Consumerist
Creepy Ads
-
consumerist hotline
DirecTV Marketer Steals DISH Customers Via 800 Number Squatting
A sneaky DirecTV marketer has bought up toll-free numbers that end in "DISH." When DISH Network customers call up, the operators make it sound like they're from Dish and offering them a free service upgrade, but in reality, they're switching the service and slamming the Dish Network customer into a DirecTV service contract. More » -
unauthorized charges
I Lost My Job, Then My DirecTV, Then $680
Mary says DirecTV stuck it to her after she missed a payment. Not only did it cancel her service, but she says it charged $680 to her checking account for unreturned equipment — never mind the fact that she still had time left in her seven-day period to return the stuff. More » -
phone numbers
Get DirecTV Executive Customer Service
If you're having DirecTV issues, here's two more top-level contacts for you to try: More » -
parody
DirecTV's Dead Guy Advertising Motif Taken To The Extreme
Taking the creepiness of the DirecTV Chris Farley ad and running with it, comedy site Landine TV has parodied the campaign with three ads starring Heath Ledger, JFK and Jesus. More » -
follow-ups
David Spade Justifies His Creepy Chris Farley DirecTV Ad
It was never in question whether David Spade or Chris Farley's family approved of this disturbing, Tommy Boy-based DirecTV ad, but just to put a fine point on things, Spade has come out to defend his choice in making the ill-advised tribute to his departed pal. More » -
-
fire
DirecTV Charges Wildfire Victims For Burnt TV Receivers
DirecTV was planning on charging several victims in the largest fire in recorded Los Angeles County history for the satellite TV receivers that burnt to cinders in their homes. "What I'd like to do is take a shovel full of ashes from my cabin and dump it on their desk. They can have their receivers back," Ken Gray told LAT. More » -
cancellation fee
DirecTV Double Bills 75-Year-Old Widow, Won't Fix It, Then Debits Huge Cancellation Fee
Here's a lovely story from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A unnamed 75-year-old widow says AT&T called her to offer their new U-Verse service with bundled TV, Internet and phone. She signed up, only to receive a phone call letting her know that the TV service wasn't available in her area yet, but would she like to sign up with DirecTV instead? She agreed, but DirecTV started doublebilling her as soon as her service started. After a few months of the runaround from DirecTV she called to cancel. More » -
-
pay tv
DirecTV Viewers, Your Hockey May Be Melting
DirecTV and Versus Network — which shows NHL games — can't agree on terms, meaning hockey fans may be in danger of having their TV-unfriendly sport not showing up much on TV this season. More » -
lawsuits
Judge Greenlights Class Action Against DirecTV
A California Superior Court judge has just been given the go ahead to a class action lawsuit against DirecTV over their practice of charging early termination fees. More » -
twitter
Reach DirecTV On Twitter
DirecTV is on Twitter. Tell them your problems, or how awesome they are. Whichever comes to mind first. -
busted
Comcast Fined $900k, DirecTV $2.3 M For Do Not Call Violations
The FTC has announced that Comcast and DIRECTV, will be paying some fines for ignoring Do Not Call regulations. Ouch. More » -
wcia 2009
Worst Company In America: Comcast VS DirecTV
Did the Pornbowl ruin your evening? Or does the NFL Sunday Ticket monopoly fill you with rage?
More »
-
sports
NFL Sunday Ticket Will Remain DirecTV Exclusive Until 2014
Sorry, cable and FiOS subscribers — the NFL and DirecTV have extended their Sunday Ticket exclusivity agreement until 2014 — with DirecTV paying a whopping $4 billion for the rights. More » -
directv
DirecTV Demands Nearly $500 For Canceled Service You Couldn't Use
DirecTV agreed to let Anthony cancel his service without an early termination fee because his signal would randomly fade away without explanation. What DirecTV really meant though was that they would let Anthony cancel if he paid a final bill of $446.69. After speaking with two agents who agreed that the fee should have been waived, DirecTV reduced Anthony's bill to $445.42. A third agent told Anthony that he would need to negotiate any further deductions in writing with the dispute department... More » -
lower your cable bill
Save Money Just By Asking DirecTV To Lower Your Bill
Pete likes DirecTV and really has no intention of leaving, but he noticed a fantastic "$250 deal" for new customers only in his copy of AAA magazine, so he called up DirecTV and asked what they could do for current customers. This simple phone call saved him over $120 a year. More » -
stealing
DirecTV Installer Tips Himself By Stealing Your Roll Of Quarters And Gun
Reader Angel writes that a DirecTV installer in Oklahoma added a cable to her house, and subtracted $10 in quarters and a nine millimeter. -
success stories
Executive Email Carpet Bomb Pounds DirecTV Into Submission
Reader Jesse was having an awful time explaining a simple problem to DirecTV. Thankfully, the EECB (Executive Email Carpet Bomb) was just the thing. More »
