DirecTV requires 2 year contract extension for the privlidge of paying them to add TV to a new room?

I just found this out and I think it's ridiculous. We want to add a genie mini to another room and on top of paying $100 for the mini and an additional $8 a month to lease the mini, they require a full 2 year contract extension.

Apparently the same holds true if you have a set top box fail, 2 year extension to have it replaced.

Has anyone else here dealt with this and do you have any advice... other than switching to streaming. Our constant 2Mbps doesn't support streaming very well and OTA doesn't provide the programming. Dish would be the only other option and I'm not sure if it's any better.

Have a Verizon tower close to you? I was looking at this the other day when I was in the store waiting.

https://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/...net-installed/


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DirecTV replaced my HD receiver/DVR for free when it failed last year but I haven't "upgraded" to Genie.

Dish has same policy. We added another receiver just before holidays.

They have tried to charge to replace broken/defective equipment in the past. I raise hell until they waive any such charges.

Comcast is pushing everyone to contracts too, FYI. Sure you can pay the increases and not have a contract but to maintain your current rates, they will push you into one.

On my bill, I "saved" enough in 13 months to make up for the early term fee (if it comes to it).

They will push you toward a contract, but usually you can get it without. Youmay have to "rent" the device, but that may be a better option. If the CS rep doesn't want to help, try to get with the "Retention Team". These are the people tasked with keeping you as a customer. They often can get different and sometime better deals. You kinda have to threaten to leave before you get with that team.

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Originally Posted by Delfuego

They will push you toward a contract, but usually you can get it without. Youmay have to "rent" the device, but that may be a better option. If the CS rep doesn't want to help, try to get with the "Retention Team". These are the people tasked with keeping you as a customer. They often can get different and sometime better deals. You kinda have to threaten to leave before you get with that team.

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Tried several times to get our directv equipment upgraded, and knock some money off the inflated rate we were paying after having directv for 6 or 7 years. Finally made the switch to Xfinity (mainly to boost internet speeds over the very limited speed I had with centurylink dsl), and now i get daily calls and 2 or 3 offers in the mail every week for the past 3 months since I switched.

I can't believe so many companies put so little effort into keeping customers, but give away everything to try to get customers.

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Originally Posted by DenverGP

I can't believe so many companies put so little effort into keeping customers, but give away everything to try to get customers.

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That's something that I never understood. You'll give new subsidized hardware to an unproven new customer hoping to make a profit years down the road. For loyal customers with a long quantifiable relationship, you don't get any breaks.

Time to become a cord cutter.

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Originally Posted by Gman

That's something that I never understood. You'll give new subsidized hardware to an unproven new customer hoping to make a profit years down the road. For loyal customers with a long quantifiable relationship, you don't get any breaks.

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Same as cell phone companies.

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Originally Posted by Irving

Same as cell phone companies.

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Same as anyone that has a service that requires special equipment to use it.

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Originally Posted by th3w01f

Has anyone else here dealt with this and do you have any advice... other than switching to streaming. Our constant 2Mbps doesn't support streaming very well and OTA doesn't provide the programming. Dish would be the only other option and I'm not sure if it's any better.

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Keep checking with Century Link as they're adding new line all the time and can maybe get you faster than 2Mbps. Streaming is really the way to go. You're in Castle Rock, not way out in the mountains, someone is bound to offer faster internet.

Anyone know if Hughes is worth a damn?

Very little options for streaming. We typically get closer to 10Mbps but starting to see 2 - 3Mpbs during prime time. Just for work alone I use about 300GB per month.

I really wish we had Comcast, I'm going to contact them about bringing it into the neighborhood. If anyone here has a contact who we can talk to about the costs I'd love to have it. We understand that it will be 5 - 6 figures to bring it in.

The part that really bothers me is that you have to buy the equipment, pay a monthly lease for it, and they try to force you to extend your contract. With Comcast, if I wanted a new room, I went to the store, got the device and added it to my account. The other issue is that we're not getting a discount, we're in the 2nd year of or contract which is basically full price so it's not like we're even saving any $ and they won't give a discount for extending an existing contract. Your contract has to be expired to have any hope of negotiating a better price.

It pains me to see how much I pay for Comcast broadband....but there's really no other option for that level of service in DougCo.

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Originally Posted by Gman

It pains me to see how much I pay for Comcast broadband....but there's really no other option for that level of service in DougCo.

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I'm paying $150 a month for 2x15Mbps (really more like 2x 3-12Mbps). I'd love to have the option of Comcast.

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Originally Posted by Gman

It pains me to see how much I pay for Comcast broadband....but there's really no other option for that level of service in DougCo.

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Yup.

Just got this result with X1 running in the background...

http://i.imgur.com/iWy2he9.jpg

That's a monster connection. I'll get 115mB at my cable modem then it drops to 50 at my devices. 5mB upload speed

I cancelled Comcast a few months ago and went to DirecTV for the quality and price. I went years without having cable and just streaming from Netflix and Amazon. The benefit of DirecTV, even though they have contracts, they allow you to upgrade to current specials or sales while you're still under contract. At least that's what my contract said and the installers told me the same. I'd watch for a special going on or one in the near future. Our contract from Black Friday, showed up to 4 tv's and receivers although we only needed 2. I'd call their customer service department and complain, warn them you'll seek other providers and usually with any company they'll make it right. At least that's been my experience.

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Originally Posted by KS63

That's a monster connection. I'll get 115mB at my cable modem then it drops to 50 at my devices. 5mB upload speed

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It's usually 250mbs down but X1 will steal some bandwidth.

Netgear CM500
Netgear N750 router
Ethernet out to my primary PC

Wireless will drop to 50mbs over 5Ghz, 2.4Ghz pulls about 20-25mbs with a good connection. So I'm still throttled by WiFi to 50mbs max anyway.

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Originally Posted by Shooter45

I cancelled Comcast a few months ago and went to DirecTV for the quality and price. I went years without having cable and just streaming from Netflix and Amazon. The benefit of DirecTV, even though they have contracts, they allow you to upgrade to current specials or sales while you're still under contract. At least that's what my contract said and the installers told me the same. I'd watch for a special going on or one in the near future. Our contract from Black Friday, showed up to 4 tv's and receivers although we only needed 2. I'd call their customer service department and complain, warn them you'll seek other providers and usually with any company they'll make it right. At least that's been my experience.

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Spoke with 3 different people including 2 levels of management and the only way we could add a new TV without extending our contract to 2020 was to pay $200 for the new box and $8 a month (even buying the box off of amazon would require a 2 year extension to activate and start paying lease). That's on top of paying $150 a month already, and they would not agree to give us any current discounts to extend. The manger's manager basically said to cancel the service (and pay the early cancellation fee) if I didn't like their policies.

I think they may treat people differently if they know you're in an area not serviced by a cable provider.

I just dumped their ass and moved on to Hulu and Netflix.
I added showtime to Hulu.
I am now saving $60/month.
Not going to miss CNN.
'Nuff said.

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Originally Posted by bellavite1

I just dumped their ass and moved on to Hulu and Netflix.
I added showtime to Hulu.
I am now saving $60/month.
Not going to miss CNN.
'Nuff said.

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My issue is that I can't even reliably stream Netflix in SD on a single TV and we have roommates and grandparents living with us.

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Originally Posted by th3w01f

My issue is that I can't even reliably stream Netflix in SD on a single TV and we have roommates and grandparents living with us.

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If not already contributing, perhaps it's time they did. I understand it's the principle of it, i like others have spent more then enough time with the cable conpanies.

Have to say, I'm really glad Longmont did the Nextlight thing. Gigabit internet for $50/month for life. Much preferred over Comcast (though Comcast was better than CenturyLink, who never sent out their technician but tried to charge for a month of service anyway).

I thought about ubiquity but no good line of sight. If someone lives near the rock or another high point in Castle Rock, I'd be open to paying for all of your internet costs for the privilege of sharing it. ;-)

Does anyone here have a contact at Comcast corporate? I tried the customer service line and I can't seem to get them to understand that I'm trying to get a price to run cable into a neighborhood. I'm fully aware that it isn't available at my address today.

You might try contacting their business line, as they would probably be who would have more knowledge on running cable

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Originally Posted by th3w01f

I thought about ubiquity but no good line of sight. If someone lives near the rock or another high point in Castle Rock, I'd be open to paying for all of your internet costs for the privilege of sharing it. ;-)

Does anyone here have a contact at Comcast corporate? I tried the customer service line and I can't seem to get them to understand that I'm trying to get a price to run cable into a neighborhood. I'm fully aware that it isn't available at my address today.

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Go direct to the source.
http://corporate.comcast.com/contact-information

One would "think" a business would do a reasonable attempt to get new customers. Unfortunately there's comcast, dish & direct TV. Little incentive for them to do anything CSR.

You might try their office in CR. There's an office up here i've had good luck with instead of calling the 800outsourced line. it's been worth my time to make the 15 min drive then wait on hold.

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Originally Posted by CavSct1983

You might try contacting their business line, as they would probably be who would have more knowledge on running cable

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Try that, then try to get the construction department

You will likely be able to stream to your tv with your existing service without extending your contract. From what I see Roku, Chromecast, Kindle fire and several others will support the DTV app. If you have AT&T cell phone service you can also stream to your phone and interface to your TV via HDMI without impacting your data plan.

Netflix allows you to download things to watch off line. I'd start with that.

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Originally Posted by foxtrot

Running cable isn't an option 99.9% of the time just for the record. Almost always they will only do that if you pay for it... even a couple hundred feet would easily run 50 grand AND you still pay the same monthly. I honestly wouldn't even try inquiring about it, the only possible saving grace is if they inform you they already have service plans on [date]... fat chance. Honestly wasting time asking them, they'll send reps out, and give you some huge-ass quote.

FYI: I've been in the same boat as you. Cable is in several directions 300 yards from me, but it's not an option. DSL is not an option due to crap phone relays. And the kicker is, I'm not rural. But I've got tremendous LOS so Ubiquiti has saved my ass for a long, long time.

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That's the part we're looking for, the actual cost of running cable. Is it $250K or $2.5m, we fully understand we'd have to pay as well as subscribe. We're also reaching out to Century Link since they have fiber at the road, my guess is that Century Link will be quite a bit cheaper.

We have the same DSL issue as our closest DSLAM is 4 - 5 miles away.

We have good LOS into the north side of Castle Rock but the best provider here (Kellin) is still 10 miles. The only people we know in Castle Rock are just about 2 miles away but down in the valley with no LOS. I've thought about a craigslist add to pay someone's internet (maybe their full cable bill) if they'd let us share. :)

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Originally Posted by foxtrot

Running cable isn't an option 99.9% of the time just for the record. Almost always they will only do that if you pay for it... even a couple hundred feet would easily run 50 grand AND you still pay the same monthly. I honestly wouldn't even try inquiring about it, the only possible saving grace is if they inform you they already have service plans on [date]... fat chance. Honestly wasting time asking them, they'll send reps out, and give you some huge-ass quote.

FYI: I've been in the same boat as you. Cable is in several directions 300 yards from me, but it's not an option. DSL is not an option due to crap phone relays. And the kicker is, I'm not rural. But I've got tremendous LOS so Ubiquiti has saved my ass for a long, long time.

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This is good advice. If its not joint trench, meaning when the trench is open and they mostly lay cable in it, they really aren't interested. Adding cable to established neighborhoods is so expensive it would stop you heart.