DirecTV Protection Plan - Acts of God?

[InfoManWD]

I'm down in Houston so I ordered the DirecTV Protection Plan considering that hurricane Ike is barreling down on us. When I was talking to the CSR, she said that DirecTV will replace your equipment for cases like hurricanes even if you DON'T have the plan (in cases where lots of customers have problems). I asked for a "link" to a policy stating that and she then came back on the line and talked me into the plan.

I find it interesting that item #16 in the plan under "What is not covered" is "Acts of God". Seems to me that if I was dealing with an insurance company, a hurricane would be an Act of God. :confused:

Has anyone had any experience with this (that being having a major storm hit like a hurricane where you lose your dish, it's sighting, or have tornadoes/rain causing you to lose equipment) and DirecTV just replaced your stuff for free out of the kindness of their heart? She said for just small storms, you would have to buy your own equipment or pay to resight dish (the reason for the plan I guess).

Anyway, I picked it up for $5.99 a month and she threw in 5 HD Channels for 6 months and HBO for 3 months. First month is free and I guess I could always cancel it after a couple months if the value isn't there. Seems like a smart, low-cost insurance policy.

What's the general thinking out there on the Protection Plan? Anyone out there have experience with MAJOR storms? Has anyone ever gotten a definition of "Acts of God"?

p.s. -- I also picked up an HD DVR receiver (HR-22 I hope but no guarantees) to use in the back bedroom for $99 plus $19.99 for the handling. Was that a reasonable deal? (I'm not a new customer)

[Stuart Sweet]

I'm going to move this to the DIRECTV side of things.

[curt8403]

I'm down in Houston so I ordered the DirecTV Protection Plan considering that hurricane Ike is barreling down on us. When I was talking to the CSR, she said that DirecTV will replace your equipment for cases like hurricanes even if you DON'T have the plan (in cases where lots of customers have problems). I asked for a "link" to a policy stating that and she then came back on the line and talked me into the plan.

I find it interesting that item #16 in the plan under "What is not covered" is "Acts of God". Seems to me that if I was dealing with an insurance company, a hurricane would be an Act of God. :confused:

Has anyone had any experience with this (that being having a major storm hit like a hurricane where you lose your dish, it's sighting, or have tornadoes/rain causing you to lose equipment) and DirecTV just replaced your stuff for free out of the kindness of their heart? She said for just small storms, you would have to buy your own equipment or pay to resight dish (the reason for the plan I guess).

Anyway, I picked it up for $5.99 a month and she threw in 5 HD Channels for 6 months and HBO for 3 months. First month is free and I guess I could always cancel it after a couple months if the value isn't there. Seems like a smart, low-cost insurance policy.

What's the general thinking out there on the Protection Plan? Anyone out there have experience with MAJOR storms? Has anyone ever gotten a definition of "Acts of God"?

p.s. -- I also picked up an HD DVR receiver (HR-22 I hope but no guarantees) to use in the back bedroom for $99 plus $19.99 for the handling. Was that a reasonable deal? (I'm not a new customer)


directv personally decides on a storm by storm basis what they will cover for hurricanes. you would be covered because directv said so.

[igator99]

I'm down in Houston so I ordered the DirecTV Protection Plan considering that hurricane Ike is barreling down on us. When I was talking to the CSR, she said that DirecTV will replace your equipment for cases like hurricanes even if you DON'T have the plan (in cases where lots of customers have problems). I asked for a "link" to a policy stating that and she then came back on the line and talked me into the plan.

I find it interesting that item #16 in the plan under "What is not covered" is "Acts of God". Seems to me that if I was dealing with an insurance company, a hurricane would be an Act of God. :confused:

Has anyone had any experience with this (that being having a major storm hit like a hurricane where you lose your dish, it's sighting, or have tornadoes/rain causing you to lose equipment) and DirecTV just replaced your stuff for free out of the kindness of their heart? She said for just small storms, you would have to buy your own equipment or pay to resight dish (the reason for the plan I guess).

Anyway, I picked it up for $5.99 a month and she threw in 5 HD Channels for 6 months and HBO for 3 months. First month is free and I guess I could always cancel it after a couple months if the value isn't there. Seems like a smart, low-cost insurance policy.

What's the general thinking out there on the Protection Plan? Anyone out there have experience with MAJOR storms? Has anyone ever gotten a definition of "Acts of God"?

p.s. -- I also picked up an HD DVR receiver (HR-22 I hope but no guarantees) to use in the back bedroom for $99 plus $19.99 for the handling. Was that a reasonable deal? (I'm not a new customer)


Good luck and God bless there in Houston. I hope Ike turns out not to be such a big deal. Many people here in NOLA praying for you guys.:)

[dtrell]

directv personally decides on a storm by storm basis what they will cover for hurricanes. you would be covered because directv said so.

directv didnt say so...some random CSR said so...and i think we all know what happens when one lone CSR tells you something..and even says theyll "note" your account............the OP better get it in writing.

[JLucPicard]

InfoManWD,

I just want to touch on a few points to make sure you've got the picture.

When you first sign up for the protection plan, there is a 30-day wait period. You are not charged for that first 30 days, but you are also not covered for those first 30 days. So if you just signed up for it as a hedge against Ike, it's very possible that any damage you may suffer will NOT be covered under the plan since you are within that first 30-day wait period.

That being said, it may be possible that if you do suffer damage, DirecTV will decide to cover it because of the storm, protection plan not withstanding.

Finally, when you sign up for the PP, it is an agreement to carry the plan for 12 months. If you cancel before that time (say, in a couple of months), there is a $10 early cancellation fee.

Best of luck, and I hope that you and your family make it through all this untouched! :)

[thestaton]

Ask them to prove god did it.

[BubblePuppy]

Ask them to prove god did it.

!rolling
Oh...that is a good one.

[curt8403]

!rolling
Oh...that is a good one.

maybe we could dump 1,000,000 gallons of Geritol in the Atlantic ocean, (which would promote more oxygen, hence less Co2, global cooling, less hurricanes)

[kevinwmsn]

Are we sure hurricanes are acts of god and not the devil? :lol: :lol: I'm sure the Waterboy's mom would agree, everything else in the movie she said was the work of the devil.. I hope your dish is pole mount so it won't possibly take off side of your house or roof.

[curt8403]

Are we sure hurricanes are acts of god and not the devil? :lol: :lol: I'm sure the Waterboy's mom would agree, everything else in the movie she said was the work of the devil.. I hope your dish is pole mount so it won't possibly take off side of your house or roof.


Years ago, Darrin (From Bewitched) told his mother in law to blow. Hurricanes are her work.

[rb5505]

i consider the $5.99/month part of the normal expense of having directv. i wouldn't be without it. since weather related occurances have caused the need for several service calls and numerous replacement receivers, i'm pretty sure that the $72/year i've paid for about the last 5 yrs, has been more then worth it for us. i consider it a cheap insurance policy. without it, we would have paid over 1k easily in receiver replacements and service calls. one service call equals the price of the plan for one year. this equipment is far too sensitive (or poorly made?), to not protect. a stiff wind seems to cause problems! and i won't even go into the incredibly poor customer service i've received the past 11 years. they will finally get it right, but oh my god does it take them a long, long time to do so. simply put, they have great product/extremely **itty customer svc.

[CJTE]

As Curt8403 said, DirecTV decides what to do on a case-by-case basis.

I know DirecTV helped out with the California fires, and Hurricane Katrina. Im sure they've done more.

[Jhon69]

InfoManWD,

I just want to touch on a few points to make sure you've got the picture.

When you first sign up for the protection plan, there is a 30-day wait period. You are not charged for that first 30 days, but you are also not covered for those first 30 days. So if you just signed up for it as a hedge against Ike, it's very possible that any damage you may suffer will NOT be covered under the plan since you are within that first 30-day wait period.

That being said, it may be possible that if you do suffer damage, DirecTV will decide to cover it because of the storm, protection plan not withstanding.

Finally, when you sign up for the PP, it is an agreement to carry the plan for 12 months. If you cancel before that time (say, in a couple of months), there is a $10 early cancellation fee.

Best of luck, and I hope that you and your family make it through all this untouched! :)


Normally DirecTV will roll the truck at a reduced cost when you are on the protection plan for the first 30 days.:)

[curt8403]

Normally DirecTV will roll the truck at a reduced cost when you are on the protection plan for the first 30 days.:)
unless there is a hurricane going on, in which case they will wait.

[Jeremy W]

unless there is a hurricane going on, in which case they will wait.
Well that's just crap. I bet Dish and <insert cable company here> would roll a truck in a hurricane! DirecTV sucks.

[curt8403]

Well that's just crap. I bet Dish and <insert cable company here> would roll a truck in a hurricane! DirecTV sucks.

well I am so very very glad to learn that Dish sends out techs to areas where there are 100 mile per hour winds. My only question is,..... How do they keep from being blown off the roof.? Or maybe they trained with the Flying Walendas

[jhollan2]

I had my dish ripped off my roof when there was a tornado here in atlanta earlier in the year. It took most of the wires out with it and made quite a mess. They covered it totally and fixed the mess from the torn cables without a problem.

They also came back out last month when my dish got struck by lightning (so they claim I think it was just misaligned after the TS made its way through) and fixed that.

We've had a bad year as far as claims go - but we've had the plan since they offered it. They didnt extend our contract or try and fight about what was/wasnt covered. Other than the fact that it took a week to get here and the guy didnt show up one day I'm very happy.

Good luck down there, stay safe!

[curt8403]

YouTube - Scorpions - Rock you Like a Hurricane LIVE 2000 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXT_voYw9FY)

[BubblePuppy]

maybe we could dump 1,000,000 gallons of Geritol in the Atlantic ocean, (which would promote more oxygen, hence less Co2, global cooling, less hurricanes)

And this has to do with "acts of god'?
Just what is your point with this comment?

[rudeney]

And this has to do with "acts of god'?
Just what is your point with this comment?

Well, you have to realize that Curt is partly (maybe even mostly) crazy. :p

[Ed Campbell]

First time I used the CPP was because a lightning strike close to the guesthouse took out the lnb's on the Slimline + the receiver. 24 hours later, good to go. Came out on a Sunday. No charge.

[armophob]

Ask them to prove god did it.

If the OP changes it to acts of nature it will take that particular deity off the hook.:)

[dsp81]

It's a force majeure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_majeure) clause. They are common in contracts, especially ones of this nature. Just releases DTV from liability in extrordinary circumstances. So technically they would be released, but might still do work if they are in the mood.

[spartanstew]

i consider the $5.99/month part of the normal expense of having directv. i wouldn't be without it. since weather related occurances have caused the need for several service calls and numerous replacement receivers, i'm pretty sure that the $72/year i've paid for about the last 5 yrs, has been more then worth it for us. i consider it a cheap insurance policy. without it, we would have paid over 1k easily in receiver replacements and service calls. one service call equals the price of the plan for one year. this equipment is far too sensitive (or poorly made?), to not protect. a stiff wind seems to cause problems! and i won't even go into the incredibly poor customer service i've received the past 11 years. they will finally get it right, but oh my god does it take them a long, long time to do so. simply put, they have great product/extremely **itty customer svc.

I can certainly see why people have the plan, but there's also the flip side. I've had D* for 8 years and I've never needed anything replaced or my dish realigned. I don't have the protection plan (I had it briefly when they were offering it for free), so I've saved $600.

[lostman72]

I understand having this plan for your dish wire, switch & so on because this stuff is yours. What I don’t get if the box is leased they should just exchange it for free because it belongs to DirecTV? Cable co cover just there box but not the wire and so on. They are now charging for inside wiring and so on. I do have the plan but I just feel a little ripped off. I also paid for 100% of all my stuff wire, switch dish and everything. I got nothing for free from them. The main reason why I got the plan was because of the HR10-250’s that I still have, 3 of them that I paid 1000.00 bucks for several years ago.

[InfoManWD]

What I don’t get if the box is leased they should just exchange it for free because it belongs to DirecTV? Cable co cover just there box but not the wire and so on.

Good point lostman72 ... yes, I wondered about this also (the weird aspect of "buying" HD-DVRs yet they are just "leased" yet you own the problem if it breaks). Then I thought about the "car analogy" ... you lease a car and you have to pay cash for it up front (like a DVR) and if a tree fell on it they surely aren't going to just replace it since they own it. I expect all of these points are detailed out in the tiny print whenever you lease something.

Thanks to all who replied and for the well wishes ... I came through OK (no major damage) except for losing the sighting on my dish ... grrrrrrr:mad: ... it was never mounted very solid I think due to the installer showing up late and doing it almost in the dark.

DirecTV said the dish realignment would be covered for free even if I didn't have the plan (so they are "covering" Ike damage). Interesting point on not being covered in the first 30 days ... hmmm, they sure didn't point that out ... I guess it keeps people from losing equipment and then calling in and getting the plan and then saying fix my stuff.

Our LA Fitness doesn't have their dish sighting for a week after the storm so I don't feel so bad (they have twelve TVs).

Here's a few questions for the group ...

1. What do you think the chance is that they would do a pole mount so I could get a solid setup instead of just rescrewing the dish onto my second story house? I'm not excited about more holes in the roof or tightening the screws down in the same place it was mounted before.

2. I will look myself but can someone give me a link to getting DirecTV online over the Internet? They said it would take three weeks to come fix my dish in Houston after Ike and with the installer track record, it could be months.

3. What about sighting in my own dish? I guess I can just crank the bolts down and see if that helps. I did it with my first DirecTV system 10+ years ago but I think I have read hear that this is near impossible with the new dishes. No TV for months may make the impossible possible though.

[lostman72]

Good point lostman72 ... yes, I wondered about this also (the weird aspect of "buying" HD-DVRs yet they are just "leased" yet you own the problem if it breaks). Then I thought about the "car analogy" ... you lease a car and you have to pay cash for it up front (like a DVR) and if a tree fell on it they surely aren't going to just replace it since they own it. I expect all of these points are detailed out in the tiny print whenever you lease something.

Thanks to all who replied and for the well wishes ... I came through OK (no major damage) except for losing the sighting on my dish ... grrrrrrr:mad: ... it was never mounted very solid I think due to the installer showing up late and doing it almost in the dark.

DirecTV said the dish realignment would be covered for free even if I didn't have the plan (so they are "covering" Ike damage). Interesting point on not being covered in the first 30 days ... hmmm, they sure didn't point that out ... I guess it keeps people from losing equipment and then calling in and getting the plan and then saying fix my stuff.

Our LA Fitness doesn't have their dish sighting for a week after the storm so I don't feel so bad (they have twelve TVs).

Here's a few questions for the group ...

1. What do you think the chance is that they would do a pole mount so I could get a solid setup instead of just rescrewing the dish onto my second story house? I'm not excited about more holes in the roof or tightening the screws down in the same place it was mounted before.

2. I will look myself but can someone give me a link to getting DirecTV online over the Internet? They said it would take three weeks to come fix my dish in Houston after Ike and with the installer track record, it could be months.

3. What about sighting in my own dish? I guess I can just crank the bolts down and see if that helps. I did it with my first DirecTV system 10+ years ago but I think I have read hear that this is near impossible with the new dishes. No TV for months may make the impossible possible though.

1. I would never have them install a dish on the roof or let them. If you have a leak good luck with Directv fixing it, or the installer. A pole is good. You can call a local satellite co. and I am sure they would not charge that much to do it for you. My dish in on the eve.

2. good luck.

3. make sure your mast plum. There is a guide at Solid Signal how to set up the dish. You can't hurt it. If you don't get nothing now just play with it. You might get lucky and fix it your self. Good Luck

[Jeremy W]

I will look myself but can someone give me a link to getting DirecTV online over the Internet?
I assume you're talking about watching DirecTV channels online. You can't do that.

[MIAMI1683]

D* sends out emergency crews in case of major storms. They go street by street, and don't have to have customer contact to replace or realign your dish. Now as for as the pp goes. Yes they will cover your wires and IRd's too should they be smoked in the storm. Being from Miami (duh) I learned this the hard way. D* was awesome the last time we got hit. My dish was completely gone. I had my 4 recievers and a new dish back on 6 days. Now the power was a different story. Thats why they make generators

[Ken S]

D* sends out emergency crews in case of major storms. They go street by street, and don't have to have customer contact to replace or realign your dish.

That may be the case in Daytona...in 10 years and many hurricanes we've never seen DirecTV doing anything like that in SE Florida.

[l_lamb]

Well, my dish not only survived Ike intact but didn't even lose alignment. We got our power back Sunday afternoon and after a reboot, we were ready to go. We were in hurricane force winds for six hours (just west of the eye wall), half hitting the back of the dish and the other half blowing across the left side. My electric meter and phone lines were pulled from the house by a 30' ash tree that broke off at the roots, but the dish never moved a millimeter.

[CrazyforYeshua]

Leftover Ike came thru here last Sunday night at what turned out to be 71 mph (cat. 1 is 74). Dish never moved, never lost signal.
I was alittle surprised.