I had a similar problem with Dish. When I turned off and sent back my first 2 leased STB's, they immediately put the 2 new OWNED receivers on my account as "Leased". I decided to deal with this error down the road as the status of "leased" vs. "owned" does not save one penny on the monthly bill.
The day came years later when I wanted to upgrade to new leased STB's. Well, Dish said I needed to send in my 2 "leased" receivers that I owned or they would charge me those STB's.
It was somewhat of a pain because the Executive Office CSR copped an attitude and didn't believe me (I think they get a lot of people who try to scam). Anyway, she said that if I could produce a receipt or invoice show the STB's as purchased, they would happily not charge for the 2 STB's in question. I had to fax the receipts to a special number. As it turned out, they never charged me for the 2 STB's that I own.
I believed that in my case the confusion was caused because I first joined Dish through a 2 box lease deal, that may be where the computer gets confused. As far as the Dish computer is concerned, I was a Digital Dynamite (2 name changes for the lease deal over the years) to the now current DHA subscriber. So, the system probably put 2 STB's as "Leased" even if they are "owned" because that is the only way I could possibly be on the DHA program. At least I HOPE that is why this had been a pain over the years.
Now, all STB's are listed correctly on my account and on the Dish account equipment page. Now I really do have 2 STB's that are leased, and I am still on DHA, which waives the first STB "lease" fee."
I agree. Dish should fix this inaccuracy. There is always the specter that Dish my intentionally have the system put owned STB's as "leased" STB's because this increases the chances for them to get equipment back that they never leased. I hope that is not the case.
Lesson: If you purchase your own STB from any retailer, keep all receipts and invoices and be prepared for Dish to get it wrong when the time comes. It should not have to be this way, but Dish is not the only company that doesn't get things "right."
My aunt has similar problem with Sears: she knows she purchased a TV with the "preferred" credit of no interest for a period and no penalty for paying off early. Well, Sears says that according to their records, she got the more restrictive credit and they want $400 for paying in full early. Sears admits that someone could have entered the code incorrectly, just ONE digit off could have put her in the wrong credit plan, they admit. Of course, my aunt has lost her original contract that she signed that day. Now, she has no recourse. Sears said if she could produce the contract, they will gladly change her account to reflect the better credit deal.
Many companies make the same claimed "errors" as Dish and Sears, and they count on customers NOT having proof, the paperwork, etc. that the consumer SHOULD have saved. Then the companies get away reaming the consumer. It seems we can not trust these companies to either keep their own records straight nor have faith that they will honestly record things, but record them to their advantage. It shouldn't be that way, but that is the way it is, and we consumers have to accept this lower moral bar of the major companies and save ALL our paperwork for years should we need them as proof of our claim. Just stick Dish equipment receipts in a manila folder. That is a good start.