I had my initial installation two weeks ago (Feb 29th), and warned them in advance that I would need a stronger antenna (located in Rockland County). They said no problem, the installer would bring a bigger antenna with them and I would only pay the excess over the first $60. So, I signed up for the lease program.
Installer shows up, with a larger antenna that was primarily a VHF antenna (it did say HD on the box, but it certainly had a very small section of UHF elements). Needless to say, it didn't give any higher signal readings than the Stealth. I received CBS only, with no signal on any other channels. So, I called Voom back, and they scheduled a service call for Saturday March 13, between 8 & 12. They assured me that the installers will bring an upgraded off-air antenna...
Saturday arrives, and at 12:30 with no sign of the installers I give Voom a call. Just as the lady pulls up my account information, a white van with a DirecTV logo on it pulls into my driveway (I thought it was so funny, I told the Voom rep "nevermind, they must be here, a white van with a DirecTV logo on it just pulled into my driveway - this must be your service team". Two guys come in, and tell me that they are here to realign my satellite dish...
I explained to them that the satellite signal is fine - it's the off-air antenna that they are here to replace. They tell me that they don't have an antenna on their van. That's when I pointed to the big white box in my entry foyer, which contained a brand-new Channel Master 4228 ("once burnt, twice shy"). They look at the box, and said that they would get started. About 1/2 hour later, they come in the house and tell me that the antenna didn't come with a pole. I asked if they meant an antenna mast, and offered up one that I had in my basement. Off they go, back outside... About 15 minutes later they come back in the house, and ask me if I have an antenna mount. At this point, I was too shocked to say anything else, so I asked them to repeat the question -- how could these guys not have an antenna mount on their truck???
So off we go to a local Radio Shack to get a mount -- I took these guys with me so they could pick whatever they wanted (and that I wouldn't be responsible for buying the wrong thing). We bought two different roof mounts, just to be safe. We get back to the house, and off they go again...
15 minutes later they come back into the house and inform me that the mounts are not strong enough to support the antenna, and that I would have to reschedule. And there they went to their next appointment (now it is 2:45 and my Saturday is about shot with no improvement).
I get on the phone with Voom, ready to read them the riot act. That's when the classic he said-she said started. Voom insists that the work order said "customer receives only one off-air channel and needs a larger off-air antenna" and that the installation company made a mistake. They give me the number for the installation company, and then asked me to call them, appologized, and basically ended the call.
I call the installation company who appologized and offered to send someone out during the week to fix it. I told them that I need a weekend, and the best they could do was next Saturday (March 21). They also told me that they don't work on Sundays (which I was very surprised to hear).
I called Voom back and very kindly explained that I was very disappointed to find that we are at 3 appointments (and counting...) to get the installation completed. They rep was polite, and basically asked me to tell my story and he would have someone call me back to discuss a solution to the situation -- let's see if anyone calls me back!
If these guys don't get it straightened out this weekend, I am going to hand them the box back, and cut my losses.