Post what DirecTV retention offered you!

[jcrandall]

I would not say the previous CSR lied to you, rather that DirecTV's stance has changed in credits and discounts to existing customers.

Their strategy change to tighten up on discounts to existing customers was even mentioned in investor presentations and quarterly conference calls a few times over the past couple years.
So it likely has little to do with you in particular, other than their system measures what they have given you in the past and gives the CSR fewer (or no) options to offer you.

I'm pretty much in the same boat and don't take it as anything more than their strategy shifted. The only credits I can get are B1G1 premium channels for 3 months, which are offered on the web site a few times a year.

 

[mlbfans]

I had called in December for some help with an AM21 and asked if there were any free services available. He said I could get any one of the premium channels free for 3 months. Then I got my bill and was charged for a partial payment. I said I thought it was free, but she said there was still a charge. I said free is free and she came back and said she could charge half, I said no, then she said they would drop the full charge. Then she wasn't very friendly. It looks like there is a change in policy with DirecTV. By the way, I have been a customer since 1998.

 

[Fuelrod]

I've been a customer forever, back when everybody was reprogramming their H cards, getting ALL the channels free all the time..But when that party ended, I signed up with 2 receivers which I split with a family member living in another city. They didn't get their locals, for that they used rabbit ears..I get NO premium channels, just the Choice package. They have worked my bill up to $82/month which is outrageous. Down in Mexico (where we have a winter fishing camp) the locals all have Sky TV, a satellite service that provides the major networks and 35 cable channels for $16 (dollars) a month ! This is the regular price, not a discounted "introductory price" It includes a couple of commercial-free movie channels !! Spanish or English, your choice !

So I'm ready to cut the cord with DTV..The value just isn't there. They should be making enough money off their 600 garbage channels so they could offer a package with just the major networks and maybe 20 half-way decent cable channels for $20 bucks a month..I mean the content of all these channels is 50% commercials...If the broadcast channels (any urban area has 20 or 30 of them) can stay in business without charging their customers, the commercial content paying for everything, so can DTV...If Sky TV down in Mexico is thriving on $15 subscriptions, so can DTV....

 

[IcEWoLF]

I am paying $99 atm for 2 receivers + premier package + sports pack...this is by far the best deal I've gotten from retention. I have the HR44 + the Mini genie wireless upgrade free and installation waived. Couldn't be happier. I could have disconnected and then gotten the winback department call back, but I just can't go on without tv for days. :/

 

[rapidturtle]

My bill is getting high, I have about 4 months left on my current contract. How long after you cancel does it take to start getting the phone calls with great offers to come back. I will have been with D* for 3 years, and buy Sunday ticket, have Choice +, 4 receivers, usually carry HBO, and I am also on auto pay, so never late paying the bill.
I am actually willing to go with Optimum cable, which I use for internet, and can get a really good deal for that for the first year.

 

[tigerfan33]

I would call Directv first before you cancel. Tell them what you are considering and ask what they can do for you.

 

[bobtet]

I called D* last week............my 2 yrs will be up April 8, they said as of now there is "NADA" "ZIP" nothing for me as far as discounts. don't like the switching idea but it may be my only option. i don't like paying $114.00 a month for TV.

 

[Bronxiniowa]

I didn't like paying $130 a month. And I did switch, to cable, which I swore I'd never do.

 

[cparker]

If you switch to cable, aren't you still paying a lot? And I'm not trolling... I just keep looking at my bill and going, "We're really paying that much to watch TV?"

Last time I called retention when my contract was up, I got one of my HR24s upgraded to an HR34. There was a $99 upgrade fee, but they fave me over $200 in discounts for 12 months so.... kinda negated the fee and then some. OH! And they also gave me a Genie mini for the kitchen. I don't see anything similar coming down the pipe when my contract runs out again and I've looked at cable, tried to assess what we record and what would I just not get if I had no satellite and no cable.

We record mostly stuff that I can get OTA. BUT.... we have a ton of House Hunters International, and DIY this or that and HGTV and those I can't get OTA.... nor can I get Sabres hockey games.... although the way they're playing this year.... I could listen on the radio.

Anyway... I was thinking maybe getting into TiVo. They have one for OTA that *can* be converted to cable later. Just not sure I could come up with as many tuners as I have available now.

 

[rapidturtle]

I would call Directv first before you cancel. Tell them what you are considering and ask what they can do for you.

I did that last summer, and got a good deal on the Sunday ticket, and $10 per month discount for 10 months. Not bad, but I just lost my advanced receiver discount, so like I said, the bill is getting high. I'll probably just do cable for their discounts, and then come back as a new customer in a year or so.

 

[30rock]

Got $10 off, without a contract extension. One time $50 credit and free HBO, SHO, Cine for 90 days. Not what I was looking for, but I'm content with it. At least my March bill won't be as high. #meh

 

[qcjoe]

I had called in December for some help with an AM21 and asked if there were any free services available. He said I could get any one of the premium channels free for 3 months. Then I got my bill and was charged for a partial payment. I said I thought it was free, but she said there was still a charge. I said free is free and she came back and said she could charge half, I said no, then she said they would drop the full charge. Then she wasn't very friendly. It looks like there is a change in policy with DirecTV. By the way, I have been a customer since 1998.

I had the same issue but it wasnt retention. I was doing a movers deal and they offered me two movie channels free for three months. I got a charge on my bill and I was told it was a proration for the movie channels. I said you cant prorate free. They told me they took care of it. They didnt. I had to call each of the next three months and each month they told me it was taken care of. Each time it wasnt. I finnaly called and said take it off Im tired of being lied to. Can you believe the csr tried to offer me buy one get one free on movie channles. I said why would I do that when I was taking so called free ones off? They really dont listen.

 

[RandallA]

I got a call from Directv today asking me if I wanted to upgrade my equipment or if I was adding a new TV. I told her no but asked her to upgrade my crappy HR34 for an HR44, she said she couldn't which I already knew. She then said that I've been with them for over 5 years and she could offer me $20 off per month if I agreed to another year with them. I told her yes since I'm not going anywhere.

So they actually call you now with the offers.

 

[Kb Cool]

I'm thinking about cancelling and turning my owned Dishnet equipment (still hooked up) back on for a month and hope Directv calls me offering me to come back as a new customer! Will they Call?

 

[dishfan82]

My bill will be going to $73 soon and by September it will be at $103. By then if I call and they offer me nothing then I'll just cancel. I realize they give you savings for a year but they more than make it up in fees.

 

[Jimbo]

I called in tonight, she told me that I should call back March 31st when my credits expire and they will have more to offer.
I don't know why they want you to wait till the day or shortly after that they expire, I'd like to handle it the month before so I don't miss the last payment (never have yet, but why take chances) and they can't put credits on when they can easily see what you currently have.
I suppose they don't want over lapping credits, but they should be able to add them the month that they expire.

 

[JT1975]

I have been a D* customer for 8 years (5 as an employee, receiving complimentary SD programming) with perfect payment history and all 4 movie premiums and the Xtra package. I still have all SD equipment, but it's past time to upgrade to HD. I have 5 HD TVs and would love to upgrade to whole home DVR. Right now, my bill is over $160/mo, so I spend plenty with them. What kind of deal might I get to upgrade my equipment and retire my dinosaur D11/D12 IRDs? I know every account is different, with offers based on my rating, but is there any chance of upgrading 3-5 receivers to HD without taking out a second mortgage? Also, I read here somewhere that the HD access fee was dropped for all customers. I know some new customers got HD for life, but on D*'s website it still shows a $10 fee for both HD and DVR service applies. Any help or educated speculation is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[satgirl51]

I have been a D* customer for 8 years (5 as an employee, receiving complimentary SD programming) with perfect payment history and all 4 movie premiums and the Xtra package. I still have all SD equipment, but it's past time to upgrade to HD. I have 5 HD TVs and would love to upgrade to whole home DVR. Right now, my bill is over $160/mo, so I spend plenty with them. What kind of deal might I get to upgrade my equipment and retire my dinosaur D11/D12 IRDs? I know every account is different, with offers based on my rating, but is there any chance of upgrading 3-5 receivers to HD without taking out a second mortgage? Also, I read here somewhere that the HD access fee was dropped for all customers. I know some new customers got HD for life, but on D*'s website it still shows a $10 fee for both HD and DVR service applies. Any help or educated speculation is much appreciated. Thanks!

Being an older customer you will be charged a $10 HD fee, plus if ya want a Dvr its $10 and whole home would be $3. Total $23

New customers don't pay for HD, it's free but they do pay $6.50 for the first receiver where you get it for free, if they want a dvr its a $15 advance receiver fee which includes whole home.

 

[raoul5788]

10+10+3=23, not 25.

 

[satgirl51]

10+10+3=23, not 25.

Lol! Ya thanks, I fixed it.