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Dish Network & Tornado Victims

16K views 86 replies 25 participants last post by  Lucavex 
#1 ·
I leave near Joplin MO. Fortunately my family is fine and we were not in the path of the tornado.

The local radio stations are broadcasting information 24x7 to help the community of Joplin. Many local and national businesses have offered help and donations for the victims.

Today a caller to the radio station said they heard that Dish Network will charge them for the receiver destroyed in their home by the tornado. Is this true that Dish Network does not make any allowance for a natural disaster?
 
#27 ·
James Long said:
I did not pay a "non-returning fee" in advance. The "non-returning fee" is billed AFTER one cancels service and fails to return the leased receiver.

Leased receivers are leased on a month to month basis for $7 to $20 per month per receiver (first receiver free). Some receivers (currently DVRs and especially the 922) carry an up front "lease upgrade fee" but NO receiver has an "advance non-returning fee".

DISH Network has a fee schedule that is provided when one signs up for service. If one does not agree with the fee schedule, one should not sign up for service. (And one should check with other providers to see what fees they charge.)
Perhaps I spread too much, not all models, but there are other fees (mirror, phone line - it was brought a few mil $ before last Feb, etc), what we (14M customers, how many devices ?) paid, which could easily cover hundred receivers lost during that tragic day.
 
#28 ·
DISH charges a lot of fees for the services provided. None of them obligate the company to cover losses that will be covered by their customer's insurance (if insured).

Each customer is an individual case. Why treat the customers in Joplin any different than those in other communities who have also faced disaster? Only for PR value?

DISH isn't calling up customers and demanding cash today. DISH will handle the individual cases as they present themselves over time.
 
#30 ·
phrelin said:
To add to James' comments, I'm just baffled by the discussion here. If you've lost a home including all your belongings, the satellite TV company's box is hardly noticeable among your losses. And many in Joplin have lost family members.

When this kind of discussion occurred a couple of years ago relative to the wildfires, I wondered about people's priorities. Getting angry about Dish Network won't help anyone.

Donate some money to help these folks. If you can't figure out any other way, use a Dish Network Donation Channel discussed in another thread.
Exactly... This is deja vu all over again.

IF all you lost in a natural disaster was a Dish receiver... then you did good. IF you lost other things, then the Dish receiver is probably way down on your list of things to worry about... and I doubt Dish has been calling people and demanding payment right now! I'm sure it gets handled on a case-by-case basis over time.

Consider... IF you lost your home, that doesn't mean you get to stop making mortgage payments! IF you have insurance, you'll hopefully get reimbursed to replace the home... but you have to keep making your house payments. IF you don't have insurance, and can't afford to pay out of pocket replacement... you can bet you still have to make those mortgage payments for the nothing.

Also... as already posted earlier... Home (or renter) insurance would cover loss of a Dish receiver... IF you don't have insurance, then you are self-insuring and have that responsibility yourself.

I love how people want others to pay for stuff and replace their stuff for free... then will flip to the other side of the conversation and be adamant that they don't want to pay for other people's stuff, and suggest personal responsibility.
 
#31 ·
Dish has been in Business for what, 15 years? In those 15 years, how many tornado's, fires, hurricanes, etc have destroyed homes caused damage to customers receivers across the US?
Pretty sure Dish has had enough experience to this point to already have a plan in place. But bottom line is, if you don't have home/renters insurance, then it's your on fault...
 
#32 ·
SayWhat? said:
What about all the thousands of receivers lost during all the other tragic days?
Those VP has enough in cash to pay $500M to TiVo, I don't see any problem to replace lost thousands receivers during natural disasters. Don't forget - E* has insuranse for those manufactured devices, satellites, etc. Especially leased receivers.

Send from my Foleo running old version of Opera without spell checker.
 
#33 ·
E* probably DOESN'T have insurance on LEASED receivers. They're beyond their control; it's on your property and subject to your loss.
 
#34 ·
RasputinAXP said:
E* probably DOESN'T have insurance on LEASED receivers. They're beyond their control; it's on your property and subject to your loss.
Without looking thru those papers (E* is the manufacturer, not sure if they pass ownership to dish) your word is good as mine.

So, while your used correct word "probably", your conclusion is nonconclusive because of that missing knowledge.
 
#35 ·
Only responding because DIRECTV was brought up in this. If there is a natural disaster DIRECTV actually has policies in place and will replace equipment and waive non return fees.

While I'm all for companies making money this is a situation where a company needs to bite the bullet and replace them. They do more to get new customers so in an extreme situation like this they should do the same to keep existing.
 
#36 ·
P Smith said:
So, while your used correct word "probably", your conclusion is nonconclusive because of that missing knowledge.
So you're more right because you're more certain? The moon is made of cheese. I am certain. And those who say "probably not" are wrong ... so I am proven right by their statements. :rolleyes:

DISH publishes their financials ... if you can find where leased receivers are insured that will prove your assumption. Otherwise the best place to look is the residential customer agreement or the specific agreement signed when leasing a receiver. It clearly states that if the receiver is returned damaged or not returned the customer WILL remain liable.
 
#37 ·
Yeah... why wouldn't people just claim their receiver was damaged due to a lightning surge and that Dish needed to replace it for free... in order to get a new receiver. Easy peasy, IF Dish were on the hook for the receivers at all times for all reasons.

Part of the agreement you sign includes your acceptance of responsibility for those receivers and to take care of them while in your home.

IF DirecTV replaces for free in cases like this... good for them. Dish too could do something in these situations on a case-by-case basis.

In my state, for example... FEMA has rejected a lot of claims of loss due to the tornadoes that swept through NC a while back... so if FEMA isn't paying, why would Dish?
 
#41 ·
I read through all of this, and I see the vitriol being spewed back and forth, and one simple thought comes to mind.

Where is the story? If it was on a radio show, I want a link to listen to that excerpt. I want to hear/see the story with my own two eyes/ears. I want to confirm that this has actually happened. If nobody can pony up proof of this story, then it's clearly just hearsay and rumor with zero basis in fact or customer experience.

Or in layman's terms: "Someone be trollin' hard."

Should this story turn out to be true, then why even discuss it? Seriously? A Dish Network Receiver? They're mad about being charged for that? I'm sure I'm echoing the sentiments of many others here when I say If all they're upset about is a missing/destroyed Dish Network Receiver, their problems clearly are not issues of basic necessities or human life. Additionally, whatever story there is to be had from this, nobody should be hyping this up or getting indignant when there are clearly much more important things to worrying about in Joplin aside from a few receivers.

That anyone would bring this up at all, and try make a big deal of it, is just deplorable. Using something like the tragedy in Joplin to blast a company on claims they can't even back up? Low, man. Real low.
 
#42 ·
Lucavex said:
I read through all of this, and I see the vitriol being spewed back and forth, and one simple thought comes to mind.

Where is the story? If it was on a radio show, I want a link to listen to that excerpt. I want to hear/see the story with my own two eyes/ears. I want to confirm that this has actually happened. If nobody can pony up proof of this story, then it's clearly just hearsay and rumor with zero basis in fact or customer experience.

Or in layman's terms: "Someone be trollin' hard."

Should this story turn out to be true, then why even discuss it? Seriously? A Dish Network Receiver? They're mad about being charged for that? I'm sure I'm echoing the sentiments of many others here when I say If all they're upset about is a missing/destroyed Dish Network Receiver, their problems clearly are not issues of basic necessities or human life. Additionally, whatever story there is to be had from this, nobody should be hyping this up or getting indignant when there are clearly much more important things to worrying about in Joplin aside from a few receivers.

That anyone would bring this up at all, and try make a big deal of it, is just deplorable. Using something like the tragedy in Joplin to blast a company on claims they can't even back up? Low, man. Real low.
i agree
 
#43 ·
Didn't Dish run a commercial after Katrina where they fixed everyone's setups for free (or at least gave that impression)? Of course, it wouldn't be the first time that Satellite TV providers stretched the truth on their ads.
 
#44 ·
If DISH is going to require payment for leased receivers lost in a natural disaster, it is flat out wrong as I see it.

Chances are the majority of the receivers were older SD receivers (322,625, etc.) which would have been replaced eventually. If anything, the customer will now be upgraded to new equipment. Heck, DISH doesn't even have to pay for the return shipping fees or the disposal fees upon receipt! Dish asking for a two year agreement to upgrade the customer (new dish, wiring, receivers, a new install, and Free Starz! for a year) is not asking too much from the customer.

These leased receivers have been paid for many times over. An old 322 receiver as a secondary unit charges $14 a month. Those receivers have been around for YEARS and have earned DISH millions.

However, if the customer OWNS the receivers, they should consult their insurance company for replacement.
 
#46 ·
Dave said:
Can you point me directly to this story going around? I would like to see the story in writing with my own eyes. Otherwise it is just another rumor by someone who doen't like Dish. I heard the srory was being reported that this was a omcast exec that said there people that had a comcast box lost had to pony up $ 212 for there box replacement. So until I see it in print that Dish actually did this, then it is just another rumor with no factual bases. Let me see this story.
Good point!
 
#47 ·
Mr-Rick said:
If DISH is going to require payment for leased receivers lost in a natural disaster, it is flat out wrong as I see it.
Why?

If you rent furniture from a store... and you lose that furniture in a flood or worse... is the furniture store going to let you off the hook? Or will they expect you to pay for the furniture you can't return to them?

Same for if you lease a car... except, with a car lease you are required to have insurance which will cover the loss of the car... so it evens out.

Your home will not be replaced by the mortgage company... you will either have to pay out of pocket OR file a claim with your insurance company OR perhaps FEMA will chip in... but the builder nor the lender are going to replace your house from their dime.

So why do people expect Dish to replace receivers?

IF you have a riding lawnmower... and you loan it to your neighbor to use on his yard... and while he has it in his garage, a tornado hits his garage and destroys your riding lawnmower... Are you going to just go out and buy another one yourself? Or aren't you going to demand that your neighbor pay (either out of pocket or through his insurance) to replace your mower? Be honest.
 
#48 ·
Stewart Vernon said:
Why?

If you rent furniture from a store... and you lose that furniture in a flood or worse... is the furniture store going to let you off the hook? Or will they expect you to pay for the furniture you can't return to them?

Same for if you lease a car... except, with a car lease you are required to have insurance which will cover the loss of the car... so it evens out.

Your home will not be replaced by the mortgage company... you will either have to pay out of pocket OR file a claim with your insurance company OR perhaps FEMA will chip in... but the builder nor the lender are going to replace your house from their dime.

So why do people expect Dish to replace receivers?

IF you have a riding lawnmower... and you loan it to your neighbor to use on his yard... and while he has it in his garage, a tornado hits his garage and destroys your riding lawnmower... Are you going to just go out and buy another one yourself? Or aren't you going to demand that your neighbor pay (either out of pocket or through his insurance) to replace your mower? Be honest.
Furniture, Cars, homes, riding lawn mowers, add whatever you want....those are big ticket items. We are talking about cheap satellite receivers. Many of which are fully depreciated. We were talking about public relations and the effect it will have on DISH. To replace receivers for these customers who pay monthly for service and can go where ever they want for "TV", I would replace those leased receivers for free if I were in charge at DISH.

What could it possibly cost them? It would cost if the customer had a bunch of 722's or 922's in their home, but home many people have that? Again, if they had cheap SD you can even do your upgrade to Mpeg4 now. It was going to have to happen eventually. Besides, there is a fire sale on the SD equipment now so DISH doesn't care about those receivers any more.

I see it like the electric meter. It is owned by the electric company. Never heard of the utility charging the customer for the cost of a new electric meter lost to a disaster.
 
#49 ·
Stewart Vernon said:
IF you have a riding lawnmower... and you loan it to your neighbor to use on his yard... and while he has it in his garage, a tornado hits his garage and destroys your riding lawnmower... Are you going to just go out and buy another one yourself? Or aren't you going to demand that your neighbor pay (either out of pocket or through his insurance) to replace your mower? Be honest.
If a tornado took out my neighbor's garage and not my house I'd be extremely happy.

BTW: Don't read that as a desire to see my neighbor's garage wrecked ... just given the option I wouldn't be worried about my mower.

Of course, that assumes that I like that neighbor enough to let them borrow my lawnmower - and not return it to my house immediately when finished.

Mr-Rick said:
Furniture, Cars, homes, riding lawn mowers, add whatever you want....those are big ticket items. We are talking about cheap satellite receivers.
No, we're not. We're talking about expensive receivers with a non-return penalty. Paid for owned receivers don't have a non-return penalty. Leased receivers have a non-return fee as stated in the contract: "All standard-definition receivers (301, 311, 322, 381, 512, 522, 625), $100; high-definition (HD) non-DVR receiver (211, 211k, 222, 222k, 411), $200; HD DVR receiver (612, 622, 722, 722k), $300; and SlingLoaded™ DVR receiver (922), $400."

These are the fees one agreed to when one agrees to the lease. Don't like it? Don't lease.

DISH is NOT going to charge people for the non-return of old owned receivers ... and I expect that at the end of the story when people need a new receiver they will be able to lease a replacement. Regardless of the oddly timed complaint allegedly heard on the radio.

Besides, there is a fire sale on the SD equipment now so DISH doesn't care about those receivers any more.
Who says the lost receivers are all SD? Nobody affected in Joplin had HD?

I see it like the electric meter. It is owned by the electric company. Never heard of the utility charging the customer for the cost of a new electric meter lost to a disaster.
I don't recall signing a lease agreement on my electric meter. Did you sign one? Honestly? When one cancels electric service in your town do they remove the meter and return it to the power company? No one around here does that. :rolleyes:

If you have to compare a piece of satellite equipment to an electric meter look at the dish. That is the piece of technology that takes the signal from outside of the home and brings it inside the home. When one moves they leave the dish behind (with DISH's hope that the next person will use it). Just like an electric meter. One doesn't leave leased receivers behind ... unless one wants to pay the $100-$400 per receiver fees.
 
#50 ·
Stewart Vernon said:
Why?

If you rent furniture from a store... and you lose that furniture in a flood or worse... is the furniture store going to let you off the hook? Or will they expect you to pay for the furniture you can't return to them?

Same for if you lease a car... except, with a car lease you are required to have insurance which will cover the loss of the car... so it evens out.

Your home will not be replaced by the mortgage company... you will either have to pay out of pocket OR file a claim with your insurance company OR perhaps FEMA will chip in... but the builder nor the lender are going to replace your house from their dime.

So why do people expect Dish to replace receivers?

IF you have a riding lawnmower... and you loan it to your neighbor to use on his yard... and while he has it in his garage, a tornado hits his garage and destroys your riding lawnmower... Are you going to just go out and buy another one yourself? Or aren't you going to demand that your neighbor pay (either out of pocket or through his insurance) to replace your mower? Be honest.
Remind me to NEVER move next to you. First, with regards to the mower, I would be more worried about my neighbor and their well being and HELPING them get back on their feet rather than some stupid lawnmower I let them borrow. If you were my neighber and you took that tone w/ me or a fellow neighbor, I would call you a heartless SOB. If it was my lawnmower, I would probably refuse any attempt for them to pay for it unless they made it perfectly clear that their insurance was picking up the tab.

Dish network Stands to lose more by NOT writing those expenses off. I agree that Dish Network doesn't HAVE to but.... they should. It makes business sense to. One, your competitors in the Joplin market have already said they won't make customers pay. In order to stay competitve in Joplin, you have to follow suit. Two, it shows good will. Companies that go above and beyond will build loyality with current and potential customers.

Thanks.

Jason
 
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