Comments on: Dish Network: 3 Months Free (But Not the Ones You Think) http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/07/28/dish-network-3-months-free-but-not-the-ones-you-think/ Exposing the strings and catches buried in the fine print. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:27:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Robert T http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/07/28/dish-network-3-months-free-but-not-the-ones-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-170852 Robert T Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:32:38 +0000 http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=468#comment-170852 Back in 2002, I had Dish TV installed along with Starband Satellite internet and was told IF I moved, then they would pay to re=install elsewhere for free. Two year contract on both. Later, I moved long distace and the dealer(s) at the new location refused to install it because the selling dealer who got 50% of the first years service, refused to sign over the balance of the contract. I even offered to pay the guys and they wanted no part of it. I went as far as corporate VP and she was not a very nice woman. After countless emails and phone calls, I quit making payments and contested the charges. The card company took the side of DISH who immediately had bill collectors calling me around the clock. After a few days of that corp. VP calls and says she make it stop if I pay the balance owed on the contract of about 900 dollars. Even that took an act of congress but I settled it the pledge to her and to DISH that I would NEVER use their service again.It made no difference to them. Infact, I got a letter saying that they were sorry to hear I decided to discontinue my subscription. Back in 2002, I had Dish TV installed along with Starband Satellite internet and was told IF I moved, then they would pay to re=install elsewhere for free. Two year contract on both. Later, I moved long distace and the dealer(s) at the new location refused to install it because the selling dealer who got 50% of the first years service, refused to sign over the balance of the contract. I even offered to pay the guys and they wanted no part of it. I went as far as corporate VP and she was not a very nice woman. After countless emails and phone calls, I quit making payments and contested the charges. The card company took the side of DISH who immediately had bill collectors calling me around the clock. After a few days of that corp. VP calls and says she make it stop if I pay the balance owed on the contract of about 900 dollars. Even that took an act of congress but I settled it the pledge to her and to DISH that I would NEVER use their service again.It made no difference to them. Infact, I got a letter saying that they were sorry to hear I decided to discontinue my subscription.

]]> By: Clifford D http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/07/28/dish-network-3-months-free-but-not-the-ones-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-163197 Clifford D Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:05:12 +0000 http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=468#comment-163197 I wish I had seen all this before I signed up with Dish, which I just did in November. Everything seemed to go alright except when it came time to set up the antenna. I live in a mobile home and had just put on a new aluminum roof. The tech that was setting me up said that they will not install the antenna on an aluminum roof because they cannot guarantee that the seal will hold around the screws (I find this preposterous) but he said he would put the antenna on a tripod and screw it to some bricks (the bricks used in construction housing that are concrete and have holes in the middle). How these were supposed to anchor the tripod was beyond me, but I agreed. The results were laughable. the line that connects to the antenna is on the front of my mobile home and so the antenna on the tripod was placed at the front of my home about 6 feet away from the front of the house almost in the street! I asked him why the whole set up was so far from the house and he said that if it was closer they could not get a signal. If I was getting a signal from Direct TV with an antenna on the roof, why couldnt their antenna get one from the same spot but on the ground? Anyway I wound up with an antenna on a tripod that was about 5 feet high, and 6 feet from my house. An invitation for anyone to vandalize or steal it. I called the main office and asked them if there was any other option, and was told that they could do a non penetrating mount on the roof. This wound up being a large aluminum pan with the same bricks in it to hold it down and the antenna, now on a 1 foot tripod inside and all this resting on one side of the mid-line of my roof. I am still not satisfied but it works. Also, I was told that the installer was an independent contractor and that he did his own work and made his own decisions on where the equipment could be installed, and that Dish really did not have any control over his activities. After my 2 year contract is up, I am only using what i can get for free or stick to streaming TV on the internet. I wish I had seen all this before I signed up with Dish, which I just did in November. Everything seemed to go alright except when it came time to set up the antenna. I live in a mobile home and had just put on a new aluminum roof. The tech that was setting me up said that they will not install the antenna on an aluminum roof because they cannot guarantee that the seal will hold around the screws (I find this preposterous) but he said he would put the antenna on a tripod and screw it to some bricks (the bricks used in construction housing that are concrete and have holes in the middle). How these were supposed to anchor the tripod was beyond me, but I agreed. The results were laughable. the line that connects to the antenna is on the front of my mobile home and so the antenna on the tripod was placed at the front of my home about 6 feet away from the front of the house almost in the street! I asked him why the whole set up was so far from the house and he said that if it was closer they could not get a signal. If I was getting a signal from Direct TV with an antenna on the roof, why couldnt their antenna get one from the same spot but on the ground? Anyway I wound up with an antenna on a tripod that was about 5 feet high, and 6 feet from my house. An invitation for anyone to vandalize or steal it. I called the main office and asked them if there was any other option, and was told that they could do a non penetrating mount on the roof. This wound up being a large aluminum pan with the same bricks in it to hold it down and the antenna, now on a 1 foot tripod inside and all this resting on one side of the mid-line of my roof. I am still not satisfied but it works. Also, I was told that the installer was an independent contractor and that he did his own work and made his own decisions on where the equipment could be installed, and that Dish really did not have any control over his activities. After my 2 year contract is up, I am only using what i can get for free or stick to streaming TV on the internet.

]]> By: Elyse http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/07/28/dish-network-3-months-free-but-not-the-ones-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-151779 Elyse Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:58:46 +0000 http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=468#comment-151779 Dish Network is one of the worst examples of corporate greed out there. They are a phenomenal group of liars, even the customer service reps that can't speak English. I've had their service for 7 years now and everytime I call about something I get a different song and dance and line of bs. Some of the crap they've told me is just unbelieveable. It took me over 9 months to get my rebate back and that was with me calling twice a month and having to re-explain it again and again. I sent in the rebate papers certified mail because I knew I would have problems! Their supervisors lied to us numerous times about different things. They sneak charges onto your bill that you're unaware of, like the $5 per month fee for NOT having your phone line hooked up. They just keep getting worse and don't give a hoot about you or your problems with them. They read from a printed script and you cannot find someone there with a brain, or anyone who is actually allowed to use theirs if they have one. I don't switch to cable because I live in the middle of nowhere, so I'm stuck with these varmints. Dish Network is one of the worst examples of corporate greed out there. They are a phenomenal group of liars, even the customer service reps that can’t speak English. I’ve had their service for 7 years now and everytime I call about something I get a different song and dance and line of bs. Some of the crap they’ve told me is just unbelieveable. It took me over 9 months to get my rebate back and that was with me calling twice a month and having to re-explain it again and again. I sent in the rebate papers certified mail because I knew I would have problems! Their supervisors lied to us numerous times about different things. They sneak charges onto your bill that you’re unaware of, like the $5 per month fee for NOT having your phone line hooked up. They just keep getting worse and don’t give a hoot about you or your problems with them. They read from a printed script and you cannot find someone there with a brain, or anyone who is actually allowed to use theirs if they have one. I don’t switch to cable because I live in the middle of nowhere, so I’m stuck with these varmints.

]]> By: Dusty W. http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/07/28/dish-network-3-months-free-but-not-the-ones-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-148238 Dusty W. Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:31:55 +0000 http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=468#comment-148238 I switched to Dish almost 2 months ago after a heavy sales pitch through AT&T. I had called to downgrade my land line telephone service, which is rarely used, and talked into making the switch, as it would be "so much better for me". I was promised lower costs by bundling my internet, phone, and television, and assured that customer service was 1st rate. I scheduled installation for a Sunday, since I like, most of us, have a job where I am at through the week during the day. My installation tech was 1 1/2 later than my end time window of 5:00 on a Sunday. So, I figure, what, I stayed home an entire Sunday waiting, but it wouldn't kill me, as now I will have exceptional tv with exceptional customer service! Yeah right. Within 45 days my downstairs DVR lost signal, and could not get it back. After calling customer service, and waiting forever, I was told a tech would have to come out. There were no appointments on Saturday, so I again took a Sunday appointment, this time from 8:00 - 12:00 so my entire day wouldn't be spent waiting. I received a phone call at 10:00 that my service tech was in an accident, and I would have to reschedule, probably for the next weekend. I was going to be out of town during that weekend, so they were kind enough to schedule me for Tuesday, and I was assured that I could have the tech come after 4:00. That was rescheduled to Wednesday, with the same after 4:00 consideration. I called to check the status of my tech at 5:30 on Wednesday and was told that I had been canceled since I wasn't going to be home. I did not receive a phone call, and I had actually left work early just in case they showed before 4:00. After 2 hours of waiting and complaining, I was offered an appointment for Friday, after 4:00, with a phone call at least a half hour before arrival to either me or my boyfriend since my kids aren't 18 and couldn't handle the service call alone. Friday came, and we were planning to leave for our mini-vacation after the tech left, well again, at 5:00 we are calling, and again we have been rescheduled without telling us. We were rescheduled for the following day, Saturday. An impossible appointment for us since we were going to be 5 hours away from home. I was offered 3 months of free HBO and Showtime for the trouble of no service for 2 weeks, and 3 canceled appointments. 2 of the canceled appointments were without notifying me. I forgot to mention that my canceled Wednesday appointment was due to the fact that my tech was hit by lightning. I find it hard to believe that Dish is so overwhelmed with appointments that this is the best they can do! We told them that if they have that many problems with their service that all of their techs are constantly booked days in advance that we don't think that is making them look that good to us. We were then told the techs are busy with new installations. So, we say, new installations take priority over exsisting customers? Wish we had known that! I was an idiot for not taking advantage of my cable company's offer of a year of free HBO and a price match when I called to cancel that service! Over 10 years of service through them with no problems, and I was swayed by a fast talking AT&T pitchman! Shame on me, and beware to anyone else that is thinking of going with Dish. I am going to, hopefully, have my service appointment for this weekend end with a tech actually showing up, then I am going to enjoy my 3 months free HBO and Showtime, then call my cable company and let them pay my early contract termination fees since they offered and return to a service provider that cares about all of their customers, not just new customers! And, by new, you must remember that you only have that distinction on day 1, installation day, after that you are locked in for 2 years so no longer new, and certainly not a priority! The next time I sign any contract with extended terms I will make sure that there is an escape clause for poor service, or in my case, no service. How can a company charge you $240 to cancel a service contract when they refuse to honor THEIR part of the contract and PROVIDE the service???? <font color=green>Edgar comments:</font> While I appreciate having readers comment here, it really has to be about the advertising or fine print issue raised in the story above. MousePrint* is NOT a complaint forum, or question and answer forum, it is a blog about pointing out the gotchas in the fine print. So please, dear readers, restrict comments to that. I switched to Dish almost 2 months ago after a heavy sales pitch through AT&T. I had called to downgrade my land line telephone service, which is rarely used, and talked into making the switch, as it would be “so much better for me”. I was promised lower costs by bundling my internet, phone, and television, and assured that customer service was 1st rate. I scheduled installation for a Sunday, since I like, most of us, have a job where I am at through the week during the day. My installation tech was 1 1/2 later than my end time window of 5:00 on a Sunday. So, I figure, what, I stayed home an entire Sunday waiting, but it wouldn’t kill me, as now I will have exceptional tv with exceptional customer service! Yeah right. Within 45 days my downstairs DVR lost signal, and could not get it back. After calling customer service, and waiting forever, I was told a tech would have to come out. There were no appointments on Saturday, so I again took a Sunday appointment, this time from 8:00 – 12:00 so my entire day wouldn’t be spent waiting. I received a phone call at 10:00 that my service tech was in an accident, and I would have to reschedule, probably for the next weekend. I was going to be out of town during that weekend, so they were kind enough to schedule me for Tuesday, and I was assured that I could have the tech come after 4:00. That was rescheduled to Wednesday, with the same after 4:00 consideration. I called to check the status of my tech at 5:30 on Wednesday and was told that I had been canceled since I wasn’t going to be home. I did not receive a phone call, and I had actually left work early just in case they showed before 4:00. After 2 hours of waiting and complaining, I was offered an appointment for Friday, after 4:00, with a phone call at least a half hour before arrival to either me or my boyfriend since my kids aren’t 18 and couldn’t handle the service call alone. Friday came, and we were planning to leave for our mini-vacation after the tech left, well again, at 5:00 we are calling, and again we have been rescheduled without telling us. We were rescheduled for the following day, Saturday. An impossible appointment for us since we were going to be 5 hours away from home. I was offered 3 months of free HBO and Showtime for the trouble of no service for 2 weeks, and 3 canceled appointments. 2 of the canceled appointments were without notifying me. I forgot to mention that my canceled Wednesday appointment was due to the fact that my tech was hit by lightning. I find it hard to believe that Dish is so overwhelmed with appointments that this is the best they can do! We told them that if they have that many problems with their service that all of their techs are constantly booked days in advance that we don’t think that is making them look that good to us. We were then told the techs are busy with new installations. So, we say, new installations take priority over exsisting customers? Wish we had known that! I was an idiot for not taking advantage of my cable company’s offer of a year of free HBO and a price match when I called to cancel that service! Over 10 years of service through them with no problems, and I was swayed by a fast talking AT&T pitchman! Shame on me, and beware to anyone else that is thinking of going with Dish. I am going to, hopefully, have my service appointment for this weekend end with a tech actually showing up, then I am going to enjoy my 3 months free HBO and Showtime, then call my cable company and let them pay my early contract termination fees since they offered and return to a service provider that cares about all of their customers, not just new customers! And, by new, you must remember that you only have that distinction on day 1, installation day, after that you are locked in for 2 years so no longer new, and certainly not a priority! The next time I sign any contract with extended terms I will make sure that there is an escape clause for poor service, or in my case, no service. How can a company charge you $240 to cancel a service contract when they refuse to honor THEIR part of the contract and PROVIDE the service????

Edgar comments: While I appreciate having readers comment here, it really has to be about the advertising or fine print issue raised in the story above. MousePrint* is NOT a complaint forum, or question and answer forum, it is a blog about pointing out the gotchas in the fine print. So please, dear readers, restrict comments to that.

]]> By: wilbur zweeney http://www.mouseprint.org/2008/07/28/dish-network-3-months-free-but-not-the-ones-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-147424 wilbur zweeney Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:49:25 +0000 http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=468#comment-147424 AT&T is now advertising a bundle deal for under $99. I went to att.com/bundledetails to find oout what is offered and the price. Maybe someone smarter that I can explain the details other than they can raise the price to whatever they want, whenever they waant. AT&T is now advertising a bundle deal for under $99. I went to
att.com/bundledetails to find oout what is offered and the price.
Maybe someone smarter that I can explain the details other than
they can raise the price to whatever they want, whenever they waant.

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