[ambull]

Hello everyone.

After toying with the idea of leaving comcast and taking the Directv plunge for many years now, I have finally jumped in. I must say the water IS warm so far! Hasn't even been a week yet - but I am really happy with my service so far...

Anyway, my first question/post here since becoming a customer, is in regards to moving. I will be moving out of state in 9-12 months. Now i know Directv will move me free of charge, which is great. But what I would like to know is if that comes at a cost of a contract extension?

And furthermore, what are the type things that trigger contract extensions anyway, aside from the obvious equipment upgrades? For instance, I bought the Protection Plan, now if i were to have a receiver go bad, and they were to replace it under this PP, would that trigger an extension?

I don't like being locked in to anything, and that's one of the primary reasons I held off for so long with Dtv...

I know back in the day when I use to have Verizon Cell service, you could get a contract extension by sneezing. Just curious how things work with Dtv...

Thanks!

 

[igator99]

Hello everyone.

After toying with the idea of leaving comcast and taking the Directv plunge for many years now, I have finally jumped in. I must say the water IS warm so far! Hasn't even been a week yet - but I am really happy with my service so far...

Anyway, my first question/post here since becoming a customer, is in regards to moving. I will be moving out of state in 9-12 months. Now i know Directv will move me free of charge, which is great. But what I would like to know is if that comes at a cost of a contract extension?

And furthermore, what are the type things that trigger contract extensions anyway, aside from the obvious equipment upgrades? For instance, I bought the Protection Plan, now if i were to have a receiver go bad, and they were to replace it under this PP, would that trigger an extension?

I don't like being locked in to anything, and that's one of the primary reasons I held off for so long with Dtv...

I know back in the day when I use to have Verizon Cell service, you could get a contract extension by sneezing. Just curious how things work with Dtv...

Thanks!

Don't sneeze. The way I understand it, any sort of an upgrade or exchange means another two year commitment. Welcome to the trap!:lol:

 

[Azalo]

supposedly its now 1 yr for movers, used to be 2 but it also seems like YMMV depending on which CSR you speak with that day. I was extended for movers and accepting programming credits but that doesn't neccesarily mean you will apparently.

 

[Upstream]

DirecTV does not publish their commitment extension policies. Every CSR you talk to will give you a different answer.

Supposedly DirecTV's unpublished policy indicates that you only get commitment extensions for activating new leased receivers on your account, replacing a defective owned receiver at a discounted price, and taking advantage of certain promotions (including taking advantage of Movers Connection). Replacing a defective receiver under the Protection Plan does not extend your commitment, as per the Protection Plan contract.

In reality, DirecTV extends contracts for anything and everything. Replace a defective receiver under the Protection Plan; that's a two year commitment. Get a billing mistake fixed; that's a two year commitment. Have a hamburger for dinner; that's a two year commitment.

Now you can get your erroneous commitments corrected, sort of. It will require you to spend hours on the phone with CSRs who insist that eating hamburgers really does extend your commitment. Then you'll have to send an email to [email protected] explaining the problem. Then you'll get a letter of apology indicating that the commitment extension was either a system issue or a CSR coaching issue. They will also inform you that the DirecTV system does not allow them to correct incorrect commitment dates. So they will put a note in the comments section of your account, indicating the correct commitment date.

When you call in a few months later, the CSR will not see the note on your account, and will only see the computer-generated incorrect commitment. When you tell the CSR to read the note on xxx date, they will tell you that the note is incorrect, or you extended your commitment after the note, or they can't find the note at all. Eventually you will find someone who will admit that the note really does indicate your real commitment date.

If you don't like being locked into things when you actually agree to being locked in, then DirecTV may not be the company for you.

 

[lander215]

I used Movers in May 2008, cancelled the account in August 2008 without any extra fee's.

 

[DesertFlyer]

I just used the movers connection last month with no contract extension. I was still under my initial contract anyways, so I don't know if that had anything to do with it. They are also giving away free Showtime and Starz for 3 months with the move.

 

[JLucPicard]

I just read a post here today where someone said if you use Mover's Connection and don't upgrade at the same time, that there is no extension. Prior to that I was under the impression it was a one-year extension, and if you have at least that much time left on your current (when you move) commitment, it wouldn't extend it anyway.

I moved back in April of 2007, but I also upgraded several HR10-250s to HR20s at the same time, so I started another two-year clock ticking at that point.

 

[bigboyman2]

Basically, the movers connection comes with no additional commitment (w/o getting upgraded receivers, anyway). If you're currently under a commitment it doesn't do anything. Say you have 9 months left on your existing commitment, using the movers will still not do anything.

Now, if you use the movers connection a second time within 1 year, it does cost $199, and no additional programming commitment, again, unless you got additional/upgraded receivers. The no commitment thing only applies if you move existing equipment to the new location. any more, or any upgraded equipment come with the commitmnet

As always, upgrading to a dvr or hd receiver is 2 years commitment (same rules apply), and a standard additional receiver is 18 months (again, same rules as above apply)

Unless it gets changed again >_>

 

[DesertFlyer]

But say you have 9 months left on your existing commitment, using the movers will extend it to the 1 year.

That so weird because I only had a few months left on my contract and there was no contract extension.

 

[bigboyman2]

That so weird because I only had a few months left on my contract and there was no contract extension.

Hold on, let me revise my previous post. They updated the requirements. they definitely changed something xD

 

[Upstream]

On the top of the Movers Connection page, it clearly says that the program is "Free to qualifying customers who renew their programming commitment."


Of course the reports of people not getting commitment renewals is typical-DirecTV. They renew commitments when they aren't supposed to, and they fail to renew them when they are supposed to.

 

[rudeney]

Hello everyone.

After toying with the idea of leaving comcast and taking the Directv plunge for many years now, I have finally jumped in. I must say the water IS warm so far! Hasn't even been a week yet - but I am really happy with my service so far...

Congratulations. I'll bet that years from now, you will still be happy with the D* product. They really do have the best "TV".

Anyway, my first question/post here since becoming a customer, is in regards to moving. I will be moving out of state in 9-12 months. Now i know Directv will move me free of charge, which is great. But what I would like to know is if that comes at a cost of a contract extension?

Maybe, maybe not. It's the "Carousel of Policy". Of course nothing says you have to have them move you. When they do, it's just a basic install, meaning a new dish if necessary and simple wiring that does not include inside wall "fishing". You do carry the receivers with you. You could DIY, or hire a contractor to do it for you. You might get lucky and find a house with an existing dish and wiring in which case you do nothing but connect your receivers and call D* with the new address.

And furthermore, what are the type things that trigger contract extensions anyway, aside from the obvious equipment upgrades? For instance, I bought the Protection Plan, now if i were to have a receiver go bad, and they were to replace it under this PP, would that trigger an extension?

As others have mentioned, there is no officially published policy on commitment extensions. Generally, as long as you aren't adding hardware, you shouldn't be affecting your commitment. If you have the PP, your commitment should never be increased when filing a claim for repair or replacement of equipment.

My advice is that anytime you contact D*, write down the dat and time of your call, who you spoke to, and a brief description of the conversation. Always ask the CSR if the transaction will affect your commitment date. Also, have the CSR verify your commitment expiration date at the end of the call.

I don't like being locked in to anything, and that's one of the primary reasons I held off for so long with Dtv...

You can get out of it, it will just cost you about $480 (reduced $20 per month for each month you continue service). You will likely find that the product is good enough that you don't want to get out of the commitment.

I know back in the day when I use to have Verizon Cell service, you could get a contract extension by sneezing. Just curious how things work with Dtv...

Yeah, if you changed one little thing about your service, like adding text messaging or increasing or decreasing your allowed minutes, it would require a new contract term. Luckily, Verizon has stopped that. Basically, they only re-up the contract when you buy a new phone a the reduced "contract renewal" price.

 

[ambull]

Thanks to everyone!!! Very helpful info... Thanks especially to your post rudeney...

 

[rudeney]

Oh dear, and yet I try to be so cynical...:lol: