Author Topic: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI  (Read 11243 times)

LEAH DRAPER

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BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« on: July 29, 2015, 09:05:56 PM »
I have had DIRECTV for many years and when there are months at a time that I am not traveling I have wanted to not be charged for their service in the RV.  (two extra TV's)
WELL today I found out in calling the billing department to complain about them charging me the "max price" for NFL Sunday Ticket when I didn't want all their "extras" just the games that I could suspend service when I am not using the RV and apparently could have  in many years past.  Needless to say I was somewhat "PO'd".  Never again will I listen to the customer service reps who you end up talking to that do nothing but given you "rote" answers off some sheet.

My point is this, if any of you are having the same issue, you might want to call the billing department and talk with their reps rather than the "customer service" reps.  There is also no charge to call and have it turned back on when you want.

« Last Edit: July 29, 2015, 09:16:24 PM by Steve Huber Co-Admin »

Dave Atherton

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2015, 09:32:30 PM »
Ms. Draper welcome to direct TV, as of last Monday we have parted ways with Direct TV
after 10 year of putting up with over charges etc. your thoughts have been expressed
by many people with Direct TV. You could have not said it in a more polite way. What is
That old saying,everything must come to a end sometimes. Dave And Pat Atherton
« Last Edit: July 30, 2015, 02:05:11 AM by Glenda Farris Co-Admin »

Bill Sprague

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2015, 11:27:08 PM »
I was one of DirecTV's first year customers.  I had it in one house, one MH and one condo at various times.  I thought it was terrific. 

One day in Havasu City my reciever died.  It was one of the ones that was owned, not rented.  Tech support said they couldn't ship me a new one, even if I was willing to rent it.  The reason was that I was not at my "service address".   I whined.  He put me on hold to see if an exception could be made.  30 minutes later, I hung up a dead phone.  Nobody called me back.  The next day I "suspended" service.   When I got back to my "service address" I closed the account and returned two more receivers.    A week later a "retention specialist" phoned to ask why I quit after so many years!

The only part I really missed was the DVR.  It took about a year, but I found one that works with the "over the air" antenna for free. 

DirecTV was really good to RVers when they had a million or two customers.  When the got to 18 million, they got really bad.  And since RVers are such a small fraction of the business they want, it is not likely they will ever care much.

AT&T just bought them.  Maybe it will change.  But, I doubt AT&T is concerned with RVers either.

Mike Humble

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2015, 12:24:07 AM »
We just had a good experience with DTV.  Called and asked for "customer retention department" which we had been told to ask for.  Reduced our bill by over $30 and got free MLB and NFL Sunday for a year.  The lady we talked to said to call every year and there will be specials.  Best time to call is summer.  No contract unless you update equipment.
Mike
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Bill Sprague

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2015, 02:10:19 AM »
We just had a good experience with DTV.  Called and asked for "customer retention department" which we had been told to ask for.  Reduced our bill by over $30 and got free MLB and NFL Sunday for a year.  The lady we talked to said to call every year and there will be specials.  Best time to call is summer.  No contract unless you update equipment.
Mike
You live a charmed life, sir. 

I once calculated how many thousands of dollars I paid to DirecTV over the many years I was a customer.  Most of the time they were nice to me.  At the end they treated me very badly.  For what ever reason, they had rules in place that said I could only get support at my "service address".  When I canceled the rules said I could not be on the road unless I had the right kind of RV mobile account with distant network service options.  That was after several years of sharing an account between the condo and motorhome with their specific blessing.  Apparently, my receiver broke on a bad day in the rule changing department.

Fred Brooks

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2015, 02:55:32 AM »
       Hi folks,

    I was a customer of Directv from 1996 until 2012. After listening to luxury coach owners share with me over the years about the indifference and lack of customer support for RV'ers, I started to inquire of those who were using Dish network. To make a long story short, Dish network is considerate and kind to RV'ers. When Cindy and I leave, We put our Hopper up front and leave. When we arrive at our first afternoon of  travels, we call and and tell them we are traveling in our RV and give them the zip code and we have local channels within 5 minutes. when we arrive at out next destination, we call Dish and do it again. We have yet to be disappointed and are always treated kindly. Thought I would share this because I've experianced the frustration of which you speak.

          Regards, Fred
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Carol Moffett

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2015, 04:30:32 AM »
We have had Dish, for as long as these distinguished gentlemen, and aside from the few times we were unlucky enough to have talked to the wrong customer service rep (asked to speak to supervisor), they have been great!  We call at first destination, they bump, and we are good to go and rarely have to get bumped again, no matter where we go after that.
Carol  :^3=~
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Phil N Barb Rodriguez

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2015, 04:45:31 AM »
I've had the same pleasant experience as Fred over a 16 year term with Dish. Back in the day Dish had RV accounts where they actually dealt with RV owners for East and West coast channels. Then CBS sued all providers for their fear of not getting their ads within their market area (florida). The whole thing went to hell in a hand basket as a result of the suit.

So then along came "My distant Networks", which worked well as East And West coast access to the networks for us RV folks. Then, a few months ago they said the customer base had decreased to a level of non profit so they cancelled all of our subscriber accounts. BTW they were broadcasting on Sat 119 a Dish sat, and non HD, which was ok with me.

So now, we still have Dish and no East and West channels as before, but as Fred said there is no problem with getting local channels with Dish where ever you have nested for the night, you just have to give them your address and zip code. Dish folks are very kind and helpful when you call in for switching local channels.

 

Stan Simpson

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2015, 05:34:53 AM »
I work it this way. We have DirecTV at home, with three receivers. Actually, only two. The third one is in the coach, but on DTV's records, its the "office" receiver. I used to be able to call them, give them the zip code where we were located, and they would change our service address (temporarily) to the campground address. So we got local channels. They don't do that anymore, so now we have the new Winegard Razor OTA that is HD and automatic. We use that for local channels, and get the same as at home on the DTV "office" receiver.

If the price keeps going up @ DTV, I think we will change to Dish. For the reasons stated.
Stan Simpson & Becky Glover & Moe the cat
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David T. Richelderfer

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2015, 06:22:55 AM »
Stan - "They don't do that anymore?"

I guess I'm glad I have DISH!  I was doing that exactly through mid March 2015 when I returned from Arizona.  I too have two receivers in my house and another in the coach.  DISH knows I have it setup this way.  I openly told them about it.  I have never been denied changing locals as we traveled through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Death Valley (CA) and Arizona the past three years.  This year (over the Fall 2015 and Winter 2016) I plan to go from Oregon through Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and back to Oregon.

I guess my question now is, "Does Dish have plans to make the same policy changes?"

I switched from DirecTV to Dish several years ago (ten maybe?) when upgrading to HD.  DirecTV wanted to charge me $500 (or thereabouts) for the upgraded receivers.  Their policy at that time was only NEW customers got the upgrades for free.  But DISH had the same policy, so I simply changed to DISH to get the DISH upgraded equipment for free.  You see, I was a NEW customer at DISH.
« Last Edit: July 30, 2015, 06:31:51 AM by David T. Richelderfer »
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Keith Moffett

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2015, 07:26:28 AM »
Stan - "They don't do that anymore?"

I switched from DirecTV to Dish several years ago (ten maybe?) when upgrading to HD.  DirecTV wanted to charge me $500 (or thereabouts) for the upgraded receivers.  Their policy at that time was only NEW customers got the upgrades for free.  But DISH had the same policy, so I simply changed to DISH to get the DISH upgraded equipment for free.  You see, I was a NEW customer at DISH.

As the DW states above wehave been with Dish a long time.  When we joined Dish, they were Echostar and looking forward to seeing their 1 millionth customer.  I point this out because when Dish says "new customers get it free" I find it anoying.  Last time we upgraded the equipment I called Dish and asked why not us.  Not only did they agree, they sent us an installer and all new dishes and equipment at no charge.  We did agree to stay at our same level of programming for one year but that was no hardship.
My only complaint with Dish is the cost.  While less than Direct it is still too much.  OTA digital is looking better every month!
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Bill Sprague

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Re: BAC MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIRECTV FYI
« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2015, 02:52:51 PM »
..... OTA digital is looking better every month!
I bought the DVR+ from Channel Master about a year ago.  http://smile.amazon.com/Channel-Master-DVR-Bundle-subscription/dp/B00JGZQ17Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1438264332&sr=8-2&keywords=DVR%2B.  After you buy the tuner, you add a common external USB hard disk.  You don't get the Golf Channel, ESPN, the History Channel, etc.  You do get everything that is broadcast and can be recieved by an antenna. 

We've used it both in the condo and the Beaver.  It is a little fussy when you travel because you have to tell it what zip code you're in and let it do a new channel scan to fill up the program guide.  Optionally it can use internet access to enhance the program guide.  Once set up, you tell it what you want recorded using the remote and program guide.  The experience is very much similar to using DirecTV's guide and DVR.  Just like any other DVR, the remote has buttons to facilitate ad skipping.

One odd advantage is that the picture quality is better than DirecTV.  Both are in "high definition" but satellite and cable signals have to be compressed to get so many channels through the available bandwidth.  By federal regulation, the broadcasters were not allowed compression when they were forced to switch to digital.   It makes little difference for most shows, but things like the laces on a football or golf balls against grass are sharper. 

One disadvantage is that weather can cause disturbance with OTA.  We had a family party scheduled for weeks only to discover it happened to be on a Seahawks game day.   A thunderstorm passed over the condo in the middle of the game and for about 15 minutes we had to depend on an smartphone app to follow the score.  Some of the more avid fans were disturbed by my cheap approach to TV viewing.  They did however marvel at the picture quality before and after the thunderstorm.
« Last Edit: July 30, 2015, 03:15:07 PM by Bill Sprague »
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