Still having sub problems

[reddialo]

Hi Guys
thhxs for your help last week.

I am now up north and was very close to getting a account set up
with "d" before I flew up on sunday, but after starting off just fine
with my first call , it descended into a 90 minute farce at Customer service.

I let them know that we are first time subs .

that we live in condo which frown upon dishes in naples fl.

pointed out that I will use service at rv/ boat dock and
no installers required.

they took details re , home address ,phone # etc etc.

I explained I am a newcomer to USA after 30 years living in Toronto.

and that I have bank accont with debit in florida but no SSN
till my visa is approved by government.

OK so far and we agree on the 150 deposit over 15 months
then he sent me off to cutomer service. and the troubles began.

eventually I had to give up in despair when the CS rep kept insisting on SSN number.

now my choices are this , get my wife to call and set up account
but she is nervous because I have the reciever set up
here in toronto.
I HAVE explaioned to her that it is no problem and to
just order basic programming plus setanta and fox soccer channel.

but it would be easier all round if I could call.

I am not back to florida for 7 weeks and would love
to get this up and running and paying to "d".

I cannot get telephone access to "d" from CANADA
on 800 numbers , have heard that skype or vonage voip make this possible??

so apologies for the long prose, but I just bought xm stateside
and had no problems at all and the terrestial repeaters are fab here in Toronto
reckon thats all I will miss when I move to florida later this year.

all the best and thxs for your patience

cheers red

PS got a d10 from BB Last week have hooked it up A OK HERE In Toronto
its just telling me to call CS 711 .

 

[charper1]

As I read it, reception of DirecTV signals by citizens outside the US are considered to be illegal. Are you saying that you can't get them to do it and you are living in FL or are you saying your are a CAN resident without a US SS# but have a bank account in FL.

 

[reddialo]

d will not sign me up without ssn
or so the cs rep I spoke with assumes.

illeagal is a very grey subject
there are thousands of d receivers here in Canada
that are paid for with subscription.

I am up in Canada for at least 6 more months
and have a dish and d 10 reciever,
just want to pay legit.

reckon I WILL GET THE VOIP internet phone service
then I can call via 1-800

thxs for your support

red

 

[charper1]

To some it may be "grey" to some but to DirecTV it is not. The SSN is not only for credit checking but proof of residency. The refusal to provide on may lead them to assume you are up to something which they deem untrustworthy; and since it is illegal to provide our northern neighbors with service, that may well be the issue. You think?

 

[boba]

I suggest you work with a local Fl. dealer. He can set you up as a non credit check customer with a $150 payment, and install you no SS# needed. After your Fl. system is activated you can add your Canadian receiver to the account. I believe on the 26th of Jan. Directv is raising the non credit scored fee to $300 so work fast.

 

[visiter555]

To some it may be "grey" to some but to DirecTV it is not. The SSN is not only for credit checking but proof of residency. The refusal to provide on may lead them to assume you are up to something which they deem untrustworthy; and since it is illegal to provide our northern neighbors with service, that may well be the issue. You think?

Part of the problem is that many of us non-US citizens have Visas to work in the US, but are paid via a Canadian office. Therefore under the usual agreements we are not required to pay US taxes nor are we required (and in many times not able) to get a SSN.

I actually live a short 15 minute drive from E*'s head office in Colorado. I do not have a SSN. I do have a US bank account and a "corporate" US credit card. I have been here for a couiple of years (legally).

Now, with that background, a six digit salary, a long time residency and US government approval to live here, at first I could NOT get D* or E* or several other services because I do not have a SSN. At least I finally got both to give me service, BUT I had to give both an additional $200 deposit which they retain for six months (D* wanted it for two years!!!). I actually offered to pay up front for 12 months instead, but they have their script!

 

[damaged]

Umm, you're one of those dual citizenship scammers (6mos here 6mos there), free medical in canada, then come live here cheap, pay no taxes, and now you want illegal D*? If you want D* without problems, move here perm, pay taxes, and get a SSN.

 

[raymo721]

Umm, you're one of those dual citizenship scammers (6mos here 6mos there), free medical in canada, then come live here cheap, pay no taxes, and now you want illegal D*? If you want D* without problems, move here perm, pay taxes, and get a SSN.

Damaged, I think he said he can't get the SSN till he gets his Visa. Truthfuly I don't know what is required for him to get a SSN. Just trying to clarify. A few years back we stayed at a B&B in Nova Scotia. The owners did the same thing. Summers there and Winters in Fla. I never thought of this as you discribed but the idea does upset me a bit.--Ray

 

[visiter555]

Damaged, I think he said he can't get the SSN till he gets his Visa. Truthfuly I don't know what is required for him to get a SSN. Just trying to clarify. A few years back we stayed at a B&B in Nova Scotia. The owners did the same thing. Summers there and Winters in Fla. I never thought of this as you discribed but the idea does upset me a bit.--Ray

Ray,

Actually I have a Visa and under the terms I am a specialist working for a Canadian Division of a US multi-national.

Live in Colorado 12 months of the year, have medical coverage from my employer and don't go back to Canada all that often!

I do not need a SSN as I am not an employee of the US firm, but of a Canadian firm and therefore am paid in Canada in Canadian dollars (you should see how confusing my expense reports are!!! pay in US, conver to Cdn for my expense account, get paid in Cad THEN pay my AmEx in US$$$$!!!!).

Because I am not working for a US firm (and a whole lot of other things) I can not get a SSN.

 

[visiter555]

Umm, you're one of those dual citizenship scammers (6mos here 6mos there), free medical in canada, then come live here cheap, pay no taxes, and now you want illegal D*? If you want D* without problems, move here perm, pay taxes, and get a SSN.

And ummm...you are not the brightest light bulb...

I am not a scammer, and I do legally live & work in the US for a Canadian firm with a valid Visa.

My medical is covered by my employer and my cost of living HERE is far higher than it was in Canada.

All this was covered in my original post, which you did not fully comprehend.

Under the terms of my Visa and the conditions of employment, I am a Canadian citizen with the ability and authoriation to work for a Canadian company in the US.

I pay many, many US taxes (sales etc) and contribute to the economy both in my local area and in the 38 states I travel to and from for business. I SPEND more than $100,000 US$ in travel expenses every year (air, car rental, hotels and meals). I pay $200 per month to Cingular for my cell, $1,500 for my condo, etc.

There are taxes on all of those services.

And exactly what do you contribute?

 

[charper1]

So when you get paid do you actually lose money based on conversion rates or is there some sort of compensatory pay included depending on that days x-rate??

 

[damaged]

And ummm...you are not the brightest light bulb...
I am not a scammer, and I do legally live & work in the US for a Canadian firm with a valid Visa.
My medical is covered by my employer and my cost of living HERE is far higher than it was in Canada.
All this was covered in my original post, which you did not fully comprehend.
Under the terms of my Visa and the conditions of employment, I am a Canadian citizen with the ability and authoriation to work for a Canadian company in the US.
I pay many, many US taxes (sales etc) and contribute to the economy both in my local area and in the 38 states I travel to and from for business. I SPEND more than $100,000 US$ in travel expenses every year (air, car rental, hotels and meals). I pay $200 per month to Cingular for my cell, $1,500 for my condo, etc.
There are taxes on all of those services.

Hrm, I had different post content here, but just deleted it all because I just realized, that you replied to me about a comment that I aimed at reddialo, are you reddialo?, if not, I was not speaking to you, perhaps it is YOUR comprehension which needs work, eh?

Besides, if you have no SSN, you pay $0 in IRS taxes (which is what I was referring to, not SALES tax).

 

[raymo721]

Ok, somehow visiter555's post showed up after Damaged and I replied to reddialo's post. Honestly, your post was NOT there when I posted AFTER Damaged. Our comments were not directed at you or about you. Your's is a different situation altogether. No harm, no foul. Enjoy the Rockies. I'll be there soon!!--Ray

 

[visiter555]

So when you get paid do you actually lose money based on conversion rates or is there some sort of compensatory pay included depending on that days x-rate??

Sometimes I lose, sometimes I win...usually i lose a few cents per $100.

 

[visiter555]

Hrm, I had different post content here, but just deleted it all because I just realized, that you replied to me about a comment that I aimed at reddialo, are you reddialo?, if not, I was not speaking to you, perhaps it is YOUR comprehension which needs work, eh?
Besides, if you have no SSN, you pay $0 in IRS taxes (which is what I was referring to, not SALES tax).

Damaged,

Relax...if you look at the order of posts, your responded directly after my post and you did NOT address it to anyone therefore it appears that it was a direct response to my post.

I think you need to learn to relax and not be so judgemental...you are just way to out of touch.

And no, I am not reddialo...you should learn to address your posts when you are commenting to a specific individual.

I wonder how many CRSs in various stores and businesses you have ticked off...

By the way...some of the various taxes I pay go to the IRS...and I can honestly say I have NEVER falsely filled out my tax return to the IRS!!!!!

 

[visiter555]

Ok, somehow visiter555's post showed up after Damaged and I replied to reddialo's post. Honestly, your post was NOT there when I posted AFTER Damaged. Our comments were not directed at you or about you. Your's is a different situation altogether. No harm, no foul. Enjoy the Rockies. I'll be there soon!!--Ray

Raymo721,

Yea, but usually I am not there!!!

Enjoy your visit to God's country!!!

 

[damaged]

Damaged,
Relax...if you look at the order of posts, your responded directly after my post and you did NOT address it to anyone therefore it appears that it was a direct response to my post.
I think you need to learn to relax and not be so judgemental...you are just way to out of touch.
And no, I am not reddialo...you should learn to address your posts when you are commenting to a specific individual.
I wonder how many CRSs in various stores and businesses you have ticked off...
By the way...some of the various taxes I pay go to the IRS...and I can honestly say I have NEVER falsely filled out my tax return to the IRS!!!!!

You should learn to not hijack other peoples posts, then you wouldn't have looked like a moron arguing with someone who wasn't directing his post at you to begin with.

And, I will relax when I feel like it, not when some moron on a forum tells me to. Don't presume to know how I treat others outside this forum, who is being judgmental now? Damn hipocrite.

 

[cheebs]

Well, I have a house in Long Island, but am not a US citizen or resident (but do have US bank accounts and CC). As a foreign non-resident, there is absolutely no possibility of obtaining a SSN.

When D* asked for the SSN, I explained exactly that. The CSR then consulted a supervisor and in less than 5 mins I was up and running. I guess it's just another case of CSR roulette. You win with some, you lose with some.

What I'm trying to say, is that not everyone is trying to cheat the system. There are simply exceptions at times that must be taken into account.

 

[visiter555]

You should learn to not hijack other peoples posts, then you wouldn't have looked like a moron arguing with someone who wasn't directing his post at you to begin with.
And, I will relax when I feel like it, not when some moron on a forum tells me to. Don't presume to know how I treat others outside this forum, who is being judgmental now? Damn hipocrite.

Your nic suits you. You are not worth any further response.

 

[visiter555]

Well, I have a house in Long Island, but am not a US citizen or resident (but do have US bank accounts and CC). As a foreign non-resident, there is absolutely no possibility of obtaining a SSN.
When D* asked for the SSN, I explained exactly that. The CSR then consulted a supervisor and in less than 5 mins I was up and running. I guess it's just another case of CSR roulette. You win with some, you lose with some.
What I'm trying to say, is that not everyone is trying to cheat the system. There are simply exceptions at times that must be taken into account.

Cheebs,

I agree!!! Many people are not trying to cheat the system (as Damaged seems to believe), but are just trying to get a service legitimately.

No wonder people hack...they can't get it legally even when they should be able to!!!!