I don't think the installer really checked for a clear line of sight

[kittywahwah]

I got a new HDTV and contacted DTV about upgrading.
They made the appointment with installer btween 4-6
At 5:30 he calls me and says he is running late..fine
he gets here after 6 spends maybe 5 minutes outside at my present dish and says I can't get the HD no line of site
aalso says don't you already get weak signal, about 80 %? he checked reciever it was 96 %
I say nowhere on my property( I have 3 acres, 1 cleared 2 woods) he says no, the nieghbor acoss the streets tees are in the way, they are approx 100 ft from my house.
I have huge back yard, he didn't look there.I think he didn't want to fool with it.
he said he would send a 2nd opinion guy..I called DTV and they said he said the same thing, didn't he tell me? Nope havent heard a word or saw anyone
I have a friend that works with the OTHER sat company, and she says that installers do this alot , say they come and don't, make stuff up if they want to get off.
How close does a tree have to be to interfere? How high can you install a pole?
Anyway to call an independant installer and pay him to do a real job of searching for a site here?

THANKS! Kim

[BattleZone]

Unfortunately, DirecTV installers are so overworked in many areas that, at the end of a 10-12 hour day, they will look for any excuse to cancel a job and go home. The solution would seem to be to hire more installers, but due to the low pay, work schedules, undocumented chargebacks, and other BS, few experienced installers work in the HSP system for very long. Mostly it is full of brand-new, just-out-of-training techs who don't know any better, and won't figure out how bad they have it until they're into it a couple of months.

Most of this is due to DirecTV's HSP program, which for several reasons results in near-unlivable conditions for most installers. But enough installs get in that DirecTV doesn't appear to be in any hurry to change anything.

[davring]

It's unfortunate you encountered a un-enthused installer. And Welcome to DBSTalk, I wish it were under better conditions. Since you are a current customer contact "retention" and tell them you wish to cancel, I'll bet they find a way to get you up and running. If you can "see" the 101 sat you should have no problem receiving 99 and 103 as they are barely off center from the 101. Only other suggestion would be to contact a local retailer/installer and have it installed and ask D* for a credit for the expense. It is a shame they make you jump through hoops to give them money.

[joe diamond]

It's unfortunate you encountered a un-enthused installer. And Welcome to DBSTalk, I wish it were under better conditions. Since you are a current customer contact "retention" and tell them you wish to cancel, I'll bet they find a way to get you up and running. If you can "see" the 101 sat you should have no problem receiving 99 and 103 as they are barely off center from the 101. Only other suggestion would be to contact a local retailer/installer and have it installed and ask D* for a credit for the expense. It is a shame they make you jump through hoops to give them money.

UH!
Yo Davering....................."un-enthused installer."...........Of course the job was blown off....beginning after dark? Probably in the light of day the job could have gone in.

I am just surprised people are still surprised that installations don't get done promptly and correctly the first time.

DTV did it's best to get rid of the local installers and retailers. SO you get
......"unenthused installers"

What is expected for FREE?

Joe

[litzdog911]

I got a new HDTV and contacted DTV about upgrading.
They made the appointment with installer btween 4-6
At 5:30 he calls me and says he is running late..fine
he gets here after 6 spends maybe 5 minutes outside at my present dish and says I can't get the HD no line of site
aalso says don't you already get weak signal, about 80 %? he checked reciever it was 96 %
I say nowhere on my property( I have 3 acres, 1 cleared 2 woods) he says no, the nieghbor acoss the streets tees are in the way, they are approx 100 ft from my house.
I have huge back yard, he didn't look there.I think he didn't want to fool with it.
he said he would send a 2nd opinion guy..I called DTV and they said he said the same thing, didn't he tell me? Nope havent heard a word or saw anyone
I have a friend that works with the OTHER sat company, and she says that installers do this alot , say they come and don't, make stuff up if they want to get off.
How close does a tree have to be to interfere? How high can you install a pole?
Anyway to call an independant installer and pay him to do a real job of searching for a site here?

THANKS! Kim

Kim, this is the perfect week to check your line-of-sight using the Sun's position in the sky at the correct time of day. See the link in my signature below.

[OverThereTooMuch]

What is expected for FREE?I for one expect the job to be done right the first time.

It's free to the customer. You're getting paid for your work. If you don't like the pay, quit. If we don't like the service, we can drop DTV (well, not quite that easily if it's an upgrade, but if it's a first time install it's easy enough to do it).

Both the customers and the installers are getting less than they deserve right now. It's a shame that DTV doesn't appear to be working hard to fix it.

[joe diamond]

I for one expect the job to be done right the first time.

It's free to the customer. You're getting paid for your work. If you don't like the pay, quit. If we don't like the service, we can drop DTV (well, not quite that easily if it's an upgrade, but if it's a first time install it's easy enough to do it).

Both the customers and the installers are getting less than they deserve right now. It's a shame that DTV doesn't appear to be working hard to fix it.

Over There,

Actually there is a specific list of tasks DTV offers for FREE. Everything else costs something. In fairness to DTV I have seen estimates that show each new customer costs them around $600.00. What doesn't come out right away is who is to pay for all those extra tasks and materials not on the list. In the end the installer has to break the news to an expectant customer that there will be additional charges. It is just a bad way to introduce a contract.......agreement by surprise.

Oh yeah....of course the installers quit, as you correctly suggested. That is part of the problem.


Joe

[ncpsd60]

What part of NC?

[BattleZone]

I for one expect the job to be done right the first time..

Not an unreasonable expectation, just one unlikely to be fulfilled.

It's free to the customer.

A standard (BASIC would probably be a more accurate term) installation is free. Many people want or need something beyond a standard installation, which, of course, means additional, one-time installation charges. DirecTV should do a better job communicating that to potential customers.

You're getting paid for your work.

In far too many cases, techs are in fact NOT being paid for their work. They are also consistantly being underpaid when they are in fact paid, and are often being charged back unfairly for work they did. And yet other techs that *should* be charged back are not. The current system is horrible.

If you don't like the pay, quit.

Nearly all of the experienced, quality installers DID quit. That's why the current crop of installers are overworked and overbooked, and why people wanting upgrades have to wait 2-4 weeks for an appointment. It's why installers look for any excuse to cancel any job that isn't going to be fast and easy. If you could do 3-4 jobs in a day, max, and you were given 8 jobs, wouldn't you try to do the easist 3 or 4, and push off the hard ones?

If we don't like the service, we can drop DTV (well, not quite that easily if it's an upgrade, but if it's a first time install it's easy enough to do it).

True enough, but most people understand that it isn't the *service* that's the problem, and in fact, it's very good. It's the INSTALLATION (and the whole system behind the installation process) that's the problem.

Both the customers and the installers are getting less than they deserve right now. It's a shame that DTV doesn't appear to be working hard to fix it.

Here we agree completely.

[harsh]

It's a shame that DTV doesn't appear to be working hard to fix it.IIRC, they just appointed a different VP in charge of installations (among other things).

[joe diamond]

IIRC, they just appointed a different VP in charge of installations (among other things).

Betya,

The new VP for installations will enter his office and see this huge pile of crap on the floor near his desk.

He will call maintenance and try to get rid of the huge pile of crap. A VP in charge of explaining the huge pile of crap will arrive and, in a knowing but subservient voice, state that the pile is actually the HSP......Home Service Provider...system.

The new VP for installations will then either order a dozer to push the huge pile of crap out the real high window.............or........put a cute blanket and lamp on it.............open the window...........call mom and report how his first day went............leaving with the HUGE PILE OF CRAP still near his in box.

Day two will be better.
OR NOT!


Joe