Nearing end of contract...when to cancel?

You don't have to pay the bill as long as you cancel on the last day of the current billing period (shown at the top right of your monthly statement).

The unused programming charges are credited back so the only thing you really have to worry about are the various fees for equipment and equipment services if you miss the date.

It may be worth paying one month's ETF to not have to worry about it. If you still have a week or so left on your commitment, the programming credits may well offset the ETF.

 

You can also schedule your cancellation to fall on your last billing day. No need to wait for last minute

 

I was in the same boat last November. Month 24 of 24 on an upgrade (Genie). Called on the last day of the bill cycle and they cancelled it. Now one thing of note. It takes up to 24 hours for the signal to actually be nuked so you will have programming for up to 24 hours after you cancel (my end cycle was the 17th and cancelled. Programming was nuked the 18th around 10PM)

 

I called in on Dec 31 to change packages and deactivate one DVR. This happened while I was on the phone talking to the lady.
The DVR was showing programing and then it went blank and a message popped up to call and add programing. I checked the DVR in the Den and the guide had already changed to the new package also.

 

I think if you say Cancel instead of pressing any buttons you will get a rep right away.

 

If I am not mistaken the bill is for the next month, we pay in advance not after the fact.

The small refund you refer to is possibly the other way around. Return the receivers to keep from paying a big charge for them not being returned.

 

Correct, we pay in advance. So if he paid $100 for 30 days of service and cancelled 15 days into the month then he will get a refund for $50. I believe they hold that refund until they get all of his receivers returned and then credit it back to his credit card, or mail him a check (not sure about the check though).

 

DIRECTV goes to some effort to distinguish between "charges" and "fees". IIRC, charges may be prorated but fees are not.

 

Source?

 

I just cancelled and got an email stating that I'll get the final bill in about 7 days and that they will take money on the CC on file in 44 days if any is owed. They also stated they will issue a refund if one is due though I suspect the refund, if any, wouldn't come until after they have my Genie in hand. That's the way I would expect them to do.

One thing that they do that I've never been fond of is use the Post Office as part of the shipping. Harder to track when things go back imo. So I'll be taking my box directly to FedEx so I have a trackable number to use and I'll know both when they get the box and that in fact they have it.

And being the anal person I am, I usually send an email to them when I ship with the procedure I used and the tracking number, and then another email when I've checked to see that they received it. That way I have documentation that I did what I was supposed to. Never had a problem with returns yet, but there have been enough reports of glitches happening that I figger better safe than sorry.

 

The reason for using USPS is the ease of use. Only thing you need to do is wait for your mailmen when he comes to deliver your bills to give him the DirecTV stuff. No need to go somewhere to drop it off

 

Yep easy and simple and not trackeable. No thanks I'll take it to FedEx.

 

DirecTV always includes a tracking number. Is at the bottom of the sticker, a tear off

 

Not quite that simple. You should notify your local post office that you have a package to pick up. That will insure that the mailman knows you have it and will pick it up. This is especially important on a walking type route.

 

I have never had to notify the mailman. No difference then leaving my flag up for outgoing mail. The difference is that obviously I can't leave the packages outside, so when I se him, I just giving him the boxes, sometimes he says he will come back and they always do!