why do i have to pay an extra $50?

[KidRock9999]

i went to upgrade my std receiver to a dvr in my other room and it says i have to pay $50 extra dollars based on my account history, never been late on a payment

[say-what]

Because upgrades aren't always free. I'd say $50 was a discounted fee from the normal $99 fee for the R15.

[naijai]

its definetly based on your acct "history" past till present

[Pink Fairy]

I believe he was stating it was extra on top of the $49/$99 for the receiver right?

[KidRock9999]

yes its on top of the $99, i have never made a late payment, its even there when i use the coupon code for the dvr

[Pink Fairy]

It is not always based on whether or not you pay your bill on time, it can be based on your account in general..programming, equipment, etc...

[KidRock9999]

well i have total choice, i also have a regular receiver and a hr20, can i use the dvr4u2 code if i call them? also do u think if i called them i could get that $50 off

[Pink Fairy]

The $50 cannot be taken off, unfortunately. They might work with you on the cost of the receiver..maybe. Did you have to pay it when you got the hr20?

[say-what]

I guess I misunderstood the original post.....:)

Anyway, can't hurt to call and ask what the $50 was for and if it can be waived......or programing credits issued

[KidRock9999]

i only payed $199 for the HR20, no extra $50, i was hoping i could use that code if i called too

[Pink Fairy]

Hmm, I would definately call and see what happens.

[KidRock9999]

do i have to have two lines hooked up to the r15? its for the other room

[Pink Fairy]

For full functionality, yes. That is what enables you to record and watch something else at the same time. Installation comes with the reciever order for free though.

[KidRock9999]

i have the 5lnb dish, can i still have a r15 dvr with that dish?

[Pink Fairy]

Yes, you most definately can. You will be getting a multiswitch, but that is nothing extra.

[Dave]

Is the extra $ 50 charge because you don't have a phone line hooked up? Sometimes this is a extra charge.

[Pink Fairy]

Nope, the only thing that not having a phone line means is A) No PPV purchasing through the remote, B) No updates to software if you have an older DTivo unit, and C) Caller ID :P

[hambonewd]

yeah i cant see any logical reason why the $50 it tacked on there.

[naijai]

call again and make sure that your acct was the right one that was pulled up

[BecTech]

I noticed the same thing when I went to upgrade one of my 3 STD receivers to an HD receiver (HD only, not dvr). the receiver was $99 and then there was an additional $50 charge "based on my account". I've only been a Directv customer since Oct 2006 but my account has always been set on autopay to my credit card from day 1 so it can't be anything to do with a payment issue.

I backed off the upgrade for now.. maybe they'll have some kind of upgrade special when I hit 6 months..

Bec

[Koz]

My guess (and it's only a guess) is that it's based on how recently they sent you new equipment. Maybe there's a wait time or else you have to pay extra.

[cavihitts]

If you have never been late call in to make sure that it is accurate but if it is the fee will not be able to be waived.

[Elephanthead]

Great more BS charges from a crappy company, consider it the cost of doing business with a non responsive greedy Austrailian megalomaniac. At least when GM owned them it was only a nonresponsive comapny, they weren't out to screw over every customer they have.

Call try to get the fee waived or some other monthly credit, which they will cancel a month after they give it to you. I would consider waiting out the end of your contract and switching, this is why the 2 year comittment is such a screwing, they have you trapped. Now they can charge you whatever they want whenever they want.

[cavihitts]

If in fact the account is flagged for that fee, it most likely will not qualify for any programming credits etc.

[machavez00]

I posted about this two weeks ago. http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=82315
I have a co-worker that wanted to upgrade to the H20 and was told it would cost $200+. I had him try online as well and he got the same pop-up message. He has been a D* sub four months and made payments on time. My guess (and it's only a guess) is that it's based on how recently they sent you new equipment. Maybe there's a wait time or else you have to pay extra.I thought might be the issue as well. I am wondering if it has to do more with credit rating. The ironic thing is that he was not even offered the HD package when he signed up originally, he would have got it for free.

[cavihitts]

It would not have anything to do with recent receiver upgrades. The decision would not be based on a credit rating (dtv does not run credit checks after initial setup) but more of the history and performance of the account.

[machavez00]

It would not have anything to do with recent receiver upgrades. The decision would not be based on a credit rating (dtv does not run credit checks after initial setup) but more of the history and performance of the account.

If both have not been late with payments then why the extra fees? I guess four months is not long enough to establish a history in my friends case. How long has the OP been a sub?

[BecTech]

The ironic thing is that he was not even offered the HD package when he signed up originally, he would have got it for free.

This is the part of the whole thing that irked me, I could have got the hd receiver for free when I signed up but I didn't have an hd tv 5 months ago so there was no sense.

Bec

[KidRock9999]

well i called them and they said that it was because i upgraded to HD in Jan and i would have to wait 6 months to upgrade without the extra fee

[say-what]

Is it that they are going to charge you a total of $99 for the H20 or $149?

If $149, I don't see why you can't just order one from BestBuy or Circuit City for $99 and activate it yourself.

[KidRock9999]

it was $149, but I was using the dvr4u2 coupon so the dvr would be free without the $50

[KidRock9999]

i found out what the $50 is, its because of the $200 they charged me for not returning equipment, that i did and sent them a tracking number, the $200 is actually for the second return box that was sent out

[bobnielsen]

They tend to be faster on applying the non-return fee than they are on sending out the boxes. I had one show up but when I called they had already reversed it.

[KidRock9999]

now there telling me the $50 is a new thing directv does when anyone upgrades, does everyone have that extra $50 on there account?

[cavihitts]

No it is not for every customer. However, customers may find that they have to use a credit card upfront when ordering equipment.