Shouldn't DirecTV be responsible for dish and outside components?

[lumspond]

Paid DTV 80 bucks for an alignment in January. Just had another problem with signal on one tuner. Luckily found a bad connector myself and fixed it, or it would have been another 80 bucks, or 6 bucks a month for the rest of my life for a maintenance contract.

Seems the dish is always going to need tweaking, or bad cables. Why am I responsible for this? I pay DTV 80 plus bucks a month (used to be 110) to give me TV.

I "think" if I had cable or fios, they are responsible for the lines to the house, and I am responsible for in the house.

Why would I not switch to Fios, which would seem to be less problematic?

thanks
lumspond
middletown, de

[Mike Bertelson]

Paid DTV 80 bucks for an alignment in January. Just had another problem with signal on one tuner. Luckily found a bad connector myself and fixed it, or it would have been another 80 bucks, or 6 bucks a month for the rest of my life for a maintenance contract.

Seems the dish is always going to need tweaking, or bad cables. Why am I responsible for this? I pay DTV 80 plus bucks a month (used to be 110) to give me TV.

I "think" if I had cable or fios, they are responsible for the lines to the house, and I am responsible for in the house.

Why would I not switch to Fios, which would seem to be less problematic?

thanks
lumspond
middletown, de
You could get the protection plan which would cover the wiring and dish.

However, your dish shouldn't always need tweaking.

Unless something happens, if it's properly installed, it should never need alignment.

Mike

[davring]

I think their reasoning is they can keep the price lower than cable by not including the service, just a thought.

[Thaedron]

IMO, yes, they should be responsible for the dish and any/all required multi-switches to provide you service. Though they don't and as previously mentioned, that affects the cost of service (lower cost to us with their current model).

I also think DirecTV is passing on the duty of taking care of all the no longer needed satellite dishes via this method as well.

[Achilles]

Do you have the protection plan? It's so worth it and it's not expensive at all.....

[tlieberg]

Paid DTV 80 bucks for an alignment in January. Just had another problem with signal on one tuner. Luckily found a bad connector myself and fixed it, or it would have been another 80 bucks, or 6 bucks a month for the rest of my life for a maintenance contract.

Seems the dish is always going to need tweaking, or bad cables. Why am I responsible for this? I pay DTV 80 plus bucks a month (used to be 110) to give me TV.

I "think" if I had cable or fios, they are responsible for the lines to the house, and I am responsible for in the house.

Why would I not switch to Fios, which would seem to be less problematic?

thanks
lumspond
middletown, de

While I agree with you somewhat, let's remember that with cable 95% of outside-your-house components are underground and once installed extremely unlikely to need any attention at all (if someone does disturb it, they probably didn't do a locate for the cable or were otherwise irresponsible and the cable company can go after them for recompense.) Also, there is almost NO user-accessible "settings" with cable. Contrast that with a dish which is vulnerable to weather of all types, rogue soccer balls and suicidal birds. And on top of that, there are plenty of opportunities for end-users to mess it up.

[spartanstew]

Seems the dish is always going to need tweaking, or bad cables.

In 8 years, I've yet to have a problem with my dish or cables (or multi-switch)

[bonscott87]

I'll just say that if you don't have the ability (either technically or physically) to tweak your own dish or fix your own cabling issues then you should get the protection plan. I personally don't because I can fix it all myself so I save money.

[Earlyadopt]

I'm upset that I have to pay for something that they manufactured, mounted wired.

I mean seriously, should I be responsible for an installation done by some barely trained monkey with a meter? The last couple times I've had issues, it's had to do with the installation. Be it mounting or cabling or multiswitch issues, it's all theirs.

after having them out a few months ago to correct a pixelation issue and paying the $80, I may need them out again. This time i think it's an alignment issue. I live in Los Angeles where our average temprature is 72 degrees. So, I'm not going to be fooled that the hurricanes are damaging my 'installation'.

DTV . . . pony up. I spend a ton of money with you each month!!!

[The Merg]

You could get the protection plan which would cover the wiring and dish.

However, your dish shouldn't always need tweaking.

Unless something happens, if it's properly installed, it should never need alignment.

Mike

Never say never. Anything that is properly installed can always have something happen to it. If you have a new house and it settles, that very well could require your dish to be realigned (not necessarily likely, but still a possibility). :)

- Merg

[paulman182]

While I agree with you somewhat, let's remember that with cable 95% of outside-your-house components are underground and once installed extremely unlikely to need any attention at all (if someone does disturb it, they probably didn't do a locate for the cable or were otherwise irresponsible and the cable company can go after them for recompense.)

You're obviously not speaking for TV cable in my area. I don't think any of it is underground. And the cable goes out and stays out for days, about once a month. I've never had that kind of trouble with either satellite provider.

[Mike Bertelson]

Seems the dish is always going to need tweaking, or bad cables. Why am I responsible for this? I pay DTV 80 plus bucks a month (used to be 110) to give me TV.



Which dish do you have and where is it installed?

It should have two braces comming off the vertical pole. Are they installed?

I ask because if it needs alignment often there is something going on.

Mike

[glennb]

Do you have the protection plan? It's so worth it and it's not expensive at all.....

I don't think "It's so worth it"

I haven't ever needed anything done to my set-up since the day I installed it.
I'd have been "so throwing money down the toilet" to pay them $6/month for something I don't need.

The way DIRECTV provides the signal to your house is completely different than the way the cable company does it. You can't say - the cable company fixes my outside stuff(chunk of coax cable) for free why can't DIRECTV cover the outside stuff for free ! :mad:
:rolleyes:

[Achilles]

I don't think "It's so worth it"

I haven't ever needed anything done to my set-up since the day I installed it.
I'd have been "so throwing money down the toilet" to pay them $6/month for something I don't need.

The way DIRECTV provides the signal to your house is completely different than the way the cable company does it. You can't say - the cable company fixes my outside stuff(chunk of coax cable) for free why can't DIRECTV cover the outside stuff for free ! :mad:
:rolleyes:

There are too many factors that are taken into consideration with a physical dish as opposed to a wire box mounted on your house. I think someone posted to this earlier in the thread. It's an insurance policy. Nothing more. Like all insurance policies, if nothing happens, it's usually a good thing (except for money spent). However, accidents happen. Taking into consideration the money you might pay should your dish fail or lightning or a suicidal bird strikes it, you'd spend lots of money on repairs (unless you can do it yourself). It's your personal preference.

I believe cable companies include this in their costs. It's just not shown the customer as a charge. It's incorporated into the price. It's not an option with cable companies. What DTV could do is just add it into the costs and not show the customer. It would raise the price a bit but it's something that might be a selling point vs. Dish Net.

I didn't mean to hijack this thread as I believe other threads in this forum discuss whether or not to get the protection plan.

Again, it's personal preference and it could possibly give you peace of mind. :icon_bb::icon_peac

[Upstream]

I "think" if I had cable or fios, they are responsible for the lines to the house, and I am responsible for in the house.

Why would I not switch to Fios, which would seem to be less problematic?



Just include the $5.99 cost of the Protection Plan when comparing prices. Some television providers include the cost of a protection plan in their prices. With DirecTV it is a separate optional charge. (Just like some providers include the cost of HD service, but with DirecTV it is a separate optional charge).


Also, using your analogy of cable or Fios being responsible for the lines to your house, you can think of it as they are responsible for the signal to the connection point at your house. In some cases, the connection point may be just inside your house; in other cases (like at my house) the connection point is on the outside of the house.

DirecTV is also responsible for the signal up to the "connection point" at your house. In this case the connection point is just outside your house at the satellite dish. They have responsibility for everything up to the dish. You have responsibility for everything from the dish to your television (unless you have the protection plan).

[highheater]

Paid DTV 80 bucks for an alignment in January. Just had another problem with signal on one tuner. Luckily found a bad connector myself and fixed it, or it would have been another 80 bucks, or 6 bucks a month for the rest of my life for a maintenance contract.

Seems the dish is always going to need tweaking, or bad cables. Why am I responsible for this? I pay DTV 80 plus bucks a month (used to be 110) to give me TV.

I "think" if I had cable or fios, they are responsible for the lines to the house, and I am responsible for in the house.

Why would I not switch to Fios, which would seem to be less problematic?
-
thanks
lumspond
middletown, de

Welcome to the Direct TV business model. Where the responsibilty for shoddy installations and sometimes used equipment is thrown onto the back of the average customer.

Where you have no choice but to pony up $ 80 for a service call, $6 a month for a service plan, or pay an early termination fee.

-Poor job by the installer sent by Direct TV? your problem.
-Malfunctioning older equipment, not of your choosing, placed in your home? your problem
- Buggy new equipment - your problem

The bottom line - YOUR PROBLEM

The solution - give us another $ 6 a month so we can guarantee you that award-winning service and a functional system

The alternative - HA there isn't any - you can't even leave us without paying us !!!

[ncriley]

One big problem DTV has is the installers knowledge and work ethic. I know there are many good ones out there, but most just are not that attentive. I have had professional installation done 4 times and each time it needed to be redone later. They either don't ground properly or just get the picture so you can see it and don't worry about the signal levels. I have had guys try to leave after installing with 70% signal strength. 2 times I have had guys leave without checking the 103c SAT which was not even coming in at all. Years ago, when only a couple of HD channels were on, those were not coming in after installation and the guy had no clue why. Turns out he had no knowledge of multiswitches, cable quality, etc.

The bottom line is that DTV is not for everyone. I certainly wouldn't recommend it to my grandmother, a disabled person or someone with little technical skills.

To get the most out of DTV you need a broad understanding of how things work, otherwise you are dependent on CSRs and professional installers that are on average (and probably no fault of their own) sub par.

[JLucPicard]

Installations are under warranty for 90 days, so if there are installation issues they should be addressed within that time frame (and I believe that goes for service calls, too - warranteed for 90 days).

I'm willing to pay the $5.99 a month to cover my system. I don't think I'd be so keen as to have the cost of covering everybody added to my monthly bill. I've seen some of the things that people do with their stuff. If there are 16 million subscribers, I'm sure there are millions of people who at some point or another cause all their own problems that I wouldn't care to be picking up the tab for. Not to mention, you make the "warranty" a part of the subscription cost, and heaven help the installers/tech people that are rolling on every little thing because DirecTV's paying for it all and not the sub. And don't even get me started on how far out they'd have to be scheduling installs/service calls - could make service outages on a par with cable, God forbid!

[PAJeep]

[QUOTE=

The bottom line - YOUR PROBLEM

The solution - give us another $ 6 a month so we can guarantee you that award-winning service and a functional system

[/QUOTE]


hmm, thats what my local telco and local comcast do. I see no problem with it. If you want the equipment and cabling on your property covered pay for it. Plain and simple.

[Newshawk]

Welcome to the Direct TV business model. Where the responsibilty for shoddy installations and sometimes used equipment is thrown onto the back of the average customer.

Not true. There is a 90 day warranty on all installation and service calls, as well as on all receivers, new andd refurbished. Past the 90 day window, it's been in your possession long enough for you to possibly have contributed to any issue.

Where you have no choice but to pony up $ 80 for a service call, $6 a month for a service plan, or pay an early termination fee.

What do you want? Welfare for your DirecTV setup? Techs cost money. Equipment costs money. There are overhead costs to any service call. Why should I have to pay (in the form of higher prices for my service) for your service calls just because you don't want to?

Let me turn this around... Just what do you think YOUR responsibility should be regarding your DirecTV system?

[Bill Broderick]

Just put $6 a month into your savings account. If you ever need service, use that money to pay the $80 service call. After a couple of years without needing a service call, stop putting that money into your account.

I can't believe how many people are willing to spend $72 a year for insurance against a possible $80 service call or a $19.99 S&H charge for a broken receiver. The DirecTV protection plan makes extended warranties look like brilliant investments.

[glennb]

There are too many factors that are taken into consideration with a physical dish as opposed to a wire box mounted on your house. I think someone posted to this earlier in the thread. It's an insurance policy. Nothing more. Like all insurance policies, if nothing happens, it's usually a good thing (except for money spent). However, accidents happen. Taking into consideration the money you might pay should your dish fail or lightning or a suicidal bird strikes it, you'd spend lots of money on repairs (unless you can do it yourself). It's your personal preference.

I believe cable companies include this in their costs. It's just not shown the customer as a charge. It's incorporated into the price. It's not an option with cable companies. What DTV could do is just add it into the costs and not show the customer. It would raise the price a bit but it's something that might be a selling point vs. Dish Net.

I didn't mean to hijack this thread as I believe other threads in this forum discuss whether or not to get the protection plan.

Again, it's personal preference and it could possibly give you peace of mind. :icon_bb::icon_peac

I have an insurance policy for my car, and my house. I don't need an insurance policy for something that I could easily fix, or pay $80 to have it fixed by someone else. :icon_bb:

[Carl Spock]

Just put $6 a month into your savings account. If you ever need service, use that money to pay the $80 service call. After a couple of years without needing a service call, stop putting that money into your account.

I can't believe how many people are willing to spend $72 a year for insurance against a possible $80 service call or a $19.99 S&H charge for a broken receiver. The DirecTV protection plan makes extended warranties look like brilliant investments.
It is a profit making device, for sure, but DirecTV is hardly alone in offering something like this. I could pay monthly to have the phone company guarantee the lines in my house. My car is out of warranty. I have received at least ten offers in the mail for an additional guarantee. It's crazy.

I'm like you, Bill. I rarely buy an extended warranty or protection plan. I might extend one from 90 days to a year - I did that on a laptop recently - but that's it. After that, this sucker is either going to work and work, or it won't.

By the time my HR20 fails, I'm sure there will be a replacement I'd rather lease instead.

And to the OP's point specifically: Over the past year, I've run into my garage twice with my car. You don't want to know. By now, the garage door doesn't open really well. If my Slimline, mounted on the corner of the garage, is out of alignment, should DirecTV fix it for free? :grin:

[ajc68]

Why not just add the protection plan when you need it, then drop it?

[Michael D'Angelo]

Why not just add the protection plan when you need it, then drop it?

If you add the protection plan you have to keep it at least 12 months.

[Jhon69]

Why not just add the protection plan when you need it, then drop it?


DirecTV's Protection Plan does not activate for 30 days,on day 31 your covered.;)

[Michael D'Angelo]

DirecTV's Protection Plan does not activate for 30 days,on day 31 your covered.;)

But if you do add it you will pay a reduced fee up front during the first 30 days.

Instead of having to pay a $80 service call fee I believe it is only $20 the first 30 days after adding it and free after that.

[Achilles]

I have an insurance policy for my car, and my house. I don't need an insurance policy for something that I could easily fix, or pay $80 to have it fixed by someone else. :icon_bb:

exactly, that's why I said it's a personal preference or if you can fix it yourself, you don't need the insurance. :icon_bb:

[highheater]

hmm, thats what my local telco and local comcast do. I see no problem with it. If you want the equipment and cabling on your property covered pay for it. Plain and simple.

Thats what your local TELCO does ??? really

my local telco ATT

1. Lets me buy my own non-proprietary phone
2. Offers a protection plan for inside wiring that has been problem free for 40 years
3. Lets me cancel my service at no charge if I have any problems with my equipment or service.

on the other hand Direct TV

1. May force me to accept a used piece of equipment
2. Has documented problems with installers, used equipment, and buggy new equipment at a rate far exceeding problems with inside telephone wiring.
3. Charges me to cancel my service if I have problematic equipment.

DIRECT TV HAS SOLD YOU AN INSTALLATION, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES THAT IT CANNOT GUARANTEE ARE EVEN FIT FOR ITS INTENDED USE FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS. Thats the bottom line.

Even most stand-alone electronic equipment > $100 comes with a 1 year warranty.

Direct TV should stand behind their installation and equipment at least as long as you are required to stick by them. What a novell idea that would be.

Anything less is just a predatory business practice desgined to shift the ultimate long-term failure of their equipment onto you.

Direct TV in its business model has chosen with its to align itself with certain installers, pawn off old equipment, and release new equipment that isn't debugged. I'm sure the upside of those decisions has some cost benefit to them. Unfortunately, the downside is passed entirely to the customer now as they fail to stand behind their installations and equipment. Benefits to Direct TV. Downside risk to consumer. Nice gig if you can get it. And Direct TV is getting it.

I'm used to Direct TV sticking it to the average customer, and even more so to long-time loyal ones, but it never ceases to amaze me that some here will actually defend these practices as in my best interest.

[rudeney]

I can't believe how many people are willing to spend $72 a year for insurance against a possible $80 service call or a $19.99 S&H charge for a broken receiver. The DirecTV protection plan makes extended warranties look like brilliant investments.

Why? Because on a service call, you could end up paying more than $80 a year. You could have a dish go out of alignment due to a storm in March, then an LNB or a multiswitch could fail in August. If you have the ability and desire to cover the cost and labor to fix them yourself, then so be it. However, if not, you’d end up with $160 worth of service calls.

As for the $19.95 receiver replacement, that may not be so bad if you have one, but what if you have 6 DVR’s? The likelihood of at least one failing each year is pretty high. I had three fail in one year. Oh, and when you pay that $19.95, don’t forget that you are also re-committing to D* service for another two years. While most of us probably can’t imagine life without D*, I don’t want to be locked-in. It makes it hard to negotiate any sort of deal with D* and makes it expensive (up to $480) to terminate if something better comes along.

For me, I just factor the monthly cost of the PP into my D* bill. If something isn’t working just right, I don’t hesitate to call and have them come out to diagnose and repair it because it costs me nothing – no money, no additional commitments.

[jimb726]

Why? Because on a service call, you could end up paying more than $80 a year. You could have a dish go out of alignment due to a storm in March, then an LNB or a multiswitch could fail in August. If you have the ability and desire to cover the cost and labor to fix them yourself, then so be it. However, if not, you’d end up with $160 worth of service calls.

As for the $19.95 receiver replacement, that may not be so bad if you have one, but what if you have 6 DVR’s? The likelihood of at least one failing each year is pretty high. I had three fail in one year. Oh, and when you pay that $19.95, don’t forget that you are also re-committing to D* service for another two years. While most of us probably can’t imagine life without D*, I don’t want to be locked-in. It makes it hard to negotiate any sort of deal with D* and makes it expensive (up to $480) to terminate if something better comes along.

For me, I just factor the monthly cost of the PP into my D* bill. If something isn’t working just right, I don’t hesitate to call and have them come out to diagnose and repair it because it costs me nothing – no money, no additional commitments.

I agree wholeheartedly. In addition to all of the facts you state, the one that is the most important to me is the peace of mind factor. I travel a lot and my wife knows that if there is a problem she calls in and they come out and fix it. We have never had to wait more than a day, and we have never had to pay anything. I am also certain that over the years, I have ended up way ahead of what I would have paid for the items as replacements. Heck, off the top of my head I had two of the Sony HD recievers with TiVo, mor HR10's than I can remember and 1 of the HR20-700's (although I am fairly certain that was just operator error on my wifes part). To say nothing of dish realignments and a complete dish replacement. To me it is worth every single penny I have ever paid for the service.

[bonscott87]

DIRECT TV HAS SOLD YOU AN INSTALLATION, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES THAT IT CANNOT GUARANTEE ARE EVEN FIT FOR ITS INTENDED USE FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS. Thats the bottom line.


Strange. I've had DirecTV for 12 years and never had a tech visit once other then for the free 5 LNB upgrade. Oh well.

By the way, is your twin brother named RS4? ;)

[Doug Brott]

Do you have the protection plan? It's so worth it and it's not expensive at all.....

Except ..

I don't think "It's so worth it"

I haven't ever needed anything done to my set-up since the day I installed it.
I'd have been "so throwing money down the toilet" to pay them $6/month for something I don't need.

The way DIRECTV provides the signal to your house is completely different than the way the cable company does it. You can't say - the cable company fixes my outside stuff(chunk of coax cable) for free why can't DIRECTV cover the outside stuff for free ! :mad:
:rolleyes:

However ..

Again, it's personal preference and it could possibly give you peace of mind. :icon_bb::icon_peac

Bingo! My personal preference is to not have the protection plan, but for some folks it's wonderful. Their money, their choice, no problem. The good news is that DIRECTV let's you choose what fits you best.

[PAJeep]

I'm used to Direct TV sticking it to the average customer, and even more so to long-time loyal ones, but it never ceases to amaze me that some here will actually defend these practices as in my best interest.


I'm not defending anyone. Just stating the facts at hand. They offer a protection plan that covers the same complaints from the OP. If he pays for it he is covered, if not he pays the $80 plus maybe a bit more. His choice. Like I said, plain and simple.

I cancelled the extended plan with my local telco to save a few dollars. My family did the same with their Comcast. If my house wiring goes bad I pay for it and I'm okay with it. When my 90 days is up with Directv I will probably sign up for the protection plan for at least the first year. After that, I may cancel as well, but in the end we all have a choice.

[Bill Broderick]

Why? Because on a service call, you could end up paying more than $80 a year.

Or, more likely you could be like most customers and never need a service call. I've been a DirecTV customer since 1995 and haven't had a single service call, other than for installation of new equipment, in the entire time that I've been a customer. I've had one DVR replaced. But it was still under warranty.

So, right now, I have saved $936 by not paying for the protection plan. I can have 11 service calls and two receivers replaced and still be $16 ahead of the game.

Also, the protection plan doesn't provide any more "piece of mind" than not having the protection plan. If something goes wrong at my house, it's just as easy for me to pick up the phone and get DirecTV to my house as it would be if I had the protection plan.

As far as insurance plans go, the DirecTV Protection Plan one stinks. It doesn't protect against a big expense nor does it protect against expenses that occur on a regular basis.

[tfederov]

Knock on wood, I spend money on car insurance each month and I hope I never need to use it. Same with the protection plan. I have it for piece of mind. If I ever need it, it's there for me.

[REDSKINSFAN47]

i have it and they told me you can not use it for 30 days after you get it.

[Achilles]

Except ..



However ..



Bingo! My personal preference is to not have the protection plan, but for some folks it's wonderful. Their money, their choice, no problem. The good news is that DIRECTV let's you choose what fits you best.


Exactly!!! It's always nice to have the choice. :icon_bb:

[Achilles]

I agree wholeheartedly. In addition to all of the facts you state, the one that is the most important to me is the peace of mind factor. I travel a lot and my wife knows that if there is a problem she calls in and they come out and fix it. We have never had to wait more than a day, and we have never had to pay anything. I am also certain that over the years, I have ended up way ahead of what I would have paid for the items as replacements. Heck, off the top of my head I had two of the Sony HD recievers with TiVo, mor HR10's than I can remember and 1 of the HR20-700's (although I am fairly certain that was just operator error on my wifes part). To say nothing of dish realignments and a complete dish replacement. To me it is worth every single penny I have ever paid for the service.



:icon_band Rock on! +1.

[Ken S]

I've gone about 12 years and had one problem (hurricane took my dish down). You shouldn't have problems or require regular dish alignments.

[DTV-888]

-Poor job by the installer sent by Direct TV? your problem.


if anything is wrong with your installation, you have 90 days to let a CSR know. the sc will be free to fix the issue.

-Malfunctioning older equipment, not of your choosing, placed in your home? your problem

100% free replacement if you have the protection plan. otherwise, it will cost you for shipping (20 bucks)


- Buggy new equipment - your problem
again, the 90 day window.

see...problems solved.

[DawgLink]

Do I think DirecTV should be reasonable for the dish? Yes but I also understand why they shouldn't be so I am torn either way

I have had DirecTV for 16 months now and only had one problem with my dish which they came out and fixed for no charge.

[paulman182]

I work with electronics all day and in an emergency I might work 30 hours straight. Really.

If at one of those times my DirecTV went out, it might be a while before I would work on it with my usual sunny disposition, due to my temporary disgust with everything electronic. And my family would want to watch TV.

Although I have not needed the protection plan, when I do need it, I may REALLY need it.

[Dwrecked]

D* isn't for everyone. I think you'd be happier with FIOS. Good luck with that.

[crashHD]

I'm upset that I have to pay for something that they manufactured, mounted wired.

I mean seriously, should I be responsible for an installation done by some barely trained monkey with a meter? The last couple times I've had issues, it's had to do with the installation. Be it mounting or cabling or multiswitch issues, it's all theirs.

after having them out a few months ago to correct a pixelation issue and paying the $80, I may need them out again. This time i think it's an alignment issue. I live in Los Angeles where our average temprature is 72 degrees. So, I'm not going to be fooled that the hurricanes are damaging my 'installation'.

DTV . . . pony up. I spend a ton of money with you each month!!!

If you want it done right, DIY.

If you want it done for you, that service is offered in the Protection Plan.

DTV's business is satellite television, not free lunches. Whine about it if you must, but realize the squeaky wheel doesn't get the grease, it gets replaced (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=115768&).

[TigersFanJJ]

I think Ford should be responsible for the alignment I just had to get on my truck and the two tires I had to replace as a result of the problem. I pay them @ $500 a month. It's the least they can do. :nono2:

[jimmyv2000]

I want to add my 2 ¢ here,
I pay for the PP and its money well spent.
I used it twice this year already
1/24/08 LNB failure
3/26/08 Realign after 3 days of high winds.:D
I cant get on my roof due to health issues.
since the PP has been offered i used it 4 times.
The only other 2 times was back in july 05 there was a lighning strike about 150 feet away that shook the house and knocked my old dish out of alignment.
Then x-mas day of 06 one of my generation 1 RCA receivers had failed.

Well worth $72 a year for me:D

[workindev]

What do you want? Welfare for your DirecTV setup? Techs cost money. Equipment costs money. There are overhead costs to any service call. Why should I have to pay (in the form of higher prices for my service) for your service calls just because you don't want to?

Let me turn this around... Just what do you think YOUR responsibility should be regarding your DirecTV system?Simple - you pay to receive programming on your TV. If DirecTV wants you to continue to pay to receive programming on your TV, they should provide all the equipment, service, and maintenance necessary so that you can actually receive what you are paying for.

[Newshawk]

Simple - you pay to receive programming on your TV. If DirecTV wants you to continue to pay to receive programming on your TV, they should provide all the equipment, service, and maintenance necessary so that you can actually receive what you are paying for.

Well, let me tell you one thing... there is no such thing as a free service call! You are going to pay for it one way or another. Do you want higher rates imposed on everyone so that those who have service issues get free service calls/replacement receivers, or would you rather keep the low rates and pay for service calls/replacement receivers if/when they happen?

Oh, and as for low rates and free service calls-if you want them, you should sign up for Primestar. Oh, wait-you can't. They went out of business and was bouth up by DirecTV. I wonder why?

[rudeney]

Simple - you pay to receive programming on your TV. If DirecTV wants you to continue to pay to receive programming on your TV, they should provide all the equipment, service, and maintenance necessary so that you can actually receive what you are paying for.

Keep in mind that anytime you add equipment and some packages to your account, you are committing yourself to a new service term of up to 24 months. If you are under such a commitment, D* could not care less if you have a dish problem preventing you from watching, because you are contractually obligated to pay no matter what.

[Achilles]

If you want it done right, DIY.

If you want it done for you, that service is offered in the Protection Plan.

DTV's business is satellite television, not free lunches. Whine about it if you must, but realize the squeaky wheel doesn't get the grease, it gets replaced (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=115768&).

:goodjob:

[workindev]

Well, let me tell you one thing... there is no such thing as a free service call! You are going to pay for it one way or another. Do you want higher rates imposed on everyone so that those who have service issues get free service calls/replacement receivers, or would you rather keep the low rates and pay for service calls/replacement receivers if/when they happen?I choose option #3 - DirecTV provides quality equipment and installation services that doesn't need excessive services calls or replacements. That obviously isn't going to happen when they can directly pass the cost on to their customers without recourse. And it most certainly isn't going to happen when they can boost profit margins through customers who willingly send them $6 extra per month whether they need repairs or not.

By the way, the low rates ship sailed a few years ago. DirecTV isn't any cheaper than other TV options nowadays.

[workindev]

Keep in mind that anytime you add equipment and some packages to your account, you are committing yourself to a new service term of up to 24 months. If you are under such a commitment, D* could not care less if you have a dish problem preventing you from watching, because you are contractually obligated to pay no matter what.True, but the Better Business Bureau would care about a company that insists on charging you for a service that you have no ability to receive.

[crashHD]

True, but the Better Business Bureau would care about a company that insists on charging you for a service that you have no ability to receive.

Why is the BBB going to care when it is your own fault you cannot receive the service you are paying for? This is really simple. If you choose the PP, DTV will maintain your equipment. If you choose not, you are responsible for maintaining your equipment.

DirecTV could warranty all aspects of every installation. They could give service calls for no additional charge. They could realign/replace dishes, replace/upgrade as many receivers as every customer wants, for no additional charge, and they could give everyone every channel. And everyone will pay $800/month for it.

Instead, the service is divided up into many different parts. You choose your channels, your sports, your receivers (DVR, HD, HDDVR), your equipment maintenance (PP or no). If you have an equipment failure, you did not purchase the PP, and you don't want to pay the service charge, then perhaps you have chosen poorly. Nonetheless, it is your choice. How one deals with the choices one has made, is very telling of one's character.

I do not have the Protection Plan. When I have an equipment failure, you will not see me whining in the forum, about how DirecTV will not give me the PP service I did not pay for.

[workindev]

Why is the BBB going to care when it is your own fault you cannot receive the service you are paying for? This is really simple. If you choose the PP, DTV will maintain your equipment. If you choose not, you are responsible for maintaining your equipment.The problem is that it isn't "your" equipment. They make it quite clear that it is still theirs. As such, they should be responsible for it.DirecTV could warranty all aspects of every installation. They could give service calls for no additional charge. They could realign/replace dishes, replace/upgrade as many receivers as every customer wants, for no additional charge, and they could give everyone every channel. And everyone will pay $800/month for it.That is a bit of an exaggeration, considering that cable companies already do all of that and are in most cases competitive on price with DirecTV. In fact, in my area, the local cable company is actually a little cheaper.
Instead, the service is divided up into many different parts. You choose your channels, your sports, your receivers (DVR, HD, HDDVR), your equipment maintenance (PP or no). If you have an equipment failure, you did not purchase the PP, and you don't want to pay the service charge, then perhaps you have chosen poorly. Nonetheless, it is your choice. How one deals with the choices one has made, is very telling of one's character.

I do not have the Protection Plan. When I have an equipment failure, you will not see me whining in the forum, about how DirecTV will not give me the PP service I did not pay for.Or you could do like me. I had a receiver fail a few months ago that they insisted required a tech to diagnose and resolve, which they did by spending all of 5 minutes going to the back of their truck and plugging in a new replacement receiver. When they tried to charge me $80 for it, I called them up and told them that I did not agree to the charge, so they took it off. Problem solved -- they still have a paying customer, and I didn't have to pay them money for them to fix their own equipment.

[RobertE]

While the laws may very from state to state, basicly once the dish and lines are attached to your house/property they are yours. In some areas, if you show a house that you are selling, and you have that nice flat screen mounted on the wall, you must disclose that the TV is NOT included with the house.

See here: http://www.moneyinstructor.com/art/personalproperty.asp

Generally speaking, real property conveys; personal property can be removed. Fixtures typically transfer to the buyer with the real property unless they have been excluded from the sale. What’s the difference? Real property refers to the land and anything that is permanently attached to it like the house, trees, other buildings, etcetera. Personal property, also called chattel, is movable. It includes items that are not intended to be permanently fixed like furniture, area rugs and potted plants. Fixtures are items that would otherwise be personal property that have been attached. Examples include light fixtures, landscaping, and wall-to-wall carpeting.



and

If a dispute does arise about what is real versus personal property, the law specifies criteria for determination. Basically it looks at a number of tests including, but not limited to, the following:

Method of attachment – If an attached item can be removed without causing substantial damage to the property, it is generally considered to be personal property. On the contrary, if the item is nailed, cemented, bolted, or otherwise attached in such a manner that removal would be destructive to the property, it probably would be part of the real property.


How much you pay each month means nothing. Paying more does not give you some special entitlement or special treatment.

[RobertE]

The problem is that it isn't "your" equipment. They make it quite clear that it is still theirs. As such, they should be responsible for it.

The dish and cabling are yours.

When you had cable and switched to DirecTv, did you or the cable company pull out every inch of the cable that they installed? After all, its theirs, not yours right?

Or when you disconnect your landline phone? Pull all that line out? It belongs to the phone company right?

Didn't think so.

[dyker]

YOU own your dish. With FIOS or Cable, THEY own up to the service box outside, at which point it is in your house. With D* YOU own the dish etc. You only lease the receivers.

That being said, with these new wider HD dish's it seems they'd be more likely to get out of alignment due to wind shear. THAT being said I asked my installer name/cellphone. I'll pay him $40 cash directly to re-align if necessary since he's in the area every few days anyway. ALL THAT being said I can easily afford any service call and would rather pay the one time fees than $6/month. I've had D* since about 95... if I had paid $6/month for the last 13 years I'd be out $936. So far I've paid D* $0 for dish installation, moving, alignment, etc. But like I said, with these bigger dishes maybe it will be more an issue.

[tcusta00]

While the laws may very from state to state, basicly once the dish and lines are attached to your house/property they are yours. In some areas, if you show a house that you are selling, and you have that nice flat screen mounted on the wall, you must disclose that the TV is NOT included with the house.

See here: http://www.moneyinstructor.com/art/personalproperty.asp
That reminds me of the movie "Moving" with Richard Pryor when he buys the house and the seller rips out everything down to the carpet and the sod. :lol:

Anyhow, back to topic...

[crashHD]

The problem is that it isn't "your" equipment. They make it quite clear that it is still theirs. As such, they should be responsible for it.
Yes, it is. It is MY dish, cabling, multiswitches, and receivers (mine are owned). Now, they lease them, and in the case of leased receivers, they replace them for the cost of shipping/handling, even if you do not have the PP. I think that is a reasonable cost, and sounds like they are taking responsibility for THEIR equipment.

That is a bit of an exaggeration, considering that cable companies already do all of that and are in most cases competitive on price with DirecTV. In fact, in my area, the local cable company is actually a little cheaper.
Comparing cable to satellite is like comparing a land line phone to cellular. Two different ways to get phone, two different ways to get TV. If every aspect of them was the same, they wouldn't be two different things. If you think cable is that great, go get it.

Or you could do like me. I had a receiver fail a few months ago that they insisted required a tech to diagnose and resolve, which they did by spending all of 5 minutes going to the back of their truck and plugging in a new replacement receiver. When they tried to charge me $80 for it, I called them up and told them that I did not agree to the charge, so they took it off. Problem solved -- they still have a paying customer, and I didn't have to pay them money for them to fix their own equipment.
Good for you. That sounds like a problem well handled. I would have protested that $80 charge too. They send a tech out for some receiver replacements, because most end users are not as tech-savvy as your average dbstalk poster. They don't want to go replacing receivers everytime someone remote batteries die. Someone able to properly diagnose receiver failure on his/her own should not have to pay that fee.