My Directv Cancellation Story

[Nate Bargmann]

A family member cancelled DTV on Feb 22. Received a confirmation number and was told service would terminate on March 14. The bill for that period was paid around March 8. Now another bill has been received and the CSR claims an additional month must be paid. The account has been out of contract for years and the account was active since 2000. No late payments nor other issues of any sort.

This is definitely a way to assure that our family will never willingly be AT&T customers again.

 

[Jimbo]

A family member cancelled DTV on Feb 22. Received a confirmation number and was told service would terminate on March 14. The bill for that period was paid around March 8. Now another bill has been received and the CSR claims an additional month must be paid. The account has been out of contract for years and the account was active since 2000. No late payments nor other issues of any sort.

This is definitely a way to assure that our family will never willingly be AT&T customers again.

That makes perfect sense ... you pay a month in advance.

 

[Nate Bargmann]

That makes perfect sense ... you pay a month in advance.

Okay, then the payment made by March 8 is paying for service from March 15 to April 14, which will not be used/seen, which is now water under the bridge at this point. However, the complaint is not about the payment made by March 8 as that is final, it is the subsequent billing received this past week after the service was cancelled on Feb 22 where the last day of service was scheduled to be March 14. They appear to be demanding further payment for a time period well beyond the agreed cancellation date, in this case April 15 to May 14.

 

[Sparkman]

A family member cancelled DTV on Feb 22. Received a confirmation number and was told service would terminate on March 14. The bill for that period was paid around March 8. Now another bill has been received and the CSR claims an additional month must be paid. The account has been out of contract for years and the account was active since 2000. No late payments nor other issues of any sort.

This is definitely a way to assure that our family will never willingly be AT&T customers again.

I filed a Complaint with the BBB at 10 pm Monday night regarding my billing situation. Got a notice a t 8:30 the next morning with a file number. At 10:30 am a representative from the Office of the President of Directv called me and had already figured out the amount they we're willing to credit me, as of the day I requested cancellation. She did say that complaints are up substantially with their new policy.

 

[Phil T]

I filed a Complaint with the BBB at 10 pm Monday night regarding my billing situation. Got a notice a t 8:30 the next morning with a file number. At 10:30 am a representative from the Office of the President of Directv called me and had already figured out the amount they we're willing to credit me, as of the day I requested cancellation. She did say that complaints are up substantially with their new policy.

This is the new norm for DirecTV cancellations, new policy or not. Follow the rules, get overcharged, make hours worth of phone calls with no resolution, complain to BBB or AT&T legal, then get the call that fixes it all. Unfortunately by the time you do all this you already made a mental commitment to never do business with AT&T ever again!

But how many others will go through all the hassle? AT&T corporate bets they won’t.

 

[Fred Derf]

This is the new norm for DirecTV cancellations, new policy or not. Follow the rules, get overcharged, make hours worth of phone calls with no resolution, complain to BBB or AT&T legal, then get the call that fixes it all. Unfortunately by the time you do all this you already made a mental commitment to never do business with AT&T ever again!

But how many others will go through all the hassle? AT&T corporate bets they won’t.

Exactly. Enough people will just pay that AT&T ends up ahead of the game.

 

[Nate Bargmann]

To close my portion of this thread.

I sent the family member a link to this thread after my previous post on March 24. That evening a complaint was filed with the BBB and a response was finally received this past Wednesday, April 3, from the "office of the president". The call had been missed so the response was a voice mail which the family member planned to follow up early next week. However, the amount in dispute was due yesterday and late yesterday after a CSR called the family member who explained the situation and the dates to the CSR. The CSR did some checking and said the amount now due is zero and the account is closed.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[mwdxer1]

We bought a house late February and after 10 years with Directv I decided that I was going to go with streaming at the new house. We had 3 weeks with both house so I decided to test the streaming ended up going with Playstation Vue and Spectrum for Internet and their pick 10 package to get the nets that Vue doesn't carry. We moved this Saturday, so Sunday I called to cancel my Directv and my AT&T Fiber internet. 1 call cancelled both, but I was then told that as of January 14th no longer pro rated refunds, so I had to pay for an entire month even though I was a little over halfway through. I got it cancelled then called back last night to speak to a supervisor, All communication with CSR's and supervisors was useless. I was told this is now policy and nothing would change it. The culture change with AT&T is apparent. SO, at 10pm last night I filed a complaint with the BBB and explained my thoughts. At 11 am today I heard from the AT&T Presidents office. Right away I was told I was being credited as if the 17th. THey have have many complaints according to the lady I spoke with, but she was firm that the policy will not change. 1 day into a months service and you owe the entire month. I was very clear with her that this policy means that I will no longer coming back to Directv under any circumstances. I got the opinion from all of the people that I talked with that the people that set these policies don't really car about the effect on their subscribers.

So far I'm very pleased with my choice. Very few buffering issues, Spectrum 1 Gig has been very reliable. New subdivision, so all new equipment probably helps. Some things about streaming take getting used to, I think it's a good fit. And, my Directv bill, after credits were expiring, was going to be about $150.mo, I'm at about $82/ month now.

So, if anyone is considering cancelling Directv, make sure u=you do it at the end of your billing cycle.

Good for you. You did not mention your streaming box, but I have both the Roku and Fire TV and both work very well and many channels that are in satellite and cable packages are free with streaming.

 

[Sparkman]

Good for you. You did not mention your streaming box, but I have both the Roku and Fire TV and both work very well and many channels that are in satellite and cable packages are free with streaming.

I have both, but primarily use Roku. Bought a 65" TCL Roku TV, have a couple of Roku streaming sticks and 1 Fire stivk. Biggest problem with the Fire stick is it doesn't have the Spectrum app. Also, watching a lot more OTA on my 65" than I thought I would. even with a small indoor antenna I'm picking up about 50 channels after dark, 40 or so during the day.

 

[Comptech]

I am going to add my story here. Two years ago I ordered DTV. The installer insisted on putting the dish on the side of my house. This was the month of Febuary. I said when the leaves come back it will be blocked. Sure enough by April I couldn't hold a lock. After a couple of service calls were Techs sai my signal was fine. I called and they fought but finally cancelled my contract. I returned the equipment and all was fine for two years. Last week I get a collection notice for DTV for cancelling my contract. Will be on the phone alot this weekend.

 

[raoul5788]

I am going to add my story here. Two years ago I ordered DTV. The installer insisted on putting the dish on the side of my house. This was the month of Febuary. I said when the leaves come back it will be blocked. Sure enough by April I couldn't hold a lock. After a couple of service calls were Techs sai my signal was fine. I called and they fought but finally cancelled my contract. I returned the equipment and all was fine for two years. Last week I get a collection notice for DTV for cancelling my contract. Will be on the phone alot this weekend.

I hope you kept the paperwork.