View Full Version : Goofy Online Billing Policy
Today, I need to get my DirecTV account number to order some BBCs.
So, I went to the "View My Bill Online" and unless I'm willing to forgo paper billing altogether I cannot view my bill online.
So, instead I called the DirecTV customer service line to get my account number on their toll free line and then had to call yet another toll free line to order the BBCs.
Nothing like making it harder on your customers and more expensive for yourself.
HarleyD
07-26-07, 11:26 AM
That's odd.
I view my bill on line all the time and have never been required to switch to paperless billing.
I looked just now to see if anything had changed and still was able to view my latest bill.
DawgLink
07-26-07, 11:31 AM
That's odd.
I view my bill on line all the time and have never been required to switch to paperless billing.
I looked just now to see if anything had changed and still was able to view my latest bill.
Agreed. I get paper AND still view online.
cforrest
07-26-07, 11:33 AM
Agreed. I get paper AND still view online.
Same for me :)
ManOfChill
07-26-07, 11:47 AM
You guys were able to view online but didn't get the popup window asking you to register for Online Billing?
This has been in place since March and I don't like it very much.
Today, I need to get my DirecTV account number to order some BBCs.
So, I went to the "View My Bill Online" and unless I'm willing to forgo paper billing altogether I cannot view my bill online.
So, instead I called the DirecTV customer service line to get my account number on their toll free line and then had to call yet another toll free line to order the BBCs.
Nothing like making it harder on your customers and more expensive for yourself.
My account online works just like the OP, I can't view my bill online unless I agree to sign up for paperless billing.
Completely BS!
kevinturcotte
07-26-07, 11:49 AM
I can't. I stopped receiving a paper bill (Not by choice) when I looked at my bill online a few months ago. I called and was told specifically that you can't hvae both anymore. I called 3 more times and emailed just to be sure they knew what they were talking about, and the others all said the thing.
hdAddict
07-26-07, 11:49 AM
Well, I've not received a paper bill for at least 3 months. I never agreed to going paperless, but I see it's not an option now. If you view your bill online, you are automatically agreeing to paperless billing. Also, I have been unable to pay online for the last three months either. D*'s site just will not accept my payment. I also tried to email them through the web site with the same result. It's not my computers as I get the same result on my company's computer(s) at my office. Go figure. Been a D* customer since 1995!
bakers12
07-26-07, 11:50 AM
I clicked on "View My Bill Online" and was greeted by the following:
Effective March 2007.
Please read the following Terms and Conditions carefully, and complete this registration process if you would like to register for DIRECTV's Online Billing service ("Online Billing").
Once you are enrolled in Online Billing, you will automatically stop receiving your DIRECTV paper bill.
This was followed by the Terms and Conditions.
I have always gotten bills on paper and never go into online billing because of this warning.
Mavrick
07-26-07, 11:51 AM
I can view my bill online and I dont have paperless billing and am not being asked to signup for it either.
kevinturcotte
07-26-07, 11:52 AM
This is stupid. I like getting a paper bill, and being able to access it online. I can understand paperless billing, but there should be an option to still get a paper bill even if you access your bill online.
davring
07-26-07, 11:54 AM
I just this very moment went to the D* site and viewed my bill. Listed many previous months and details for all. No time did they ask to change from paper billing.
This is stupid. I like getting a paper bill, and being able to access it online. I can understand paperless billing, but there should be an option to still get a paper bill even if you access your bill online.
Maybe they are eliminating the paper billing so they can save money and pass the savings on to their customers.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!:lol:
kevinturcotte
07-26-07, 11:56 AM
Maybe they are eliminating the paper billing so they can save money and pass the savings on to their customers.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!:lol:
I understand that, but some of us still like to receive a paper bill.
I understand that, but some of us still like to receive a paper bill.
As do I. I was just trying to be funny. I failed, I see.
kevinturcotte
07-26-07, 11:58 AM
As do I. I was just trying to be funny. I failed, I see.
I thought you were being serious because that is the reason they're doing it, I know that.
bonscott87
07-26-07, 12:29 PM
I get a paper bill so I can't view my bill online but what you can view is "recent activity" so if you view that before your billing date you'll see all the charges for the month.
I thought you were being serious because that is the reason they're doing it, I know that.
Yes, they are doing it to save money. It was the "and pass the savings on to their customers" that was the punchline.
Elephanthead
07-26-07, 12:45 PM
Here is what I did, I viewed my bill online, and since they didn't send me a paper bill I didn't pay. When they called to find out why I didn't pay I told them they didn't send a bill, now I get mailed a bill and can see it online.
RegGeek
07-26-07, 12:49 PM
Slightly related, for anyone who is using a banking online bill pay service.
D* participates in those services and will deliver your bill to your bank's bill pay service (ie paperless) but you can only have your "virtual bill" in one place. So if I log into my bank site I can view my bill. If I log onto D* I can't actually view my bill without stopping "delivery" of my bill to my banking site. I can however do all the other account tasks as others have described - like recent activity.
As a minor aside, I much prefer this to using D*s autopay and pay online services. I have strong reservations about giving a service provider access to my checking or credit card accounts. To many security issues and opprotunity for error (intentional or innocent) in my opinion. Using my bank I get all the same benefits and D* never gets to put its fingers in my account.
Slightly related, for anyone who is using a banking online bill pay service.
D* participates in those services and will deliver your bill to your bank's bill pay service (ie paperless) but you can only have your "virtual bill" in one place. So if I log into my bank site I can view my bill. If I log onto D* I can't actually view my bill without stopping "delivery" of my bill to my banking site. I can however do all the other account tasks as others have described - like recent activity.
As a minor aside, I much prefer this to using D*s autopay and pay online services. I have strong reservations about giving a service provider access to my checking or credit card accounts. To many security issues and opprotunity for error (intentional or innocent) in my opinion. Using my bank I get all the same benefits and D* never gets to put its fingers in my account.
Reg,
Except they have all your banking information (Its on the payment they receive unless you bank pays them in bulk). Anyone interested in doing something criminal with a credit card number could do virtually the same thing with your checking account number, routing, etc. Not saying you're wrong to be careful...because you're not. A lot of companies don't protect their customers information properly.
RegGeek
07-26-07, 01:04 PM
Ken...
absolutely. Never underestimate the amount of effort someone will put into stealing your information ...
My concern is really more with some of the things I've seen reported here - like being hit with a massive non-return fee before you even get the return box. A few hundred dollars missing out of my checking account ... EEEK! Espicially when it appears they seldom reverse charges and instead give you credits on your future bills. That sux.
superunlikely
07-26-07, 01:29 PM
Ken...
absolutely. Never underestimate the amount of effort someone will put into stealing your information ...
My concern is really more with some of the things I've seen reported here - like being hit with a massive non-return fee before you even get the return box. A few hundred dollars missing out of my checking account ... EEEK! Espicially when it appears they seldom reverse charges and instead give you credits on your future bills. That sux.
That is exactly why I pay via credit card. You can dispute any charge, and you have up to 60 days after you are billed...regardless of whether you have paid your bill or not. I've done it twice, and in both instances the credit card company has sided with me and refunded my money. Actually they credited me the first day I called...before I even filed any paperwork.
When you pay via auto-debit or have your bank pay for you, DirecTV gets the money immediately and then you are faced with a "possession is 9/10ths" problem.
TigersFanJJ
07-26-07, 03:42 PM
When I registered to pay my bill online, way back whenever it was, they stopped sending my bill. When I didn't get that first bill in the mail, I called and griped about it. They changed it back and now I get my bill in the mail and can pay my bill online.
lwilli201
07-26-07, 05:12 PM
I get a paper bill, can see it online. I have auto pay. That could be the difference, but who knows. If they stopped sending me the bills, I really would not miss them. I always verify the charges online anyway before the bill even arrives in the mail. If there is a problem, I can print one off, no big problem.
Here is what I did, I viewed my bill online, and since they didn't send me a paper bill I didn't pay. When they called to find out why I didn't pay I told them they didn't send a bill, now I get mailed a bill and can see it online.
happen to us too looked at bill on line then didn't receive bill in mail .... wife didn't pay because of not knowing what to pay..... went from a-list to out house in 1 month...:( to me d* wasn't playing fair....:mad:
JLucPicard
07-26-07, 05:32 PM
DirecTV isn't the only place that doesn't want to provide both on-line and paper billing to the same customer at the same time. D* may have 'grandfathered' some people or something like that or by switching back and forth or adding the manual CSR factor you can wind up with both. Generally, though, mailing paper bills means taking the file that is provided on-line, printing it (special paper [color logos/shading, etc], printers, toner, envelopes), and delivering it (stuffing machines or outsourcing mailing, labor and such - not to mention postage costs) and is much more expensive than loading an electronic file onto a system whose structure already exists. It is a huge cost savings to eliminate the paper angle of it all together.
It is also not a stretch to think that someone who will view/pay their bill on-line can also figure out how to print a paper copy of it if they want one. And most can set up some kind of reminder on their computer to remind them of when it is due, not to mention that D* sends an e-mail when the new bill is ready for viewing.
I certainly don't think I'd consider it a goofy policy that if you request on-line access that they can eliminate the paper bill aspect.
I have temporarily cancelled my on-line "E-bills" for my power company because I have moved into an apartment and am selling my house. The E-bill for my house would come one day and a couple of days later my apartment bill would be loaded and poof-the house bill is gone. I still pay the bill through my bank accounts "Bill-Pay". Aside from this type of situation, I don't know that I can think of a reason I would need to get both.
DonCorleone
07-26-07, 06:43 PM
Come on folks, it's 2007: the day of the paper bill has gone the way of rotary dialing.
My bill is paid via automatic credit card payment and I can only view my bill online - there's no more paper. I'm fine with that, but ... I have to go out of my way to archive the online bill, choosing "print friendly view" and then printing to Adobe format so I have an archival copy. That's just annoying.
Now compare that to other companies, Verizon Wireless for example, which provides several options for viewing bills online: Web view, Adobe PDF (pre-created), Excel, CSV, ...
I believe American Express and Bank of America also provide PDF copies of their bill, and they are supposed to be 100% replicas of the paper bills. Now if only DIRECTV could do that ...
DawgLink
07-26-07, 07:06 PM
Come on folks, it's 2007: the day of the paper bill has gone the way of rotary dialing.
True but I still find it very valuable to have it on paper when talking to people
bonscott87
07-26-07, 07:17 PM
Come on folks, it's 2007: the day of the paper bill has gone the way of rotary dialing.
True, but I still get a paper bill from everyone but the power company. They all want me to go paperless but I want the paper bill. There have been a couple times I have had to go back a year or so to a bill and typically with online bills they only go back 6 months or so.
I pay all my bills online via my back but I still want that paper bill to archive. :)
kevinturcotte
07-26-07, 07:19 PM
Come on folks, it's 2007: the day of the paper bill has gone the way of rotary dialing.
Actually, I know a couple of people that still have rotary phones lol
True, but I still get a paper bill from everyone but the power company. They all want me to go paperless but I want the paper bill. There have been a couple times I have had to go back a year or so to a bill and typically with online bills they only go back 6 months or so.
I pay all my bills online via my back but I still want that paper bill to archive. :)You can archive your online bills if you really want to switch - I described a method above.
lwilli201
07-26-07, 07:58 PM
I used to file all my bills away, all in there proper folders. Now I just put them all in the same box. When it get full I close it up and get another box. I download all my bank statements to my computer. Most bills can be archived to your computer, never needing any paper. I forgot a D* bill one month, but did not get put in D* pergatory. I made it auto after that. I get an email that the bill is available to review. All my important bills are auto. Like said above, this is 2007.
Racer88
07-26-07, 08:19 PM
Receive paper bills, don't autopay, paid by bill online a couple of hours ago and everything was as it has always been.
JLucPicard
07-26-07, 08:32 PM
I know very few (if any) people who have a computer that is not connected to a printer. For those that want a paper copy for their records, can't you just print one each month and put it in your file?
sonofjay
07-26-07, 09:43 PM
This was a policy change by D* over a year ago.
It was sent out to subs in Jun 2006 statement (was on mine dated June 29, 2006). Here's a tread on SatGuys in Aug 06 http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/75114-d-paper-bill-vs-website-problem.html
To our Web-savvy customers:
Thank you for viewing your bill online. In July, we are simplying our billing & will no longer send you both a paper statement & and Ebill notification. To print a copy o fyour DIRECTV Ebill from any PC, please sign in to DIRECTV.com & follow the directions listed on the "View Bill" page. If you want to recieve a paper bill instead, from the same "View Bill" page, click on "Customer Profile" & de-select the statement option box.
This was a policy change by D* over a year ago.
It was sent out to subs in Jun 2006 statement (was on mine dated June 29, 2006). Here's a tread on SatGuys in Aug 06 http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/75114-d-paper-bill-vs-website-problem.html
That's not the same thing. I don't want an ebill notification from them...I just wanted to be able to view my bill online one time to fill out one of their online forms to replace a faulty piece of equipment they supplied.
But that's okay...this is typical of DirecTV customer care...and in the long-run it cost them more money and aggravated a customer.
DonCorleone
07-28-07, 07:08 AM
Like Drew said, you'll get an e-mail each month saying click on-line to your account and then you download the bill to your computer. It's then available whenever you want it to print or view. I do that with every bill I pay now with the exception of the energy company but that's only b/c they haven't gotten with the time yet.
The only paper mail I get these days is junk, that KeySpan bill, and a couple of magazines.
Much nicer, but to each his own, I guess.
sonofjay
07-30-07, 06:52 PM
That's not the same thing. I don't want an ebill notification from them...I just wanted to be able to view my bill online one time to fill out one of their online forms to replace a faulty piece of equipment they supplied.
But that's okay...this is typical of DirecTV customer care...and in the long-run it cost them more money and aggravated a customer.
If you read the thread you'll see that this is the exact same problem. Customers stopped receiving paper bills if they were signed up for online bill viewing. FWIW, I called D* myself and was told the same thing.
Here's the thread again http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/75114-d-paper-bill-vs-website-problem.html
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