Phone Call From D*

bdizzle · Jul 30, 2008

Not sure if this belongs in this forum or the programing discussion, but earlier this evening, recieved a phone call from D* saying with new hd, my equipment is outdated and they would upgrade for free...is this legit? and since i thought it was a hoax at first, should i call d* and go from there?

2 HR20-700
1 HR21-700
all have b-band converters attached correctly, and have had no problems viewing content to this point.

DirecTV AT-9 5-LNB Sidecar

Oilfan · Jul 30, 2008

If they want to give you free stuff let them give you free stuff!

evan_s · Jul 30, 2008

Do you have any mpeg2 hd receivers on your account like a hr10? Those are what these calls are suppose to be about upgrading.

bobnielsen · Jul 30, 2008

Your equipment is not outdated. They are calling customers who only have MPEG2 HD equipment, but there appear to be some mistakes in the process.

spartanstew · Jul 30, 2008

It's legit.

However, did you recently upgrade your equipment?

Your receivers are current and for some reason, they don't realize it. They might want to swap them in which case you won't get a new one, but if they just want to send you one, you could always accept it (assuming you need it, cause you'll have to activate it and keep it activated or send it back).

n3ntj · Jul 30, 2008

Oilfan said:
If they want to give you free stuff let them give you free stuff!

Ditto.

rhambling · Jul 30, 2008

Oilfan said:
If they want to give you free stuff let them give you free stuff!

what they dont tell you is that you would have to extend your commitment if they send you another box.

so nothing is ever free

katzeye · Jul 30, 2008

rhambling said:
what they dont tell you is that you would have to extend your commitment if they send you another box.

so nothing is ever free

Yeah, that is what I was thinking...:nono2:

Jon D · Jul 30, 2008

rhambling said:
what they dont tell you is that you would have to extend your commitment if they send you another box.

so nothing is ever free

If you aren't planning on switching to something else, then who cares?

DarinC · Jul 30, 2008

He would still have to pay a mirror fee, so nothing gained if the three receivers he already has are sufficient.

grizzly · Jul 30, 2008

rhambling said:
what they dont tell you is that you would have to extend your commitment if they send you another box.

so nothing is ever free

Actually no.

When they called me, I specifically asked if it would extend my commitment and they said no. They also told me that it would be mine, not leased. You might want to check on that....

Kevin

jazzyjez · Jul 30, 2008

grizzly said:
Actually no.

When they called me, I specifically asked if it would extend my commitment and they said no. They also told me that it would be mine, not leased. You might want to check on that....

Kevin

I agree with grizzly - I had a call while I was out of town, and then a few days later a follow-up email stating:

Dear -----
We have changed the manner in which we broadcast HD channels. Soon, your current DIRECTV® High-Definition equipment will not be HD compatible. Please call 1-888-763-7772 today and DIRECTV will replace your incompatible HD equipment FREE OF CHARGE. No strings attached.
-etc.

I called them up and they arranged to switch out my HR10-250 the following day - easy. Technically the HR10 was owned by me, and the replacement HR21 is now leased - but I don't care. What's the point in hanging on to a paperweight! I wasn't using the OTA on that system anyway as I had my antenna hooked up to my HR20.

Ken S · Jul 30, 2008

bdizzle said:
Not sure if this belongs in this forum or the programing discussion, but earlier this evening, recieved a phone call from D* saying with new hd, my equipment is outdated and they would upgrade for free...is this legit? and since i thought it was a hoax at first, should i call d* and go from there?

2 HR20-700
1 HR21-700
all have b-band converters attached correctly, and have had no problems viewing content to this point.

DirecTV AT-9 5-LNB Sidecar

If it was DirecTV or one of their independent agents you may get a receiver, but it's not free (and it may be a refurb). You will have to pay a lease fee on it ($5/month) and your contract will be extended for 24 months from the date you activate the new box.

If the person on the phone said otherwise it would be very important to get that in writing on DirecTV letterhead.

CJTE · Jul 30, 2008

Ken S said:
If it was DirecTV or one of their independent agents you may get a receiver, but it's not free (and it may be a refurb). You will have to pay a lease fee on it ($5/month) and your contract will be extended for 24 months from the date you activate the new box.

If the person on the phone said otherwise it would be very important to get that in writing on DirecTV letterhead.

And theres a slim chance in hell thats going to happen.
The $5 is definite, wether its activated as leased/owned is a different story.

It should be leased (so yes commitment)

DarinC · Jul 30, 2008

grizzly said:
They also told me that it would be mine, not leased.

I would be very sceptical of that.

Ken S · Jul 30, 2008

CJTE said:
And theres a slim chance in hell thats going to happen.
The $5 is definite, wether its activated as leased/owned is a different story.

It should be leased (so yes commitment)

and even a slimmer chance they're giving away DVRs let alone without a commitment extension.

DarinC · Jul 30, 2008

Ken S said:
and even a slimmer chance they're giving away DVRs let alone without a commitment extension.

THAT they will do with this upgrade offer. But it is leased.

grizzly · Jul 30, 2008

DarinC said:
THAT they will do with this upgrade offer. But it is leased.

Guys:

Not to rain on your parade, but I called a little bit ago to verify. I have no commitment on my account. I have one leased receiver which is an HR-20 which is leased and its been leased since I got it right after they came out.

Nothing else on my account is. Also, the nice lady told me that it was specifically stated in the notes on the swap, no commitment, no lease as well if her reading of my account wasn't good enough.

I'll call back in a couple weeks after the dust settles again just to make sure, but I think you are wrong. I pay a $4.99 mirror fee for the programming, but nothing else.

Kevin

DarinC · Jul 30, 2008

Hmmm, well I got two HR21s with this deal. Strangely, one of them on my account shows "leased receiver", while the other one shows "additional receiver" like my owned TiVos. And the lease fee is taxed, while the others aren't. :whatdidid

grizzly · Jul 31, 2008

DarinC said:
Hmmm, well I got two HR21s with this deal. Strangely, one of them on my account shows "leased receiver", while the other one shows "additional receiver" like my owned TiVos. And the lease fee is taxed, while the others aren't. :whatdidid

Maybe it's worth a call. Before this I had a commitment because I had a owned receiver replaced under the PP. I pointed out that I had owned the original one that they made me send back. They fixed that and changed it to an owed but somehow the system still showed a commitment caused by that transaction. They had to do some wangling, but finally fixed it. Maybe my insistence made the difference. My daddy always said, "Son, sometimes you can get people to do the right thing just because they want you to go away." That advice has served me well. Along with the other piece of advice "Keep it zipped".

Phone Call From D*

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