Lease and Commitment

[DaleB]

Why should Directv customers who lease the equipment that they paid for also have a commitment for one year for standard or 2 year for DVR or HD or HDDVR?
I know the commitment use to be to help subsidize the cost of the equipment.
But now things have changed now you have to pay for the equipment and when/if one decide to cancel Directv they MUST return the equipment or they will be charged for full payment of the equipment even after the commitment has been completed. Because the customer must return the equipment there is no longer a need to have a reason to subsidize the equipment as they will reuse the equipment. I think the commitment is just plain wrong.

Also when I replaced my leased H20 for a HR20 that I have installed myself Directv had the commitment restart for another 2 years. Another thing is I have returned the H20 using directv’s equipment recovery kit and they are trying to say that they never have got it back and trying to charge me a no return fee of $ 257.00. I checked the fedex tracking number from the ticket and
has been signed and been in directv position as of December 26 2006. I called directv twice and they said that they will look into it. The $257 NRF is still on my bill. Sounds like directv is becoming a DISHonest company to me now.

Cable TV has more channels and On demand is starting to look better option now.

[JLucPicard]

The price you pay for the leased equipment is still subsidized - the upfront cost of an HR20, for example, is $299 (before any rebates or credits that might be given). The retail price to own that same HR20 is $749. That is also the reason there is a new 24 month commitment period kicking in when you activate it - even if it is a self-installation.

As for the non-return fee charge, that is a problem that I have seen mentioned from time to time here. I am sure that most of the equipment returns go as planned, but I have read stories such as yours where there is proof that D* received the return, yet they charge until they actually figure that out themselves. I am sorry that happened to you and it is very unfortunate, but it is not an intentional act on DirecTv's part.

[cariera]

Why should Directv customers who lease the equipment that they paid for also have a commitment for one year for standard or 2 year for DVR or HD or HDDVR?

Answered by your next comment.


I know the commitment use to be to help subsidize the cost of the equipment.

But now things have changed now you have to pay for the equipment and when/if one decide to cancel Directv they MUST return the equipment or they will be charged for full payment of the equipment even after the commitment has been completed.

Not entirely true. The lease upgrade price for an HD receiver is $99 and the owned upgrade price, I think, is $399 (or at least it was the last time I inquired). The no return fee is $200.

I think the commitment is just plain wrong.

Thus there are options: Don't get the service, or purchase your equipment to own.


Cable TV has more channels and On demand is starting to look better option now.

There you go, problem solved.:) As a consumer the greatest power you have is to vote with your wallet.

[cable_killer]

Look forward to feb1st. DISH NETWORK " FREE HD DVR RECEIEVER" need i say more?

[harsh]

Why should Directv customers who lease the equipment that they paid for also have a commitment for one year for standard or 2 year for DVR or HD or HDDVR?That's how leases work. You're confusing leasing with renting. Rent costs more because they have to recover their costs more quickly.

[bwaldron]

Look forward to feb1st. DISH NETWORK " FREE HD DVR RECEIEVER" need i say more?

Actually, yes. Not nearly enough for me to go to E*. Even if I were ready to switch, that is not where I would go. But if they provide what you desire, go for it.