Dropping from AT150 to AT100

[gor88]

Does anyone know if the $5 fee is charged if I drop from AT150 to AT100? I do plan to add superstations to the locals for $3 more at the same time. I know E* charges this if you drop any premium package, but not sure about package downgrades.

[Neil Derryberry]

Yes, they will charge you... they consider it a downgrade.

[Loose Cannon]

They charge the downgrade fee if your monthly bill is less money.

[gor88]

Thanks for the info. I figured there would probably be a charge, but wasn't sure.

[Scott Greczkowski]

I wish they would let you downgrade service over the internet, they let you order all you want but if you want to cancel anything you need to call in.

I have been thinking of getting rid of the Everything Pack (to drop Cinemax and Starz... At least until their HD feeds are up) but I am only saving a few bucks a month doing that and for the first month its basically a wash because of the stupid downgrade fee.

[dbronstein]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
I wish they would let you downgrade service over the internet, they let you order all you want but if you want to cancel anything you need to call in.

That would make it too easy to downgrade, and they wouldn't have a chance to try to talk you out of it.

The one that pissed me off was when I first started with Dish, I got the three months free for all the movie channels. I specifically asked if they would automatically drop the channels after three months or if I would have to call and cancel them and I was told they stop them automatically. Stupidly I believed them. It was bad enough when the didn't drop them and I got billed for them, then I found out I had to pay $5 as well.

Dennis

[jzoomer]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
I wish they would let you downgrade service over the internet, they let you order all you want but if you want to cancel anything you need to call in.

This is what they call a "hoop and hurdle" customer service policy. By making it difficult and unpleasant for you to downgrade your service, they reduce the amount of downgrades that occur.

[boba]

DISH has a downgrade/sidegrade fee if you change your package so that your monthly bill is less or the same you get the $5 fee. In other words you replace Showtime with Stars your bill stays the same but a customer service rep. had to be involved so a fee is assessed for servicing the account.

[Loose Cannon]

I have sidegraded dish network without a fee.

[Jacob S]

There is a $5 fee even if you increase your monthly bill as long as you drop a service. They do this even if you do not lower your bill because a lot of people will switch packages a lot just to watch different movies or just to see a particular one. Charlie said it actually costs more to make the change but I doubt that. Sometimes they will wave the $5 fee.

[Eyedox]

The FCC should OUTLAW the downgrade fee. It's a bullsh*t fee. Do I get a $5 credit every time Dish jacks up their package prices?

[Scott Greczkowski]

I say that is you subscribed to the channel or package for at least 3 months that the downgrade fee should be dropped for that transaction, this prevents people for ordering a channel to watch the handful of shows and specials they want to see then dropping the services.

Stop penalizing your existing customers Dish. Happy customers are GOOD customers.

[Jacob S]

I agree. They should allow so many changes within a years time. If you wanted to switch back to the package you had then you should do so without a charge just as they should charge nothing to switch to another package in the first place. By them giving an allowance it would allow customers to do this. Perhaps on a 6 month or a year basis.

Also to keep customers and to have higher customer satisfaction they should have a ppv allowance and little things here or there. Perhaps a free ppv every 3 or 4 months would not hurt to reward those that pay their bill on time each month.

[jerryez]

I balked at the fee and the CSR readily waived it. Try it, it works.

[lee635]

We've moved all around the different tiers and combinations of premiums etc. We started with AT50 which turned into AT60, then added supers, then had a couple pay channels, then the kids got old enough to turn the tv in to a cartoon viewing station so we dropped the pay channels. Anyway, sort of settled into AT100 and have been here for quite some time, very nice mix of programming.

[Jacob S]

They will not always waive this $5 fee. If you have trouble with one CSR then perhaps you should try CSR roulette where you hang up and call again until one does waive the fee. You have to ask yourself the question of whether its worth keeping on calling for $5 and being on hold for so long each time but it may not take many calls if any addional ones to get the fee waived.

[Loose Cannon]

Last time I spoke to them I said unless you do something for me I am going to cancel dish. (the reason I gave was not having YES network). They gave me a 1 month credit app. $100.

[jrbdmb]

Originally posted by jzoomer


This is what they call a "hoop and hurdle" customer service policy. By making it difficult and unpleasant for you to downgrade your service, they reduce the amount of downgrades that occur. And they also keep some of us from *adding* packages on a trial basis, knowing we will be dinged $5 if we drop the channel in the future. I've considered adding Atlanta distant NETs and RAI, but I haven't so far because I'll be charged to drop them if I decide they aren't worth it to me.

[Nick]

I've never been charged a downgrade fee
'cuz I just keep adding programming.
Just think of the money I've saved! :D

I agree with and support the downgrade fee. Putting up with customer calls is worth a lot more than that. It ought to be at least $10.

With Autopay, I am the perfect subscriber, except I don't do PPV. Why pay for movies that will be 'free' in a few months. I'm a patient man. The money I save on video rentals, theater tickets and PPV fees fully offsets the cost of my AEP+LIL packagel.

I like to think of it as FTS rather than FTA. ;)

Now, if E* would just get this HDTV thingy flyng! :rolleyes:

[Jacob S]

I agree. By the time someone rents a movie every couple days if not every day that would cost people $30-$60 a month if not more and still have nothing to watch after the movie is over if they just rented tapes.