How to handle this situation...? Long

[Drdogface]

Three months ago I signed up for Dish Network. I told the woman I dealt with that all I really wanted was to see SF Giants games on CSN-BA. She said that would be included with my local channels. Well, I went to look for it...not there, so I call. Now I'm told I need to buy the sports package so I tried to add that...no, can't do that unless you upgrade your programming to a premium package...another ten or so bucks. Ok, so now what I'm told would cost me $40 is now adding up to $81 with all the fees. Ok, I say..you got lied to..deal with it and watch the Giants...well...that won't work either because Dish decides when/if to broadcast them or switch to some other stuff. I'm totally pissed off.

Today I finally called and told the "Loyalty Rep" the whole story and how much I was lied to. Dish, BTW, demands they have your CC for monthly bill pay. I told them I want OUT bc the lied. She says OK, but that will cost you $450 !! I hang up saying talk to you later. Called my Visa rep to cancell the auto pay....can't do it..not allowed to. I could change CC number but then Dish will surely ding my credit. I really don't care but it would ding wife's credit too so now she gets pissed.

I can let them charge the 450 and then protest the charge w/Visa but Dish will still ding my credit.

I call Clark Hoard team...so sorry...we can't help either.

So, all I know to do is call Dish and try to negotiate but from what seems a very weak position. Companies like this should not be able to lie so blatantly and get away with it...yeah, I know welcome to life.

Any one ever have success in a similar situation or have any "ammo" for me. That $450 is a Lot of money to me

[Crowbob]

I cancelled Dish. Financially you'd be best off, if you have a contract, is to ride it out then cancel at first opportunity. I read somewhere that Dish just bought out, or is about to, some other sateliite outfit for like $1B or some such thing, IIRC.

My experience is that Dish does not negotiate.

[Hugh R]

Thanks, I was thinking of getting Dish for my RV and house.

[stomachmonkey]

Reduce your service to the lowest possible monthly dollar amount then take them to small claims court.

Let them do the ROI on whether or not it's worth it for them to show up.

[Crowbob]

I actually liked Dish until they raised their fees annually. Just out of principle and because they priced themselves out of my range I gave then the heave-ho. Plus, I didn't watch it enough. Went to over the air networks for local broadcasts mostly.

If your pricepoint is more flexible than mine, I'd still recommend Dish.

[DByers]

I have never signed up for dish but my parents did just so my mom could follow tennis. Same situation took place.
I spent more time dealing with the garbage as my mom was just not able to figure out why with all the money she spent she could not see the tennis and players she wanted.
It took me 2 months of calling almost daily to get some resolution. Also she used a local install person who I could go to and stress the gravity of the situation.
Finally my parents were released from their contract with out penalty. I think the local installer took a hit but honestly he was the root of the problem.

Become a thorn in their ass. Use your SO if need be ( my wife is always able to get discounts or out of contracts where I am told, tough! )

Good luck and I feel your pain

[NYPorsche]

I had a similar situation with Dish - 6 months into a 2 year contract, they stopped carrying MSG, which carries all of the Sabres Hockey games, due to a contract dispute with the provider.

I was able to get them to cancel the remainder of the contract by simply being polite, but firm and escalating. If the person you are talking to can't waive the cancellation fee, ask to talk to a supervisor. And press on as necessary.

If you can make the argument that you signed up under the expectation that all games may be available, and now they are not, you may be able to convince someone to waive the fee.

And remember - these people deal with a-holes all day. It is impressive how far you can get my simply being polite and understanding that it isn't the fault of the person you are speaking with - they just are obeying the rules sent down from on high.

[Jferr006]

All tv/cable/satelite companies re the same....they all suck.

When I first moved out to BFE we got DirecTv and on my second bill there were 14 porno's on it. My husband was deployed to the Middle East and it was just 7 months pregnant me and my 3 y/o. I called them and the lady told me if I " was going to order adult movies I need to be responsible and pay for them". I even explained that we just moved, I can't blame it on my husband because hes out of the country and that neither my fat @$$, nor my 3 y/o had any interest in porn at the moment. I ended up asking to be transferred so i could cancle and that rep got rid of all the charges..

I've never had anything go seemlessly with a cable company.

[Drdogface]

"....at the moment"....

[Jferr006]

FTR: I have never ordered a porn

...it was more to emphasize that if I were going to, it certainly wouldnt be right now..or 14 in a few days

[Christien]

Cancel your credit card, let them send it to collections, then dispute it with the collection agency. At least then it will show on your credit rating as "client disputes account" or similar. Then sue them for defamation of character. Seriously. That's what I'd do. If it goes to court the judge will tell them to leave you alone and remove the collection activity.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by NYPorsche

I had a similar situation with Dish - 6 months into a 2 year contract, they stopped carrying MSG, which carries all of the Sabres Hockey games, due to a contract dispute with the provider.

I was able to get them to cancel the remainder of the contract by simply being polite, but firm and escalating. If the person you are talking to can't waive the cancellation fee, ask to talk to a supervisor. And press on as necessary.

If you can make the argument that you signed up under the expectation that all games may be available, and now they are not, you may be able to convince someone to waive the fee.

And remember - these people deal with a-holes all day. It is impressive how far you can get my simply being polite and understanding that it isn't the fault of the person you are speaking with - they just are obeying the rules sent down from on high.

This-and remind them that there calls are recorded, or should be if they have any doubt as to the initial conversations.

[Cajundaddy]

I ditched Dish. $80/mo for 200 channels I didn't care to watch. They made it difficult and never refunded my last mo. payment. Crooks. I now have an HD antenna for local broadcast networks and Hulu for everything else. Savings $74/month

I also ditched my Verizon land line. It was my DSL and home phone for 10 years and often had poor service issues. We had a windstorm and they said it would be two weeks before service could come out. I called cable service and had new cable DSL up in 3 hrs. Thanks Verizon for the prompt response but I no longer need your services. Verizon called the next day and said miraculously they could be here tomorrow to get my service back up. No thanks, made other arrangements.
Savings $30/month

Next, ditch Verizon Cel service for Virgin Mobile with no contract. Savings $40/mo

I have decided that teaser deals up front with long term service contracts are simply a license to gang rape you.

[Seahawk]

Kobayashi Maru, Dog.

As a life-long Giants fan I feel your pain.

You did two things wrong before the games even began: Signed up without a trial period or having the contract sent to you for review (which they will do, including available channels and packages) and believed that an automatic CC payment was a real requirement - it never is.

So, change the rules.

Cancel the CC number, whatever. NYPorsche is quite correct: Call Dish back and inform them of that. But also tell them you want to make it right, you are willing to work with them.

Make it their problem: Ask them how do you get your beloved Giants at the lowest cost so Dish makes money and you get to watch your guys?

Make it personal. It works. Make sure you let them know that it was a misunderstanding, that the person taking your order didn't lie, but was in error.

Now, they are going to tell you the packages are sacrosanct, that the Giants only exist with the basic offering plus whatever sports offering required.

That may be, but the PRICE is negotiable.

Keep raising the bar, politely, until you either get satisfaction or eat the credit ding.

That is about it, Doc.

My favorite Giant in the 70's was Chris Edward Speier.

[Crowbob]

Dish is misunderestimating the number of alternatives available to TV viewers. Bottom line is the bottom line. Know where yours is and be willing to walk away from Dish.

[RANDY P]

It will ding your credit.

That said if your credit is otherwise spotless I wouldnt worry about it- anyone evaluating it will see that isolated incident as a "customer service" dispute and write it off. In a few years it won't matter.

Report the card stolen- that will cause a whole new acct #. Dish is screwed then.

[asphaltgambler]

I much prefer DirecTV over Dish........................really no comparison but still costs some. Funny thing is for both these providers (as well as a lot of other media providers) is their business model is all about new customers. Less value is placed on keeping them.

One ploy my wife and I 'partake' in with DTV is that she will sign-up for new account with DTV only if they give her the best possible deal. It takes some patience to get the rep to actually cave-in and then commit to price structure including all relevant taxes, etc.

Most of the screaming deals occur for a limited time such as first 6 mos. Some can be used in conjunction with others. She only commits for 1 year. when the end of the year arrives and our bill is moving upwards, she cancels. I call a day later to sign up for DTV service, asking for the best possible deal. They have a guy come out and install new equipment and off we go for another year. Lather, rinse, repeat.

We have done this 6 years in a row. DTV astoundingly enough, never puts 1+1 together that this all is the same address, same last name.

[craigster59]

Mark, I'd try paul's suggestion and if it doesn't pan out, report your card stolen as AsphaltG suggested...

[lane912]

will only pay for their media service, or anyone else's again unless they enact ala cart pricing or pay for what you use/watch

just bill me for the TV I watch, when I watch it-

should be a law that if you have rights to the infrastructure, the cable line to the house and in that you have a monopoly; you should be bound to some rules around pricing

[Porsche-O-Phile]

They all suck. Dump em and get a roku or Apple TV unit and watch 100% on demand, what you want, when you want, no commercials, no contracts, no idiotic programming on 200 worthless channels and no stupidity.

I cut the cord a while ago and don't miss it one bit. For MLB I think there's a streaming service you can get directly from them.