Ordered Sling, (everyone) Forced to Add Locals

[hammerdown]

Why can't Dish just do what I ask without changing my programming? Last time they automatically took me off HD Absolute (required multiple calls to ERT to get it back)... This time I chat to get free Sling deal and they automatically added locals to my programming (no mention during the chat whatsoever). So I get on chat to have them removed and they give me the full run-around saying it's not possible to remove them now:

Customer ChatChat TranscriptPlease wait while we find a representative to assist you...Welcome to DISH Network Chat.Jacob (ID: VPB): Hello.

Jacob (ID: VPB): How are you doing today Michael? How may I help you?

***** : good thanks

Jacob (ID: VPB): You'

Jacob (ID: VPB): You're welcome.*

Jacob (ID: VPB): How may I help you today?

***** : i just ordered sling adapter via chat and looks like someone made changes to my programming without my authorization. i did not request adding locals to my programming

Jacob (ID: VPB): I’m very sorry to hear that you are having an issue. I’d be happy to resolve that for you.

Jacob (ID: VPB): For security purposes, would you please verify the 4 digit PIN on the account?

***** : ***
Jacob (ID: VPB): Thank you.

Jacob (ID: VPB): Michael, unfortunately Locals is a part of your package, so as you have ordered Sling adapter it was added automatically on your account.

Jacob (ID: VPB): Now as it has become a part of your package we do not have option to remove Local channels from your account.

***** : what? no

Jacob (ID: VPB): I can understand your concern, however for this inconvenience I can give you HBO and Cinemax free for 3 months.

***** : i want locals removed

Jacob (ID: VPB): Unfortunately we do not have any option to remove this from your account.

***** : get your supervisor

Jacob (ID: VPB): Sure, please remain on chat while I transfer you.

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6 has entered the session.Jacob (ID: VPB) has left the session.*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: Hi Michael.

***** : hi

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: This is Floor Supervisor Gary M.

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: How can I help you today?

***** : i just ordered sling adapter via chat and looks like someone made changes to my programming without my authorization. i did not request adding locals to my programming. i need it removed

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: Let me check what exactly went wrong with the transaction.

***** : ok

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: Please give me 2 to 3 minutes.

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: Thank you for your patience.

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: The locals were added to the account as the system automatically enforce the locals to be added to the account.

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: This is because of the new business rule.

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: Earlier we use to have option to subscribe to programming with or without locals channels.

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: Now, that option is not available anymore.

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: Customers onec subscribes to basic package, they automatically get qualify to receive locals as it is a part of the basic package.

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: Hence, the locals were added to the account.

***** : automatically qualify means forced to pay additional $6/mo without my authorization... i want it removed

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: Now, it can't be done.

***** : get me your supervisor

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: In that case, let me go ahead and connect you to "Executive Resolution Team".

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6: Please wait while I transfer.

*(Admin24/7) Gary M.VD6 has left the session.Please wait while we find an agent from the CH50 - ERT department to assist you.You have been successfully transferred to Danny (ID: PEQ) with the Executive Resolution department.Danny (ID: PEQ): Good Morning, how are you doing?
My name is Dan ***** , you have been transferred to the Executive Resolution Team; you can Follow-up with me at ***** @dishnetwork.com or 303-942-8600 ext: ***** Please give me a moment to access your account and review your conversation with the previous agent.
Danny (ID: PEQ): I certainly understand your frustration, let me review the account.

**** : ok

Danny (ID: PEQ): Thank you.

Danny (ID: PEQ): I do apologize for this happening to your account. The last Supervisor did point out that it was forced on tot he account. They are correct. Due to the agreement and pledge dish will provide locals to all customers as part of the programming package, they had to be added. You were Grandfathered into not having them until a change to t he account was made. I will be more than happy to compensate for this by giving you $5 off for 24 months, Is this OK.

***** : fine

Danny (ID: PEQ): Excellent.

Danny (ID: PEQ): let me make that change for you.

So beware- locals are now forced on everyone without their consent any time you contact dish to make any changes to your account.

 

[Dishman1978]

Its not an additional price to have locals any longer. They are just included. So you got upset for recieving something that is already supposed to be provided.

 

[KAB]

You should be mad for them NOT adding them, if you have to be mad about something.

 

[hammerdown]

Not according to my past bills. I had AT200 without locals for $54.99 plus $6 DVR. After they added the locals today it went to $60 plus $6 DVR.

 

[KAB]

Well, they were charging you the old rate...pre-local inclusions. But, I sure would not want to be without locals because of the ease of programming recordings.

 

[hammerdown]

Been doing manual recordings OTA since my old 6000 receiver. Used to it, don't mind it at all... Saved me $72/year for the past 10 years...

 

[navychop]

I too am happy to have a lower bill and no locals from Dish. What little OTA we watch or DVR, I'm happy with the OTA tuner. Besides, I get many more channels and subchannels than Dish provides in my area. And at top quality.

 

[jdad11]

I was wondering about that too.. can new sub has the option to OPT out from Dish provided locals?
I can get better quality and sub-channels off my OTA than dish can provide and I don't have to pay them extra $5/month.

 

[Mr Tony]

I was wondering about that too.. can new sub has the option to OPT out from Dish provided locals?

no

 

[hammerdown]

Dont contact dish to make any sort of change on your account or else they will automatically sign you up for locals and they wont change you back.

They do this all the time. My account is now riddled with three different monthly credits because they do these automatic changes, cant reverse them, then think its ok because they give me a limited time only credit for their "mistake".

 

[Laddyboy]

Just dropping the protection plan added locals to mine.

 

[MattG@DISH]

Dont contact dish to make any sort of change on your account or else they will automatically sign you up for locals and they wont change you back.

They do this all the time. My account is now riddled with three different monthly credits because they do these automatic changes, cant reverse them, then think its ok because they give me a limited time only credit for their "mistake".

Send me your phone number or account number in a PM please, and I will do what I can

Not having locals on the account is considered "grandfathered", so any changes to the account does automatically add them

 

[stardust3]

Sounds like a bunch of bull ---- on dish's part. They should be offering a discount for not subbing to locals. I'd drop locals if it would save a few bucks a month.
Ota proved invaluable for us this past spring during a tornado outbreak, dish went out & we needed local news which we were able to do with ota. At the very least they should be encouraging ota for the safety of the public during major weather events & include the tuners with all receivers. Then again this is a dish forum & we should not dare say anything bad toward dish or make suggestions because they seem to know what's in our best interest (our money in their pockets).

 

[hammerdown]

...Not having locals on the account is considered "grandfathered", so any changes to the account does automatically add them

Then Dish obviously doesn't understand the concept of grandfathered. If you really want to help, change the way Dish makes hidden unauthorized "automatic" account changes for customers who are grandfathered!

 

[Mr Tony]

I consider grandfathering as changing plans or adding locals. Adding premium channels or in the OP's case a sling adapter shouldn't make you lose that status

 

[Slamminc11]

Then Dish obviously doesn't understand the concept of grandfathered. If you really want to help, change the way Dish makes hidden unauthorized "automatic" account changes for customers who are grandfathered!

Dish's game, Dish's rules...but then you could go to Direct and get their programming without loc...oh wait, I bet they do the same thing...

 

[Mr Tony]

Dish's game, Dish's rules...but then you could go to Direct and get their programming without loc...oh wait, I bet they do the same thing...

if locals arent available you cant sub to them and they give you a little discount...but you can sub to distants
And if locals become available you can keep the distants under grandfathered rules

if locals are available yes you have to take them

 

[TG2]

What dish needs, is a G status flag ... and require that prior to making any changes to an account, identify what Grandfathered items are on the account, and what would change if they proceeded. At that they then explain these grandfathered items, explain what would be lost, and *THEN* let the customer decide. I'm sure there would come a "renewal" date and dish could then screw the customer regardless..

 

[MattG@DISH]

These types of changes should be disclosed when it happens. I've had a few people PM me, and I always give them to option to go ahead with the change, or keep the grandfathered package.

hammerdown, if you wish to PM me, I will do what I can to correct this

 

[TG2]

These types of changes should be disclosed when it happens. I've had a few people PM me, and I always give them to option to go ahead with the change, or keep the grandfathered package.
hammerdown, if you wish to PM me, I will do what I can to correct this

If its policy to do so .. then the status should not change without a physical person noting they've confirmed (via phone, chat, etc) with the customer.

Instead I would bet that somewhere buried in a bunch of legalize is the "we can change your packages if you want us to do something" and maybe that notice even pops up in some way when the customer made their purchase of the adapter through the web site ... the problem is what would be considered reasonable disclosure? Why would a reasonable person equate "I'm buying a part" .... to "dish is going to change my packages" What if it had been an external hard drive and *not* a sling adapter that the customer was buying? Would this have triggered changes to the customers' account? I suspect it would..

a side note to this is how badly mangled *MY* account was, when I bought 2 sling adapters, and paid for them right then and there on the website. But dish had to add them to my monthly billing rather than bill separately ... and then sends me notice that my balance for the month was zero, making me think I'd already paid my dish bill and that my payment that moment bought the adapters, when in fact the payment for the adapters and subsequent "charges" for them fell across the billing day so the payment was applied first to one month's bill, and *then* the adapters were added causing me to get a new bill that shoked the sh*t out of me.​

I have no doubt that dish would stand behind its legal wranglings ... even with the greatest of apologies, and even with the given "24 months 5 dollar off" offer, its still dish using anything they can to make changes to the customer's package without the customer having a full understanding of those changes.. I'm quite sure dish views their "five dollars off" as a generous gesture ... but all other things being the same, the customer *could* have bought an external sling box, *not* involved dish at all, and thus 5 years from now still be saving 60 bucks a year from that 5 dollar fee they weren't paying.... thus in five years still saving 100 bucks. (300 dollars from 60 dollars per year 5 years, but a sling *box* costing 200)