View Full Version : Tried to get Grandma DirecTV (because Mediacom Sucks)... No Go
bpaulson
12-16-09, 07:51 PM
Hello All,
My dad recently had the idea of trying to get my Grandma DirecTV (she has mediacom extended basic cable with no box or anything and pays $72 a month... crazy considering how few analog channels she gets and how ****ty they come in.)
Anyway, I was setting up her order for DirecTV and get to the part about social security number... here's the problem. My Grandpa had every bill and any credit in his name so after entering in her social security number they find she has no credit history and want the deposit... ok fine... it's probably reasonable...
NOT. They want $300 up front and give it back in $5 credits per month (so after 60 months or 5 years you'd get your $300 deposit back.)
Does that seem crazy to anyone else? I was going to call on the phone and see if I could help out but I'm not sure where to go from here... while I understand DirecTV doesn't want to get burned that's got to turn away potential customers left and right doing so.
The Merg
12-16-09, 08:01 PM
Unfortunately, that's what DirecTV is doing nowadays in order to keep their customer base fiscally sound. With the investment they make in a customer (hardware and installation) they want to be sure that the customer will be around so they make their money back.
Have you looked at creating a second account in your name or you father's name with her address as the service address? As you stated, you could also call up and see how you could help out. It can't hurt.
As for turning away potential customers, DirecTV went away from the idea of letting anyone get a new system regardless of credit history a few years ago. They realized that in the short term it might slow down their growth, but their vision entailed having a strong customer base with less turnover.
- Merg
RobertE
12-16-09, 08:03 PM
Check and see if she can get service as part of the bundle that AT&T is doing.
Some of the 3rd party retailers may have looser credit requirements.
BattleZone
12-16-09, 08:15 PM
AT&T indeed has lower requirements, and a bundle through AT&T will be based off of AT&T's requirements, not DirecTV's (meaning: AT&T assumes the responsibility).
Give them your grandfather's SS number......
kevinwmsn
12-16-09, 08:42 PM
Maybe you can do the referal program and she'll get 100 for her and you give her the 100 for the referal... Then she could recoup 200 of it fairly quickly?
rudeney
12-16-09, 09:44 PM
In the good old days, grandma would have been an excellent credit risk as she would have live decades without any late payments, owned her own home, no debt, etc. Someone with the skills and experience to evaluate credit worthiness would have actually looked at her history. Instead, we have this ridiculous credit scoring system that is more an indicator of how much money creditors can make off of borrowers as opposed to a person's ability and likelihood to repay.
paulman182
12-17-09, 05:20 AM
In the good old days, grandma would have been an excellent credit risk as she would have live decades without any late payments, owned her own home, no debt, etc. Someone with the skills and experience to evaluate credit worthiness would have actually looked at her history. Instead, we have this ridiculous credit scoring system that is more an indicator of how much money creditors can make off of borrowers as opposed to a person's ability and likelihood to repay.
Wow, you said a mouthful.
ptuck874
12-17-09, 06:23 AM
In the good old days, grandma would have been an excellent credit risk as she would have live decades without any late payments, owned her own home, no debt, etc. Someone with the skills and experience to evaluate credit worthiness would have actually looked at her history. Instead, we have this ridiculous credit scoring system that is more an indicator of how much money creditors can make off of borrowers as opposed to a person's ability and likelihood to repay.
very good point! it's true now-a-days, and it's really really sad too :(
My friend had a problem like this a few years back when he tried to buy his first house, I was his roommate at the time. He had no credit history because he had purchased everything including his current car outright and hadn't used a credit card. He had no credit history because he hadn't needed one and it was really hard for him to get a loan.
AT&T indeed has lower requirements, and a bundle through AT&T will be based off of AT&T's requirements, not DirecTV's (meaning: AT&T assumes the responsibility).
Not true actually. AT&T uses the DIRECTV system for the check. Same restrictions as the main sales guys.
Shades228
12-17-09, 11:13 AM
The $300 is a deposite for an advanced receiver. There would have been a lease fee as well for an advanced receiver of at least $99.
You could just do the 2 standard receivers they're willing to do for the $200 deposit. Then once she is a customer for a year you can inquire about getting an upgrade to the advanced receiver she wants to get.
Another option is if you have DirecTV, and are not going to be moving in the next 12 months, you could setup a second account in your name at her residence. There are no discounts on the new account but the fee would not be required. If you do this then you would of course understand that if she fails to pay or does something on the account ultimately you would be responsible.
bnglbill
12-17-09, 12:30 PM
This is crazy, grandma has a house right? I bet it's even paid in full or close to it so she has credit...
Shades228
12-17-09, 04:02 PM
This is crazy, grandma has a house right? I bet it's even paid in full or close to it so she has credit...
Not if it wasn't in her name on the loan paperwork. My great aunt had the same issue for awhile. All of the loans and credit cards were in my great uncles name. So she had no credit at all because her name wasn't on anything. He paid for everything and did all the bills. This is less common with our parents generation and ours but it still can happen.
bpaulson
12-17-09, 08:02 PM
Thanks for the replies... unfortunately everything was in my grandfather's name so I imagine her credit score is as low as it can be as there's no history there.
I have two TiVo DVR's (SD-DVR40 and a DSR704) and both have upgraded hard drives (they haven't been used for a while and I'm sure DirecTV would bitch about Access Cards) but would they charge anything up front if she went that route?
I imagine it's safe to say that they'd still do a free install and free dish as long as they didn't have to pony up the receivers.
Just to clarify she just wants SD service and one DVR and another receiver.
RobertE
12-17-09, 08:15 PM
They won't start a new account with used equipment. :(
william8004
12-17-09, 08:18 PM
The wife called AT&T to take care of a phone bill problem. They told her they could get us a $5.00 discount because we have D*, so she said yes. I need to call tomorrow. Has anyone heard of this? I don't want to do the one bill thing and I hope the wife didn't agree to something like that without realizing it.
bpaulson
12-17-09, 10:00 PM
They won't start a new account with used equipment. :(That's true... I called in and stated that I wanted to use two boxes that I had but they wouldn't go for it and still wanted $200 up front.
It's a crock if you ask me. She's paid her mediacom bill on time for 10+ years but whatever.
I can't imagine a SD dish and having it installed would cost them hardly anything if they gained subscriber who will likely have the service for another 5+ years but whatever... that's their problem.
I love DirecTV but I'm starting to see that they aren't the company I once thought they were...
RobertE
12-17-09, 10:15 PM
You could try a "local" retailer, they might be a little more lax in their requirements.
SParker
12-17-09, 10:30 PM
They want $200 upfront for people with little or no credit history or they are doing it for all new customers these days?
bpaulson
12-18-09, 12:45 AM
People with limited credit history or bad credit / those who don't want to provide their SS # for a credit check.
Have you considered putting the service in your dads name and using his SSN? I would think you could do that and then use her address as the service address. I believe they allow that type of arrangement.
Shades228
12-18-09, 12:40 PM
Have you considered putting the service in your dads name and using his SSN? I would think you could do that and then use her address as the service address. I believe they allow that type of arrangement.
If Grandpa is no longer with us that would be illegal.
scrybigtv
12-18-09, 01:55 PM
If Grandpa is no longer with us that would be illegal.
Wasn't he suggesting that the OP use his dad's name and SS#, not his deceased grandfather's?
Wasn't he suggesting that the OP use his dad's name and SS#, not his deceased grandfather's?That's correct, the dads name not the deceased grandfather.
Shades228
12-18-09, 03:00 PM
Yeah I misread that one sorry.
Altcool
12-18-09, 03:05 PM
you could always buy a sd dish and DIY Seach around the forms and you will find plenty of info
As was stated above, I'm sure you could find a used dish and install it. If you want to use the old receivers, you could just call in and get the service turned up or buy/lease an SD receiver. If I was in your area, I certainly would help. Setting up an SD dish is pretty easy.
bpaulson
12-22-09, 07:25 PM
I'm not worried about the dish... my dad and I have an SD dish (his one that he was using up until last year when he got HD and it's still attached.)
My biggest thing is how would I get directv to set up service with the offers they are offering everyone if they don't have to do anything but turn on the service?
I know they'll bitch about the cards so I'd simply request that if I'm bringing everything to the party the least they could do is mail out to fricken authorization cards and not make anyone pay for them.
I would love for her to get in on the deals that directv is giving out right now but I have a feeling even if I brought everything to the party necessary for her to have it installed DirecTV would still want a deposit (bull**** but probably true.)
Anyone have any numbers for people I could try to contact that would be willing to work with a situation like this?
PCampbell
12-22-09, 07:52 PM
In the old days we bought everything and installed it without Directvs help. That may still work.
BattleZone
12-23-09, 12:36 PM
My biggest thing is how would I get directv to set up service with the offers they are offering everyone if they don't have to do anything but turn on the service?
You won't. DirecTV will not activate a new account with all-used equipment, and will not give "new customer" discounts to customers who don't credit-qualify.
It isn't a lot different than those "0% financing" deals on new cars a few years back; you had to have good credit to qualify, and if you had bad or no credit, you simply weren't going to get the deal.
Discounts only make sense if the provider knows they are going to make back the money some other way. Someone with good credit is a lower risk for not paying their bill, someone with bad or especially NO credit is statistically a much greater risk. DirecTV has implemented a number of changes over the years specifically to reduce their financial risks, and that's the primary reason that DirecTV has weathered the poor economy so well. But it also means that there's very little chance that you'll be able to get around their new-customer rules.
Tim Godsil
12-23-09, 01:45 PM
You won't. DirecTV will not activate a new account with all-used equipment, and will not give "new customer" discounts to customers who don't credit-qualify.
It isn't a lot different than those "0% financing" deals on new cars a few years back; you had to have good credit to qualify, and if you had bad or no credit, you simply weren't going to get the deal.
Discounts only make sense if the provider knows they are going to make back the money some other way. Someone with good credit is a lower risk for not paying their bill, someone with bad or especially NO credit is statistically a much greater risk. DirecTV has implemented a number of changes over the years specifically to reduce their financial risks, and that's the primary reason that DirecTV has weathered the poor economy so well. But it also means that there's very little chance that you'll be able to get around their new-customer rules.
Actually they will activate a new account with used equipment. There is a trick to It I learned.
All you have to do is get the used equipment and dish. Then install it and make sure everything works. Then call Directv up and tell them you used to have Directv Like 4-5 years ago.
See Directv only keeps your account in the system like 2 years after you shut off service. So if you tell them you had Directv 4-5 years ago, they will have to enter you in as a new customer. You can call and cancel anytime too if your equipment is all owned.
The only mistake I made, when my Directivo quit working, they said they would send me out a brand new DVR. They didnt tell me I would be stuck with a 2 year contract. So you have to watch out.
Actually they will activate a new account with used equipment. There is a trick to It I learned.
...
See Directv only keeps your account in the system like 2 years after you shut off service.
That hasn't been my experience. I re-established my account, with the original account number, after a 2 year break in service (several years ago).
Tim Godsil
12-23-09, 05:08 PM
well i guess ymmv but just tell them you used to have it they will set u up as new
Richierich
12-23-09, 05:52 PM
ellen.filipiak@directv.com
No phone number since they change all the time.
Send her an email as she is a Senior Vice President for Customer Service.
Jared701
12-23-09, 06:00 PM
People with limited credit history or bad credit / those who don't want to provide their SS # for a credit check.
This is wrong. I gave me SSN and my credit score was over 770/850 and they required me to put up the 300. I've never had a late payment and pay off my credit card in full every month. The CS rep also lied to me and told me I would get the full amount back after I made my first payment. At least you got the correct facts about having to stay with D* for 5 years to get your money back.
Richierich
12-23-09, 06:09 PM
Always get it in writing and never trust a Front Line Level One CSR to have all the facts straight as I have been misled many many times and if I didn't know different I would have been screwed. They are reading from a Script.
rudeney
12-23-09, 09:06 PM
This is wrong. I gave me SSN and my credit score was over 770/850 and they required me to put up the 300. I've never had a late payment and pay off my credit card in full every month. The CS rep also lied to me and told me I would get the full amount back after I made my first payment. At least you got the correct facts about having to stay with D* for 5 years to get your money back.
Are you sure that your credit score? I used to work as a finance manager for an auto dealership and you'd be surprised at how many customers would swear they had high credit scores when in fact, they didn't. Sometimes they "forgot" about credit problems for a few years back (like charge-offs or collection account), while others had co-signed on debts that were not being paid timely by the other party. Also, paying off the credit cards every month will actually give you a lower score than carrying a balance (though usually not low enough to drop you out of tier one, all other things being good).
I strongly suggest you check your credit score todayand if you do find that it's above D*'s thresholds for a deposit, call them back and insist that they correct their errors.
Jared701
12-25-09, 05:20 AM
Are you sure that your credit score? I used to work as a finance manager for an auto dealership and you'd be surprised at how many customers would swear they had high credit scores when in fact, they didn't. Sometimes they "forgot" about credit problems for a few years back (like charge-offs or collection account), while others had co-signed on debts that were not being paid timely by the other party. Also, paying off the credit cards every month will actually give you a lower score than carrying a balance (though usually not low enough to drop you out of tier one, all other things being good).
I strongly suggest you check your credit score todayand if you do find that it's above D*'s thresholds for a deposit, call them back and insist that they correct their errors.
I ordered my credit score after D* told me I'd have to deposit the $300 and used 2 of the 3 for giving the score. I'm just over a year into my commitment now so really doubt that they will change their policy for me. I spent a few hours on the phone with them during the first month complaining about this and was told there was nothing they could do. I went as high as I could through regular phone CSRs but never asked for the retention department or emailed the VP office of customer relations. I finally just got sick of fighting with them about it.
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