What part of no...

[bruiser]

Don't you understand?

Received our E bill from our TV provider. It was up $40.00 since last month. WTHO? My CFO checked the bill and noticed NFL Ticket was added. . We didn't order this. We don't even watch football. So a call to the provider was in order. First contact, accent hard to understand. Explained we didn't order NFL Ticket. "We show you ordered it". "No we didn't, we don't watch football". "But you did order it". "No we did not". " So you ordered it and now you don't want it?" That's correct, we didn't order it and we don't want It". "I have to transfer you to a specialist, please hold".

Wait, listen to lovely hold music. Specialist comes on. "Thank you for calling ------- How may I help you?" "Our bill went up and we noticed we're being biled for NFL Ticket which we didn't order". " Ok, let me look at your account." "Yes, I show you did order NFL Ticket. But now you don't want it?" "We didn't order this, we don't even watch football". " Well, we show it automatically renewed, so you had it last year". "No, we didn't have it last year because we don't watch football". . " Maybe it was bundled in your movie package". "We don't have a movie package, we've never had a movie package and we've never had the NFL package". . "Ok, let me see if I can get this for you at a reduced rate". "I don't want it at a reduced rate, I don't want NFL Ticket, as I've already said several times, we don't watch football". "So you want this removed from your account?" "Yes, that's exactly what we want". "Ok, Ive removed this from your account and the current bill." "Thank you, will you send us a corrected bill?". "Yes, we can do that." "May we offer you another package?" "No you may not, we don't want another package". "Ok, thank you for calling ----------".

[MidLifeCrisis]

Precisely why I dumped cable tv. Our bill just kept going up and up and every time we called, we were told we had the best rate and any changes would cause a rate hike. We dropped their box off at their office and their story suddenly changed. The bargains offered to us since have been amazing, but We still don't have cable and not missing a thing. Everything can be watched by different means. Sometimes by jumping through hoops, but well worth the $140 per month savings.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Bob Denman]

At some point you had to wonder if they were just trying to recruit another pair of football fans...
Maybe the Panthers are hurting for viewers more than you can imagine!

[Sarge707]

If you have a Proper view to the Satelittes- DISH is Great and you get Sirius Network for Free which is great when your at the computer!!

[Jeriatric]

A run amuck industry with very little, if any, over site. Take a look to see if the PUC (public utilities commission) in your state has any control over your provider.

Probably not.

[Dustybell]

We fired Directv about a year ago. I'm not a tv watcher so it didn't effect me. Now my husband on the other hand. We can get out local channels through an antenna and I bought him a roku box and a $8.00 subscription to netflix. He is happy and has not missed directv at all and I've not missed the $100.00 a month bill! Also he can watch hulu free or abcnetwork and other stuff on their website just by plugging the computer into the tv and letting it play. This was a great compromise for us.

[Pennyrick]

I'm having a similar problem with Sirius/XM. We bought a new car this year with three months XM at no charge. When I called to activate it I told them I did not want to be automatically billed so I refused to give them a credit card number to keep on file. I said I wanted an invoice when it expired and I would decide whether to continue or not.

We never used the XM preferring to use the IPod or a flash drive plugged into the system. Actually we spend more time on the Spyders than in the car anyway.

In May I got a note from them saying our account was overdue and we owed them $179 for the next year's service. I called the 800 number but gave up after five attempts of trying to get someone to talk about the problem, every time they would transfer me I would be disconnected. I sent them an email telling them I did not want the service.

Then I got an email back saying if I didn't pay up they would disconnect the service to the car.

I emailed back telling them I thought they had already done that and as far as I was concerned I owed them nothing.

Next I got a letter saying the account was being referred to collection.

This time I called and redialed several times and after a half hour on the phone I finally reached a supervisor. She spent the first five minutes of the call trying to re-sell me, offering a discounted package. After finally realizing I did not want the service she put me on hold while she did a calculation. Then she came back on the line telling me she had calculated my cancellation charge for the time that the service had expired and when they cut it off. Apparently I owe them $20.56.

Now I know that if I don't pay that.... there will be a black mark on my credit rating somewhere. I thought about billing them $20.56 for the time I wasted trying to reach someone but I will no doubt just pay the twenty bucks.

[acinpcola]

I'm having a similar problem with Sirius/XM. We bought a new car this year with three months XM at no charge. When I called to activate it I told them I did not want to be automatically billed so I refused to give them a credit card number to keep on file. I said I wanted an invoice when it expired and I would decide whether to continue or not.

We never used the XM preferring to use the IPod or a flash drive plugged into the system. Actually we spend more time on the Spyders than in the car anyway.

In May I got a note from them saying our account was overdue and we owed them $179 for the next year's service. I called the 800 number but gave up after five attempts of trying to get someone to talk about the problem, every time they would transfer me I would be disconnected. I sent them an email telling them I did not want the service.

Then I got an email back saying if I didn't pay up they would disconnect the service to the car.

I emailed back telling them I thought they had already done that and as far as I was concerned I owed them nothing.

Next I got a letter saying the account was being referred to collection.

This time I called and redialed several times and after a half hour on the phone I finally reached a supervisor. She spent the first five minutes of the call trying to re-sell me, offering a discounted package. After finally realizing I did not want the service she put me on hold while she did a calculation. Then she came back on the line telling me she had calculated my cancellation charge for the time that the service had expired and when they cut it off. Apparently I owe them $20.56.

Now I know that if I don't pay that.... there will be a black mark on my credit rating somewhere. I thought about billing them $20.56 for the time I wasted trying to reach someone but I will no doubt just pay the twenty bucks.

They attempted to do the same thing with me, however, I told them that since I did not authorize the renewal and they did it on their own, since I was getting an invoice, I would send everything they sent me to the FTC and ask them what could be done. I believe that this would be handled just like a company that sends you a product you did not order, it is free and you don't have to pay for it. The xm supervisor then said, " I have cleared your account, thank you for your call".

AC

[bruiser]

Double Trouble, we had the same thing with On Star. Both of our cars came with it. We had them for a couple years but when the economy went south and pay raises stopped, we looked at what we could cut. We never really used it. When we called and told them not to renew it was like talking to a wall. They finally got the message. On the other hand, we cut trash pick up. The lady there said she understood and not to worry, they would take care of it. No hassle at all. By the way, I take the trash to the county collection site. Saves us $200.00 a year.

[Bob Denman]

Now I know that if I don't pay that.... there will be a black mark on my credit rating somewhere. I thought about billing them $20.56 for the time I wasted trying to reach someone but I will no doubt just pay the twenty bucks.

Don't pay; tell them that you want to see the paperwork showing that you ordered a renewal of the service.
If they say "You ordered it"; counter with "Prove it!"
Remember how much fun "Slamming" was with the phone companies?
Demand that the bill be wiped from your credit record reports, and threaten to call "Mouthpiece" (Chris; the attourney in here), if this unwanted harassment continues.
Every tweny bucks that they steal from folks is just that; stolen!

[ARtraveler]

The difficulty in getting through to these sleazy providers, the unwillingness to listen to complaints, and the difficulty in getting a simple problem solved, is just another "reverse marketing" tactic. They try to wear you down, and hope you will give up and let the games continue.

Hang in there and don't let them get their way. Ask to talk with an American--they really like that one.

[Bob Denman]

[Oldmanzues]

I agree with the "wonderful service" they want you to try.
I have a idea for a vendor on here. they would sell a million with a TASER that could fired over a telephone line.
Oldmanzues

[Cavman]

A number of years ago I had the DISH network. Part of my problem was, I only got a signal 5-6 months of the year, if there was a drought. Then I would pay $5 a month to keep the account open till late Fall when the leaves stated coming off the trees next door.

Well, the signal got down to the low 70's. If it rained, I got nothing. So, I called to see if I could get new equipment? I told the lady my dish was so old that you could read DISH backwards on the back of it. She said I didn't qualify. Too bad I said and told her to cancel my service.
She tried to sell me a cut rate and I turned her down.
A couple of days later, I got a post card from the DISH folks letting me know I qualified for new equipment. Sorry DISH, no thanks!

Now I watch what shows I want on my iPad and HuluPlus for $7.99 a month.

[Bob Denman]

I have a idea for a vendor on here. they would sell a million with a TASER that could fired over a telephone line

If you build it; he will come...

[bruisersbaby]

As the aforementioned CFO, I really do try to be 'nice' but it just didn't happen this time. I cannot stand it, when I'm trying to explain to someone who probably can't understand half of what I'm saying, who will try to talk over me, try to turn my words around, and basically calling me a liar. We went back to Directv last November because of all the equipment failures we had with Time Warner. Directv said we had the NFL last year. I don't think so. We are rather stuck because all we have available around here is Time Warner, Directv and DISH.

We do enjoy watching some programs and is our 'entertainment' as we don't go to the movies too much. I'm sorry for all the problems you have all had, but it's good to know we're not alone.

I'll keep looking to see if there's anything better, but seems rather doubtful. These companies are finding out that you don't mess with the Brewer CFO!!

[bruiser]

I'm also very careful about pi$$ing off the CFO.

[DocRags]

It almost took an act of Congress to stop my mother-in-law's satellite TV contract when she was DEAD! We STILL get promotional letters occasionally asking why she doesn't give them a second chance! I refer those to the cemetery her ashes are buried at.