Dish network mistake. Any way out?

[Electro]

Should have done more research. Joined Dish network on a promotion that promised "The DishPVR 501 is an integrated Satellite TV System and Personal Video Recorder that gives you the ability to record and control TV programming in a way you never could before. Never miss anything again. Your favorite shows are on when you want them." This offer was just what I had been looking for. To my surprise the pvr will only record what comes over the satellite and I do not qualify for local stations. It is the network programming that I am looking to record so the pvr is of little or no use to me. Would rather have cable with a tivo than this. Is there any way out of the deal? Any suggestions appreciated.
Steve

[JBKing]

Godd luck, but I wouldn't think there was a way out. You could call the installer and whine maybe. :)

Geronimo, is this Max Dillon? ;)

[Geronimo]

Something tells me that this is a different Electro. I mean my spider sense isn't even tingling.


And yes Mr. King it took me a second. Good catch.

[boba]

Do you qualify for out of market networks? Do you want networks in the Super Stations pak. Can you qualify for a waiver? What promotion are you under, you may be able to get out of the promotion for a $240.00 penalty or under Free For All just cancel.

[Electro]

Thanks for the quick answers. I do not qualify for the out of market but may qualify for a waiver on one of the four networks though I have been told that it is not possible. Can get out for the $240 fee but hate to spend that if another route is possible. What is the "Free for all "? The promotion is through VMC Satellite.
Steve

[Mike123abc]

One also has to ask what DMA you are in? If you are in a top 80 or so DMAs you could get locals within a few months... Dish just got Echostar8 into orbit and is turning it on now. I bet a ton of new markets will be announced tonight on Charlie Chat.

Nothing Dish loves more than to turn on new LIL to markets. This is a marketing bonanza as they can count on a large influx of new people to DBS when LIL is offered.

[jrjcd]

HAHAHA....another fish hooked by VMC!!!!-i'm afraid you're shot out of luck on this one-of course, a LOCAL dealer would have told you the complete story before you bought , saving you this headache...oh well...

[Electro]

Thanks for the replies. Still think there may be a way. Their add states "record and control TV programming in a way you never could before. Never miss anything again. Your favorite shows are on when you want them". This is simply not the case since I cannot record the major network shows. Will be pleading my case with them today and will see what they propose. Thanks again. Will let you know how it is resolved.
Steve

[Jack White]

Originally posted by Mike123abc
One also has to ask what DMA you are in? If you are in a top 80 or so DMAs you could get locals within a few months... Dish just got Echostar8 into orbit and is turning it on now. I bet a ton of new markets will be announced tonight on Charlie Chat.

Nothing Dish loves more than to turn on new LIL to markets. This is a marketing bonanza as they can count on a large influx of new people to DBS when LIL is offered.

I don't know if they can get to 80 DMAs right now unless they move a lot of channels around to different satellites and stuff, and they can't do that because not everyone has a Dish 500.
Dish is also adding NHL Center Ice and perhaps NBA League Pass, so they'll also take up some room.
On the Charlie Chat, Charlie mentioned that they'll make it ti 50 or 51 markets with Echo 8 next month and add up to 4 new DMAs next month for a total of 51 DMAs.
I don't know if they'll add any new markets after that with the current satellites, but Charlie sure made it sound like it was unlikely without a merger.

[Bob Haller]

Have a RV? Friend with a RV title? Friend in a white area? Easiest thing to do is establish a fake service address, leave billing address as is. MOVE to the white address and get the nets.

[James_F]

Originally posted by Electro
This is simply not the case since I cannot record the major network shows.
I don't think that is a valid argument since the retailer should have told you that you didn't have locals. The PVR will record CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX if you had your locals from the satellite. That said, good luck and I hope they have a compromise for you.

[jrjcd]

james, he bought it from internet rip off king VMC-not a local guy...the local dealer would have told him the score and let him decide if he wanted it, but VMC stacks 'em and racks 'em and the VMC csrs could care less if they give out accurate information-it's sales, sales sales!!!!!

[James_F]

Well I gess you get what you pay for. :shrug:

[scooper]

What's their webaddress ?

[Electro]

As jrjcd said VMC the ripoff king could care less. Offerred no remedy and said anyone would know the pvr is for dishnetwork broadcast only. Funny their add says I can record anything not anything broadcast on dish. Pointed this out but made no difference to them. Get what you pay for? Not this time but a lesson learned. Should have come here first and would have been no problem. Do have a partial interest in an RV. What do I do with this to remedy the situation? What is a white area and how do I find where they are? Sounds like there are ways around this problem. Really do appreciate the help.
Steve

[James_F]

Well look at it this way... More people know about these kooks now and will stay away.

[Bob Haller]

Make a copy of your RV title. Alter it if needed to show you as the owner and your present address if its on the title. Download a copy of the RV exemption and a revised copy of your title mail it all to dish. In about a month your nets will be active, pick 2 of whatever you want or west coast and a nearby one if your in the spot beam.

If theres any chance someone else will be using this title for the same thing alter a couple nmbers in the VIN. They dontr check but might some day....

[FTA Michael]

Got a friendly/cheap lawyer around? Ask him/her to dash off a note asserting that the language of the seller created the common law warranty of FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, namely the purpose of recording "your favorite shows", which would normally include local network OTA signals.

The fine details vary from state to state, and I'm not sure whether you'd try to get relief from the equipment vendor or Dish Network itself. That's where your lawyer's professional expertise trumps my lightly informed amateurism.

[Electro]

Had actually thought about a lawyer but the potential cost made me shy away. Might not hurt to give a letter a try. FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE sounds like it might apply and Texas is very pro consumer in most areas. Thanks! If I persue will let everyone know how it goes.Will have to handle it with VMC and Dishnetwork due to termination fees from both. Also thinking about the RV thing. Might be faster, easier, less expensive, and give me what I thought I would be getting to start with. Any downside to this that I need to know about?
Steve

[Bob Haller]

Just find a white area like oil city PA and look up mc donalds address. Add a few numbers like from 100 main street to 105 main st apt 2 and move your physical address, but leave billing as is.

Why mess with laawyers? This is quick easy and fixes the problem in minutes...

[Electro]

Bob
Thanks for the suggestion. Looking for the easiest way and this may be it. What is a white area? How do I find one? Newbie questions but have to learn somehow. Do I just call dishnetwork and give the new address. Is it that easy?
Thanks again
Steve

[jrjcd]

you can go to the dish network website and(after following the appropriate links)enter your zip code in their search option-it'll tell you what's available and what's not...

bob has kinda a good suggestion(except the part about fiddling with the title-esp the numbers)-i've been on the search for a burned out shell of an RV for a half a year now(without much luck)-this is one of the reasons i'm making the B.E. switch-to get west coast locals...

[Electro]

B.E. switch. What's that?

[jrjcd]

am going to switch from dish network to bell expressvue(B.E.), a canadian supplier of dbs -you can get both east and west coast feeds on them...

[FTA Michael]

In full Walter Mitty mode, I searched and searched the Denver DMA to find an address that was eligible for all of the Denver locals AND all four distant networks and PBS. After hours of searching, I finally found it -- Creede, CO. If I ever decide to get a vacation home, that'll be the first place I look.

To find the perfect white area spot, first identify your target DMA. They usually go county-by-county, and often has little to do with the closest signal. Then draw a circle about 50-100 miles from the broadcasting center. Then go to Dish Network and start entering addresses from cities that are outside the circle but inside the DMA counties.

And as some folks here love to remind us, lying about your address so you can receive distant signals is illegal, as is incorrectly promising that you can receive locals and refusing to let you out of a resulting contract.

[Bandit]

I thought VMC only sold Certificates? In that case wouldn't the problem lie with Dish Network?

[kurros]

How he got the service installed isn't the issue, but I believe that if VMC gets their comission revoked, they will charge their own fee.

[dishrich]

Originally posted by carload
In full Walter Mitty mode, I searched and searched the Denver DMA to find an address that was eligible for all of the Denver locals AND all four distant networks and PBS. After hours of searching, I finally found it -- Creede, CO. If I ever decide to get a vacation home, that'll be the first place I look.

New Castle, CO was a good place too f/Denver locals & all 5 distants... ;) ;) ;)

[TerryC]

I gave them a totally made up address, when I moved. The street doesn't even exist. Apparently, it's only the zip code that they look at.

You'll get ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX if you can find the right zip. Add the superstation package and you'll have all six networks.

[BobMurdoch]

I'm with Haller on this one. Find a friend who will allow you to use his address and call E* and tell them that you moved to that address. E* is SUPPOSED to ensure that your actual address and billing address are the same, but several people avoid this stupid restrictive law in this manner.

Good luck!

[BobMurdoch]

Oh, by the way, here is the link to check out your friend's addresses first:

http://customersupport.dishnetwork.com/customernetqual/nqCustomerLocalsCheck.jsp