New Directv Customer About To Cancel

[lawstudent1984]

I recently moved to a new apartment that allows installation of satellite dishes and decided to take advantage of an offer I saw on the web through AT&T to bundle my DSL internet with Directv service among other stuff they offered. I ordered online and scheduled my installation with no problems until last Thursday when the installer showed up. Since I wasn't able to be there someone over 18 stayed for me as DTV requires that. So far so good. Well the installer shows up and explains to my stand-in that he can't install the dish because the restrictions don't allow him to mount or brace it to the metal railing on the balcony and that my only option was to use a 5 gallon bucket filled with cement and have a pole mount put in that to place the dish on. Given that I'm not there and this is being told on the phone I decided to get the installation rescheduled for when I could be there personally.

My stand in got the number of the company that is contracted out here to do these installations so I call them and the man on the phone explains that DTV restrictions prevent using braces on the railings, which as I told the man I found that odd given that I was surrounded by Dish Network and DTV dishes that all seemed to be installed with these brackets/mounts. The contractor said those were probably not done right and the concrete bucket pole mount was the only option. I asked how much this would cost me and he said around $35.00. I figured oh well better than nothing, so they said they would come out today (Sat) and install that way.

This morning the installer shows up and was Extremely rude to me. He basically starts to whine about how nobody told him anything about setting this up on a concrete bucket and that he doesn't have that and it's my responsibility to provide for this. His attitude at me really made me mad he acted like it was all my fault and that somehow DTV keeps them all in the dark, okay..

I call DTV via the 1-800 number and the woman explains that this is a line of sight issue and that I shouldn't be charged anything and that the contractor was wrong to suggest that. I call up the contractor whom I spoke to on the phone earlier and he beings to hassle me saying something about we had a deal I was going to pay for that. I proceed to tell the man that under no circumstances will I pay $35 for a cement bucket when DTV corporate has told me that is not something I'm responsible for and that he can take it up with DTV and that is final.

The contractor then agrees that he will get the cement and bucket and just as I am about to assume it's settled he asks me if I am going to be a bother to the installer when he's trying to do his job. I said no and hung up the phone and then proceeded to tell the installer that we were done for the day and that he could leave because I will be calling DTV to cancel the service.

My main concern is how hard will it be to cancel DTV service that was never activated? The only charge on my CC was the installation charge of like $19.95, I'd like a refund of that but if eating that charge means getting DTV away permanently then I'm prepared to do that.

Secondly, was what the installer and contractor telling me true that DTV no longer allows one to mount a dish to a metal railing even though every other dish around me was mounted to the railing? The installer said the wind will cause signal disruption for them but from my own look of the dishes they seemed to be held on fairly securely, plus I imagine in any situation with extremely high winds any dish would move somewhat regardless of how secure it was mounted.

I have to say this has been a very very frustrating experience, I will give DTV Corporate a hats off, the people who answered the 1-800 # this morning and spoke with me were extremely professional and apologetic about the whole thing. They scheduled me for another install attempt next Saturday but I'm calling Monday to cancel because they couldn't give me a guarantee the same people wouldn't be coming out to try again and I want nothing to do with them for sure!

 

[Claude Greiner]

If its not installed, your entitled to a full refund. Contract begins once the service is installed and activated.

 

[Liquidforce88]

First the installation to the rail is your property management's call. That is their rule, and it could be that the other installers did not find out if they were allowed to, the rule changed or they did not care and did it anyway.

2nd the charge for the bucket and cement is not something that Direct can say is free, although I know they do it. It has nothing to do with Line Of Site, this is your apartment making you use a special mount that is NOT covered under a standard install. I will not do a bucket mount, they won't stay lined up and are nothing but problems.

 

[lawstudent1984]

First the installation to the rail is your property management's call. That is their rule, and it could be that the other installers did not find out if they were allowed to, the rule changed or they did not care and did it anyway

That is what I assumed until I talked to property management and checked my lease agreement, their only restrictions were it couldn't be mounted to the roof and there could be no drilling into the exterior of the building to run any kind of wires meaning I'd have had to have a flat cable or something run through my window which is what everyone around me has.

The apartment complex didn't require me to use a pole mount this was all the installer's bit I asked him repeatedly why if all the other dishes DTV and Dish Network are mounted the same way only mine couldn't be done that way?

 

[JerseyMatt]

I would try to find a local installer and deal with them, that way you can lay out exactly what you want. Concrete bucket? He says wind will mess up a dish braced to a railing, but he's telling you to use a concrete bucket? Are they high? Make sure you write a letter to DirecTV laying out what this installer told you and how much of a hassle they gave you. I sure as hell wouldn't want someone like that representing my company, especially if they are pushing a method that will cause nothing but headaches to the subscriber. Railing mounts are standard equipment, and any installer worth his salt will have a set or two in the van. They cost $50 at the absolute most. It is not part of the standard install, just like a chimney or sled mount, but it is a contingency that a good installer will plan for.

 

[Big]

Good For You!!

 

[lawstudent1984]

. Concrete bucket? He says wind will mess up a dish braced to a railing, but he's telling you to use a concrete bucket? Are they high? Make sure you write a letter to DirecTV laying out what this installer told you and how much of a hassle they gave you. I sure as hell wouldn't want someone like that representing my company, especially if they are pushing a method that will cause nothing but headaches to the subscriber.

He might have been high, he certainly had one nasty attitude. I was able to snap a picture with my iPhone of the phone # off the side of his truck when he wasn't paying attention. I googled the number and found that it belongs to a local company contracted by DTV so I'm going to call them tomorrow and speak to someone in management.

 

[Liquidforce88]

That is what I assumed until I talked to property management and checked my lease agreement, their only restrictions were it couldn't be mounted to the roof and there could be no drilling into the exterior of the building to run any kind of wires meaning I'd have had to have a flat cable or something run through my window which is what everyone around me has.

The apartment complex didn't require me to use a pole mount this was all the installer's bit I asked him repeatedly why if all the other dishes DTV and Dish Network are mounted the same way only mine couldn't be done that way?

Then there should be nothing to stop the install. Standard price for a mount is $35 and $16 for flat cables. That is the price that Directv sets. Not knowing what system you ordered that could amount to as much as $99 in additional charges. Other than that it should go in. Don't expect the installer to give you that stuff free, it is additional costs that are not payed by Directv.