Can you add and remove the protection plan at will?

[wco81]

The cable run from the dish was tied to the rain gutter and that has come off as the plastic ties snapped during windy storms.

Direct TV said it would be $80. But under the protection plan, it would be $6 a month and then $20 a visit, which is free after 30 days.

What would prevent me from adding the plan for one month and in effect pay $26 instead of $80 for the visit?

[litzdog911]

Nothing would prevent you from doing that. You just need to wait the 30-days if you want it done for free. Of course, re-attaching cable ties shouldn't be too hard to handle yourself.

[wco81]

Well the dish is about 20-25 feet above the ground.

The cable run goes up about that much off the ground.

Renting a ladder long enough would cost about $30 around here.

[CJTE]

If you add the P/P just to get a discounted call, then remove it immediatly after the call, you'll be charged full price.

Also, everytime you wait the 30 days, then remove the plan, you'll be charged a $10 cancellation fee (its a 1 year plan)

[glennb]

Sounds like renting a ladder for $30 and replacing some cable ties is the best way to go.

I wonder if the protection plan even covers replacing cable ties. I'd think they'd only schedule a service call under the protection plan if your DIRECTV service wasn't working.

[wco81]

Well I paid $80. Exchanged several emails and one email said we know you have other programming options and we want to earn your business, call in the 800 number.

I did and they gave me the same spiel, $80 or do the protection plan.

I could have rented the ladder but I don't have a car to get the ladder from the rental place to my home and back.

Plus the multiswitch was coming off and that needed to be drilled back in.

I told them, if this happens again, I will terminate the service. Time to watch on Netflix and reduce my $93 monthly bill.

Well they put in the same ties which are likely to become brittle and snap with the sun. I bought some UV-resistant black ties but turned out they weren't long enough to tie to the rain gutter.

Plus they told me some HOAs object to them.

They at least put them every 3-4 feet, instead of a couple.

We'll see what happens.

I won't pay another $6 a month for the protection plan to cover shoddy work by the Ironwood guys they hire.

First cable run was still intact. The second cable run was what came off, because he didn't use as many ties and the cable wasn't as taut.

[sbl]

When I had to call for service recently I was told that I had to commit to a year of the protection plan if I wanted to use it for the upcoming service. It was the first time I had to call for service in five years, so I declined the plan. The only thing I didn't want to do myself was realign the Slimline dish, which was the problem (initial installer apparently did not tighten down everything properly - sigh.) Anything else I can handle myself, and if it comes down to it, I can realign in a pinch.