Had to cancel service today....

[rstambo]

A sad day for me, as I have been a 9 year (and through three moves) D*TV customer.

Since last Friday I have been on the phone with DirecTV a total of 9 hours and 12 D*TV employess. It started with a botched work order and the refusal of the first installer (from Directech) to perform the work, since he wasn't going to get paid. (Upgrade vs Movers) Then the second installer said I didn't have line of sight for HD service. He only went on the roof and looked around.

Then i asked for a second opinion from a supervisor, who (and I love this) did a drive by (while I request to be contacted before he got there so I can discuss other options if any with him.) and said no line of sight. this was last Friday, and when I called DirecTech to find out where my second opinion was, they said they would try and contact the supervisor and find out. Well he apparently quit on Sat. and they cant contact him.

So bottom line, I have no real proof either way that I can or cannot recieve a signal. And DirecTv is of no help, only offering to reschedule another install with DirecTech.

I was a very happy subscriber, and also NFL Sunday ticket holder for 9 years. I didn't want to leave, but they left me no choice.

My question to any installers out there would be this. Do I have any other options available to me as far as technology goes.

Is there something that can be done more of a definitive answer vs installer guess. The first installer said no problem, and he didn't even get up on the roof. the second got up on the roof, and said no way. And God only knows if the supervisor actually did a drive by as he quit the next day. Is there some technology that an installer can use to exactly find out, short of actually mounting the dish? I don't even mind that, if I knew doing that would give me a straight answer.

Any help or thoughts would be great. The thought of no Sundays without the NFLST is very sad to me.

At the same time, taking another day off to wait at home for another DirecTech installer to come out and do nothing makes me sadder.

[Tom Robertson]

It might be time to leave the directech weenies and go for a true professional installer. They are more likely to give you realistic options for installation, abeit perhaps expensive if they have to go up high to get line of sight.

Good luck,
Tom

[harsh]

Is there some technology that an installer can use to exactly find out, short of actually mounting the dish?There's a gizmo that many conscientious installers carry that incorporates a compass, a level and a peep sight. It is made out of formed plastic with some marks on it and allows the knowledgeable user to quickly determine whether LOS is there or not.

I concur with Tom's suggestion that you seek out a established third party installer.

[carl6]

Check this thread for information on how to determine if you can see the various satellites. For the new 5-LNB dish and HD, you need to see 99, 101, 103, 110 and 119.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=63277

Carl

[Mertzen]

Where in Jersey are you. I can take a bridge and a tunnel if it's not too far.

[rstambo]

Thanks for the suggestions. So if I went with a professional installer, does DirecTV cover any of the costs? Or is it strictly out of my pocket.

Does the equipment still get ordered from D*TV or does the pro installer do it all? Sorry for the questions, but every time I moved, it was all done though the movers program, and i didn't have an issue (or out of pocket costs for that matter)

Mertzen,

I am in Roselle Park, NJ. Not far from Union. I assume you are a pro installer.
Please PM me with contact info, if you don't mind, maybe we can discuss options...

[Mertzen]

Thanks for the suggestions. So if I went with a professional installer, does DirecTV cover any of the costs? Or is it strictly out of my pocket.


If you go with a private installer you will have to work that out with him. If you really escalate the matter they might work with you over at DTV but o guarantees.

[gizzorge]

Although I don't have any extensive expertise, I will say this. Yes, the costs come out of your pocket. However, call D* and tell them. If you've been a sub for 9+ years, they may give you some credits to offset things.

[HolyRoses]

there are many good amateur installers out there that are just as good or better than directv's "professional installers".

Sure there are people here on the forum that are willing to help you with an install too for some compensation.

-HR

[islesfan]

A sad day for me, as I have been a 9 year (and through three moves) D*TV customer.

Since last Friday I have been on the phone with DirecTV a total of 9 hours and 12 D*TV employess. It started with a botched work order and the refusal of the first installer (from Directech) to perform the work, since he wasn't going to get paid. (Upgrade vs Movers) Then the second installer said I didn't have line of sight for HD service. He only went on the roof and looked around.

Then i asked for a second opinion from a supervisor, who (and I love this) did a drive by (while I request to be contacted before he got there so I can discuss other options if any with him.) and said no line of sight. this was last Friday, and when I called DirecTech to find out where my second opinion was, they said they would try and contact the supervisor and find out. Well he apparently quit on Sat. and they cant contact him.

So bottom line, I have no real proof either way that I can or cannot recieve a signal. And DirecTv is of no help, only offering to reschedule another install with DirecTech.

I was a very happy subscriber, and also NFL Sunday ticket holder for 9 years. I didn't want to leave, but they left me no choice.

My question to any installers out there would be this. Do I have any other options available to me as far as technology goes.

Is there something that can be done more of a definitive answer vs installer guess. The first installer said no problem, and he didn't even get up on the roof. the second got up on the roof, and said no way. And God only knows if the supervisor actually did a drive by as he quit the next day. Is there some technology that an installer can use to exactly find out, short of actually mounting the dish? I don't even mind that, if I knew doing that would give me a straight answer.

Any help or thoughts would be great. The thought of no Sundays without the NFLST is very sad to me.

At the same time, taking another day off to wait at home for another DirecTech installer to come out and do nothing makes me sadder.

One thing to keep in mind, as others have noted here, you can get a professional installer to do the work, and I have heard that D* will re-imburse. If this was the cable company, you'd not have that option. (I have to note that the customer service of Charter Cable absolutely blows DirecTV away! But, that is very rare in a cable company. Maybe if DirecTV could contract with Charter to do their installs?)

[VeniceDre]

If you go with an independant installer be sure to hold onto the receipt. DirecTV should credit you for some if not all of the bill, but they may ask you to Fax over the receipt.

I've had techs go out and install dishes here in L.A. because the DirecTV sub-contractors were backed up at one point over a month. DirecTV was more than happy to give credits to the customers acoounts.

[jimmyv2000]

directech is horrible there in mass and southern NH.
i took them2 tries to get my HD upgrade back in feb right.
3 tries thats right 3 tries to get my brothers install right. That one took a lead tech 3 hours to fix what the first 2 botched.

Next time i need something i found a independant installer out of derry nh i am going to call.

[soccercoach61]

man oh man... I had the same issue on Friday. I've been a sub since 2000, own a house in North MS and then bought one Jackson that I wanted to get D* installed. The first installer shows up and wouldn't get off the ladder, just went to the edge of the roof, then told me it was against the law for him to tell me which trees were blocking the LOS of the satellite. I asked him to check a little higher and he said he would have to call his supervisor because my roof was "too high off the ground" (2 story house).

When the jackleg "supervisor" got there, he walked around the house and said "too many trees, we can't do it" without ever climbing up the ladder, and they left. I found a local installer to come and do the work, and D* is going to re-deliver the equipment on Saturday. What a joke and what a hassle. Why do they even contract with people who don't want to do the work? And yes, I know, they get paid by the job...

At least the folks in customer service have actually been outstanding. I am very surprised. MUCH better than the Comcrap we have here in Jackson.

[tim81]

i think it would be worth a call to talk to a supervisor or someone to see if they'd credit you back for the professional installer, they'd probably weigh it against your worth as a customer but if you're that long time a customer and also sports fan i think your chances would be pretty good:D

[boba]

Chase Carey is CEO of Directv I would write(I have written) to him with the complaint. In your instruction books you should find an address or on there web site there should be a contact us.
I don't have his email address but common usage would suggest:ccarey@directv.com/chasecarey@/ or chase.carey@ would reach his office.