68 thoughts on “AT&T + DirecTV Bundle = #FAIL”

1. It’s obvious that AT&T and Direct TV have not improved their standard of service at all over the last few years.

   I’m not going to write a long epistle about my experiences with AT&T regarding bill hikes for things I didn’t order (but for which I received a letter telling me that my order (!) was going to cost me an extra $$X monthly, and I won’t begin to list the problems that the Direct TV “installer” created despite his innuendo about having been on the job for 15 years, and how I know I could have done a better job if I only had the electronic gizmo that helps line up the dish with the satellites. No.

   It’s time for more action than that. In fact, it’s long long LONG overdue.

   As citizens and consumers, we are entitled to have a single agency that deals with the various problems that come to us courtesy of retailers, service businesses, utility providers and the like. A Consumer Protection Agency, if you will.

   We need one of those – a single federal (yes, Federal) agency with regional branches in every state that will resolve (emphasis on the WILL RESOLVE) all the problems that we have with these people. All the misquoted services, the shoddy goods, the mistakes that retailers make when they label things wrong and try to make us pay for their mistake, all the abysmal workmanship (I use the term ‘workmanship’ loosely) that makes the place we live in – our homes – less secure, less weatherproof, and creates more work for us. All of those ads that promise the world to us but that which fail, fail, fail on every count. Snake Oil and Smoke&Mirrors should be illegal. Loans that are foreclosed wrongly. The list goes on and on. All those things, and more, that leave us digging deep in our pockets and bending our hearts double just to get things done right.

   And there need to be punishing fines for those who fail to come up to the standard that is reasonable to expect, hefty punitive compensation that they must pay consumer citizens for taking advantage of them.

   Other countries have that in place. Why not us? Is this the land of the free? Yes. Free to be fleeced, hoodwinked and ambushed by people who want our money. It’s way past time for it to stop.

2. AT&T & DIRECT TV merger is a nightmare. DO NOT DO IT.

   I have been an AT&T customer for a longtime but this is it. Enough of being used and abused. Can’t take it anymore.

   3 months ago, my one-year plan with AT&T was terminated and I realized they charged me $145.00 instead $105.00

   I called to find out why. I was told my plan was terminated.

   I wonder why they didn’t and do not indicate this period in the statement or emails they send to customer?

   My rates went up to $145.00 for 200 channels.

   I was going to leave AT&T and sign up with other services.

   AT&T representative with a far eastern accent just tried to sell me a plan. I asked her I needed to sort this out before I signed for another plan.

   She switched me to another department, which was not the right one and then again to another one till they could locate that department.

   The woman rep at customer loyalty department suggested that I choose a TV plan with DIRECT TV, as long as they are merging.
   The call lasted 71 minutes and she signed me with Direct TV and their phone/internet services. Final agreement was an estimated of $105 per month.
   I got a statement for $105 for the first 2 months and $145.00 the following month.

   Called AT&T to find out why? They assumed the invoice was coming from direct TV and I should contact them.
   I called direct TV and they said that their statement was correct $62.50 per month for $34,00 plan deal which AT&T rep signed me up. Meaning I have to pay $32.00 more p/month for equipment rentals, equipment insurance coverage, and $400.00 TERMINATION PENALTY WHICH WAS NOT DISCLOSED BY AT&T REP WHEN THEY SIGNED ME UP. Direct TV claims they sent me an email regarding the plan detail. Yes I found it later but there is no information in that email to find out about the plan yet some stupid advertising. In order to see your plan detail you need to create an account, sign up and then you will be able to see your plan detail. I do not have time to keep creating accounts. Why not have the information in the body of the email? Simply because many people do not have the time or the ability of doing this and these companies are aware of it and that’ how they cheat the customers all the time.

   I called back AT&T and they deny any responsibility for the chaos and misleading the customer.

   Later I learned that there was $120.00 penalty for AT&T plan termination too.

   Not willing to pay that amount for this miserable service, which was dump on me by AT&T Loyalty department, I called direct TV and asked them to lower my plan and bring my payment down. Direct TV rep asked me what channels did I watch etc to create and choose a plan.

   Now, I am ending up with $65 per month for a basic channel service that I could pay $20.00 anywhere else.
   A $65.00 for Internet and phone.
   2 years contract with $520. Penalty

   The best part of the deal is if Direct TV’ equipment stop working, I will be responsible to pay them to repair it and believe me they charge a lot.

   Called AT&T to find out if they have any customer complaint department I could communicate with them.
   You can guess the answer. NO, we don’t. Write to corporate office. Really? It takes up to 70 minutes to talk to an AT&T representative and I am sure most are calls from unhappy people complaining about their poor services.

   Bottom-line, I am complaining to Better Business Bureau, Federal Communication, creating a customer complaint on Internet and communicating with TV channels to disclose this merger and how both companies are using people and abusing their confidence and their time.

   I am hiring an attorney to follow up on this case and get me out of this nightmare, which is unnecessary to go thru.

   We live in age of Internet and Mobil use. TV and home phone is not necessary anymore and obsolete and AT&T and DIRECT TV are hopeless and at the end of their games.

   What is your suggestion?

3. Anyone else here have billing problems with ATT/DirecTV (and by problems, I mean nightmares)? ATT doesn’t send me my bill at any kind of regular during the month. I’ve been with them just shy of two years and it’s always been this way. On top of that, they don’t bill the same amount every month. Last month my bill went up to $150 (it had previously been $125 and during my first year it was anywhere between $79 and $110). This month, it’s $130. When I call them, they just tell me to look at my bill and add everything up! UGH!

   So today is Sunday. My DirecTV cut out so I called them. They informed me that ATT had disconnected me. I ask why (my bill I’m looking at is a regular bill with a due date of May 5th) and she said that she didn’t know but she’d transfer me to ATT. Well, she couldn’t transfer me because they don’t have Customer Service Reps who work on weekends (8:00am to 6:00pm EST Monday-Friday). I’m beyond mad by this point. So the DirecTV person gives me ATT’s 800 number and tells me to try calling the “Repair” line.

   I call the repair line and a live person answers the phone. That person tells me there’s nothing she can do because Customer Service is closed. I ask to speak to a manager. The manager listens to me and tells me that while the repair people are available 24/7, customer service isn’t and there is nothing that can be done to get my service back until Monday morning at 8:00am. I told her that someone cut my service on a Sunday so someone should be there to get it back on. She said that the disconnect, rightly or wrongly was done per an automated scheduling and that to be turned back on, that had to be done by a customer service rep.

   I’m so happy that I have one month left with ATT/DirecTV before my two year contact is up!!!!

   • I decided to look on the web to see bif anybody else has had problems with DiecTV/ATT. I got a bundle in November and it’s been a nightmare. I was lied to about the pricing, one company now blames the other. ATT took money out of my auto-pay. I was originally told that I would get one bill for TV, internet, and phone service. That was a lie. This has been nothing but legal theft and manipulation. It should be illegal and is just another example of corporate America cheating us. Every time I see a game in ATT stadium. someone in the Dallas area should be thanking all of the people this company has fleeced for their state of the art stadium. I’m about to take the hit on my credit or whatever it ends up being, and break the contract I supposedly signed. Somehow they slipped that by if one exists. I’ll never do something like this over the phone again. Why can they have get away with being able to do this. There’s no way this can be anything but a devised plan to get money. If anybody else fees this way, let your voice be heard. Yours truly, Cheated in Louisville

4. Oh how I wish I had read this in June before I dedicated the next two years of my life to directtv bundled with AT&T!!! I have just spent the biggest part of an hour on the phone back and forth between the two and am livid. Have just been on with them 4months and have only received one bill bundled. This months dtv bill is more than phone and dtv should be together. Dtv person actually told me my bill was not bundled because AT&T had not paid them for my service!!! At this point I’m actually considering pAying the $20.00 per month penalty for breaking contract which would be $520.00!!! And I’ve only beenwiththem3 months!!! Am also considering talking to a lawyer. This has to stop because I can’t do this every month!

5. We signed up for an AT&T/DirecTV bundle, and we find out it’s for NEW customers only (after the first bill comes). WHO in CT is NOT an AT&T customer? If you have a land line, you are an AT&T customer. SO, it’s a scam from the start. We save NO money, in fact we spend MORE. DirecTV is partners in the scam. We were supposed to get a bundle with AT&T/DirecTV for $65/month for the first year, $115/month for the 2nd year. That’s what we agreed to. Since we are NOT new customers, and they knew it, we are SCREWED for $115/month for TWO years. Forget You, DirecTV, I am going back to your competitor, who never worked me over like you did in the 16 years I used them (after you hose me for 2 locked in years). With your “added costs” that aren’t incl in the package price…You are scammers with the best of them.
   I should have known, bundling only hurts consumers. AT&T and DirTV should be investigated.

6. Direct TV/AT&T bundle and both separately are a complete mess! Worst experience ever and absolutely frustrating every single time I have to deal with them. They try to sell in promos that last for 3 months, which leaves you paying your additional 9 mths of a 12 mth contract at almost 2x as much as the initial cost. It’s such a scam. They dont tell you certain things ON PURPOSE and if you ask they try to circumvent the questions. For DSL and Direct TV our bill started at $110 and all of the sudden somehow became $230. They make it so confusing with so many weird “deductions” that are separate line items each bill instead of just saying your package costs $54, they say your package costs $74 but will give you $5 off here and $10 off here and another $5 here…..well…..who knows how long those “friendly discounts” they only verbally say over the phone last…..they dont give you a timeline. Overall…..not impressed at all and just annoying that we dont have quality service — many of these companies are typically frustrating experiences…so switching never seems to truly alleviate the challenges…it just makes you “feel” like you are temporarily….hopefully one day there will be a legit company who knows how to provide quality and truthful service. The other part of this whole scam is that we have been “paperless” since the beginning….however the past 5 months (the months our bill increased dramatically) we have been locked out of our acct to view our bills online. WHAT? And they couldnt help use over the phone, they circumvented and beat around the bush, then finally said we need to send you a copy of your statement hard mail so you can get the code off it and then use that to log in online. WHAT? Really? As a paperless customer I should ALWAYS have the right to view my bill online. Long story short, they are completely jacked up.

7. I had the same horrible experience with directv bundle. I moved from a ATT Uverse to Non-Uverse, and was sent by ATT to ATT DSL and Directv instead. I was not aware what kind of Directv package until installation, and found my daughter’s favorite channel was not included in. The Directv installation guy told me I have 30 DAYS to test. And the next day, we moved in and my daughter was not happy about the package. I didn’t want to pay high end package, and we agreed to cancel the directv service. A day later , I called directv for cancellation and was told only 24 hours for test, I would be charged for more than $400 for early termination. OMG! How 30 days became 24 hours! I feel so frustrated about the ATT bundled with Directv. Hope you guys don’t touch Directed anymore! Directv is cheating!

8. Thanks for the candid complaints. I ALMOST called them today to switch from Comcast. I thought I could get a bundle cheaper than the $185/mo that I pay Comcast. But after reading complaints from here and other sites, I’m better off staying where I am!!

   • soooooo sorry i bundled with direct tv and att.PLEASE don’t leave Comcast…so very sorry i did,,,,,,,,,,money won’t go to direct and house phone…Disaster for a co. like at&t……..VERY SAD hours and days letter calls to corp.office,,now with collection agency for non payment after banker faxed payments to office tv going to be shut off again..$75. for tv pole in ground

9. September 2011 I bundled AT&T with Directv. BIG mistake. I continued to pay the bills individually because I continued to get individual bills. I pay on line through my bank. The charges I was expecting to pay was $14.95 AT&T internet service and $47.98 for Directv. The bills from AT&T was showing credits and I was told by them that my bill would be $0 for January, February and March 2012 and a payment of $4.85 for April and then I would be billed $14.95 after that. Imagine my shock when I got a bill for $157.83 that was “Past Due”. I called AT&T and was on hold for one hour eleven minutes before I hung up. I then found a way to communicate with Directv on line and sent several emails trying to resolve this problem. I was told by them that I have an $80 credit but I can’t apply it until my May bill. I found a way to communicate with AT&T on line and have only received acknowledgment of receiving the email. This morning April 2, I had no internet service and no Directv service. I called AT&T and they said I have to pay the past due amount before service would be restored. I made arrangements to pay tomorrow when my disability social security check is deposited. BUT I only have to pay $126.63! I then called Directv and they said AT&T had told them to discontinue service because I hadn’t paid my bill. WARNING to anyone considering this bundling: DON’T DO IT! Each company points a finger at the other as the source of the problem. This is a SCAM to suck the public in and the problems seem to never end!

   • bundled in april hosed in june..DON”T BUNDLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT THINK OF IT ! $400 bill for house phone was supposed to be 6 dollar life line…………………Disaster don’t you dare think of bundling..you don’t deserve this “favor”

     • Yeah they don’t warn you enough about that life line form that has to be filled out and sent it. Then if you don’t get the form in the mail or a reminder for that matter **BAM** $400 dollar bill attached to your SS# and credit.
       To all of you out there YOU DON’T NEED A PHONE LINE FIR INTERNET ASK FOR DRY LOOP. Dry loop is the answer. It’s like 4 dollars a month but there’s no taxes and no forms to be filled out. Besides the actual landlines are rarely used now a days.
       But they offer a phone line cause they are sales people on commission.

10. No problems so far with DIRECTV, however, hate, HATE, HATE AT&T. Been a customer for 30 years and got totally messed around when trying to set up UVERSE. Same kind of things you experienced. Took me a day on the phone with them to tell them never mind. Now trying to get out from under AT&T totally (phone and all) because of how this all went down. No one knows what they are doing!

    • ready to quit att too got so hosed bundling……sad for a co. in business over a hundred years…….sad excuse for a co. these days

11. UPDATE: After the tweets I posted yesterday, I now have a new follower – from the ATT Customer Care staff. Interesting, eh?
    What I really want to know is, have they done *anything* to rectify their treatment of you??
    Keep us posted….
    ~ Lynn

12. What a moronic way to treat a customer! Yes, this kind of “business” makes me nuts, too! I tweeted it to both companies and will make reference to it on my blog, which just happens to be dedicated to evaluating products and services. Hope it gets across to them – they owe you some serious making up!
    ~ Lynn

    • Yes. Good old AT&T . I have had a land line thru them for 40 years. In nov went to direct tv bundle. Should have read these comments first. They totally screwed me. Gave me bundle price. When tech came into install, ah said he could not because of my land line art security system. He was able to splice Internet in for me. Then I get a bill for 271.00 for work. Install was supposed tobe free with direct tv bundle. But because I had a security system, I would have to pay. The tech asked me if the AT&T schedule person had asked me if I had a security system because they are supposed to. After BBB complaint and an FCC complaint, I got a call from AT&T corporate offices saying all was taken care of. My Internet would be turned back on after they had turned it off for not paying a bill. I had gotten th service only 11-26-12 and it was turned off 12-6-12 before they even sent me a bill. Corporate said all was good and I would only have to pay 14.95 /mos for Internet. Then received no bill for 3 mos and when it came I was charged 22.95/mos and got a letter saying they would turn off my Internet if I did not pay my past due bill.
      4-12-13 refilled
      BBB and FCC complaints. I recommend all of you that have had trouble with this to file complaints. It is easy to do online. It just may get their attention.
      Better yet corporate headquarters for AT&T number is 877-677-3215 ext 0932. Cassandra is manager of president of AT&T . Leave a message. If message box is full call same number ext 7282 for Kim.

13. We have DirecTV and have loved it for years. We’ve been lucky with our service technicians except once, they didn’t speak a word of English. I had to call the customer service center so they could translate what he was trying to say to us.
    When I had to have a tech come out and swap out a DVR (ours died), I requested a tech who spoke English, and that is what they sent, no problem.
    AT&T we have for our iPhone only and don’t have any problems with that.
    We have DSL with our local phone company because that is all that is available to us.
    Sorry you had such a sucky experience.

    • I am currently a Dish customer. Only been with them slightly less than 2 yrs. It seems that I spend more time online trying to figure out what I’ve done wrong , only to find that I had to join the wait for a specialist. I was interested in getting a comment written vs so many I see against coming bk to Direct Tv because in the over 10 yrs as a Direct TV customer, I never had the issues u describe. In fact, would never have left Dir TV except that there was an issue with DirTV that would not not give me any type of discounted rate when I needed to add my niece o my acct—after 10 yrs of service and never being late payment–
      so we at least expected some of the fees, a totally new phone, After a bit of discussion, in which they use fantastic actors to spend hrs convincing u how much they want to work things out. He hands me the phone & I got the exact same reasons as the initial conversation, they were unwilling to treat a loyal, long-term customer had now asked to make changes made that only asked to be able to get the new rate for persons adding the “hopper”. Which was what I was wanting to do. Yet none of the incentives offered to new customers, loyal, discounts on equipment, credits to make up for the major difference in my current bill compared to what my normal bill would be. So, less than a wk later, I was a happy Dish subscriber. Until I have seen the great incentives & rates but only for new customers. In both instances, within a couple of wks & continuing for a couple of months, whose service had been sporadic at best, I was no longer a Dish subscriber. Which left me free to go back to Direct TV using their specials. And, after a couple of days, have my Direct Tv installed. But I now find that even tho DTv promos, rates, etc, I am not getting any of the ATT discounts or free upgrades each mo for bundling. I am just starting my ordeal with ATT & if they are not willing to give a break to someone who had been loyal & with a perfect pmt record in the 10+ yrs I must remind u of the time her Visa card was not updated when it expired, so with perfect credit, I could definitely get special pricing. But on the other day came round to offer I might do, but aside from such a tiny chance, I needed to know why it is so hard to keep up the huge pmts they began to impose after that 1st run. Now I am in the process of deciding if I am going thru with the scheduling switch on Sat. If I go with ATT/Direct Tv, I hope my experience is better than urs.

14. What a mess Trisha! I’m sorry you had to deal with this 🙁

15. I have ATT and Direct TV but I ordered by services separately. ATT gives me $10 off my direct tv bill. I am very pleased with DIrect TV. I think the problem is in ATT and Direct TV’s communication. I pay my ATT bill separately from my Direct TV. The only problems I have had are with ATT’s billing which I eventually filed a complaint and since then everything has been good. I have internet and phone (including long distance all over the US) with ATT and Cable with Direct TV. I pay around 76 dollars for Direct TV and I have four boxes in four different rooms. My ATT runs around $67 or so with DSL internet and phone service. So not sure I am getting the best deal but that is how I set mine up. Sorry you are having all these problems. I have heard prices vary depending on location. I still feel like I am paying to much but I need landline at home since I only have a pre paid cell phone. Good Luck. If you feel they have lied to you you can report it to the better business bureau. But that will involve more paperwork.

16. WOw that is horrible. I have been an At&T customer for a long long time, and they have always treated me great. I’m sorry you went through this

17. Man Trisha, I hate that you had to go through this. I have been with AT&T for about 13 years and had major issues when they had the dish network. I am talking about over 15 defective dvr boxes and too many tech visits to count. It is bad when the techs recogonize you. Once we were able to get Uverse it has been much better. I have never had one of their reps hang up on me. That is horrible! I just got off the phone with a really nice one because of a billing question. I did not know that At&T did contracts. We never had one with them. I really hope you get this all worked out. Customer service has to be number one and in this situation it clearly is not a priority.

18. That is so much suckage – I loathe dealing with this type of thing and I’m sorry it happened to you. I absolutely cannot stand it when companies cannot get their acts together and their customers fall through their wide open cracks.

19. I was just on the phone with them when I read this. I was thinking of switching but now not so much.

20. We had SO many issues with AT&T that I flat out refuse to ever use them again. I haven’t had to deal with DirectTV (and hope that I never have to). Honestly though I think all of those companies are exactly the same, we have Time Warner right now for phone, internet, and cable and it’s ALWAYS something and no one is ever very helpful when you have a problem, makes me want to have it all shut off!

21. Wow, I honestly can’t say there is a good, nor honest cable company out there, but seriously? I think what you have/had to go through is beyond acceptable. I hope you find some resolution!

22. I’m so sorry to hear about this. It sounds like the employees in your area are just idiots. I’ve been using AT&T for 11 years and never once had a problem! They even came out and installed fibre-optic cables on my block because I wanted their new Uverse cable service and it wasn’t available to me yet!

23. We had a nightmarish experience with DirectTV too, although we got it from a different phone company.

24. I loathe DirecTV. They actually came to install for us and I wasn’t watching the guy. Because really, this was a grown man and he didn’t need me to follow him around watching him work, right? WRONG!

    The cable lines were already there, they just were not run up through the bottom of the house, even though there was a spot to just pull them through. Well this guy could not be bothered to crawl under the house and pull them in. He drilled two holes from outside into my kitchen. Then he drilled two more holes in the wall behind the TV into the living room and ran the cables through there. 4 holes in my walls, 2 from outside and I flipped out. It took months to get them to pay to repair it and come back and install it correctly!

25. ATT is good with me for DSL, but Direct TV can totally kiss my ass. Here’s my posts LAST year.
    http://www.southernbellaswaystosave.com/2009/07/heres-a-little-story-about-directtv.html
    http://www.southernbellaswaystosave.com/2009/08/update-on-heres-a-little-story-about-directv.html

    I tweeted, fb’d, and stumbled!
    Kas

26. OMG that sounds awful. We recently moved and had to cancel our Uverse service with AT&T. I liked that service up until the increased the price via a form letter through email. No choice just a we want to increase prices so we’re doing it across the board.

    So when we moved and Uverse was not available I did the shopping around and did pick DirecTV directly through DirecTV even though I could go with AT&T’s DirecTV service. For some reason it seemed like I got more discounts and a cheaper price going directly than through AT&T.

    I had the 40 foot issue as well but it was justified since we are in a three story town home and our home’s location faced north and the dish needed to face south. So we had to do the reschedule for the ladder and 2 techs to come out not just one. So far everything has been good and running smoothly when I need to talk to DirecTV.

    As far as AT&T goes I truly hate them. What they should have explained to you but they didn’t was that to have DSL and DirecTV you need the phone line. I opted for the very very basic plan since it was required. So in the end I pay $50 after taxes and fees to AT&T for phone + dsl internet and then about $45 to DirecTV for the Choice Ultra + HD + 2 HD receivers (1 DVR) + 1 SD receiver. I think the HD shows up as a $10 fee on my bill but then they comp it out as a “discount” so I’m not really paying.

    Maybe you could cancel everything with AT&T and then sign up with each individually. It might work out better in the end.

27. We’ve had our issues with AT&T as well. We were told that if we canceled our Dish Network that they would reimburse us the early cancellation fee for Dish Network AND that we would receive a $25 credit card as a bonus for signing up. Did we receive either? BIG FAT NOPE! If we weren’t in a contract with them I would cancel and switch back over to Dish Network.

    It’s ridiculous what you had to go through today. These people should be trained better. Ugh…I’m disgusted with the way you were treated. DISGUSTED.

    Shame on you AT&T and DirectTV! Shame.on.you!

28. We haven’t dealt with DirecTV but we have dish network through at&T and find that it is very hard to get changes made because of the bouncing back and forth with them always insisting something is the other ones issues. But I will say that we never get mystery charges or anything. But we also can’t get them to cut us any breaks after 7 years either

29. I am with AT&T and am sorry for the experience. Please email me with your contact information and I would like to help in getting your issue resolved. I will do everything I can to help and resolove this for you.

    • If 2 FCC and BBB complaints have not solved my issue with AT&T , I doubt if you can. I have been an AT&T customer for 40 years with phone and now Internet. I got a bundle thru direct tv. When tech came to house he said they couldn’t give me the unversed phone because I have a security system. They were able to give me Internet and then tried to charge me 271.00 for installation. Installation was free thru the bundle.
      They now keep trying to charge me more than what was offered in the bundle. I called ADT today and asked why I had to have an analog phone thru them for my security system. They stated I don’t. They have many customers who have unversed phone and Internet. Apparently AT&T does not know how to hook me up.
      AT&T. Used to stand for something so we have never switched phone service even though we could have for less money.but now I will seriously think about it.

30. LoL. It’s not really funny – it just sounds like EXACTLY what I went through when I first moved into our new house. It seriously took 4 technicians and 6 days, cancelling and restarting and getting a new phone number each time a technician came out. I couldn’t do email, phone, or tv, and wanted to scream my head off at them (Comcast).
    There are really not any other ‘good’ options here besides them, so you just have to suck it up and go along with it. I too had the first guy that showed up and was lazy and running behind for the day – and quickly rescheduled because the line from the pole to the house was ‘too low’. The next three guys that came out all said that it’s higher than standards and it shouldn’t interfere with anything – and that the first guy just wanted to get our ticket out of his pile for the day (because they apparently get paid if they show up and can’t do anything, but didn’t lose our service.)
    My brother used to work for Comcast – and was required to have a minimum height ladder and a drill for bricks at all times; because those are the challenges they face. Heights, and Brick walls.
    Ugh. It is so frustrating – and even more frustrating to know that all the other companies do the same! Someone could become a quick billionaire if they would just open a company who has great customer service and their act together – and technicians that only get paid when their customers are completely satisfied. 🙂

31. we actually have Qwest and Directv. I haven’t ever had issues with Directv themselves, but Qwest… don’t even get me started on them. My brother has Mediacom and has had horrible experiences with them.

    To be honest, I don’t think ANY company is good.

32. I wrote a post when I first started blogging about what junk DirecTV was and how I was tired of being repeatedly jerked around. We dumped them and I’ve never looked back. Sorry you had to deal with all that-absolutely ridiculous. If you can get out…do it now. That’s just my thoughts. {hugs}

33. ugh, what a mess!!! We had nothing but problems with DirecTv so we gave them the boot as soon as our contract was up. I’m sorry you had such a rough day! I’ll be tweeting this to ATT and DirecTV so they can see how horrible their customer service is.

34. Absolutely UNACCEPTABLE! Cable companies, all the ones I have dealt with in the past and present, all jerk you around with their prices and “deals” it is disgusting.

35. CRAPPY. Retweeted this for you. I also didn’t have the greatest experience with DirecTV. My alternative? We got Netflix & an AppleTv. Most of the other shows I like I can watch online.

36. Oh, Dear God. DO not get me started on telephone and satellite tv companies. I could tell you endless stories. I just wrote on my blog about how good it felt to fire Qwest last week, because they were supposed to put my telephone service on vacation on October 26, 2010, and it nver happened, even after I called them three times over the winter and told them there was no one living there at that time and the phone line was just a bare wire going into a snow bank. Their retention dept asked me what they could do to make me happy, and I said “give me a refund all the way back to October and disconnect the service today.” They practically begged me to stay with them as a customer.

    I had Direct TV many years ago, but I got soooo tired of them asking me every time I called them for whatever reason when I was going to pay my bill, even if I had just paid it. I told them that if I was calling them because my pay per view movie didn’t start when it was supposed to, I did not want to discuss paying the bill first thing, I wanted my movie to start. Anyway, I switched to Dish Network and have been happy with them for more than 10 years. They will give me the same “offers” they have for new customers if I call in and ask for it.

    And as far as AT&T is concerned, I worked for BellSouth for 20 years. I am supposed to get a pension from them, and when it was BellSouth, I could have started drawing my pension in full at 62. Since AT&T took over last year, they changed the rules on pensions, and now I have to be 65 to get my full pension. I do not think this is fair, but I have no choice. It’s just plain underhanded of them to change something that has been in place since at least 1996 when I left the company.

37. OMG what a fabulous mess. I want to thank-you so much for writing this though. I was contemplating switching to one of their bundles because our Cable went up like yours, but now I will steer way clear of them. I am so sorry you had to deal with all of that.

38. I live in a 2 story and have dish network. They are amazing. The guy installed 5 rooms plus added broadband to my main in 1 hr tops. I’m sorry you got jerked around!! They should comp you generously for the hassles and lies!

39. We have Direct TV because it’s all we can get where we live. I wish we had another option. We’ve been customers for 12 years. When we wanted to upgrade to HD they told us we had to fork over $200 for the equipment. I asked them, “Why do you give new customers free stuff, but you don’t reward loyal customers?” They offered me three months of Cinemax free. How generous.

    • oh you mean you didnt jump at that? Sheesh. I dont understand how its OK to give one price to new people and a really bad one to loyal consumers. It seems SO backwards.

40. Holy shiznit, remind me not to get direct tv anytime soon, AT&T already over charges just forlocal and long distance here. I refuse to have satellite now because I refuse paying outrageously when I only want 5 channels not 500!

41. I think my blood pressure actually got higher reading this. The sad part is … this is normal business practice for cable companies. You wouldn’t believe the hell we’ve been through with Insight then Comcast.

    • I was telling her that the other day about Comcast lol..They have got to be the worst company I have ever had. Trisha UGH I am so sorry you had to deal with that bs! I am with Kim I have had way better service with ATT and DirecTV.. I signed up online when i did, i refuse to talk to these sales people on the phone they always try to add things and just confuse me lol!!

42. As the “friend” who recommended, we seriously LOVE the service we have with AT&T & DirecTV after dealing with Comcast. The prices are better, the CS has been more knowledgeable and they don’t charge me $3 when I call in to ask them a question.

    That sucks that your experience was so bad.

    • Dont worry, friend, it was actually a nieghbor that told us it was in our area…I came to you afterwards. Maybe I should re-evaluate my friends come to think of it…hmm…

      • ha. ha.

43. I am floored. Really. I am so sick of incompetence with these huge companies. Is it so hard to take your order, give it to the tech, and have the damn stuff installed, as agreed upon? I’m sorry you are going through this…I hope they decide to come around and do what they said they would.

44. You REALLY REALLY need to be careful when dealing with AT&T. We don’t have the bundle but do have both services and if AT&T try to stick you with a charge you don’t owe (LONG STORY) they will fight you tooth and nail to get that money. Even after 15 calls. We finally got it taken care of but I have found that AT&T SUCKS!!

    • oh great. And you live in my area so this is even more scary. Im going to call them at like 8:01 am and ask for a manager. Did i mention that DSL isnt even signd up yet? That’s still TOMORROW.

45. I dunno about ATT but they sound like they equally suck like DirectTV ……Dont get me started on DirectTV. I blogged about them too, rip off artists they are! I would check that bill. Google my blog and DirectTV, shiesters!

46. Just reading your post stressed me out for you. THIS IS AWFUL!!

47. Wow! I hate dealing with cable/phone/internet companies. I will never understand why they give new customers better packages that they won’t offer to their existing ones. Makes no sense to stay! I’m so sorry you are dealing with this, and thanks for the heads up….I will be avoiding both companies.

48. WOW…is all I can say. What a horrific day..I am with you..call them up, get what you paid for..or adios!

49. Holy crap. They put you through the ringer, so not cool.

    We just switched yesterday from DirectTV (loyal customer for 6 years but I was tired of being bent over each month and not having access to local channels) to Charter.

    What a friggin’ mess – here’s to hoping they don’t bill you at all.

    • wow you didnt get local channels? Mine says local channels…but now im afraid your getting ready to tell me those will go out too.

      • Ours said local channels too…so check in to it. Of course, living in the middle of Nebraska, it’s probably the norm.

50. OMG I hate cable companies. Seriously.

51. So sorry for your horrible experience.

52. Oh. My. Word.

    And I thought our cable/customer service through Comcast was bad — this is HORRIBLE.

    UGH.

    I know we have AT&T/DirectTV available in our area but I will NOT switch if this is how incompetent they are.

    Absolutely ridiculous.

53. Awww, I’m sorry that you had to go through that… :/ That stinks!

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