Total Choice Plus+HD+HD Xtra pack or Xtra DVR HD+ HD Extra?

[machavez00]

Ok here is my current DirecTV setup
Totall Choice + $55
HD Access $10
HD Extra Pack $5
DVR Service $6
Total $76


Choice Xtra Plus HD DVR is $73 and it does not include the HD Extra Pack @$5 making it $78

Has anyone switched with a similar setup, or did you stay with the legacy Total choice Plus?


I ask this because the Qwest Reps came buy my house yesterday offering "Price for life" on my land line, internet and long distance, and were offering the same for my DirecTV. They tried to make the change on their end, but for some reason could not access my account from the Qwest side. The recommended I call DirecTV and make the changes.

[mdavej]

Discussed at length in other threads, but the bottom line is the legacy package is about $3 less for the same channels.

[dnemec123]

My experience has been that if you are on a legacy package, your online account management options are very limited (i.e. no changes, etc.).

It takes a phone call into D* to make any additions or removals of services when dealing with a legacy account.

Just my experience though. Others may vary.

Dale

[Mike Bertelson]

Ok here is my current DirecTV setup
Totall Choice + $55
HD Access $10
HD Extra Pack $5
DVR Service $6
Total $76


Choice Xtra Plus HD DVR is $73 and it does not include the HD Extra Pack @$5 making it $78

Has anyone switched with a similar setup, or did you stay with the legacy Total choice Plus?


I ask this because the Qwest Reps came buy my house yesterday offering "Price for life" on my land line, internet and long distance, and were offering the same for my DirecTV. They tried to make the change on their end, but for some reason could not access my account from the Qwest side. The reccommended I call DirecTV and make the changes.I have kept the Total Choice Plus.

Mike

[mhayes70]

Yes, all the older packages are cheaper. That is why I have no plans on changing my base package. :)

[fredandbetty]

I have kept the Total Choice Plus.

Mike

+ 1!!!! :D

[DodgerKing]

Discussed at length in other threads, but the bottom line is the legacy package is about $3 less for the same channels.

Which is why I will not make changes

[Jeremy W]

My experience has been that if you are on a legacy package, your online account management options are very limited (i.e. no changes, etc.).
Correct. You can't do it online, but you can use the automated phone system. Great way to inconvenience your longtime customers, DirecTV. :rolleyes:

[dodge boy]

I have TC+ aswell and TC+ gets channel 613, that is the only way you can get it without the sports pak, and it has an HD channel too!

I have TC+
Extra receiver
HD access
HD extra-free for 6 months
Protection Plan
DVR

I pay about $85 per month.

I do not want to change my package!

[dodge boy]

Correct. You can't do it online, but you can use the automated phone system. Great way to inconvenience your longtime customers, DirecTV. :rolleyes:

Not a big deal, how often do you add/drop programming?

[Jeremy W]

Not a big deal, how often do you add/drop programming?
I didn't say it was a big deal, I said it was a great way to inconvenience their longtime customers. And it is.

[Grentz]

The only channel you gain that I can find, by moving from TC+ to Choice Extra, is the Outdoor ch606. You gain some others though and save a couple bucks a month.

[tomkarl]

I didn't say it was a big deal, I said it was a great way to inconvenience their longtime customers. And it is.

+1

Tried to add HD Extra online and it wouldn't let me do it without changing my base package. Sent an e-mail yesterday am asking them to add it. No response yet.

I'm trying to avoid getting on the phone with them. Hopefully the e-mail will work.

[dishrich]

The only channel you gain that I can find, by moving from TC+ to Choice Extra, is the Outdoor ch606.

You might want to recheck this - TOC is now ONLY available in the SportsPak. (it was available for a time with BOTH TC+ & Choice+, but no longer...)

There are no channels you GAIN by switching from TC+ to Choice +...

[Grentz]

You might want to recheck this - TOC is now ONLY available in the SportsPak. (it was available for a time with BOTH TC+ & Choice+, but no longer...)

There are no channels you GAIN by switching from TC+ to Choice +...

Ok, makes sense. I have not "checked" for quite awhile since I do not have Choice Xtra ;)

[DiSH Defector]

I didn't say it was a big deal, I said it was a great way to inconvenience their longtime customers. And it is.


I'm sure those customers are "inconvenienced" by being allowed to keep a lower priced package (especially one that has several channels only available in Sports Pack otherwise) instead of being forced to take Choice or Choice Xtra.

[rkish]

I have kept Total Choice Plus as well...but they initially kept pestering me with phone calls from reps. that were involved with promotions. When I finally picked up the phone, they explained to me that the TCP was "going away" and that I had to choose one of the new packages.

It became evident to me, that in this case, the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing. She had mentioned something about getting a couple of the HD Channels that I "wasn't" getting (don't remember which ones she mentioned). When I told her that I was not only getting "those" channels, but already had HD service, HD Extra, and TCP, she said, "Oh, then you don't need to "upgrade" your package.

?????????

After hearing the lists of what channels were offered, I decided no matter what, that I was going to keep my TCP and HD packages.

One of the channels I would have lost would have been "Noggin", which my autistic 6 year old lives and breathes. ;)

[tomkarl]

I'm sure those customers are "inconvenienced" by being allowed to keep a lower priced package (especially one that has several channels only available in Sports Pack otherwise) instead of being forced to take Choice or Choice Xtra.

Well, they are sort of forcing me to change packages if I want to make programming changes via their website. (a website that they strongly encourage customers to use instead of calling in).

I'll have to look at the package listings again. If the only thing I'm keeping by retaining my legacy package are sport channels, then I'm hanging onto the legacy package for nothing. I wish there was a simple way to see exactly what would be gained/lost in changing out of the Total Choice Plus.

Going on nearly two days and still no response to my e-mail about adding the HD Extra package.

[bobnielsen]

I don't know if you can make changes via email.

Other than losing one obscure sports channel, you will also see a slight price increase by changing to the newer package. Adding a new feature by telephone isn't all that big a deal; it took me less than 5 minutes.

[dishrich]

Well, they are sort of forcing me to change packages if I want to make programming changes via their website. (a website that they strongly encourage customers to use instead of calling in).

Again, how often ARE you changing your prog? The last time I did mine was over 4 months ago & that was ONLY because I got a free HD DVR upgrade & got the HD xtra pak added on for 3 months free - but I decided to keep it. (I also got free premiums free for 3 months, but they dropped off automatically so I didn't have to do a thing)

I'll have to look at the package listings again. If the only thing I'm keeping by retaining my legacy package are sport channels, then I'm hanging onto the legacy package for nothing. I wish there was a simple way to see exactly what would be gained/lost in changing out of the Total Choice Plus.

It's VERY simple - if you change to Choice+, you're going to LOOSE CBSC ch 613, & you pay $3 MORE every month. I guess it comes down to the fact is an extra $3 a month worth NOT having to call in prog changes. (it sure as hell is NOT worth it to me, but YMMV...)

Going on nearly two days and still no response to my e-mail about adding the HD Extra package.

Per my posting, you CAN add it & still keep TC+ with NO problem - just reiterate to them to NOT change your base pkg!

[tomkarl]

dishrich -

Thank you for info on 613. Not a deal breaker for me. As you indicate, now the only reason to pay $3 more a month would be to gain the ability to change online. Which, as you also point out is not something I do often.

Appreciate your time.

[tomkarl]

Switched over to Choice Extra with HD and DVR. Came out a couple of more dollars a month.

Cool part was that I added the HD Extra Pack trial online and it was nearly instantly available on my receivers.

It is nice to make changes online without having to make any calls. Worth a couple of dollars a month, IMO.

[Grentz]

You mean Choice Xtra? TC+ is the old grandfathered package.

As long as you are happy, that is what counts. For me, I barely ever change programming and find spending 4min on the phone to change it if I need to and saving $36 well worth it.