Can I Get Anything Extra If I Use Protection?

2394 Views 25 Replies 16 Participants Last post by I WANT MORE, Oct 6, 2008

psumichael

Discussion Starter · Sep 28, 2008

Hello. New forum member here.

If anyone has thoughts on this I'd appreciate it!

My DirecTV antenna must have moved because I have signal strength readings in the 30s-60s on satellites 103(c), 103(s), 99(s) and 99(c).

I'm about to sign up for the DirecTV Protection Plan and then a few days later have them come out and reposition the antenna. I've also just recently purchased another HDTV (for my bedroom) and am interested in getting an HD receiver or HD DVR for the bedroom, which would be the 2nd HD DVR as I have one in the living room.

What sort of deal should I expect from DirecTV at a minimum? Should I expect adding the protection plan to my account to yield a discount on the HD receiver or DVR?

Or is that expecting too much? Is there any other way to finagle an HD receiver or HD DVR without paying $100 or $200 up front?

Thanks so much for any help!!

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

Michael D'Angelo

· #2 · Sep 28, 2008

:welcome_s to DBSTalk!

Adding the protection will allow you to get a service call at a discounted rate within the first 30 days. I believe it is $20 if you add it. You have to add it and wait 30 days for the service call to be free. Also once you add the protection plan you have to keep it 12 months.

The protection plan will not get you any kind of deal. Deals depend on your status with DIRECTV and you will need to call and ask if you are eligible for any deals.

joshjr

· #3 · Sep 28, 2008

How long have you been with D*? You can log into your account online and see what the price for a HD DVR or HD reciver would be. If you ask them to come tweak your dish a few days after signing up for the protection plan then there is still a charge but its not the $80 service charge fee.

psumichael

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 28, 2008

Michael D'Angelo;1812806 said:
:welcome_s to DBSTalk!

Adding the protection will allow you to get a service call at a discounted rate within the first 30 days. I believe it is $20 if you add it. You have to add it and wait 30 days for the service call to be free. Also once you add the protection plan you have to keep it 12 months.

The protection plan will not get you any kind of deal. Deals depend on your status with DIRECTV and you will need to call and ask if you are eligible for any deals.

Thanks for the info. I didn't know that they charge $20 for a service call in the first 30 days. That's stupid, but thanks for letting me know. I realize that you have to keep the plan for 12 months but I've heard that the $72 ($6x12) is still cheaper than a single dish realignment without the protection plan. Is that right?

Regarding deals do you think that D* would be willing to give me an HD DVR for free or at a reduced price if I extended my contract for another year? I ask here because the responses of the phone agents are so varied I don't know what is true and what isn't....

BTW, to answer another poster's question: I've been with D* for a little over a year.

Big game tomorrow night for the Ravens!

Michael D'Angelo

· #5 · Sep 28, 2008

psumichael said:
Thanks for the info. I didn't know that they charge $20 for a service call in the first 30 days. That's stupid, but thanks for letting me know. I realize that you have to keep the plan for 12 months but I've heard that the $72 ($6x12) is still cheaper than a single dish realignment without the protection plan. Is that right?

Regarding deals do you think that D* would be willing to give me an HD DVR for free or at a reduced price if I extended my contract for another year? I ask here because the responses of the phone agents are so varied I don't know what is true and what isn't....

BTW, to answer another poster's question: I've been with D* for a little over a year.

Big game tomorrow night for the Ravens!

I have the protection plan and think it is worth it. It covers service calls, dish, cables, and multi-switches. Service calls are $80 and than there are charges if you need anything replaced.

The 30 day thing is so people don't wait until they need it and just add it then.

Everyone is offered something different and some are not offered anything depending on your status with DIRECTV. You will need to call and ask. Also adding an HD DVR or HD receiver will reset your contract to 2 years.

psumichael

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 28, 2008

Michael D'Angelo;1812839 said:
I have the protection plan and think it is worth it. It covers service calls, dish, cables, and multi-switches. Service calls are $80 and than there are charges if you need anything replaced.

The 30 day thing is so people don't wait until they need it and just add it then.

Everyone is offered something different and some are not offered anything depending on your status with DIRECTV. You will need to call and ask. Also adding an HD DVR or HD receiver will reset your contract to 2 years.

Michael, thanks for the quick responses!

I'm going to add the protection plan.

Let me get this straight... Not only do I have to pay $200 for a second HD DVR but I'll also have to renew my contract for another 2 years!?! That seems crazy to me. I would understand an automatic renewal in exchange for a free receiver but the combo of $200 fee and a 2 yr. forced renewal is ridiculous...

Michael D'Angelo

· #7 · Sep 28, 2008

psumichael said:
Michael, thanks for the quick responses!

I'm going to add the protection plan.

Let me get this straight... Not only do I have to pay $200 for a second HD DVR but I'll also have to renew my contract for another 2 years!?! That seems crazy to me. I would understand an automatic renewal in exchange for a free receiver but the combo of $200 fee and a 2 yr. forced renewal is ridiculous...

That is correct and the $200 is the leased price. To own the unit it is $499.

PicaKing

· #8 · Sep 28, 2008

Can I Get Anything Extra If I Use Protection?

In my experience, you can get some unwanted extras if you dont use protection...

I WANT MORE

· #9 · Sep 28, 2008

Sometimes I wonder if people word things that way on purpose.

It has been my experience that you can indeed get something extra if you use protection.

psumichael

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 28, 2008

I WANT MORE said:
Sometimes I wonder if people word things that way on purpose.

It has been my experience that you can indeed get something extra if you use protection.

No, I would never word the title creatively to get people to read it. :nono: Well, maybe a little....

Thanks for all the responses. I'll be signing up for the protection plan.

Now just to figure out if I want to pay $100/$200 (and extend contract 2 years) to get an HD receiver/DVR for my 2nd room. I'm debating the last point since FIOS is being installed....might be nice to have the freedom to go to FIOS a year from now when my current contract expires. Thoughts?

BigSey

· #11 · Sep 29, 2008

Before you sign up, ask if you can get a call for free. I was able to get a dish realignment for free but they were very clear in saying that I only get it this one time for free and that they'll be noting my record. I do have Premier, ST, EI and have been a customer for a few years but it's always worth a shot.

psumichael

Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 29, 2008

BigSey said:
Before you sign up, ask if you can get a call for free. I was able to get a dish realignment for free but they were very clear in saying that I only get it this one time for free and that they'll be noting my record. I do have Premier, ST, EI and have been a customer for a few years but it's always worth a shot.

Good idea, BigSey! I'll try that. I have Sunday Ticket, HD plus DVR service. What's EI?

joshjr

· #13 · Sep 29, 2008

psumichael said:
Good idea, BigSey! I'll try that. I have Sunday Ticket, HD plus DVR service. What's EI?

I think that is the MLB Extra Innings.

Doom878

· #14 · Sep 29, 2008

What if you just got installed? I got the PP 2 days before the install. I had "searching...." due to rain yesterday and I just got installed last week.

dettxw

· #15 · Sep 29, 2008

Don't have to worry about Satellite Tuner Deficiencies?

DrummerBoy523

· #16 · Sep 29, 2008

Doom878 said:
What if you just got installed? I got the PP 2 days before the install. I had "searching...." due to rain yesterday and I just got installed last week.

I think there is some sort of 90 day warranty so you should immediately call them up and tell them the dish isn't aligned properly and you were just installed. Also - don't let the installer leave w/o signals at least in the 80s. Preferably 90s.

scrybigtv

· #17 · Sep 29, 2008

dettxw said:
Don't have to worry about Satellite Tuner Deficiencies?

:lol:

mishawaka

· #18 · Sep 29, 2008

PicaKing said:
Can I Get Anything Extra If I Use Protection?

In my experience, you can get some unwanted extras if you dont use protection...

i knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that id see something like this :lol:

psumichael

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 4, 2008

BigSey said:
Before you sign up, ask if you can get a call for free. I was able to get a dish realignment for free but they were very clear in saying that I only get it this one time for free and that they'll be noting my record. I do have Premier, ST, EI and have been a customer for a few years but it's always worth a shot.

Thanks to everyone for their input. Today I added the protection plan to my account and was able to convince the agent to waive any charge for an immediate service visit to realign my D* antenna. As someone else mentioned they wanted to charge me $19.95 for any service call within 30 days of adding the protection plan to my account, but a simple, polite request resulted in the agent agreeing to credit my account $19.95 to offset that charge. Service visit scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

In a way it still seems silly to me that I have to pay extra to get them to service equipment they own but life goes on...

prospect60

· #20 · Oct 4, 2008

PicaKing said:
Can I Get Anything Extra If I Use Protection?

In my experience, you can get some unwanted extras if you dont use protection...

When I saw the thread title I was truly shocked to see this take all the way until post #8 for this to show up knowing this forum.

Don't have to worry about Satellite Tuner Deficiencies?

And my current leading lady favorite for most creative post of the year.

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

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