMV), though. Cheers.

 

[Claude Greiner]

I told them that I was renting and my landlord never authorized the installation, and she wants the crap gone before the new owners of the house go to closing.

Your the one who ordered it, and when you placed the order they probably asked you if you rented or owned your home. If you indicated you rent then they would have required a letter of permission or they would have never done the installation.

Even if they didn't ask if you rent or own, it was YOUR responcibility. not DISH Networks nor the installers to make sure you could place a Dish on the property.

Your the one who ordered the service, its not DISH Networks fault they placed the antenna on your roof without her permission.

 

[Claude Greiner]

But.... Does Dish ever go and retrieve dishes?

On the Dish Move, they tell you grab your receivers, remotes, and shoes, and go, and they will install a new dish at the new location. I've always wondered if they just leave them for the property owner/new owner to disposal of at the owners discretion.

No, DISH Network does not retrieve Dishes. In some cases, a local retailer will do this only because they are also retrieving boxes at the same time and if they are there they might as well grab the Dish and switches.

A Dish 500 is typically worth $50, it would cost more to send out a technician to remove the Dish than it would just to leave it on the house.

If your doing a DISH Mover, then yes they tell you not to take the DISH. Afterall, your continuing service at your new home they wouldn't want to piss you off and make you climb on your roof to remove an LNB, in addition its good advertising to have the Dish there because the next person who moves in might see it and decide to subscribe.

When you cancel service, the fact of the matter is that DISH Network is not any further obligation to do anything more for you. The DISH on your house is theirs and they are excercising their right to get their property back. If you don't have a ladder to go on your roof, DISH could care less because its your problem to get it back to them. If you can't take it down, then you can pay for it and leave it on your roof.

They do this because they can get away with it. Its costing them money when you decide to cancel service, so they are pretty much returning the favor by charging you for the LNB or making you go and take it down.

When you cancel, why should they pay to send someone out to take down your DISH? They make you do it, or pay for the LNB.

Now I don't agree with this practice, but keep in mind that once a customer cancels service its very likely they will never have service with DISH again.

 

[DishSubLA]

It is ridiculous for Dish to require anyone (Elderly, those of poor health, even the young) who would, under any circumstances, never go on the roof of thier home. Certainly not Dish, who want a "professional installation" for the customer who view hopping onto a roof as dangerous for them. But when you cancel, Dish wants you to go up there on the roof (can you picture granny doing this?) and get the LNBF's down yourself. Of course, the customer could PAY someone to do it for them. But that is not right, either.
This stupid "go up on the roof or else . . ." is just 2 things:

1. Charlie having a hissy-fit that you don't want to play with him anymore, and rather then he coming to take his toys away, he wants you to "pay" (after he made such an "investment" in you--in many cases he has gotten that back and more) by forcing YOU to do the dangerous, dirty work. Be a good Dish Net sub; Charlie nice. Dare to spurn him by cancelling Dish service; incur his wrath. And we all know how Mercurial Charlie can be. Remember his tirade-rants on several Charlie Chats of old?

2. There must be some way he is squeezing $$$ out of this unkind requirement. Specifically something in the tax code regarding inventory of used equipment--I don't know exactly, but I bet the accountants and tax attorneys working for Echostar make it work in ways that you and I don't even know exist. Echostar is a small company, and Charlie would rather get his LNBF's back for some tax time pennies then make a new enemy of a potential returning customer.

 

[Jared Twomey]

more importantly, how many of you installers are installing on 4-story tall buildings??? geez, i dont even carry any ladders on the truck tall enough to do that... my hats off to that guy


now, back on topic, i personally think its rediculous for Dish to even ask the customer to retrieve the lnbs... one of these days there will be a lawsuit because some guy fell off his roof trying to "fullfill" his contract to dish

 

[webbydude]

I agree with Birddoggy on both points. 4-story roof...yee-ikes!! Only if a service elevator or stairs take me there.

And the LNB retrieval thing can and HAS been fought before. Just a matter of playing "CSR roulette". A thought just occurred to me, I would've thought the early termination of service fee would've covered the costs of the dish and LNB.