Losing HD Absolute. Any suggestions?
- Thread starter polksda
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Login to your account at Dish's website and try and change it. My receiver is leased too and it appeared that I could switch to the channels/packages I mentioned.
I can do it as far as submitting, but that only saves me $14 over Absolute.... of course that's a moot point now, isn't it?
Going up to 250 looks like it would cost me around $91 a month (with discounts including $15 off), currently $71 with my a la cartes.
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Yes, it's moot now.... 
The international packages a priced in a way, IMO, that says "if you really want it, you'll pay for it". Granted, it may not be easy for Dish to receive those channels so no doubt it does cost them more than normal to make them available.
The international packages a priced in a way, IMO, that says "if you really want it, you'll pay for it". Granted, it may not be easy for Dish to receive those channels so no doubt it does cost them more than normal to make them available.Got my call today from a retention agent, and was offered $15 off on any package (AT or Dish America) for a year, as well as the credit on the HD Platinum, and HD for Life. Also, since I get my locals OTA, he was going to take $6 off for that too. I'm hooked on the repetitve NFLN, so I'm looking at Dish America Silver and the DVR free for $30, or AT200 and the DVR fee for $40 for 12 months... and I can look at options again in a year, and he documented all this in the account notes. I'm holding off until the end of the month so my account will round up to 5 full years for retention purposes, and the off chance that Directv has a better deal.
Anyone talking to a retention person try to get HD Latino Max or Dos? Are they giving the credit off of those as well?
What package price is retention (or the regular csr) quoting, is it the current pricing (on the AT & Dish America) or are they quoting the prices effective 2/1/11? Dish called me this morning, I wasn't available to take the call. I've got a Direct install set up so the point is moot for me, but I just wondered if the price increase is being mentioned at this time. I think we should hold a FAB (farewell Absolute bash), maybe Scott has some goodies from the CES he could hand out as prizes for the "best reason Absolute will be missed".
As usual, DISH has handled the cancellation in a totally unprofessional manner. The letter contains at least 2 typos and does not communicate how much monthly credit will be offered over the next 12 months. So instead of being an effective means of communication, this letter only muddies the waters. I can only imagine that this was done on purpose so they could adjust the credit amount as needed to retain Absolute subscribers -- no need in communicating an offer if they can talk their subscriber into taking less.
Why would they automatically transition you to AT200 if you don't respond to the letter? This package does not contain all the channels currently in Absolute. Most notably, Versus is strategically placed in AT250 in order to make you take the highest package if you want to see the hockey games. AT200 does not fit for me, so I would have to go up to the higher package to get the one channel I want.
I haven't decided what to do but I will likely stay with DISH for the next few months as I have just made my final installment on the NHL Center Ice package and the season is only half over. I know I would have a snowball's chance in hell of getting refunded for 1/2 of the season if I left Dish now. If I stay it will likely be only until the hockey season is over.
Just as a note, in reviewing Directv packages, it appears that the Golf HD channel is only available in their "Premier" package which contains ALL the premium movie channels and is $115/month after the first year! I find it unbelievable that you have to get this package in order to get the Golf channel in HD. So DISH does not have a monopoly in forcing you into higher levels in order to get the one or two extra channels you want...
Why would they automatically transition you to AT200 if you don't respond to the letter? This package does not contain all the channels currently in Absolute. Most notably, Versus is strategically placed in AT250 in order to make you take the highest package if you want to see the hockey games. AT200 does not fit for me, so I would have to go up to the higher package to get the one channel I want.
I haven't decided what to do but I will likely stay with DISH for the next few months as I have just made my final installment on the NHL Center Ice package and the season is only half over. I know I would have a snowball's chance in hell of getting refunded for 1/2 of the season if I left Dish now. If I stay it will likely be only until the hockey season is over.
Just as a note, in reviewing Directv packages, it appears that the Golf HD channel is only available in their "Premier" package which contains ALL the premium movie channels and is $115/month after the first year! I find it unbelievable that you have to get this package in order to get the Golf channel in HD. So DISH does not have a monopoly in forcing you into higher levels in order to get the one or two extra channels you want...
You could go with Dish America Gold to retain VS & Golf. Price after Feb 1 is $59.99, before adjustments.
So I called the number on the Letter and did as murrr77 suggested and said "Cancel Service" in the automated voice system(I will be using this whenever I have to call dish, which I haven't had to do for almost 2 years now). I was sent directly to the Retention department and was able to get Dish America+Free HD Platinum+$10 credit all effective today. Which puts my bill $10 cheaper for the first year and then I will Cancel HD Platinum and it will be the same as it was +applicable price increases. I am happy with this solution as we really only watch Locals and Food,TLC,TBS,A&E, But the DVR features are essential for us...This really is the cheapest option for us to have HD programming with a DVR and the channels we want. I can not get anything on OTA since I am up against the mountain and out of line of sight. Interesting thing that the agent said "HD Platinum is going away and everyone will get it free"...I don't see why they would get rid of $10 a month from their HD Subscribers. By the way I got Agent Chris Operator# V4Z who was very helpful and more than willing to keep me happy since I have been a Dish customer for over 7 years.
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Dish reduced the price of HD Absolute in July 2010, I believe it was, by $5 because locals are now free - all packages had this price reduction, but evidently for some reason some subs did not get the price drop.
Have pretty much decided to try and get America Gold w/ Platinum added. With the credit of 10 per month & try for the free HBO & Sho for 3 months. That's pretty close to what I have now. Reason for Gold instead of top 200 is Nat Geo, Science, & Planet Green.
Hah! Yes, I learned of the "cancel service" when I used to have Sprint PCS years ago. "Claire" would always answer the phone, and attempt to take care of everything you could throw at her, until you said "cancel service"
Well, signed up for DirecTV for the Choice xtra with Whole Home DVR with the $180 Cosco gift card/$100 referral discount in addition to their other promotions. DTV's base prices without discounts for that package would be slightly more than what I'd pay for a similar package with DishNetwork's base packages but with the Cosco Card, referral discount, and promotional discounts, it works out cheaper over the two year contract than DishNetwork would have been for me, even with any of the retention offers I've heard here.
I've been eyeing that Whole Home DVR since it came out but couldn't justify the extra cost until I lost the benefit of the great deal that Absolute was. Bu Bye Dish, was fun while it lasted.
Only thing I need to know now is that if I "pause" our Dish account, can we still view what's on our Dish DVR?
I've been eyeing that Whole Home DVR since it came out but couldn't justify the extra cost until I lost the benefit of the great deal that Absolute was. Bu Bye Dish, was fun while it lasted.
Only thing I need to know now is that if I "pause" our Dish account, can we still view what's on our Dish DVR?
Ok. I'm really confused now. I also go the letter over the weekend. I even got a call from a CSR rep today that would not talk to my wife because she is not on the account. When I got home from work, I called the number in the letter. The CSR tried to say I would be upgraded to the AT 200 package like the letter said. I told him that was too much of a price jump and that I was happy with the HD Absolute package I had and that I was disappointed that it was going away. He forwarded me over to an Account Specialist (Josh was his name) who would be able to chose the right package that would satisfy me because. When I was connected to him, I told him that I did not want the AT200 package and that I was not happy about losing my HD Absolute package. He told me not to do anything and I won't lose it. I asked him why I received the letter, and he said that as long as I don't make any changes after Feb 1 I can keep the package at the same rate. Not what I was expecting at all from reading this thread all day.
