Question for Direct TV Customers

tryrrthg

I am thinking of getting Direct TV installed but have some concerns about the introductory prices. I am planning on getting the PLUS HD DVR package that is $50 a month for a year. Then it jumps to $73 a month.

If I were to call Direct TV after 12 months and ask to have my bill adjusted to whatever the current deal is, will they do it? How responsive are they to stuff like this?

In general are you all happy with Direct TV? I am sick of Time Warner and their contract disputes and lack of HD channels.

Ricardo

I am very happy with Directv, and have gotten a few great deals from their "retention" department.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31657&highlight=directv&page=2

Conradicles

I love them, but sometimes it is a shame they will not offer existing customers the same deals as new ones. That is my only complaint.
The picture quality is outstanding and that DVR is great. I have 2 of them. The cable in my area is horrible. DirecTV or Dish both offer great services. I think Dish is a little cheaper, but I had it before and DirecTV is better in my opinion. Get it and enjoy.

polkatese

I've been with DTV for 8+ years, been very happy with them (in terms of PQs), most of CSRs were good, some are pain in the ****. Tons of High-Def channels, literally.

jgido759

I've been with DirecTV for almost 3 years (regret not getting the HDDVR). My 2 chief complaints are the continuous "rain fade" for ALL HD channels (does not seem to affect SD channels) and the splitting of their HD package.

When I first signed on, they only offered 1 HD package. Now, with the addition of a **** load of HD channels, they split the package, thus removing some HD channels that I was previously getting (Universal HD, HDnet, etc.). So, in order to have these channels included, I must now add ANOTHER HD package for an additional $6 a month. :mad:

tryrrthg

Thanks everyone. I'm still on the fence. I hate paying the $100 a month now for cable and internet. with direct TV I'd still have to pay for road runner so my monthly costs will go up, way up after 12 months. And I watch too much TV as it is...

unc2701

After 12 months, call them up and "cancel" your service. Tell them that you're going to cable and they'll immediately offer you some kind of package- usually the same promo that they've got going at the time, sometimes better.

Kex

jgido759 wrote: »

I've been with DirecTV for almost 3 years (regret not getting the HDDVR). My 2 chief complaints are the continuous "rain fade" for ALL HD channels (does not seem to affect SD channels) ...

Interesting ... we have family in a fairly remote location in the mountains(Winter Park, Colorado), in a house surrounded by lodge pole pines. They have Dish Network HD with DVR. They've never had any trouble with that, even on the HD channels.

shawn474

Get Fios if it's available...........

Ricardo

Kex wrote: »

Interesting ... we have family in a fairly remote location in the mountains(Winter Park, Colorado), in a house surrounded by lodge pole pines. They have Dish Network HD with DVR. They've never had any trouble with that, even on the HD channels.

We don't have that problem with Directv in SW Ohio either; we have lost signal in some severe thunderstorms, but if I say 15 times in 5 years I would be exaggerating.

jgido759

shawn474 wrote: »

Get Fios if it's available...........

I would drop DirecTV in a heartbeat if FIOS was available in my area.

As it is, it took my local cable company (Service Electric), the worst provider I have ever seen, almost 2 years AFTER I bought my HDTV to bring HD programming to my area.

Kex wrote: »

Interesting ... we have family in a fairly remote location in the mountains(Winter Park, Colorado), in a house surrounded by lodge pole pines. They have Dish Network HD with DVR. They've never had any trouble with that, even on the HD channels.

I have been on the phone with DirecTV constantly about this over the past 6-8 months. They even sent a tech out to re-adjust the dish and still no solution. Still, they are far better than the local cable company.

BigMac

I would second the fios suggestion if it is available in your area. I have fios now and previously had cable. I would not go back to cable if you paid me to. Plus my internet speeds are insane compared to cable. A 16 meg cable line is for the dinosaurs now compared to what speeds I get. They are doing some trial thing in my neighbourhood since I live right next to a hospital. My speeds right now are faster than most university connections. The picture for tv using fios is insane as well. I do not have high def but my next door neighbour does and he loves the quality. Never had any outtages yet except when they ran fiber from the pole to my house and then set up some big **** box in my comupter room for the connection.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70200&page=3

skipf

I've had DTV for about 11 years now. They will occasionally give you a deal if you ask, but not often. I'm getting a bit miffed at them for splitting packages too. I subscribe to the HD service, and lost channels when they decided to split the packages to make more money. I don't get my local channels in HD even though i live in the state capitol. When I asked them when I would get them in HD as several small market towns here in SC are provided in HD, their answer was "Just get an external antenna if you want them in HD.:mad: I also get the NFL Sunday ticket package for $300/yr, but if I want the games in HD I have to pay another $99. Unfortunantly, I haven't found a better provider yet. If I do, DirecTv is history.

obieone

I've had DTV for 3 years, and with the exception of biblical rain storms, it's a pretty reliable picture. I'm paying almost $60/ month, plus RR internet is $50/ month.
The problem with DTV is they market 185+ channels, but I only watch maybe 15-20?

NotaSuv

unc2701 wrote: »

After 12 months, call them up and "cancel" your service. Tell them that you're going to cable and they'll immediately offer you some kind of package- usually the same promo that they've got going at the time, sometimes better.

LOL been there and done that twice

last time they gave us the hd recorder for no harge and havent charged us a monthly fee for it yet.......only complaint is the rain fade and at times in the winter I have to sweep the snow off of it........besides that no problems in 5 years

Rivrrat

I've had Directv for almost 9 yrs and I've been happy. We pay too much for everything (HD dvr, with everything except Sho), but I know it would be moor with cable.

As far as rain fade goes, it's a little worse with HD, but even here where we get thunderstorms all sumer long, it's still not bad. And pretty much, I'd rather be watching those storms anyway.