Today it's companies that fail to tell you about little "hidden charges" particularly Dish Network. Yes, when we moved into our house we got a bundle through our phone company that included Dish. The day they installed it we were informed that we couldn't get NBC and had to go through another company and pay extra for a FREE network channel. We did and we had to pay a "non refundable" amount for them to see if we qualify for to pay for NBC. What they neglected to tell us was the fee I agreed to pay had some fees added and when we got our bank statement more money was deducted from our account than I had approved. Boy was I seeing red at that time.
After 2 years our contract with Dish expired and they were slowly raising our rates so we started looking around for an alternative. Our phone company no longer worked with Dish but now used Direct TV. So, we asked how much they could save us and it was a significant savings for the an equivalent package so we said sure, set it up. I was told we had to pay $19.95 to set up the service but we'd be getting an email that would have a link for a rebate and we'd get that amount off our first bill. OK. I authorized $19.95. When we got the confirmation of our service I noticed we were billed $21.75 due to $1.80 in tax that I was not told about. So, once again I authorized one amount but we were billed more.
After Direct TV came and installed our service I called Dish to tell them to cancel us effective immediately. The first thing that irked me was the rep noting that we don't have an email address on file and he needed us to ad one. EXCUSE ME, I'm canceling my service so WHY do you need my email address. He never got it. I get transferred to cancellations or maybe it was account retentions as the first question she asked me was "are you under contract with the new company?" My response was, whether we are or not you can save your breath as you won't change my mind.
OK, I got them to understand I was canceling and NOTHING they could say would change that so now she tells me she'll send me a box and label to send the receivers and one little tiny box off of our dish which should be on the roof. In our favor the Direct TV tech removed the dish for us so we wouldn't have to climb on the roof to get it. I asked if they were paying postage to send these back to them and was told NO. We would be charged $15 to send their equipment back. Now, remember they delivered it and if I wanted someone to come to my house to pick it up I'd have to pay $99. If I failed to return the equipment in 30 days I would be billed anywhere from $100-$400 per box BUT I can ship it back to them at MY expense. Now let me get this straight. I paid you to deliver and hook up the equipment. I paid you over $100 a month for 2 years for suboptimal service and I now have to pay to return your equipment back to you. Something just doesn't sound right. Now for their hidden costs. If I hadn't asked about them paying shipping I would never have been told it was my responsibility. When we drop this off to UPS we won't be told we're paying. What happens is on our next bill we will be charged $15 or since we pay 1 month in advance they'll prorate our service for the 3 weeks we're not using MINUS the $15 shipping.
I bet you can tell who WON'T be getting a Christmas Card from me this year.
5 comments:
I refuse to pay for TV. I use an antenna or watch stuff online. My old apartment got 18 stations with a set of rabbit ears. In my current house, I only get PBS, but that is still plenty. If I pony up for a larger antenna ($100) then I likely will get all 18 channels back. I think it is a rip-off to pay for regular TV, especially since they rake in a fortune for advertisers, which is supposed to pay their costs. Cable TV and Satellite service is a flim flam.
They are all the same cable, dishes, cell phones etc. You always have these hidden fees and charges and you can't escape them unless you do without as the poster above is doing. I am not willing to do that and so I pay those fees. They will be even higher as time goes on.
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!
It's been my experience that they all have hidden fees. It's no different than the airlines with their 87 different fees so they can advertise a low fare amount. It drives me insane, but unfortunately the alternative (don't fly, give up my cell, internet, cable/dish) isn't an option for me - I'm spoiled I guess.
I don't use dish network but I am tired of hidden fees everywhere and lots of disclaimers, etc in tiny tiny print
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