To close out this first day of WCIA 2013 carnage, we bring you this longstanding feud, broadcasting live from the Satellite of Hate. [More]
dish
Worst Company In America Round 1: Dish Vs. DirecTV
March 19, 2013
Dish Network Chat Rep Promised Me A Great Price, Now I Can’t Prove It
By 3.11.13
Kasey’s Dish Network contract was up, and he was interested in signing a new contract in order to get one of those sweet, sweet new Hopper DVR systems. An online chat representative made the deal with him, and that’s how he learned that it’s always a good idea to save your own customer service chats whenever possible. The new monthly rate was much higher than what Kasey had agreed to, but now he had no proof of what that lower original rate had been. [More]
CBS Asks Consumerist To Change Headline On Kaley Cuoco/Dish Story
By 2.28.13
Earlier today, I posted a story about Dish Network’s allegations that CBS had made Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco remove a Tweet in favor of Dish’s ad-skipping Hopper DVR. Since then, I’ve received a request from CBS to change the headline on the post. [More]
CES Kicks CNET To Curb, Gives “Best Of Show” Award To Dish’s Hopper DVR
By 1.31.13
The fallout over CBS’ idiotic decision to forbid CNET staffers from bestowing an award on Dish Network’s ad-skipping Hopper DVR continues to rain down on, with the folks behind the Consumer Electronics Show not only deciding to give Dish the award, but also ditching CNET as the producer of the annual awards. [More]
CNET Not Allowed To Consider Dish’s Hopper DVR For Award Because Of CBS Lawsuit
By 1.11.13
Last spring, Dish Network introduced its ad-skipping Hopper DVR and was quickly sued by the networks. Now, CNET can’t consider the device for its “Best of CES” award because of the suit filed by CBS. [More]
Will Dish Be First Big Cable Company To Enter Internet-Only TV Race?
By 9.27.12
For the last few years, cable and satellite providers have been making more and more channels available for live streaming over the Internet. But you had to be a subscriber to a standard TV package in order to reap that added benefit. Now a new report claims that Dish is trying to convince some broadcasting biggies to join them as they dip their toes into the Internet-only pool. [More]
Misleading Mailer Shows Why DISH Needs To Rein In Third-Party Sales Agents
By 8.28.12
DISH Network is already in hot water with regulators because it and the third-party businesses that sell the satellite TV service allegedly ignore the Do Not Call list. But DISH’s authorized agents aren’t just bad at telemarketing; some also appear intent on filling customers’ mailboxes with misleading mailers that only serve to annoy potential customers. [More]
Dish Sends Me A Free Roku XD Box After I Complain About Missing AMC
By 7.13.12
While DirecTV has apparently been giving out discounts to customers who complain about the ongoing Viacom blackout, one Consumerist reader says he was able to score a free Roku video streaming box from Dish Network when he complained about its decision to remove the AMC Network channels. [More]
AT&T U-Verse Subscribers Get Their AMC Back; Dish Customers Get Movies They’ve Seen A Million Times Already
By 7.1.12
The deadline AMC Networks — the people behind quality programs like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and the first couple episodes of The Killing, and also a handful of channels no one watches — faced two contract deadlines this weekend; one with Dish Network and the other with AT&T U-verse. In the former standoff, the satellite provider stood firm in its decision to axe AMC; while in the latter, some sort of vague agreement has been reached. [More]
This Time Warner Cable Letter Epitomizes What's Wrong With Cable Industry
By 4.10.12
Do you think Ford would ever send you a letter suggesting you give Toyota a try? Or would McDonald’s ever shoot you an e-mail telling you to check out the lovely Burger Kings in your new neighborhood? Of course not. So why would the cable industry not care which company you choose? [More]
5 Pay TV Companies Make 19 Most Hated Company List
By 7.13.11
5 of the 19 companies getting the lowest scores on the American Customer Satisfaction Index are pay TV providers. In 3rd, it’s Time Warner, 4th, Comcast, 5th, Charter, 17th, Cox, and 18th, Dish. Hmm, why might that be? [More]
BillShrink Shows You How To Save On Cable Bills
By 5.26.10
This morning, BillShrink delivered a karate chop to the cable cabal with a new service, currently in beta, that shows you how to get the best cable/tv/satellite/dish package for the best price. [More]
DirecTV Marketer Steals DISH Customers Via 800 Number Squatting
By 11.16.09
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.
Judge Greenlights Class Action Against DirecTV
By 7.16.09
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.
FTC Sues Dish Network For Violating Do Not Call List
By 3.25.09
A lawsuit has been filed against Dish Network by the U.S. Justice Department (on behalf of the FTC) alleging that the company violated “Do Not Call” rules by phoning potential customers without their permission.
Twittering With DISH Scores Free Local HD Channels
By 3.23.09
Like anything that’s cool and people use to organically connect to one another, companies have rushed into Twittering. To take advantage of this, reader Justin says he’s started following all the companies he gets service from on Twitter. When he saw @dishnetwork tweet about an area getting local HD channels, he asked in reply when Cincinnati would get them. @dishnetwork replied back that Cincinnati should have them and asked for his account for so they could check into it. Turned out he needed a different Dish and the rep agreed to have it installed at no cost instead of the usual $60. “The tech showed up this morning, and I have local HD channels for free,” writes Justin. “I’m finding tracking companies on Twitter is useful because they people monitoring the accounts are ones who can actually do something.”
Dish Network Slides Advertisement into DTV Transition "Warning"
By 1.15.09 — Updated: 11.1.12
An ‘Authorized Dish Network Retailer’ is preying on the confusion surrounding the DTV transition to sell its satellite television services, suggested in lieu of cable companies because of “Complaints” and “Lack of HD Channels”. Full copy of the letter inside.
Secret Phone Numbers And Email Addresses To Reach Executives At 101+ Companies
By 11.7.08
Inside, email addresses, phone numbers, and addresses for over 100 different companies to inject your customer service complaints into their corporate executive offices, and get it well on the way to success.
