What is the Dishnetwork DVR Service Fee?

[theinv]

Here is my current billing statement.

Can anyone explain to me why there is the Dishnetwork DVR service fee? What is it for?

I have two receivers, DVR625 and vip622.


New Monthly Charge(s)

08/10 to 09/09

===============

DIGITAL HOME ADVANTAGE WITH GREAT WALL TV PACKAGE -------- 34.99
DISH HOME PROTECTION PLAN (DHPP) -------- 5.99

DISH NETWORK DVR SERVICEFEE -------- 11.96

HD ENABLING FEE -------- 6.00

LEASED RECEIVER FEE -------- 6.00

LOCALS -------- 0.00

Account Charges $ 64.94
Total Taxes -------- $ 0.50

Total Amount Due -------- $ 65.44

 

[skyviewmark]

It's the fee for the priviledge of having and using a DVR. Standard Fee. Non negotiable unless you subscribe to the Everything Package..

 

[Cyclone]

Dish originally did not have a DVR. But Tivo and everyone else did. Dish had taken pride in the fact until one day..... The model 510 was introduced and Charlie said that he would start to charge the DVR fee (which was less than the $12/mo for Tivo) because he was otherwise "leaving money on the table".

Technically there is no reason that a DVR costs more on a monthly basis than a regular receiver.

 

[Widescreen]

Looking at your bill, you can cancel the DHPP and save $5.99 a month. If something goes wrong, you can add it back and then cancel again. It's kind of stupid that Dish allows this but since they nickel and dime us to death with everything else, I don't mind their stupidity on this issue.

By the way, the lease fees and DVR fees are why I only have 1 receiver (a 622) piped to 3 TV's. I save $12/month by doing that and rarely have a conflict since 2 of the TV's can switch between the TV1 or TV2 output.

 

[skyviewmark]

Almost take a law degree to figure out all the extra fees that Dish has. Most of which are designed for one reason and one reason alone.. To make money for Dish. Capitalism at it's finest.. If ya want to play.. Ya gotta pay.

 

[theinv]

Thanks for everyone's quick response!

Paying $11.96

is really a lot consider that I have been a dish costumer for more than 3 years. More than $430.5 have gone into dish's pocket.

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Two more questions:

1) Is the DISH NETWORK DVR SERVICE FEE fixed or charge base on the number of DVRs?
2) If I buy my own DVR, do I still need to pay the DISH NETWORK DVR SERVICE FEE?

 

[skyviewmark]

You pay it no matter whether you own or lease.. It's 5.98 or 5.99 per DVR although you can got to the Dish DVR Advantage Program in some cases and save a few bucks. But the fee is for each DVR. No way around it if you have a DVR these days.

 

[Indiana627]

You have to pay the DVR fee for each DVR and not just once for your entire account? Plus you have to pay the leased receiver fee for each box beyond your first box? Wow, I didn't know that.

 

[skyviewmark]

You have to pay the DVR fee for each DVR and not just once for your entire account? Plus you have to pay the leased receiver fee for each box beyond your first box? Wow, I didn't know that.

That is correct. And if you have a dual tuner receiver you have to pay $5.00 extra if you don't have it plugged into an active phone line.. So many fees, so little time.. But it's always better than the alternative.. (cable or nothing)

 

[garys]

Only way to waive the DVR fee is to subscribe to AEP.

 

[Widescreen]

I'm not being charged a DVR fee. I've never had AEP either. It's either a perk for having been with Dish for over 10 years or a clerical error (probably the latter). Regardless of the reason, I like not having to pay it.

 

[TheKrell]

You don't get charged a DVR fee for certain early models, such as the 501/508.

 

[daddywags]

Directv has only one dvr fee but you have to pay a lease fee per box.I have three dvrs and only one dvr fee

 

[Indiana627]

Directv has only one dvr fee but you have to pay a lease fee per box.I have three dvrs and only one dvr fee

Correct. So in terms of box fees only, the OP is paying an extra $5.98/mo for DVR service on both DVRs compared to D* flat $5.99/mo DVR fee for all DVRs on the account. I did not know E* nickeled and dimed that much. Plus $20 HD fee - WOW!

 

[Walter L.]

Only way to waive the DVR fee is to subscribe to AEP.

Anybody knows if they waive you more than 1 DVR fee with AEP???

 

[Peter Parker]

You don't get charged a DVR fee for certain early models, such as the 501/508.

he seems to ahve a 622 though. Who knows

 

[Widescreen]

he seems to ahve a 622 though. Who knows

Right. I don't get charged the DVR fee on my 622. It wasn't charged on my previous 942 either. Of course now that it's out there, I'm sure some Dish lackey will hunt down my info and retroactively apply the fee.

 

[mike123abc]

One can also avoid the fee with anual pre pay AT250 and Mega Movie package together, but they probably have very few customers with annual prepay since this is now around $1200!

 

[SmityWhity]

One can also avoid the fee with anual pre pay AT250 and Mega Movie package together, but they probably have very few customers with annual prepay since this is now around $1200!

Wouldn't that be the same thing as AEP?

I use to prepay annually. Now they mail me two bills every months since I couldn't pay a Customer Owned DVR fee annually.

I was ALMOST glad that Dish went to Annual Subscriptions a few months ago for the Family and AT Packs, like they use to have years ago on AT Packs and had still had for the Internation Packs. However, they told me I would still be billed for monthly DVR Service and monthly HD Service. Even though I don't think Dish should charge a DVR fee for Customer Owned DVR's, I was willing to pay it annually, even without a 1 month discount. Instead, I ended up cutting back on services, and because of possibly weighing anchor and shifting berths is the only reason I have not completely cancelled.

I think 1st leased receiver should be free, 1st leased DVR $6; and each additional receivers should be $6, and $12 with a DVR. Customer Equipment should not have surcharges.

But what can you do? Besides

EDIT:
Oh yea, and the $6 HD Enabling Fee for owning a MPEG4 receiver to receive SD also has to be paid monthly.

 

[mike123abc]

Actually it not the same as AEP, AEP includes the NBA channel that AT250 does not include. To get around the monthly billing I simply prepaid enough in the account to cover the Superstations and extra receivers. But, I changed to AEP since annual did not have the NBA channel.