DIRECTV vs. DISH

I started off with DirecTV by being mislead by their website regarding local HD channels. They had a channel lineup pdf file that had a section on local HD channels which said that local HD channels were available with all HD packages. No comment or note that local HDs were not available in all markets. After installation when I couldn’t get local HDs I called their support and got the run around. First it was “reset your receiver”. Then it was you didn’t buy the correct package. Finally it was that the local tv stations were denying access. I called a local station and talked to an engineer and finally got the real story. DirecTV does not allocate bandwidth for local HD in smaller markets. Not once in all of this was I ever told by DirecTV about the over the air converter that they offer that can be linked into their receiver. I learned about that from the local tv engineer. I will say that after all of that I complained about the pdf being misleading about local HD and they added a note saying local HD was not available in all areas.

The installation itself was also poor. The first day no one ever showed. When I called it sounded like that was business as usual. They didn’t seem at all surprised. They just asked if I wanted to schedule a new appointment. When they did show, they performed a completely unacceptable cable run all the way around the house through the gutters and then draped it down the sidewall and punched in through a outside wall into an open wall in the family room so that I could sit an look at the cables every time I sat down on my couch. When I called about the install, again it was business as usual, and I scheduled another visit to come out and run the cable under the house and bring the cable up from the inside. It sounds like they’re business strategy is to do as little as possible and see if you complain.

The equipment seems to be the bare minimum as well. The over the air tuner has problems picking up stations that my television will pick up directly with no problem. The HD/DVR reciever itself is slow, often times taking 6 – 8 seconds to respond to a command by which time you’ve punched it in a couple more times or sat there waiting to see if it took effect.

I get a kick out of their advertising that they are the highest rated. They don’t actually say anywhere that they are highly rated, they just say they are rated higher than the competition. If they were a student, they would be doing just enough to pass – grade C.

Service is pretty good with directv. I was offered an upgrade for hd-dvr since my contract was up. I got a free HDDVR for and free dvr service for a year just to extend my contract for 2 years. I saw my bill and received a partial charge for dvr service. I thought since I’m getting it free for 1 year it should be free no partial charge. I also think that if they can afford to give new subscribers free HD for life than why not all of us, something to think about when your contract is almost up. Customer service is great and they are always polite at least in my experience. HD picture quality is excellent in my opinion.

We started out with Direct TV, switched to Dish Network, then went back to Direct TV. We only switched the first time because we wanted a cheaper bill. However, customer service was rude at Dish Network, we had multiple with the equipment and so on. When we went back to Direct TV, Dish Network wanted their stuff back. They sent us 3 empty boxes by UPS to return the boxes, remotes and a piece of the dish itself. When everything was packed up and ready to be sent back we called Dish Network to have them get UPS back out to pick it up. First they told us that we had to get a hold of UPS for them to pick it up. Then, they told us that even though our bill was at 0 balance, we would be charged $15.00 per box. They asked if they could charge the credit card they had on file. We told them no, because we weren’t authorized to do so since the card we used belonged to my Dad. Then we told them to take that card off file which they claimed they did. We got a bill from Dish Network for over $400.00 three weeks later! They said it was for the shipping and we didn’t return some equipment when we followed the instructions to the letter on what to send back to them. Two months later they took $385.00 out of my Dad’s account which put him in the negative balance! When we called and talked to them about it, they claimed that a man with my Dad’s name called them the day before and said to take the money out. That wasn’t possible since my Dad was in the hospital that day due to diabetes difficulty. They then told us that they would not not return the money that they took out of an account that no one was authorized to use. Now, my Dad has to go to the bank, pay more money to have it stopped and the bank is going to get his money back. They lied about someone calling and telling them to go ahead and charge it! Dish Network has lost my business for good! I will stick with Direct TV from now on! Even though their prices might be a little higher than Dish Network, they work with us, are very kind and respectful on the phone and don’t pull the crap that Dish Network did.

This was my first time ordering Direct TV. I completed my order online & the first available date for installation is over a month away. Several friends of mine that live less than a mile from me ordered & had it installed within 2 days!! So i decided to call Direct TV. They tell me that the workload in my area must just be high right now & that maybe I should just keep checking the calendar online. ( I live in a very small town. The towns around me are also very small. Are the professionals that install oming from another country? Or do they only have one?)So I checked the very next day & within 2 hours they’re booked for the rest of the year & the calendar is unavailable.

Also to continue this experience, everytime I call I am told to hang up & dial another number just to go through that same process. I believe I ended up hanging up & dialing a different customer service number 6 times.

In my opinion this is a horrible way to start service with someone.

I have been a direct tv customer for years, I have purchased the football package each year. I recently saw an ad that the football package was free this year, so I contacted the company to inquire how this works. They notified me that it was for new customers only, they are going to charge me a long term customer over $300 but provide this service to new customers for free the first year. I then did a little research and found out that the premium packaage I have is being offered for $30 less a month to new customers. So the expect me to pay an addtional $600 this year for the privelage of being a long term customer. When I spoke with the customer service representative they told they have had many complaints regarding this issue, I wonder why. I will no longer be a long term customer.

I like Dish network because most of the time I can see my baseball game, specially during the weekends. But what I don’t like is the way they sell you the package, telling you about they have more channels than Direct TV Including all direct TV channels, when what they really have is 70% of Direct TV Channels and the rest are repeated channels. Plus with Dish network you don’t have to wait for the rain to start to loose signal, all you need is cloudy day. . . and there you have it, no cable.

In all honesty I am very happy with Dish Network as a whole. My only issue is the fact that they no longer carry any local professional sports programming (MSG, YES, SNY). At least the giants play on free TV. Outside of the occasional lost signal; I’ve never had an issue that went unresolved. It’s a
shame I will have to leave and go to Direct TV.

We had been dish network customer for 5 yrs and now that we are moving out of this house they are not ready to take the DISH down from our house. When we call them they answer in bad words.Never ever use DISH network.

I have been a Dish Network customer for about a year. The cost, channel line-up and the reception is excellent. However the equipment that they send you is horrible and often refurbished. I personally have the VIP612 HD receiver/DVR. Ever since I have had it it freezes atleast once a day and I have to preform a reset. I returned the box for a new one and again they sent a refurbished one and again the same problems. I went to the website to see if there were otehr options and all they wanted to do was troubleshoot even though I had already done all the troubleshooting with another tech before. They use canned responses and don’t care about getting your issues resolved. One time I told them I wasn’t sure if it was solved and they said “I am glad we could resolve your issue today. Is there anything else I can do for you.” They were not even paying attention to what I was saying. When my contract is up I will be leaving unless they can get me a quality receiver that works as presrcirbed.

I have had Dish Network for over ten years. We live in a Fifth Wheel RV and was staying at a park near the Taneycomo Lake.
We were told we would have to vacate so after two floods we moved up on higher ground.I moved the satelite dish to our new location and I thought since I saved THEIRDISH they would come out and do the necessary settings for the new location.
THEYWERENOTHELPFUL AT ALL! They gave me a number for a local satelite service that was charging $75.00 for service call.
That does it. We are going cable for half the price.