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.