New Customer 2-Year "Price Lock" (2012) Question?

[JD Hogg]

I just received my statement for this month and I noticed that the Advanced Month Receiver fee went up from $20 > $25 and my Choice plan went up from $63.99 > $64.99. I am aware that DTV was increasing some of it's pricing - but I thought that it didn't apply to new customers with a 2-year agreement.

I signed up as a 'new customer' back in September 2012 and I could swear that DTV stated that the price was "LOCKED in for 2 years."

Can someone please shed some light on this. Does this mean that the price is not subject to increase for the full 24-month term of my contract?

Am I understanding this correctly....or does the "Price Lock" mean something else?

Also is there an archived DTV home page from late September 2012 where it would show all the "new customer promotions" they were offering?

Thanks.

 

[directv newb]

Yea, same thing here. So last night I called them and I was really nice and I said that I am in a 2 year price lock contract, and the girl said, "well, in the fine print we reserve the right to raise your price if need be", she also said they tried to raise it as little as possible. So I guess the contract just locks us in but if they choose they can raise the price. I am fine with it because I love directv, but I do think a 2 year contract should be the same for 2 years, but what do I know.

 

[JD Hogg]

So a 2 year "PRICE LOCK" is just BS then, since they can go back on it anytime they want???

I even saw DTV commercials where they said that your price is "locked in for 2 years."

I tried contacting Retention Dept. and the guy I spoke with stated that he's never heard of their 'price lock' promotion/policy.

Any suggestions?

 

[Mr Tony]

well I hate to play devil's advocate but it says "LOCK IN 2 YEARS OF SAVINGS".....doesnt say lock in your price

Here is the archive dated 08/22/12

It says $39 off for 1st year and $20 off 2nd year. So even if the prices are raised you still get $39 off for the 1st year on the programming package.

 

[Mr Tony]

the archive gets glitchy until Ocotber (when I try dates in September it gives me commercial pricing). October it switched to the Genie but it still shows
LIMITED TIME Lock in 2 years of savings! Save $29/mo in your 1st year AND $10/mo. in your 2nd year! NO redemption required.

 

[skysurfer]

sounds like I got off "lucky" compared to some of you. I signed up in Nov 2012 when the promo said I was priced locked for the first 12 months. My bill came yesterday and only inceased about 50 cents - the CHOICE was increased and the Advanced Receiver fee was increased but both were offset by credits in the amount of the increase. I cancelled HBO and the other premiums two days before the free 3 months expired and was charged 4.50 - the 4.50 was removed in a credit but I was charged local sales tax that amounted to about the 50 cent difference.

I know I shouldn't complain about 50 cent increase this month due to sales tax on HBO, etc. that should have been free but I will contact them and have them explain why there is a taxable charge for HBO, etc. when I don't think there should be.

 

[texasbrit]

iceberg is correct, there is no 2 year price lock, just a discount that gets applied to whatever is the current price....

 

[qcjoe]

When I signed up last October it had a grid of month to month of what your price will be. No where did it say the price would be the same for the two years.

 

[JD Hogg]

Thanks for the info guys. I guess I misunderstood price savings lock with price lock guarantee.

At any rate, these price increases are insane. I know it's not just DTV who are raising their prices - but many consumers, like myself, are getting priced out.

As soon as my 2-year contracts concludes.....I'm done with satellite/cable TV. I'm going the OTA + Internet TV route like many others are doing now. There's no way that I'm going to pay $100+ a month for bleeping television.

OTA - free
Apple TV - $99 (one time charge)
Hulu Plus - $8 per month

SEE YA DIRECTV!!!

 

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the info guys. I guess I misunderstood price savings lock with price lock guarantee.

At any rate, these price increases are insane. I know it's not just DTV who are raising their prices - but many consumers, like myself, are getting priced out.

As soon as my 2-year contracts concludes.....I'm done with satellite/cable TV. I'm going the OTA + Internet TV route like many others are doing now. There's no way that I'm going to pay $100+ a month for bleeping television.

OTA - free
Apple TV - $99 (one time charge)
Hulu Plus - $8 per month

SEE YA DIRECTV!!!

Hmmm,
How long do you expect Hulu plus to go before they charge more ... Apple TV as well.


I think mine goes up a few dollars every year ... while I don't like it, It's reasonable.

 

[Tampa8]

This is the same misunderstanding new Dish customers have. It's the reduction in cost that remains the same, not the actual cost. I do think they all manage to make it a little vague.

 

[Tampa8]

Hmmm,
How long do you expect Hulu plus to go before they charge more ... Apple TV as well.


I think mine goes up a few dollars every year ... while I don't like it, It's reasonable.

And Internet rates when you use that much data. And Tivo and their subscription rates. But it is less and if that's what you can afford or all you want to spend, at least it's a viable option.

 

[Mr Tony]

It could be worse...could be Comcast

29.99 a month for 6 months as example...then jumps to 80 bucks
Interesting how last November they had a promo. $24.99 a month for 6 months when you take 2 or more items (cable, internet, phone)...so $50 for internet and cable (as example)
Just saw the same commercial...now its 29.99 a month per item. So it went up TEN bucks (remember...gotta take 2)

 

[Mr Tony]

At any rate, these price increases are insane. I know it's not just DTV who are raising their prices - but many consumers, like myself, are getting priced out.

while I partially agree the increases have only been a couple bucks a year on the programming its the "extras" that torque me off. Why did the DVR fee go up $2 for gits and shiggles? Nothing changed on how I DVR programs. I still can record 5 things. So why raise it to $10?

 

[JD Hogg]

The "Advanced Receiver Fee" is a joke! $25 for what?????? HD access and DVR ability?

 

[JD Hogg]

Hmmm,
How long do you expect Hulu plus to go before they charge more ... Apple TV as well.


I think mine goes up a few dollars every year ... while I don't like it, It's reasonable.

I agree. They will hike their prices as well. Even IF Hulu+ and Apple TV increase by 50%.....it's still WAY cheaper than cable or sat tv.

If I was an avid TV viewer, then I probably wouldn't care as much. But honestly I don't watch enough TV to justify paying that much for DTV.

Question.....if I SUSPEND my DTV account for the final 6 months of my contract, does that "freeze" my contract or do those 6 months still count towards the remainder of it?

 

[Mr Tony]

The "Advanced Receiver Fee" is a joke! $25 for what?????? HD access and DVR ability?

the Advanced receiver fee is basically 3 fees rolled into one
-DVR
-HD
-Whole Home DVR

You should get a $10 HD credit if on auto pay

 

[Mr Tony]

Question.....if I SUSPEND my DTV account for the final 6 months of my contract, does that "freeze" my contract or do those 6 months still count towards the remainder of it?

nope. If you suspend it the contract time stops. It has to be 24 Active months

 

[dtro77]

Same Here , Only the first year is a Price Lock. I get a $4 credit back untill May for MRV fee, and the $2 basepack increase.

 

[zim2dive]

This is the same misunderstanding new Dish customers have. It's the reduction in cost that remains the same, not the actual cost. I do think they all manage to make it a little vague.

Golly.. you aren't saying its vague on purpose are you ??

Motto of the consumer.. always expect the "fine print" to render the "big print" 80% of the distance from truth to a, um, misrepresentation of fact.

EDIT: and companies wonder why we don't trust them....