Resuming DirecTV Subscription

[det058]

I canceled my DirecTV subscription a while back and switched over to cable. I've now come to my senses and realize that was a mistake, so I'll probably subscribe again. I'd like to upgrade to the Phase III dish for locals as well as add three new receivers, one of which would be a DVR. I just have a couple of questions. Will I be able to change my bill date based on when I activate the new equipment or will DirecTV automatically keep that the same as before? I asked them several times in the past if I could change it so that I would receive my statement earlier in the month, but they always said that couldn't be done. Also, would I qualify for the new subscriber equipment discounts available online or from Best Buy for example, or does the fact I'm a previous subscriber make me ineligible for those? Maybe I just need to be more persuasive with them as I'd like to come back, but I don't want to be in the same boat as before. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

[Skip Towne]

I'm sure you will have to subscribe under a different name (wife) with a different phone # (cell). I think your statement date is governed by the date you subscribe. New customers typically receive their first bill 5-7 days after activation.

[det058]

I've thought about doing that, which shouldn't be a problem. But can you give them a cell phone number? Do you actually need to have each receiver connected to a land line? I've heard it's so you can order pay per view events, but I know other people that aren't connected at all and have no problem ordering PPV events, like the MLB Extra Innings package. Will a different name and different number do the trick, or will they notice the address is the same? Maybe I'm giving them too much credit!

[boba]

For previous customer status Directv checks the Last Name, the address and the phone number. Usually if 2 out of 3 match you are an existing customer.

[Chaos]

Call customer service and ask for retention. They will pretty much match the new customer offers for returning customers. That's how I came back.

[bavaria72]

Hey Chaos, that is interesting info. I have been gone for a little over a year (long story but D* won’t upgrade my old boxes for free so I went to E*). E* has been fine but when I changed providers I had not thought of HD. Well, now I have HD and (as you may have read) the E* HD DVR has been a tad bit buggy :sure: . The HR10-250 is a really slick box but I was concern about how D* would treat me if I came back. There is some dude on Ebay offering the HR10-250 for $699.00 but the fine print says you have to be a new Customer, with your address and phone number not in Directv’s database. He has even provided an email address (Sales@MiniDishes.TV) to send your info to so that someone can verify you are a true new Customer (seems at tad bit odd to me since it is not a Directv e-mail address). Anyway, since the price seems to keep dropping ($848 currently for one) I am seriously thinking about switching. Any suggestion would be very helpful. Thanks

[DizzyDean]

He has even provided an email address (Sales@MiniDishes.TV) to send your info to so that someone can verify you are a true new Customer
Yeah, I don't think I would give much personal info to a person on e-bay to "Verify you are a new subscriber". That person on e-bay has no access to the subscriber database for Dtv I can tell you that. Dtv does not sell the HD DVR unit yet. they are only in retail now. So wherever you can get the best deal would be your best bet.
;)

[bavaria72]

I concur with you DizzyDean. No info from me (smells fishy) but regarding returning to D*, I guess a call to Customer retention should answer that. Other than Chaos, has anyone had a recent experience with returning to D*? If I have to drop a grand (or $800 or $900) I want to minimize my cash out lay. If D* is going to hold it against me that I left over a year ago then screw them (I am still mad about them dropping DSL and refusing to upgrade my hardware after being a good Customer for 5 year!), I guess it is the 921 for me. But that darn HR10-250 sure does look better. Options?

[crkeehn]

I don't know how recent you want. I reupped last year. I had carried DirecTV through Bell Atlantic (pre Verizon) and had been unhappy, not as much with the DirecTV service but that I had to go through Bell Atlantic, it's poor service and extra levels of bureaucracy.

After a 3 year break, I contacted DirecTV about the possibility of coming back. Their initial offer was for one free receiver and I would pay the upgrade fee for the second receiver. When I said I would have to consult with my wife and contact them back the representative told me he would see what he could do and put me on hold for a moment. The solution... although they had to charge me the upgrade fee for the second receiver, they would credit the amount back. He made sure that I understood that the charge would appear on my first bill but the credit would also appear. As I didn't qualify for the new subscriber programming incentive, on his own initiative, offered me three free months of Showtime.

[bavaria72]

Interesting. So basically once you have been with D*, until you change address and phone number (and of course use another name), you are always considered an existing Customer. However it does sound like you can negotiate a fairly decent deal though it may not be as good as a new Customer. I would gladly trade "free installation" forsome type of hardware upgrade.