I am a resident of Tatum Texas and now the consumer of DirecTV. On 11-22-07 I had a Direct Tech Southwest installer come to my home and install a new DirecTV service that I had ordered from DirecTV. At the time of install I was told by the installer that I would need to pay $60.00 for a wall fish (new cable in the wall). He stated that he was willing to waive $20.00 of the cost. Upon completion I asked the installer who I should make the check payable to. He stated “Make it out to my girlfriend”, I found this to be rather strange and after he left I contacted Direct Tech Southwest about who the check was made to. I was told that I should not have done that and that they would take care of the issue.
On 01-05-2008 my wife received a call from the installer stating that because we had not paid the $40.00 dollars at time of install we would now need to pay him $60.00. He also stated that we had until noon 01-05 to pay him or our service would be shut off. Of course we did not pay him and at noon the service was shutdown. When I contacted DirecTV I was told that I shut the service down and that I would need to reveal the password. At that time I had no idea what the password was. With a little help from the operator I was able to figure out the pass word and get my service back on. I was also told that due to the fact I had suspended the service I would need to pay a $56.00 reconnect fee. Now keep in mind that I did not suspend the service the installer did. After several calls I was able to get this charge removed and filed a complaint as well.
On 01-13-2008 my wife received yet another call from the installer stating that I was not to contact DirecTV, Direct Tech or him. He stated I would be receiving a letter on Monday and that he hoped we could resolve this prior to going to court or him filing a claim on my home owners insurance.
This man is attempting to extort money from me and I have contacted my local PD along with the FBI office in Dallas but no one seems to want to help. I should be noted that this man has one of my personal checks that contains my address, phone number, DL number, bank account and routing numbers. This guy with the right knowledge could destroy my credit and even still my identity as well. I am in search of any and all help that may be available to me.
Read Next Complaint >>Reader Comments:
Posted by nrog1 on 02/09/2008
Nice work direct-tv...These companies must be regulated by public-utilities commisions!! they do not have the corporate morality to operate in an honest/professional manner. We need consumer-protection laws in this country.
Posted by rking8 on 02/09/2008
We need a nationwide consumer generated, consumer controlled lawsuit to bring dish and direct to heel. Installatin is top of the lsit. Putting holes in a roof is against code. Windstorm is a big deal on the coast where I live. Insurance companies are not going to pay for a leak repair and water damage when you let them do a roof mount. What kinda idiot punches hole in a roof? Composition shingles are a system. It bonds in the heat. Then we have a lack of building permits, non-presentation of landlord re-lease is a biggy. Training and licensing of installers-I can go on. Tiny important wording is frowned upon by courts. This crosses state lines. If they do not present it is triple damages under the deceptive trade laws in Texas. Renters are naive under the eyes of the law. If you get in a fight with direct tv send them a certified letter with a time demand. Make the certified letter have a signature and return receipt. Save all emails. Call your Representatives office at the state and local level immeadioso. These guys are pirates.
Posted by ron_all on 05/07/2008
I work for Direct Tv as a tech
This installation tech was correct
He did CUSTOM WORK that he is to collect the funds for worked reformed. THIS MONEY DOES NOT GO TO DIREVT TV. He had a rights because this walfish is not included as part of a noemal insakkation. The tech was with in his rights for the work he performs, the FBI and local police have nothing to do with is LABOR work for Custome work performed, He can have the funds made payable to anyone he wishes, since he performed the work. He is totally within his rights to preform the work and YOU AGREED TO PAY HIM THIS MONEY FOR WORK DONE !! HE BOKE NO LAWS FOR WORK HE DONE OR MONEY HE HAD A RIGHT TO COLLECT ! !
Check with any Sirect TV instaaltion company and they wil, tell you the same
NO FRAUD WAS Committed. that is why the FBI And POLICE DID NOTHING TO HIM !
Posted by contact on 07/14/2008
On behalf of DirecTv, I am hereby authorized to send each and every account that has outstanding balances to CBE for collections. This is my job. Pay your bills on time and in full, and we would not have to do this. Being poor/broke is not an excuss, you ordered the service, you pay the bill.
Scott West
DirecTv
Albany, OR
1-541-926-4635 Field Office
1-360-885-9669 Regional Office
1-541-936-1908 Office
1-800-531-5000 Customer Service
Posted by marylyn99 on 08/12/2008
There are certain requirements a customer's house needs to have in order to have DirecTV installed. If those requirements are not met well, the tech needs to bring the house up to DirectV standards which sometimes come at price.
A wall fish is custom work along with moving customer furniture, connecting un-installed devices, and special equipment (for customers that don't want holes on their roofs). Custom work is NOT FREE!...get that straight and be ready to pay up front.
Most of the time, technicians will inform customers on custom charges prior to the commence of work. Whether customers want DirectV, they need to pay for custom charges or reschedule your appointment and pay another contractor for the labor.
The only thing that is free is the installation of the satellite (anywhere on the house not necessarily on the roof) and outside wiring (if no wiring is present). Once the customer wants something beyond the standard installation, be prepared to pay for custom work. Failure to pay for labor performed will result on you going to Judge Judy
Posted by jim.hosford on 10/01/2008
In case anyone is wondering, I have validated the following phone numbers for DirecTV Installation/Service support through DirecTech.
1-866-238-4993 (for NE US, but they can direct to your area if you give them your service phone number)
1-800-745-1058 (hit option "5" and then enter your zip code and the call will be directed to the appropriate local office).
1-866-648-7808 (Local number for Houston and surrounding area).
Posted by ford_man82 on 11/10/2008
Im a tech for directtech southwest in houston and the installer was not correct what he should have done was call the custom work line and you could have paid directtech sw by check credit card but us as installers we can not accept any checks. now if a customer wants to give us a tip in cash that is different. that tech should have been fired for his actions because we can not call directtv and cancel your contract and as for ron_all dude you and this guy give us techs a bad name you are an idiot you and that other guy should be fired
Posted by perry268 on 11/12/2008
They all are correct to a point, yes there is an extra charge for custom work and some direct TV installers are allow to charge the customers because they are private comtractors and other are working for a company such as the one mention above but custom work is extra all the time. Each company has it own policies on how much to charge base on the areas ansd so on.
Posted by jamoffit on 11/18/2008
satelite techs do not get paid to fish lines, and need to recoop costs from the homeowner, however having you make out a check to his girlfreind seems, not on the up-and-up, i don't blame you for being concerned. If a contractor is not upfront with you about financial obligations prior to doing work, then they are operating at the risk of not getting paid. I do believe that direct tech's issue with the installer was that he wanted you to make the check out to his girlfreind and not the actual charge for the service. I would probably just pay the tech for his service, however i would only send the 40 dollars as agreed.
Posted by Rex_1966 on 12/23/2008
You should be grateful that the tech ran the wall fish and gave you a discount. The DirecTV pay schedule for the wall fish is $60.00. The tech is only required to bring the line in through an outside wall or through the floor. The Tech gave you one third off. You ungrateful bastard
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