[Rabidfool]

Anyone know of a good number or point of contact for install complaints?

Everything from poor wire runs (no wallplate, coax connector INSIDE the wall) to no HD cables (but I can buy them from the installer) to trash everywhere.

I have a few issues that need correction but I am refusing to let these people or anyone from their company back in my house. Believe the company is Homestead or something similar.

 

[raoul5788]

Anyone know of a good number or point of contact for install complaints?

Everything from poor wire runs (no wallplate, coax connector INSIDE the wall) to no HD cables (but I can buy them from the installer) to trash everywhere.

I have a few issues that need correction but I am refusing to let these people or anyone from their company back in my house. Believe the company is Homestead or something similar.

Maybe Halsted? They are here in CT and not very good. YMMV. There is an email address here somewhere for Ellen somebody. She is a VP of some kind. Apparently she can get you results. A search should find it for you.

 

[DTVTech4U]

Maybe Halsted? They are here in CT and not very good. YMMV. There is an email address here somewhere for Ellen somebody. She is a VP of some kind. Apparently she can get you results. A search should find it for you.

write a letter to the ceo's office at directv, i guarantee you you'll have people falling over backwards to please you.

Its known as a OOP to the HSP, Office of the President issue. The install was so bad that the customer wrote a letter to the OOP detailing how bad it was. Generaly means a 5,000 fine to the HSP, and that tech possably fired, depending on just how bad and what was done, eitherway u'll have a region/dist manager possably comming by instead of a grunt(tech).

 

[RobertE]

Anyone know of a good number or point of contact for install complaints?

Everything from poor wire runs (no wallplate, coax connector INSIDE the wall) to no HD cables (but I can buy them from the installer) to trash everywhere.

I have a few issues that need correction but I am refusing to let these people or anyone from their company back in my house. Believe the company is Homestead or something similar.

Where were you during all of this?

Honestly, you should have said something to the guy while he was there and before you signed off on the paperwork.

 

[Rabidfool]

Where were you during all of this?

Honestly, you should have said something to the guy while he was there and before you signed off on the paperwork.

I was and did. 2 of them 1 of me. I was with the one inside most of the install and he deffered all my questions to the older partner. Forexample when I asked about the cables, he got nervous and said to ask the other partner. Then said something of DirectTV not supplying HDMI anymore and they will give me composite (which they never did.)

Only thing I signed was a lease agreement, nothing about the install. And I was povided with no paper work. I just dont feel comfortable arguing with 2 strangers in my new house.

 

[br408408]

I don't know what kind of receiver you got, but with my H21-700, the HDMI cable came in the box with the receiver. He's probably keeping them and selling them on Ebay

 

[RobertE]

I was and did. 2 of them 1 of me. I was with the one inside most of the install and he deffered all my questions to the older partner. Forexample when I asked about the cables, he got nervous and said to ask the other partner. Then said something of DirectTV not supplying HDMI anymore and they will give me composite (which they never did.)

Only thing I signed was a lease agreement, nothing about the install. And I was povided with no paper work. I just dont feel comfortable arguing with 2 strangers in my new house.

Fair enough. Reason I asked, was I've seen far to many times where a "nightmare" thread starts with "I wasn't home, left wife/GF/SO/etc at home" then disaster ensues.

Sounds like some subs, or someone with a trainee.

As for the cables, they/we are supposed to provide what is needed to make the connection. However, given that, we have been running out of cables over the past few weeks. Why? Who knows, but we have been. Doesn't make it right though.

 

[joshjr]

Dont forget you have 24 hours to cancel. I am sure if you call D* back and threaten to cancel that they will have someone come and do the job right.

 

[joshjr]

Here is a direct number for the VP's office. I know they are working today as I got a call from Corey this monring from that office who gave me the number. It is [Mod Edit: Redacted]. Hope this helps.

 

[RobertE]

Dont forget you have 24 hours to cancel. I am sure if you call D* back and threaten to cancel that they will have someone come and do the job right.

Or they may just say ok, no more TV for you.

Only threaten to cancel if you willing to do so, they do call that bluff from time to time.

 

[Rabidfool]

Here is a direct number for the VP's office. I know they are working today as I got a call from Corey this monring from that office who gave me the number. It is [Mod Edit: Redacted phone number]. Hope this helps.

Just spoke with this number, VERY helpful.

I explained the situation and they scheduled me for this week to fix one of the wire runs. Unfortunately this is the only install company in the area so it may be the same guys. I politely let the CSR know the same installers will not be allowed on my property.

Didn't threaten to quit as I have no intention. Just explained how uncomfortable the entire installation was. Nothing seemed professional about it. She agreed with a lot of my points and stated she will follow up with the company.

As I informed here I wasn't nitpicking about small items, but I'm not happy having to take more time off work to have wire runs done again and having to setup everything myself (remotes, on demand, etc etc.)

 

[joshjr]

Glad to help. Hope it works out. Let us know what happens. How long before they come back?

 

[Rabidfool]

4 days

 

[ironwood]

I was and did. 2 of them 1 of me. I was with the one inside most of the install and he deffered all my questions to the older partner. Forexample when I asked about the cables, he got nervous and said to ask the other partner. Then said something of DirectTV not supplying HDMI anymore and they will give me composite (which they never did.)

Only thing I signed was a lease agreement, nothing about the install. And I was povided with no paper work. I just dont feel comfortable arguing with 2 strangers in my new house.

How did they connect recever to the TV? You said no HDMI and no composite.

 

[Rabidfool]

How did they connect recever to the TV? You said no HDMI and no composite.

Old school RCA cables. And there was no conformation of working channels as a few moments after it was setup the signal was lost (heavy heavy rain.) My first hour I was unable to watch any TV.

Happy with picture quality and service so far. My issues are with the install and not the product.

 

[Johnnie5000]

Old school RCA cables. And there was no conformation of working channels as a few moments after it was setup the signal was lost (heavy heavy rain.) My first hour I was unable to watch any TV.

Old school RCA = composite.
So the install sucked because it was put in during heavy rain then? I know my work quality goes to absolute s*** when I'm forced to work during heavy rain.
I'm not going to say anything bad about the installer without pictures to prove its bad.

I don't know what kind of receiver you got, but with my H21-700, the HDMI cable came in the box with the receiver. He's probably keeping them and selling them on Ebay

Doubt that. All receivers HSPs get now have a "NC" after the model number. This means no cable.

 

[Rabidfool]

Old school RCA = composite.
So the install sucked because it was put in during heavy rain then? I know my work quality goes to absolute s*** when I'm forced to work during heavy rain.
I'm not going to say anything bad about the installer without pictures to prove its bad.

Doubt that. All receivers HSPs get now have a "NC" after the model number. This means no cable.

My lingo may be off with the RCAs. The cables used were non high def red white and yellow. He stated he would use high def capable ones but never did.

Rain was heavy one second non existant the next. If the job cannot be done correctly then why bother doing it wrong and half assed?

Shown below; First is a wire drilled from outside the house to the upstairs bedroom. Wire is run around exterior. Small drip look on outside with no extra cable available. Thats the back side of the connector. Tight already it is impossible to access the line connector another inch or so in the wall. As is impossible to attach a wall plate nor can I even unswcew this connection.

Second my backyard after they left.

 

[Johnnie5000]

Rain was heavy one second non existant the next. If the job cannot be done correctly then why bother doing it wrong and half assed?

Because that decision is not privy to the installers. We don't get to get out of installs during bad weather unless it is lightening. Customers can opt out of us working during bad weather since it obviously is detrimental to the quality of work.

Shown below; First is a wire drilled from outside the house to the upstairs bedroom. Wire is run around exterior. Small drip look on outside with no extra cable available. Thats the back side of the connector. Tight already it is impossible to access the line connector another inch or so in the wall. As is impossible to attach a wall plate nor can I even unswcew this connection.

Second my backyard after they left.

Well, the upstairs connection is just bad. At least a portion of the wire will have to be replace to get a wall plate on.

And the little bits of trash in the back could have been picked up a bit.
Except for the dish network dishes. Those belong to you regardless of whether or not the techs were nice enough to remove them. Your dish network dishes = your disposal.
Granted if your yard is that big of a deal, I can't help but wonder why you are waiting on someone else to come and clean it up instead of doing it yourself. I would have already cleaned it up if it were my yard.

 

[samrs]

If those two dishes came off your roof(looks like one did for sure), you might want to patch the holes before it rains again. Just a thought.

 

[Rabidfool]

Because that decision is not privy to the installers. We don't get to get out of installs during bad weather unless it is lightening. Customers can opt out of us working during bad weather since it obviously is detrimental to the quality of work.

Well, the upstairs connection is just bad. At least a portion of the wire will have to be replace to get a wall plate on.

And the little bits of trash in the back could have been picked up a bit.
Except for the dish network dishes. Those belong to you regardless of whether or not the techs were nice enough to remove them. Your dish network dishes = your disposal.
Granted if your yard is that big of a deal, I can't help but wonder why you are waiting on someone else to come and clean it up instead of doing it yourself. I would have already cleaned it up if it were my yard.

Thank you for your input. You seem very knowledgeable, however, you obviously favor installers by default. I understand it can be tough so I always offer any help carrying items or whatnot and I always offer drinks and food and use of restrooms. If the job cannot be done because of weather you do not do it. You cannot do a sub par job and blame the rain. If the rain stops you from doing a PROFESSIONAL installation then don't attempt it. I can run wire haphazardly like this, but I waited a month for the PROFESSIONAL install so it would look nice and be done correctly.

I am an easy customer but Direct TV has already given me headaches with trying to sign up and now the install. I don't want a portion of the wire to be replaced I want a new run. I have no desire to have multiple splits and connectors on a single line running to my HDTV.

Also, I was surprised to see the old dishs scattered in my yard when I never once said I even wanted them removed.

I spoke with a CSR at the number posted above and she was in 100% agreement that this was a poor install. Hell, within 5 minutes of arriving the tech was talking about the $400 Direct TV charged back to him last week alone.