[nwiowaguy]

A Little over three weeks ago I signed up for DirecTV with the installation scheduled for August 2nd. During the three weeks I cancelled all my cable and returned all of their boxes. Then comes August 2nd and about 4 hours before the scheduled install I get the call that they have to reschedule. Something about equipment not available in my area. Wouldn't they have known that sometime in the over three weeks it was taking me to get hooked up? Not sure what company DTV has hired to do the installs but now they are scheduled for August
5th. If they cancel again I'll be going to the competitor. Anyone else have this happen?

 

[cnmsales]

Yeah I have had this happen. Usually calling D* and telling them you want to cancel cause Dish can come do it today and has the equipment will get them to FIND you a box. IE they reschedule with someone else that day instead of you.

 

[AirRocker]

Yep... They (DirecTech) canceled on me 4 times before I went with a local independent installer who had the equipment the next morning...

 

[seern]

The D* contract installers in my area, Mastech, have never gotten to me when promised. I hate to have a service call scheduled, since I know it will probably be rescheduled at least once. The reasons vary, but the last one was great. The installer scheduled was an orientee and can't make solo calls. Well where is his mentor?

 

[JLucPicard]

nwiowaguy,

I think the install process is the WORST part of the whole DirecTV equation. Once you make it past that, things are usually just fine, but I'll bet they lose a lot of good customers because they can't get that cluster-mess straightened out.

I hope they take care of you and you don't have to go somewhere else!

And most of all - Welcome to DBSTalk!!! :welcome_s

 

[CJTE]

The D* contract installers in my area, Mastech, have never gotten to me when promised. I hate to have a service call scheduled, since I know it will probably be rescheduled at least once. The reasons vary, but the last one was great. The installer scheduled was an orientee and can't make solo calls. Well where is his mentor?

Thats actually a fault of the scheduling system which seems to not quite have a fix.

DirecTV randomely chooses techs per HSP district, it has no way of determining wether the tech is green, so from time-to-time Trainee's and Mentors get scheduled to go to 2 different W.O.'s, and the Mentors work order takes priority.

Sorry for the inconvenience

 

[saryon]

Just had a fun attempted fiasco at my 2nd location. Set up an upgrade to Slimline 5 on the 5th of July and went up there last Thursday for the install (set up for Jul 31). DirecTech called and said they "didn't have anyone in the area so they have to reschedule and the next appointment is on the 18th of August". After being told that they had 27 days to deal with the appointment and that we had driven in from out of state to meet the appointment we had reconfirmed on Mon and Tue of last week they managed to con a tech into heading over....

 

[OverThereTooMuch]

Thats actually a fault of the scheduling system which seems to not quite have a fix.

DirecTV randomely chooses techs per HSP district, it has no way of determining wether the tech is green, so from time-to-time Trainee's and Mentors get scheduled to go to 2 different W.O.'s, and the Mentors work order takes priority.

Sorry for the inconvenience

Why does DTV schedule the tech? The companies are mostly subcontractors. They should be responsible for telling DTV the number of installs they can do on any given day (or split it up into work units, or something like that...like a dish install is 1 WU, a new install is 1WU + 1WU per receiver, etc.). Then I would expect DTV to assign it to the company based off these numbers. The companies that are dispatching the employees are the ones that should schedule the individual techs. They know where the problem areas are in their region that need more experienced techs.

If this is true, this frightens me. I've got an install re-scheduled (3rd time's the charm??) for this week. I've specifically asked for a senior tech to come out since it's apparently difficult to get a clear LOS at my place. If DTV just picks any random tech, I have no hope. :crying_sa

 

[rudeney]

I guess I’m lucky – all of my installs and service visits have gone exactly as scheduled. My local (B’ham, AL) D* contractor is a company named Bruister and I can’t complain about them. They have always done a good job for me.

 

[jefbal99]

My install went great, but I didn't cancel any of my cable services until after DirecTV was installed. After installers from Mid Michigan MicroTech left, I took my DVRs and other STBs back to Comcast and downgraded my services to just HSI.

After reading the horror stories that some people have had, I wanted to be prepared.

 

[Brian Hanasky]

I guess I'm lucky - all of my installs and service visits have gone exactly as scheduled. My local (B'ham, AL) D* contractor is a company named Bruister and I can't complain about them. They have always done a good job for me.

Same here. All of my installs have been perfect. Original install was without problems. Upgrade to slimline was perfect as well.

I live in a small area so maybe that affects timing and such but all installers have been friendly and have done a good job.

Good luck to the OP.

 

[dtrell]

I think the install process is the WORST part of the whole DirecTV equation. Once you make it past that, things are usually just fine,

they are captain picard? im sure lots of existing subs on here would beg to differ with that statement....:uglyhamme

 

[Elephanthead]

It is a close race between unreliable equipment, mystery charges and disappearing credits, and installation for what is the worst part of DTV. Oh and rain fade on the new HD channels, blasted thunderstorms.

 

[bigwad]

Sorry for the bad experiences. I have been having Ironwood do my installations and upgrades. I have to give them credit. They have been a whole lot better than I expected. I've even had one give me his cell number in case I had a problem. I never had to call him, but he did it RIGHT the first time!

 

[CTJon]

I've had good experiences from a scheduling standpoint (although once with some one who didn't know what they were doing and had to have a second one later re-do it all). However, on my last install it took the guy a lot longer than "scheduled" and he was going to miss his other morning call. He said it was no big deal he'd call the person just about the show up time and they'd offer free HBO for two months. Not a lot of care about schedule.

I've tried, and not only with DirecTV to schedule first in the morning when possible. I'd pick another day rather than an PM appointment. I think you have a much better chance of actually getting it done on the scheduled day that way.

 

[BattleZone]

Why does DTV schedule the tech? The companies are mostly subcontractors. They should be responsible for telling DTV the number of installs they can do on any given day (or split it up into work units, or something like that...like a dish install is 1 WU, a new install is 1WU + 1WU per receiver, etc.). Then I would expect DTV to assign it to the company based off these numbers. The companies that are dispatching the employees are the ones that should schedule the individual techs. They know where the problem areas are in their region that need more experienced techs.

If this is true, this frightens me. I've got an install re-scheduled (3rd time's the charm??) for this week. I've specifically asked for a senior tech to come out since it's apparently difficult to get a clear LOS at my place. If DTV just picks any random tech, I have no hope. :crying_sa

DirecTV techs in my area are leaving in droves. The local HSP has increased the "connected to a phone line" requirement ratio to 100%, with backcharges for every non-connected receiver. And they are routing people with crazy routes in a time with $4/gallon gas and $90/roll of cable. One guy worked for 13 hours one day last week, including drive time, did 2 installs and one HD upgrade, and netted about $55 after gas and materials. You can make more money sitting at home on welfare (and far too many people do). That certainly isn't the kind of pay any "professional" deserves, and everyone expects a professional to show up at their house, right?

So, if you're wondering why it takes so long to get your install, or why you get rescheduled, it's simply because there aren't enough techs to do the work, because the costs to do the job keep going up and up and up, but the pay has either remained the same or been reduced over the last 3-4 years.

 

[Starchy77]

I don't think the HSP's in my area know what they are doing either. I had an install scheduled this past Saturday from 8 AM - Noon, and had to call about 1 PM to see where the installer was. I got about 3 calls back before he showed up at 4:30 wondering if he was there yet, then another call back around 6:30 to see if he was there yet (he finally was). I had the install scheduled for about 3 weeks, so there is no excuse for them not to make it. Anyway, the installer came and set up everything, did an excellent job, and did not get to leave my house until around 11 PM that night.... Needless to say he had to call to cancel his other 2 appointments for that day!

The funny part about the whole thing was that on Monday the company called me around 10 AM to "reschedule" my install. I had to inform them then that the installer had been to my house and completed the install on Saturday. Just seems to me that they would know where there installers are each day as they do pay them for getting the installs completed! I think the company was DirectSat - it is in southern NJ near Philadelphia.

 

[ThomasM]

All of my installs have been perfect. Original install was without problems.

Mine too! They were all done by a fussy, meticulous installer-ME.

I've seen these so-called "professionals" twice now-both times when I got stuck having them deliver equipment to replace existing equipment in order to get a deal. The first time one of the satellite connectors on the back of the new DVR wasn't even tight. The second time I was mysteriously subscribed to the "protection plan" without my permission. In both cases, the new DVR was activated but the standard receiver it replaced was not removed from my account.

Good luck dealing with these "pros"....if you manage to get one to appear.

 

[IcedOmega13]

D* is buying them all up now.