DirecTv Refuses an installation

[shilton]

Check this craziness out. I manage an apartment community and I am also a satellite tv customer, so of course our community welcomes Dishes with open arms. Most of my residents purchase Dish but a few have DirecTV as well. Yesterday, a woman called in tears saying she bought a setup from Walmart and the DirecTV tech refused to put it in because it would have been a pole mount install and the cables would have been run through the patio door of the apartment. We argued with the installer till we were blue in the face and he finally stormed off calling us a few choice words because we wouldn't let him drill into our brick and just mount the dish there. At first, I figured it was just a problem with the sub-contracted installer, so we called DirecTV and talked to several CSR's and 2 supervisors. Long story short...they would do the pole mount, but REFUSED TO RUN THE CABLES THROUGH THE PATIO DOOR CLAIMING IT WAS A SUB-STANDARD, UNACCEPTABLE INSTALL. They insisted we allow them to drill through the wall to run the cables in that way. I told them that every other install on the property (dozens of them) were run in the fashion we requested and they refused stating that if it was put in that way, the installer should not have and they would not do it under any circumstances. I told them Dish would and they told me to CALL DISH THEN! Needless to say, the woman got her money back from DirecTV and Dish is hooking her up next week. Isn't that nuts??? No wonder Charlie is gaining subs if DirecTV is telling people to call him.

[Jacob S]

Well it is good that they have their standards but bad that they were not willing to work out something. You could have told them that you would run the wires under the door yourself so that nobody would think that they did it. What about the flat cable through a window or that device that sends a signal through a window?

[shilton]

Originally posted by Jacob S
Well it is good that they have their standards but bad that they were not willing to work out something. You could have told them that you would run the wires under the door yourself so that nobody would think that they did it. What about the flat cable through a window or that device that sends a signal through a window?
That's the really odd thing...they admitted they use the flat cable to go through a window but they said there was a difference between a window and a door and as such, they would not do the install. We also offered to run the cables ourselves and they also refused stating that the person's offer called for a PROFESSIONAL installation and as such, they had to do it all and they would only do it to their specs. Funny...Dish's techs have just always asked me "how do you want it" and "ok...it will be done". It all comes down to DOES DIRECTV WANT THE CUSTOMERS OR NOT??? After seeing this situation, I pity their installers because they must make life a real hell for them with their "you can't do this and you can't do that".

[cnsf]

If someone tripped over the cable, they could be sued, hence the argument.

I see their point.

You should have let them do it through the window and rehooked it up yourself.

[shilton]

Originally posted by cnsf
If someone tripped over the cable, they could be sued, hence the argument.

I see their point.

You should have let them do it through the window and rehooked it up yourself.
Trip hazard wasn't their issue, as the resident was willing to sign a release stating that if anyone tripped, etc, they'd hold no one responsible. DirecTV simply said they don't like running the cable through a door because the door gets opened & closed all the time, etc. Besides, they didn't want to go through a window...they insisted on drilling through a wall! My owners won't even allow me to drill through the wall and the other hookups work fine for Dish. Besides, why should I have to rehook anything for them? They get paid to do the install, I don't...if they want to cutt me in, I will gladly run wires for them. Know what I mean???

[raj2001]

Originally posted by shilton
They get paid to do the install, I don't...if they want to cutt me in, I will gladly run wires for them. Know what I mean???

You can always do the install yourself, it's not hard.

[Jacob S]

You can have an independent DirecTv retailer do it for you and they will more than likely do it the way you want it done. The people you had talked to must have not wanted an issue with tripping over the wire around the door or have an issue with the wire getting caught in the door damaging the door or cable and have interruption in service at a later date whereas a window would not have these issues.

[Rusty]

I live in an apartment and, four years ago, self- installed my DirecTV system. I buried an eleven foot grounding rod and complied with all codes and regulations. My two RG 6 cables run through the front door. I couldn't even begin to estimate how many times that door has been opened and shut during the past four years. I have had ZERO problems and my signal levels are all in the high 90s. Certainly, a messy install could cause problems but, if it's done properly, there's nothing wrong with running the cables through the door.