Pole Mount Install Hassle

2178 Views 31 Replies 11 Participants Last post by rkramer48, Jul 29, 2008

rkramer48

Discussion Starter · Jul 28, 2008

I had a appointment for a dish upgrade from a phase 3 oval to the new slimline.

Thought I had all my bases covered with DirecTV, by calling multiple times to confirm that since I have LOS issues with my current dish location, that the pole mount I must have will be free. I had no less than 4 separate people tell me that was the case.

As soon as the installer showed, I knew that I was not going to be getting my new dish today. Hyper white athletic shoes, expensive looking jeans and a pressed white dress shirt. There was no way this guy was going to be digging a hole in my yard and mixing concrete.

He told me IF I wanted the dish pole mounted he would charge me 70 dollars to do it, but he couldn't do it toady, because he did not have the materials to do it.

I had him call his supervisor to confirm the work order, and the super said that they had to charge as it was a "custom" install.

I immediately called DTV and got a very competent and helpful rep on the first try. I had her pull up all of the note from my previous calls, and she confirmed again that they should have brought all the materials for a pole mount and done it at no charge.

I still am talking to the super and the DTV rep at the same time and I offer to go and get the materials needed but he refuses to do it today and says I have to reschedule.

AT this point I tell the installer to please leave and I continue talking to the DTV rep. She gives me a phone number to call tomorrow at 7 am to reshedule with a different contractor.

Hopefully I will have this solved by Tuesday, or I will have to wait till the end of the month as I don't really have a day off till then.

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

Tom Robertson

· #2 · Jul 28, 2008

Ouch, sorry.

I hope you can get someone to do the job right and soon.

Can you do a 5pm install after Tuesday? Sometimes they can be set up. Then again, I hope you get an install before.

Good luck,
Tom

Mertzen

· #3 · Jul 28, 2008

I know where you're coming from and I am sure i'm going to get flak for this. But if next time the guy comes over with the supplies for a pole and he asks for compensation just work something out with him. It the easiest way out of it.

Tom Robertson

· #4 · Jul 28, 2008

flak.

(Sometimes, I just gotta do it...) :lol:

I know some companies do pole mounts for free, some do not. A very strange lack of consistency if you ask me.

But if DIRECTV has put the notes in the account, you might call DIRECTV and have them reimburse you for any fees to have the company do it. The reimbursement would most likely be credits for the next 3 months, but like Mertzen says, it will get past the impasse.

Cheers,
Tom

rkramer48

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 28, 2008

Tom and Mertzen,

If he had the materials, I definitely would have paid for the work and then worked it out with DTV.

However, the guy didn't even know what i meant when I said LOS. So I am probably better off having not had this particular guy do the install.

The word "plumb" might have given him a stroke.

Tom Robertson

· #6 · Jul 28, 2008

rkramer48 said:
Tom and Mertzen,

If he had the materials, I definitely would have paid for the work and then worked it out with DTV.

However, the guy didn't even know what i meant when I said LOS. So I am probably better off having not had this particular guy do the install.

The word "plumb" might have given him a stroke.

Hear that, sounds like you did the best and most right things you could have with this installer.

Good luck,
Tom

ironwood

· #7 · Jul 28, 2008

By the end of the month you might be able to do pole mount yourself. Save the hassle. Next contractor will probably charge you too.

And Tom's advice to schedule an appointment after 5 pm is great too. You will have a real "thorough" install.

rkramer48

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 28, 2008

What benefit is a install after 5pm?

Forgive my ignorance.

Tom Robertson

· #9 · Jul 28, 2008

rkramer48 said:
What benefit is a install after 5pm?

Forgive my ignorance.

My hope was you might be able to schedule one that wouldn't require a day off from work, since that is a problem after tuesday. (And for many people).

But if you can't get home in time for the same reason you can't take a day off, the suggestion is moot.

Cheers,
Tom

rkramer48

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 28, 2008

Here's another question...

I was at the local Orange home improvement shack and was looking at galvanized fence posts. All I found was 2 3/8 in OD. That is too wide right?

Where does one get 2 inch OD galvanized pipe from?

raoul5788

· #11 · Jul 28, 2008

rkramer48 said:
Here's another question...

I was at the local Orange home improvement shack and was looking at galvanized fence posts. All I found was 2 3/8 in OD. That is too wide right?

Where does one get 2 inch OD galvanized pipe from?

Yes, that is too big. Your best bet is the local fence company. They have 2" poles in whatever length you need. They are actually slightly under 2", but the dish can be tighten enough to compensate.

thespaceghost

· #12 · Jul 28, 2008

rkramer48 said:
What benefit is a install after 5pm?

Forgive my ignorance.

Its bad advise and I strongly do not recommend it.

Order of importance:
Time slot (AM/PM/Evening). AM's will get done first, then PM's, then Evenings.

Second level of importance: Type of work. Installs/Service Calls/Upgrades (this is reflected by importance of revenue to DTV/HSP/Tech)

Most HSP's overload their techs, so therefore, if you are an evening appointment(4-8) and you are an upgrade, you will definitely be the first to be bumped if a job can not be fit into the tech's schedule. Secondly, its evening. The tech wants to get home and he doesnt want to fool with a low paying job that requires lots of work. If you do this, you run a high risk of a poorly installed job.

Let me put it in a little better perspective; You start your day at 7am. The tech starts his day at 7am. You want him there working late into the evening in which is the least paid of all his jobs. I never fault a tech for blowing off an upgrade if its scheduled past 4PM.

But in the grand scheme of things, I guess it doesn't hurt to try it ... but at least make sure you tip him if he does a decent job.

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ironwood

· #13 · Jul 28, 2008

rkramer48 said:
What benefit is a install after 5pm?

Forgive my ignorance.

I meant it in a different way. There is no benefit. A tech is forced to work after 5 pm after 10 hours of hard work - hopefully he will do a good job.

RobertE

· #14 · Jul 28, 2008

The odds of getting someone to show up specifically after 5 pm to do a pole mount upgrade is, well... very, very small.

Good luck with that though.

kevinm34232

· #15 · Jul 28, 2008

The tech will be very appreciative (if he calls you in advance) to know that you are willing to pay him for doing the pole mount, and get DTV to give you a billing credit. This will help get him to show up, and is fair to everyone.

BruceS

· #16 · Jul 28, 2008

I have a couple of questions.

My current dish position has LOS problems with one of my neighbor's trees and I only get signal levels above 79 about two times when I check through all the transponders on each satellite.

I called DirecTV last week and requested a pole mount to give a clear LOS which should improve my signal levels.

Even though I have the protection plan, DirecTV tried to convince me that my signal levels are high enough and insisted on charging me for a pole mount. For the moment I agreed to pay for the install.

1. Should the pole mount be covered under the protection plan?

2. What signal levels should I be able to expect with a clear LOS? The installer that suggested the pole mount told me that I should be able to get signal levels in the upper 80's or 90's with a clear LOS.

RobertE

· #17 · Jul 28, 2008

BruceS said:
I have a couple of questions.

My current dish position has LOS problems with one of my neighbor's trees and I only get signal levels above 79 about two times when I check through all the transponders on each satellite.

I called DirecTV last week and requested a pole mount to give a clear LOS which should improve my signal levels.

Even though I have the protection plan, DirecTV tried to convince me that my signal levels are high enough and insisted on charging me for a pole mount. For the moment I agreed to pay for the install.

1. Should the pole mount be covered under the protection plan?

2. What signal levels should I be able to expect with a clear LOS? The installer that suggested the pole mount told me that I should be able to get signal levels in the upper 80's or 90's with a clear LOS.

1. IMHO, no, it should not be covered.

2. What he stated is correct.

BruceS

· #18 · Jul 28, 2008

RobertE said:
1. IMHO, no, it should not be covered.

2. What he stated is correct.

Thank you

Even though I got a call yesterday and confirmed, I just received another call asking if I still wanted it because there was recently an intense storm in the area.

Of course, this was an automated call and, when I said that yes I still wanted the install, the computer tried to re-scheduled it for late August.

I had to call again and reach a live person to confirm that the appointment is still scheduled for tomorrow. Interestingly it has never shown under Orders & Installation on the directv web site.

samrs

· #19 · Jul 29, 2008

BruceS said:
I have a couple of questions.

Even though I have the protection plan, DirecTV tried to convince me that my signal levels are high enough and insisted on charging me for a pole mount. For the moment I agreed to pay for the install.

1. Should the pole mount be covered under the protection plan?

Directv dosn't charge for pole mounts, they charge for dish relocates. Around 50 dollars. Covers standard work in most cases.

The installer will likely take care of charging you for the pole mount.

Tom Robertson

· #20 · Jul 29, 2008

rkramer48, any updates?

Cheers,
Tom

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

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