Dish mover and temporary "suspending" account--possible?

[davepack]

I realize I could call Dish and ask about this, but I've learned so much information from folks here--BETTER information--that I thought I'd start here first.

Very soon, I'll be putting my home up for sale. Once our house sells, I plan to move into temporary housing (i.e. an apartment) with my family while our new home is built. Right now, it's looking like the new home won't be finished until probably late winter/early spring next year. So I certainly anticipate being in an apartment for several months.

Here's the thing--I have Dish now (have had it since Feb 97). I'd like Dish in my new home. But I don't want it while I'm in an apartment--just not worth all the hassle.

How can I make this work? Will I have to cancel completely, or could I somehow get Dish to "suspend" my account temporarily until I'm in my new home? Will the Dish Mover program even be an option to me, or should I just plan to take down my dish myself and put it in storage until I'm in the new home?

Dave

[Jacob S]

They have a deal where you can keep the account active suspending it for $4.99 a month. This will avoid the $25 reconnection fee but I think they charge a $5 downgrade fee as well. Sometimes its cheaper to shut it off and have it turned back on later depending on how long it will be off.

Another thing you need to know is that there may be a card swap later this year and if you have your receiver(s) shut off while they do the card swap they may make you pay for a replacement card when you get it turned back on. This is what Direct does when there is a card swap while the receiver(s) are shut off. Currently they want $50 for a card plus shipping and handeling. They have been downloading software in the system info screen in which states Dish500 card ready. The new cards have Dish500 on it that have yellow on it while the old ones are more blue with channel logos on it.

[boba]

Also if you are under any of DISH's promotions you may not be able to take a break in service most require continuous service, you might be able to downgrade to AT-50 but you must stay active.

[HTguy]

Also if you are under any of DISH's promotions you may not be able to take a break in service most require continuous service, you might be able to downgrade to AT-50 but you must stay active.
boba is referring to the 1st 12 months of service for a new sub under a promo. No, you can't do a seasonal downgrade or disconnect during this period without penalty.

After that you can put your acct on seasonal DG @$4.99/mo or you can simply DC & reconnect later for $25. But if you DC you will have to pay full price for installing the system at the new house.

Depending upon how long you will temporarily be in the apt you may want to go to seasonal DG because you should still qualify for the DishMover deal.

[boba]

HTguy I believe that also applies to DIGITAL HOME PLAN even after the first twelve months. You take a break in service they want their equipment back.

[Jacob S]

Yes, that is true, you would have to send Dish's equipment back even after the first year and if you signed up later on again you would not be considered a new customers and would end up paying more than the usual retail price at most retailers or would have to go to Wal-Mart or some other chain store to buy the system then pay full price for installation as well since you are not a full time subscriber. A one receiver system would cost you $250+ installed new and a two receiver system would cost you $400+ installed more than likely.

[lempira1421]

I realize I could call Dish and ask about this, but I've learned so much information from folks here--BETTER information--that I thought I'd start here first.

Very soon, I'll be putting my home up for sale. Once our house sells, I plan to move into temporary housing (i.e. an apartment) with my family while our new home is built. Right now, it's looking like the new home won't be finished until probably late winter/early spring next year. So I certainly anticipate being in an apartment for several months.

Here's the thing--I have Dish now (have had it since Feb 97). I'd like Dish in my new home. But I don't want it while I'm in an apartment--just not worth all the hassle.

How can I make this work? Will I have to cancel completely, or could I somehow get Dish to "suspend" my account temporarily until I'm in my new home? Will the Dish Mover program even be an option to me, or should I just plan to take down my dish myself and put it in storage until I'm in the new home?

Dave

Why not just call Dish and tell them you are moving. Both Dish and Directv have good moving programs. Both usually ask you to take the receivers with you and they'll give you a new dish and make the installation usually for Free. Then when you move into your new house do the same....seems to me this will be better for you then cancelling and by the looks of it you will be in the appartment for some time. How are you going to do without satellite TV? :confused:

Also, when you call them threaten them with switching to Directv that should give you some levarage with them...it has worked for some. :lol:

[Jacob S]

He does not have the Digital Home Plan if he has had the system since 1997. Just do the seasonal disconnect at $5 a month until you get your account going again. You may even get a partial month credit on your bill as well to be applied on your account for the amount of programming that you paid for in which you did not receive.

[nicepants]

I moved into an apartment about 2 months ago. We had issues with our apartment complex. I told them we had a satellite so they put us in a unit that was supposed to face the right way, but it was about 2 degrees from being able to get a clean signal from both satellites. It took about 2 months to go through all the politics & people's schedules to finally get the complex to allow us to install the dish attached to the building. (Against their lease terms)

I worked with several people at Dish and was told that I would receive a credit to my account for 2 months of service for the downtime. (I believe the credit amount was slightly less than my service fees for those months)

[Deuce]

Yeah, you can go into whats called a seasonal downgrade. It is $5.00 a month and there is a $5.00 transaction fee associated with the actual downgrade of the basic programming itself. If you are going to keep your service downgraded more than 4 months then it would almost seem that it would be cheaper to just disconnect completely, however that would disqualify you from the "Former Customer Promotion" so its up to you.