[plj12345]

Last week, I decided to check what my commitment was because I ordered the HR 20 and returned it because the AT-9 dish was too large. I want to make sure that my commitment agreement did not change because I return the device to them unopened. It turned out that their records showed I had a two-year commitment from the date that I received the HD Tivo DVR back in April 2006. I located the receipt for that DVR and there was no programming commitment on the bottom of the receipt which is typically there. I have three bills dated after I received a DVR that indicate a one-year commitment. I provide proof of this to DirecTV. Their disconnection department indicates to me that their records show something different. I asked them to provide proof of the two-year commitment. They insisted that they had no proof, they just had a note on my account.

I called back the next day hoping to get a better CSR. I asked them if they could provide in writing of what they say I committed to. They stateted to me that they can provide me nothing and they were surprised to find out that the information was NOT on DirectTV website attached to my account.

I think what my big problems is that I got the DVR about the time Direct TV was changing to the lease agreements. The whole thing sounds like very deceptive business practices and/or extremely poor customer service. I'm going to send them copies of what I have in fax it as well. I'm betting the information will just go in the circular file.

Does anyone have suggestions on what I can do?

For anyone that is thinking of leaving DirecTV or anyone that is considering DirecTV be very careful because they may change your commitment agreement without your knowledge.

 

[captain_video]

Standard receivers only require a one year commitment. Advanced receivers, including HD receivers and DVRs, all carry a two year commitment. This has been in effect long before DTV went with the leasing arrangement. They may not mention it when you add the new receiver but it's posted on their website. It's also been discussed more times than I can count on this forum and many others.

 

[boba]

Standard receivers only require a one year commitment. Advanced receivers, including HD receivers and DVRs, all carry a two year commitment. This has been in effect long before DTV went with the leasing arrangement. They may not mention it when you add the new receiver but it's posted on their website. It's also been discussed more times than I can count on this forum and many others.

Your right!!!!!

 

[plj12345]

Yes I would agree with you that it has been discussed on this forum. I would also agree that it has been like that since they started the LEASED equiptment. It has NOT been a 2 year commitment for YEARS. I have a commitment agreement for OWNED equiptment dated July 28, 2005 that states it is for 1 year for an HD DVR. I do not accept the "Its on the website" argument. My point is that they did not state it to me. The month when I received the equiptment is the very month that they changed to the LEASED equiptment (I found this out recently). They did not disclose this information. Their own bills indicates that it is a 1 year agreement dated the exact date I got the new DVR. One bill could be considered a mistake and every company makes mistakes, but three bills?

If you want to just say too bad sucker, fine. But regardless of what you think I do have a valid complaint (that will probably go on deaf ears.)

 

[cybrsurfer]

Reps have always said to me that the commitment may be extended upon upgrading to certain equipment. However to the contrary albeit they have said it to me, they actually never implemented to my account.

 

[Newshawk]

The advanced receiver committment changed to two years in August of 2005.

 

[captain_video]

I have found that very few CSRs actually divulge the info about the commitment extension. I don't recall the exact date that DTV extended the commitment with advanced receivers to two years but it was started well before they switched over to leased hardware.

While you may believe you have a valid complaint, the argument has been posted numerous times and the end result is usually the same. All DTV has to do is post the disclaimer where the public can see it and they're covered. Just because you were unaware of it doesn't mean you have a leg to stand on. That's like breaking a law and then pleading ignorance that you didn't know it was illegal. You know what they say about ignorance being no excuse.

Don't get me wrong, I do sympathize with you but the fact remains there isn't much you can do about it. You could call customer retention and raise heck with them. You won't get out of the commitment extension but you may be able to wrangle some freebies from them like free HBO or Showtime for the next six months and possibly get some sort of credit on your bill.

 

[Bobman]

Does anyone have suggestions on what I can do?

Unless your planning on switching to another provider, which you didnt say you were, I wouldn't waste a second of thought over it ?

 

[untouchable]

D* has had a 2 year commitment on HD and DVR's for well over a year now...they started the 2 yr. commitment for "advanced products" back in July 2005...I as well sympathize with you, but like the cap'n says, you don't have a leg to stand on...

 

[JLucPicard]

Where did you purchase your HR10-250? The "Terms and Conditions" that you have to agree to when ordering through D*s web site clearly states that an HD DVR will require a two-year commitment (and did back in the latter part of 2005 when I bought one of mine that way).

And as far as the first several billing statements after your April 2006 purchase... it wouldn't surprise me in the least that it takes a little while anyway for that aspect to get caught up on your bill - especially when you say that the bill you received on the very day you purchased the DVR still said one year (would you have expected it to change instantaneously?). I, too, feel for you that you think you've gotten (insert correct term here), but the fact is an HD DVR at the time of your purchase required a two-year programming commitment. (By the way, the Lease model went into effect March 1, 2006, not in April when you got the HD TiVo)

The two-years is indicated in the "Terms and Conditions" when ordering through the D* web site. The CSR is supposed to explain that when you call to activate the receiver. If you bought through BB or CC or similar web site, or at a brick and mortor, they are all supposed to disclose the "fine print". And for every receiver/DVR that I have activated on my account except for the latest HR20, I have received a "Terms of Service" type pamphlet in the mail within a month or so of activation that includes that same information (the one for the HR20 may be on it's way as I've only had that for a few weeks).

Your argument that you were never notified or never specifically agreed to their terms has been made in many different ways in these forums, and I have yet to read of anyone getting D* to change their minds. It's very unfortunate that all of the methods they have in place to notify people of the programming commitment seem to have missed you, but by using the service you agree to the terms anyway. Sorry, dude.

 

[bobnielsen]

Where did you purchase your HR10-250? The "Terms and Conditions" that you have to agree to when ordering through D*s web site clearly states that an HD DVR will require a two-year commitment (and did back in the latter part of 2005 when I bought one of mine that way).

And as far as the first several billing statements after your April 2006 purchase... it wouldn't surprise me in the least that it takes a little while anyway for that aspect to get caught up on your bill - especially when you say that the bill you received on the very day you purchased the DVR still said one year (would you have expected it to change instantaneously?). I, too, feel for you that you think you've gotten (insert correct term here), but the fact is an HD DVR at the time of your purchase required a two-year programming commitment. (By the way, the Lease model went into effect March 1, 2006, not in April when you got the HD TiVo)

The two-years is indicated in the "Terms and Conditions" when ordering through the D* web site. The CSR is supposed to explain that when you call to activate the receiver. If you bought through BB or CC or similar web site, or at a brick and mortor, they are all supposed to disclose the "fine print". And for every receiver/DVR that I have activated on my account except for the latest HR20, I have received a "Terms of Service" type pamphlet in the mail within a month or so of activation that includes that same information (the one for the HR20 may be on it's way as I've only had that for a few weeks).

Your argument that you were never notified or never specifically agreed to their terms has been made in many different ways in these forums, and I have yet to read of anyone getting D* to change their minds. It's very unfortunate that all of the methods they have in place to notify people of the programming commitment seem to have missed you, but by using the service you agree to the terms anyway. Sorry, dude.

When I bought my HDVR2 and later my R15 from Best Buy they had all sorts of paperwork indicating T&C,, etc. When I got my leased H20 there a few months ago, there was no mention of terms or even the fact that it was leased. The CSR didn't bring that up either when I called to activate and schedule a AT-9 installation (I already knew what I was facing, but some folks might not).

 

[iceman2a]

D* has had a 2 year commitment on HD and DVR's for well over a year now...they started the 2 yr. commitment for "advanced products" back in July 2005...I as well sympathize with you, but like the cap'n says, you don't have a leg to stand on...

Yea, he does! He has documentation of a 1yr commitment (3 mnthly bills after his upgrade) and D* can not supply any documentations that he agreed otherwise!

"D*, changed my commitment without any notice to me"

That would be my story, and I'd stick to it!!

If you ever decided to leave after the 1yr cmtmnt and before the 2!!!

 

[plj12345]

Yea, he does! He has documentation of a 1yr commitment (3 mnthly bills after his upgrade) and D* can not supply any documentations that he agreed otherwise!

"D*, changed my commitment without any notice to me"

That would be my story, and I'd stick to it!!

If you ever decided to leave after the 1yr cmtmnt and before the 2!!!

Thank you for agreeing with me.

 

[JLucPicard]

The thing is, use of the service is agreement to the terms, and the terms state a two-year commitment upon activation of advanced technology equipment.

Good luck fighting it.

 

[geaux1]

Yea, he does! He has documentation of a 1yr commitment (3 mnthly bills after his upgrade) and D* can not supply any documentations that he agreed otherwise!

"D*, changed my commitment without any notice to me"

That would be my story, and I'd stick to it!!

If you ever decided to leave after the 1yr cmtmnt and before the 2!!!

No, unless DTV has documentation, they don't have a leg to stand on, but like other dude says, unless he plans on leaving, who cares. They did this to me about 5 years ago, said I have a contract or whatever when i didn't, I started arguing with the guy, and then I realized wht I am I arguing for when I am not leaving at the time anyway and just said forget it.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

When I canceled my old account (cheaper to do that then use mover's connections cuz we got free recievers), they said I broke my commitment. I asked customer service what triggered the commitment. 3 different calls, three different people couldn't tell me what the commitment was for, it was just there. They also stated because it was there, there was nothing they could do, i had to pay the break fee. I said BS every single time and got cut off while waiting for a supervisor. One call to retention though and they said they couldn't find a cause for it either and quickly removed it before I could even ask.

What I think triggered it was when I did a reciever swap for a bad reciever. I just deactivated one and activted another, both my recievers. I could never get a clear answer on weather or not this actually re-established a new commitment.

Now I'm too additited to my DirecTV TIVO's that I don't think we'll ever change providers, so it's kinda a moot point.