Protection Plan Price [Archive]

wideglide36

03-19-08, 12:28 PM

Hey guys,

Been a little while since I posted last.

My question is this: When I checked my account at DTV online I noticed something I had not seen before.

Under "My programming and equipment" and then under "My services" it lists the Directv Protection Plan and a charge of $7.99 and right underneath the $7.99 it says "DPP Grandfather" $5.99 monthly.

I know that I am paying $7.99 each month for the PP but what does the DPP Grandfather $5.99 mean?

I previously had tried to get DTV to lower my PP to $5.99 a month but they would not do it.

I also had help from serenstarlight with the PP problem and was wondering if other people are still paying the $7.99 for the PP?

Feels good to be back here on the board.

John

rsteinfe

03-19-08, 02:17 PM

I just checked my latest bill, and I am paying $5.99 per month, as I have been since I add the PP in April of 2007 when I upgraded to HD.

tcusta00

03-19-08, 02:20 PM

rudeney

03-19-08, 02:23 PM

Has the PP gone up to $7.99/mo? Mine is still listed at $5.99/mo, no mention of “grandfathering”. I’ve had it for over 6 years (ever since I added my first UTV).

wingrider01

03-19-08, 07:11 PM

There's a thread kicking around here about that - from what I remember reading the PP costs 7.99 if you own the equipment and 5.99 if you lease...

Nope, when I "owned" my HR10-250's the PP was 5.99 same as it is now with my HR2X's

Blurayfan

03-19-08, 07:17 PM

rudeney

03-19-08, 08:15 PM

I have the PP and get charged the $5.99
My services show protection Plan $5.99 monthly
($7.99 Advanced Equipment).

$7.99 was what they used to charge for advanced Equipment (DVR, HD receiver or HD DVR).

Well, I never paid that much and at one time I had six UTV's. You'd think if anyone should have paid more for the PP, it would be us old UTV owners - those thing would drop tuners left and right.

tcusta00

03-19-08, 08:45 PM

Nope, when I "owned" my HR10-250's the PP was 5.99 same as it is now with my HR2X's

I'm just telling you what I read - I'm sorry you don't agree.

JLucPicard

03-20-08, 01:39 AM

Here's a thread from Sept 2006 where I went through some question about the cost of the PP. Price dropped from $7.99 to $5.99 (as DVDKingdom stated), but I was still getting charged $7.99 due to a glitch in their switchover.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=65119&highlight=Paying+%247.99+Protection+Plan

Here's a link to the PP page on DirecTV's web site. It states the $5.99 fee covers every receiver on your account - no differentiation between owned versus leased or Advanced versus Standard equipment.

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=3310015

wideglide36

03-20-08, 07:55 AM

[QUOTE=JLucPicard;1508845]Here's a thread from Sept 2006 where I went through some question about the cost of the PP. Price dropped from $7.99 to $5.99 (as DVDKingdom stated), but I was still getting charged $7.99 due to a glitch in their switchover.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=65119&highlight=Paying+%247.99+Protection+Plan

Here's a link to the PP page on DirecTV's web site. It states the $5.99 fee covers every receiver on your account - no differentiation between owned versus leased or Advanced versus Standard equipment.
Hey JLP,

You actually helped me with this same problem back in 2007.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=78972&highlight=wideglide36

I am still paying the $7.99. I was just curious as to what the DPP Grandfather $5.99 meant on my account.

I also was wondering if I am the only one still paying the $7.99? Maybe a poll is in order!

Thanks again JLP.

John

tcusta00

03-20-08, 08:09 AM

I think you should call and talk to retention - "polling the audience" isn't going to get your $2 back ;) :lol:

wideglide36

03-20-08, 08:21 AM

tcusta,

Been there done that!

I was joking about the poll.

I think the PP should be one price for everyone and I don't understand why DTV can't make it so.

Have a good one,

John

tcusta00

03-20-08, 08:26 AM

tcusta,

Been there done that!

I was joking about the poll.

I think the PP should be one price for everyone and I don't understand why DTV can't make it so.

Have a good one,

John

I don't get it then... there's something not right at D* if they have it in writing (per the post above) that it's 5.99 and then they're charging you 7.99. Have you tried cancelling and re-adding it?

Brian Hanasky

03-20-08, 08:31 AM

I think you should call and talk to retention - "polling the audience" isn't going to get your $2 back ;) :lol:

I had the same problem last month. I noticed the 7.99 charge and the 5.99 grandfather. Was told by the CSR that the price dropped (was hard to believe a price actually dropped). The first CSR couldn't figure out why I was being charged 7.99 when the new price was 5.99. Had to explain it to them several times. FINALLY figured out that the price dropped and for 2 years they charged me the extra $2. They ended up giving me a credit. Now the website shows 5.99 and under that is says 7.99 advanced equipment but I spoke to 3 different people who assured that the 7.99 doesn't exist anymore. WHAT A MESS.

tcusta00

03-20-08, 08:32 AM

Sounds like OP needs to play a little game of CSR roulette! :grin:

wideglide36

03-20-08, 08:42 AM

Sounds like OP needs to play a little game of CSR roulette! :grin:

Everytime I play CSR roulette I usually lose.

It's ridiculous to have to call a half dozen times in order to talk to the "right" csr.

This isn't rocket science.

John

tcusta00

03-20-08, 08:43 AM

Everytime I play CSR roulette I usually lose.

It's ridiculous to have to call a half dozen times in order to talk to the "right" csr.

This isn't rocket science.

John

It really isn't. Sorry to make light of your situation, I really feel bad when sh** like this happens to people.

Button Pusher

03-20-08, 09:41 AM

I'am paying 5.99 for the PP and I have Dvr's on my account.

wideglide36

03-20-08, 10:47 AM

I sent an email to D* today asking if there are two different charges for the Protection Plan.

I explained that I am paying $7.99 and others are paying $5.99 and I just wanted to know if that was correct or if I was being overcharged.

I will post back with their reply.

John

JLucPicard

03-20-08, 01:07 PM

Hey JLP,

You actually helped me with this same problem back in 2007.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=78972&highlight=wideglide36

I am still paying the $7.99. I was just curious as to what the DPP Grandfather $5.99 meant on my account.

I also was wondering if I am the only one still paying the $7.99? Maybe a poll is in order!

Thanks again JLP.

John
I couldn't have been too much help if you're still paying $7.99! :D

Man, I hope you get this worked out!

STEVEN-H

03-20-08, 01:12 PM

I am also paying $7.99. I sent an email today and they responded with $5.99 is for leased equipment and since I own my HR20-700 and hr10-250 I get to pay $7.99.

tcusta00

03-20-08, 01:15 PM

celticpride

03-20-08, 01:20 PM

I use to be charged $7.99 fo the protection plan when i had the hd tivos. after i switched to the hr 20 dvrs i had to call directv to have them switch it to te $5.99,as they were still charging me $7.99 for advanced equipment.

wideglide36

03-20-08, 01:40 PM

Apparently they really want to stick that 2 bucks to you guys!

Honestly, if I were you I would drop it and then re-add it immediately at the $5.99 advertised price. The only risk is if something happens in the first 30 days of re-adding it, in which case you'd have to pay their "deductible."

If I remember correctly, I was told by a csr that if I did as you suggest that it would create a one year commitment. I declined that offer.

Still waiting to hear from D*.

So, as far as everyone knows, there is still two different charges for the PP?

John

tcusta00

03-20-08, 01:58 PM

If I remember correctly, I was told by a csr that if I did as you suggest that it would create a one year commitment. I declined that offer.

From the Terms and Conditions it sounds as if you're in a one-year committment (to stay in the protection plan, not a general contract with DirecTV) for one year regardless of if you sign up anew or keep what you've got - and the only penalty for mid-term cancellation is $10.

Term of Coverage: The Plan coverage commences one (1) calendar month
from the date of purchase of the Plan and is effective for a period of one (1)
year and terminates as per the Limits of Liability section. The Plan will
automatically renew for additional one (1) year periods unless the Plan is
cancelled as per the “Cancellation” provision.

Cancellation: You may cancel this Plan at any anniversary date of the Plan
for no charge. You may also cancel this Plan during the term of coverage by
either calling 1-888-667-7463 or providing written notice with a copy of the
Plan to the administrator at the following address: PO BOX 29079, Glendale,
CA 91209-9079 Attn: Customer Service. You will receive a refund equal to
the unearned pro rata premium, less any claims which have been paid.
While this Plan may be canceled by you for any reason, an administrative
fee of ten dollars ($10.00) will be assessed if the Plan is cancelled mid-term.

Interpret it as you will though... I'm no attorney. :grin:

rabit ears

03-20-08, 02:14 PM

The protection plan does require a 1 year commitment to the protection plan, there is a $10 fee if you cancel your service early. This is not a new total service commitment.

As for the pricing, I got a bill with the pp price of $5.95 after paying $7.99 for several months. About the same time there was the web site SNAFU with the $0.00 protection plan.

I called about my pricing and got a $12 credit for the previous six months at the wrong rate. The credit wasn't actually forthcoming from the CSR until I asked her what they were going to do. She asked what I wanted and I told her I wanted the $2 refunded for all the time I was on the plan. She said she could only go back 6 months and hence the $12 credit.

I think if you call, be firm but nice, you can get some credit for your overcharges and the price going forward @ $5.99.

JLucPicard

03-20-08, 03:00 PM

If I remember correctly, I was told by a csr that if I did as you suggest that it would create a one year commitment. I declined that offer.

Still waiting to hear from D*.

So, as far as everyone knows, there is still two different charges for the PP?

John
If I go into my account on DirecTV.com and pull up "Current Setup", it shows me as subscribing to the PP and being charged $5.99 a month. Under that $5.99 is a notation in smaller print that says, "Advanced Product $7.99 monthly". That is the only place I have seen $7.99 mentioned, and the link to the Protection Plan information on their web site, as stated earlier, indicates there is a $5.99 per month fee that covers all equipment on your account. I've been paying $5.99 a month since September 2006.

If there is something currently in the works to start charging $7.99 a month on accounts that have advanced equipment, I am unaware of it, and have not experienced it.

In my opinion, there is just one cost for the PP of $5.99 a month. But we all know what they say about opinions. ;)

wideglide36

03-20-08, 04:06 PM

Hey guys,

Just heard back from D* concerning the cost for the PP.

Basically it's the same explanation that they told me before. This is the main part of their reply.

Thanks for writing. Because you own your receivers and the other equipment, such as the remote, cabling, dish, and multi-switch, the $7.99 plan that you purchased covers all of these items. New customers, who purchase our Protection Plan today, lease their receivers and do not own them. For these customers the receiver is already covered under their lease agreement. Therefore, their coverage only includes the 24/7 technical troubleshooting, the free service calls, and the replacement of the related additional equipment.

Contrary to other threads on this board which say that there is only one charge for the PP, D* says otherwise in their email to me.

So, D* is telling me that the $7.99 I am paying is correct because I own all my equipment. If there are other D* customers who own their equipment as I do and are paying the lower $5.99 charge, then there is something rotten in Denmark.

It's funny, while reading these threads about people getting free hd-dvr's and free programming and other goodies, I can't even get a lousy $2.00 a month knocked off my PP.

I know WHAAAAAA WHAAAAA. Still funny though.

Anyways, I better wrap this up. Thanks for all the input guys.

John

markman07

03-20-08, 04:47 PM

I lease an HR10-250 and an HR20-700 but OWN three series 2 Directivos! So what do I get charged, $6.99?

curt8403

03-20-08, 05:30 PM

I lease an HR10-250 and an HR20-700 but OWN three series 2 Directivos! So what do I get charged, $6.99?

you will be charged the owned rcvr rate of 7.99

tcusta00

03-20-08, 06:15 PM

curt - what is the policy if you have one owned hr10-250 and one leased hr21?

curt8403

03-20-08, 06:55 PM

curt - what is the policy if you have one owned hr10-250 and one leased hr21?
as long as the owned is active and covered, owned rate 7.99

tcusta00

03-20-08, 06:57 PM

as long as the owned is active and covered, owned rate 7.99

So is my hr10-250 that's active on my account not covered? It's marked as owned (I have this confirmed in an email) and I added the PP AFTER that date... and I'm paying 5.99.

curt8403

03-20-08, 07:07 PM

So is my hr10-250 that's active on my account not covered? It's marked as owned (I have this confirmed in an email) and I added the PP AFTER that date... and I'm paying 5.99.

you are one of the lucky individuals who got the pro plan after D decided that one size fits all and the rate is 5.99 . Prior to march 1, 2006 advanced RCVRs (HD and DVR) were 7.99 and reg were 5.99 now it is all 5.99

tcusta00

03-20-08, 07:09 PM

so anyone that signs up today will get 5.99, regardless?

curt8403

03-20-08, 07:09 PM

so anyone that signs up today will get 5.99, regardless?
yep.

tcusta00

03-20-08, 07:13 PM

Thanks for the info... for anyone that's paying attention. :p

curt8403

03-20-08, 07:17 PM

Thanks for the info... for anyone that's paying attention. :p

yes I hope that people that have had the plan before 2006 are paying attention (that is a nudge)

eandras

03-20-08, 08:27 PM

as long as the owned is active and covered, owned rate 7.99

I own 4 sd receivers and lease 3 HD receivers one of which is a dvr. I am chared $5.99 with a credit of $6.34. Not the $7.99

curt8403

03-20-08, 08:37 PM

I own 4 sd receivers and lease 3 HD receivers one of which is a dvr. I am chared $5.99 with a credit of $6.34. Not the $7.99

read the posts that follow.

crashHD

03-20-08, 08:46 PM

From the Terms and Conditions it sounds as if you're in a one-year committment (to stay in the protection plan, not a general contract with DirecTV) for one year regardless of if you sign up anew or keep what you've got - and the only penalty for mid-term cancellation is $10.

That sounds right, but I think if you have the PP, cancel it within the year, and you had a service/equipment replacement, you're also on the hook for the service charge in addition to the $10.

tcusta00

03-20-08, 08:48 PM

That sounds right, but I think if you have the PP, cancel it within the year, and you had a service/equipment replacement, you're also on the hook for the service charge in addition to the $10.

Show me where it says that in the agreement and I'll believe it. Otherwise it's nothing more than heresay and conjecture. The contract rules the plan.

curt8403

03-20-08, 08:50 PM

That sounds right, but I think if you have the PP, cancel it within the year, and you had a service/equipment replacement, you're also on the hook for the service charge in addition to the $10.

you also have a 1 year agreement with the plan, and cancelling the plan leaves the 1 yr agreement intact. it does not go away

pacjag

03-21-08, 08:25 AM

Show me where it says that in the agreement and I'll believe it. Otherwise it's nothing more than heresay and conjecture. The contract rules the plan.

Here ya go:

Cancellation: You may cancel this Plan at any anniversary date of the Plan
for no charge. You may also cancel this Plan during the term of coverage by
either calling 1-888-667-7463 or providing written notice with a copy of the
Plan to the administrator at the following address: PO BOX 29079, Glendale,
CA 91209-9079 Attn: Customer Service. You will receive a refund equal to
the unearned pro rata premium, less any claims which have been paid.
While this Plan may be canceled by you for any reason, an administrative
fee of ten dollars ($10.00) will be assessed if the Plan is cancelled mid-term

tcusta00

03-21-08, 08:43 AM

So if you pay 5.99 a month and have had a service call and want to cancel before the period is up, you won't get a pro-rata portion of that 5.99 back. So what? I don't really see how canceling after a service call is relevant to this discussion - we were talking about the extra $2 charge that some people are getting.

Oh, and I already mentioned the $10 above.

pacjag

03-21-08, 08:53 AM

tcusta00

03-21-08, 08:58 AM

No, you asked to be shown where it stated that if you cancel during the contract period that you will be charged a $10 cancellation fee plus the cost of any service calls placed during the period of the contract and paid for by the contract. See above.

I still fail to see where you have to pay for the service call - it just says they won't REFUND you the price of the service call from your prepaid plan costs if you had one.:confused:

pacjag

03-21-08, 09:07 AM

tcusta00

03-21-08, 09:10 AM

Well, technically that's true. It says "You will receive a refund equal to the unearned pro rata premium, less any claims which have been paid" but fails to make clear what the "unearned pro rata premium" is.

Okay, well, regardless of what it is, it really doesn't bring any relevance to this conversation where people are incensed about getting charged $2 more than everyone else. :rolleyes:

pacjag

03-21-08, 09:21 AM

Okay, well, regardless of what it is, it really doesn't bring any relevance to this conversation where people are incensed about getting charged $2 more than everyone else. :rolleyes:

I can't say I blame them. I will certainly be checking my future bills to be sure I am not one of them. ;)

tcusta00

03-21-08, 09:24 AM

I can't say I blame them. I will certainly be checking my future bills to be sure I am not one of them. ;)

If, after carefully reading this thread, the people that are paying $2 more continue to pay $2 more, they deserve to. There's a resolution in there for them. Read between the lines. <cough cough> :D

curt8403

03-21-08, 01:47 PM

I can't say I blame them. I will certainly be checking my future bills to be sure I am not one of them. ;)

theory says that for cancelling the pro plan, D will look at any service calls that were done on the account while the plan was in effect, (say 1 call) take the 79.99 for the call, and minus all payments made on the plan, (6 months * 5.99) 35.94 take the 79.99 - 35.94 and that is the amount you would be charged for cancelling plus the 10.00 fee.

In practice, it is different. it goes like this. 5.99 for 30 days coverage and it is now day 10 (5.99 / 30 and then times the number of days that are left (20) (3.99
you get 3.99 back and are charged 10.00 for disconnect

2 dollars extra? not if you signed up after feb 2006

JLucPicard

03-21-08, 06:23 PM

And as outlined in the first link in my post #9 in this thread, I spoke with a gentleman in Retention who, as I was only beginning to describe the problem, cut me off and explained that continuing to charge $7.99 after the change was a problem on DirecTV's end.

Owned, leased, standard equipment, advanced equipment - it DOESN'T MATTER. The cost of the Protection Plan is $5.99. Source? See the second link in post #9.

Still not good enough for you? Tune to channel 201, sit through whatever other "goodies" you have to sit through until they finally get to the DirecTV Protection Plan (I just did :)), and again they state regardless of what equipment you have on your account, the PP costs $5.99 a month.

People, people, people - this is not that hard or complicated! They state it on their web site. The run it continuously day in and day out on their own information channel. $5.99 a month. Period. The hardest part about this whole situation is getting the darn CSRs to know and understand their company's own information/policies!

They probably won't credit much (maybe up to six months worth if not less - or nothing), but there's no reason they shouldn't be able to drop the price to $5.99. If the front-line can't do it (a possibility depending on their software and access permissions), ask for a supervisor or the retention team.