I have 5 HD DVRs connected to SWM. I have a HR20 that looses video from time to time. I have rulled out cabling. Thinking it must be the DVR. Talked to DTV and they would look at it for about $50 or I could sign up for a maintenance contract. What do most users do? Keep buying new boxes, use the one time tech fee or sign up for the maintenance contract? My bill is over $100 per month. I just hate giving them more money. Thanks, Gary
Maintenance contract with Directv or pay per visit?
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If the receiver is failing they should send you a replacement for the cost of shipping.
If the tech support people won't help, then call back and get to retention by saying cancel twice at the voice prompts. Those folks are usually more helpful as far as keeping customers happy.
The maintenance agreement is a waste of money, IMO.
If the tech support people won't help, then call back and get to retention by saying cancel twice at the voice prompts. Those folks are usually more helpful as far as keeping customers happy.
The maintenance agreement is a waste of money, IMO.
Protection plan is worth the money
I've had the protection plan since I signed up for Direct TV. It has more than paid for itself by replacing bad receivers or controllers without any questions and even upgraded my box outside the house and I have never been charged a nickel. I think it is worth the money.
I've had the protection plan since I signed up for Direct TV. It has more than paid for itself by replacing bad receivers or controllers without any questions and even upgraded my box outside the house and I have never been charged a nickel. I think it is worth the money.
I have been with D* for over 3 years, have never had the protection plan and have never made a service call.
On the whole, I think D* makes a huge profit off of this plan. Which is true for nearly all such plans from all sellers of services and products.
On the whole, I think D* makes a huge profit off of this plan. Which is true for nearly all such plans from all sellers of services and products.
I understand I may pay more in the long run, but when something does go wrong, whether they need to ship a DVR or come out for a tech visit. I find it nice to just call and say come fix it, without breaking out my wallet.
I have been with them 3 to 6 months into their go-live; late '94 as a Christmas present from the folks; shared time with my C-band until it went by the way side. I am not sure when the protection plan program started; but in all these years I have needed service once; I had an RCA DTC-210's power supply go up in smoke. If I remember correctly they exchanged it for like $49.99
I've had D* since 98 and have had good luck with D* because I've never had any technical problems. I had the protection plan when I upgraded to hd. A few months later, I cancelled the protection plan.
IMO, it might be good to have if you have a large complicated setup. (multiple dvrs, mrv and vod) If it is a simple setup, it would be a waste of money. (one or two receivers, no vod or mrv)
IMO, it might be good to have if you have a large complicated setup. (multiple dvrs, mrv and vod) If it is a simple setup, it would be a waste of money. (one or two receivers, no vod or mrv)
Think of the Protection plan as a peace of mind plan. Some people don't like the idea of paying $6/mo for it, some don't mind it.
As a protection plan customer, you bypass the first level of tech support and go to the second level, usually former technicians.
The HR20 is nearing it's expected usefulness.
Ask yourself these questions......
1 Do I pay for cell phone insurance? Whats the difference?
2 Do I want to debate a customer service rep on the cost of replacing a DVR($200-$300)? Unless you drop the reciever in the pool, it gets replaced for free.
I did not believe in the DPP until I replced my second reviever in 2 months.....2 $50 service calls and 2 $29 S&H = $158 vresus $72 that I would have paid for the DPP.
As a protection plan customer, you bypass the first level of tech support and go to the second level, usually former technicians.
The HR20 is nearing it's expected usefulness.
Ask yourself these questions......
1 Do I pay for cell phone insurance? Whats the difference?
2 Do I want to debate a customer service rep on the cost of replacing a DVR($200-$300)? Unless you drop the reciever in the pool, it gets replaced for free.
I did not believe in the DPP until I replced my second reviever in 2 months.....2 $50 service calls and 2 $29 S&H = $158 vresus $72 that I would have paid for the DPP.
Your real problem may be having too many tuners connected. How is your system set up? Do you have a swm lnb, which is one cable from the dish, or four cables from the dish to a swm switch? If the former, that's your problem, too many tuners for the setup. If the latter, which model, the swm8 or swm16 switch? If the former, that's your problem, the same one as previously mentioned. If the latter, then you have some other issue.
I have had Directv for a combined total of 11 years and just had my first service call in November. They waived the $50 fee for me without even asking. I have also have had only 1 receiver replaced due to problems and didn't have to pay shipping on that one either.
Gotcha. Since that was only a couple of days ago, ghoff, have you installed the swm16 switch yet?
If he hasn't installed the SWM 16 yet, he could disable a couple tuners and the DVR's. I would think that out of 5 DVR's there would be two of them that could run off a single tuner until the SWM 16 is installed.
JAG72 said:
Yeah he could. If directv comes out and sees the 5 DVRs and he didn't have anybody come out to install the SWM 16 to begin with they may charge for it. I've only seen then charge for it once and it was a very similar situation
I haven't had them that long but have found it easy enough to get them to waive shipping or service call fees.
I think I've paid shipping on one box since 06, additions and replacement combined. I'm pretty sure that was an added box too, not a replacement.
Saved a ton not paying for pp, and have been pleased with the service.
if you wait for a problem to happen and take the ddp plan they will wave to charge, not sure how long you have to keep but i do know they wave the fee if you have to tech add it at yourhouse.
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