Dish Network Customer Service SUCKS

Published on July 17th, 2006 - 328 Comments
Filed under: House & Home
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About the author: Nickel is the founder and editor-in-chief of this site. He's a thirty-something family man who has been writing about personal finance since 2005, and guess what? He's on Twitter!

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328 Responses to “Dish Network Customer Service SUCKS”

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1. 1
   FMF Says:
   July 17th, 2006 at 8:36 am

   I just love it when you rant!

2. 2
   Blaine Moore Says:
   July 17th, 2006 at 9:46 am

   I bet they make the money when most people don’t bother trying to get their $50.

3. 3
   Scott Says:
   July 17th, 2006 at 11:08 am

   I had the same sort of fun experience with Verizon. I had bought a phone online and cancelled service and returned it (via mail) within their meager 15 day grace period, but their warehouse didn’t process my return until after, so they charged me $180 in early cancellation. After dealing much too long with customer service and being blown off as “nothing we can do,” I filed online with the BBB. Within a month the Verizon offered to settle the claim and give me my $180 back!

4. 4
   George Says:
   July 17th, 2006 at 1:15 pm

   Great work nickel. As consumers, we need to make a stand against these terrible customer service experiences and billing problems. I too use the threat of contacting BBB, the state attorney general’s office, local newspapers consumer advocate, and sometimes a regulatory commission (SEC, utility commissions, FCC, etc.).

5. 5
   dePriest Says:
   July 17th, 2006 at 1:58 pm

   I think the problem with the install fee is part Dish Network’s new business model – don’t give customers the rebates they were promised and, in my and my mom’s cases, make the customer pay for repairs when the problem is on Dish Network’s end. I just emailed the FCC because of strange goings on with our Dish Service, I’ve put my complaint on a few websites and I’m contacting the BBB.

6. 6
   Guest Says:
   July 17th, 2006 at 6:02 pm

   I just signed on with Dish Nework with their Platinum HD package + all the other channels. It was an ordeal getting setup (install took 9 hours and subsequent 2 hour visit), and the billing has been off but I must say that I am extremely happy with the HD channels – they are awesome as well as the variety of programming.

   I signed on after receiving horrible customer service from Time Warner. They failed to show up twice to repair my non-functioning service.

   Service is really deteriorating in this country!

7. 7
   daran Says:
   July 18th, 2006 at 11:58 am

   I have been a Dish customer for two years now. I have to say, get ready for continued shitty service from them. I had signed up for automatic bill pay but finally stopped it because they would incorrectly charge my account for things and I would be doing exactly what you’re going through for every little issue! I’ve come to accept that with every change in programming or credit it will involve an ordeal. The first thing to do when you’re talking to any Dish person is get their 3 digit “operator ID” and their name – take notes. I can’t tell you how many times I thought I’ve settled something and then later find out they have no record of it happening.! Dish has gone to hell.

   Another thing they do that drives me crazy is they charge you two months ahead of the start of a season when re-newing sports packages. I tell them to cancel and then re-up right before the season (but then, on opening day, have to call back and ask, “Where’s my sports package!?!” AAARG!).

8. 8
   Shawn Levasseur Says:
   July 20th, 2006 at 10:53 am

   DirectTV has been very good to me.

   Only paid about 20 bucks for initial installation (I think, I may have even had that waived.)

   I was able to schedule the installer’s visit via the web, when I put in my order for satellite TV. I was able to get someone to come the very NEXT DAY!!!

   After a year of service, DirectTV gave me a gift of 3 free months of Showtime. Not a scam to stick me with the service after 3 months. It automatically dropped Showtime from my service after the free months. Very nice, they seem to know that customer retention is just as important as getting new customers (unlike my old cable company, Adelphia)

   I reccomend dealing directly with DirectTV and don’t go through any “resellers” with the great service you get by dealing with them direct. Why take a chance with anyone else.

9. 9
   MD Says:
   July 24th, 2006 at 9:15 pm

   I have to say I am greatful to DISH for making us realize that we don’t really need TV after all.

   About 4 months ago we decided to switch from DirecTV to DISH, because AT&T was running a promotion that would save us approximatley $30.00 per month. AT&T was great about getting things set up for the DISH install. And then the installer arrived. He didn’t know a coax from a hole in the wall. Proceeded to toss our DirecTV dish off of thrid story of our house into the yard, and install the DISH dish without performing a line of site test to their satellites. He finished the install, demonstrated a couple of channels, and left. Shame on me for not checking EVERY channel before he left.

   When we went to get aquainted with our new service that evening, we discovered that we could receive NOTHING from the main DISH satellite. We called DISH, they sent an another installer from the same shop who confirmed that installer #1 was a nitwit, and there was NO WAY we’d ever be able to recieve the majority of DISH services from our house.

   The installation shop, DISH and I agreed that the install shop would re-install our DirecTV gear, and we’d forget this ever occured. However, the DirecTV gear was so badly damaged after been hurled from the roof into the yard, that we were now without a workable Dish. Now the fun begins…

   Four months, thirty phone conversations and hundreds of emails later with both AT&T and DISH, and we still don’t have resolution. I’m pursuing this with the BBB and the AG’s office just to prove a point. We are still w/o TV service, and you know what? We don’t miss it!!!! We talk, we play games, we see friends, AND save $75.00 per month. For that, I thank DISH and AT&T.

10. 10
    the Prince of Thrift Says:
    July 26th, 2006 at 9:14 am

    I have an idea, actual call to cancel…when they say but you have an 18 month comitment, you can respond aha, so where is my $50 credit.

11. 11
    wifeofnickel Says:
    July 26th, 2006 at 9:21 am

    I actually tried that (sort of). When told they had no record of my 18 month commitment, I asked “So I can just go ahead and cancel my service right now?” Their response? “Sure, I can take care of that right now if you’d like.”

12. 12
    Rocky Says:
    August 8th, 2006 at 7:50 pm

    I was recently contacted by DISH stating I needed to read them some techinical information from each of my receivers or they would limit my service. I didn’t like the threat right off the bat so I told them I wasn’t going to do it. I even told them I have one receiver without a t.v. right now and the lady told me to move a t.v. or borrow a t.v. and hook it up or they would disable that recevier and limit my service. Well, that really ticked me off and I told her I wasn’t going to hook up a t.v. to it until it was convenient for me. She again ‘threatened’ me, so I hung up.
    Well, they called back in a couple of days and I wasn’t here to answer their call or call them back before they closed, and sure enough, THEY BLOCKED MY SERVICE (except of course for ppv) I was forced to call them the next day and go from t.v. to t.v. and read them technical info just to get my service restored. Seems to me if they can block my receivers remotely, they could get the information they needed remotely.
    I wrote emails to their customer service and got absolutely no reply, so I filed a complaint with the Attorny Generals Office.
    Just got off the phone with some jerk named Brian from their executive office. Here’s his response:
    “We have the legal right to interrupt your service or deactivate equipment as we wish per the residential agreement. I can send you a copy if you want”
    I told him LEGAL isn’t the point, its customer service thats in question and it sucks, and here was his response:
    “You can cancel the service if you wish, but we have the legal right to do what we did”.
    Needless to say, I’m canceling my service. Who could ask for better customer service….DISH Network, leading the way. I hope they have someplace to put all of the receivers I send back to them….perhaps theres a big enough place in their LEGAL department they can ‘put’ them.

13. 13
    Treven Says:
    August 12th, 2006 at 2:35 am

    Ya, I have a similar type of deal with dishnetwork……(happily with direct tv now).

    Almost 2 years ago, I had a tree get in my way and was blocking my signal. I called them and asked if someone could come out and put it in a better spot, as I have tons of trees around and have no clue how to do it. They wanted to charge me $100 to do it, ya $100. I told them that I had been a customer for 3 years and I should get it free. Then they offered $50. I said look I can just call Direct TV today (Saturday) and have service tomorrow and I will get Tivo and the whole nine yards. And the dude didn’t even flinch. So I had my Tivo on Sunday around 2pm. Pretty damn quick! When I called them to cancel my service a lady told me they would have done it for free. I told them sorry you have lost out, it was nice doing business with you. Personally I like dishnetwork better, as for the way you can surf around, but I am much happier with Direct TV, Plus I am getting nfl sunday ticket this year (dishnetwork doesn’t offer that). So ya save yourself the hassel and go to Direct TV, also they offer a 5 buck a month protection plan for any lightening and if you need your dish moved.

14. 14
    Mary Says:
    August 20th, 2006 at 4:40 pm

    I too had a very similar problem with DishNetwork and they promotions. If I ordered the TOP 120 promo, I would get free installation and $100 cash rebate (that credits your account @ $ 10 per month for over a 10 month period). Because I opted not to go with the 18 month contract (as I wasn’t sure I would like DISH), they charged me the installation fee (however the sales rep said they wouldn’t)and I’m still getting charged the $ 49.99 per month! Even though I went on their website, printed and filled out the promo form for the $ 10.00 off immediately.
    Talk about customer service…………..
    I believe part of the problem is, we can’t “teach” customer service, it must be instilled in you. Second problem is, with such diversity in our country, everyone’s mannerism’s are not equal.
    Needless to say, I’m still with DishNetwork because I’m going to stay with them until they get it right!
    Please visit my blog sites, too:

    “seasoned people” and “Don’t get me started”(also about customer service)

15. 15
    Sib Says:
    August 21st, 2006 at 7:15 pm

    I found this site because I am going through Dish Network hell myself. I will not go into all the past problems, but my current one is:

    When we signed up, we signed up for the dish being installed on the main house and the smaller guest house getting a receiver. My guests have since left and I decided I would move into the guest house to rent out the main. When this was installed, I questioned the installer about the putting it on the guest house, but he said it would be easier to put it on the main house and if I wanted it moved later, that would be covered under the original installation.

    So the time has come to move it…I called to find out how to make that happen and was told it would be 100$US. I (out of curiosity) asked how much to cancel my contract and was told 110$US … with all the past problems, it was not a hard decision. Now all I have to do is to figure out how to cancel my autopay so that they have to bill me for the cancelation fee… that way I can add a harsh letter to go with the check.

16. 16
    Chris Weaver Says:
    September 2nd, 2006 at 1:51 pm

    Nickel, I have had monster problems with dishnetwork too! Their outsourced call center is retarted! Finally after my last move they tried to connect service here 5 times (I told them they would NOT get line of site when I made the initial appointment) they finally let me out of the contract! I just got off the phone with their stupid customer service again, it took them 40 minutes to decide to refund the 1 month of advance service that we never recieved since we disconnected. I hate their service so much I would never go back, EVER! They suck, suck, suck, suck, suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

17. 17
    summerhiker Says:
    September 26th, 2006 at 12:13 pm

    Am going through similar Customer Service hell myself and mind you, this is just for getting an installation done. The ones who contacted the BBB or the Atoorney General’s office, would like to know did it help, because I am planning to do that myself.
    Thnx!!

18. 18
    rurugby Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 11:54 am

    I have not been very impressed with DISH .. lots of problems with the DVR, and messages telling you to pay your bill on the set for a week after its paid in full …

    Sometimes just wish I stuck with cable … Dish keeps promoting how good their service is to which I find laughable …

    Curious to try DirectTV..

19. 19
    Loke Uei Says:
    October 31st, 2006 at 12:22 am

    I had a bad experience recently. I signed up for Dish Network and the day they were supposed to install the dish/receivers, they did not turn up. so I called them to find out, according to their records, my apartment does not have Line of Sight (LOS) with the Satellite. You know what’s puzzling? there IS already an existing dish outside my apartment and the previous tenant was a Dish Network Subscriber. She even left me her 3 decoders/receivers.

    So what went on was numerous calls to their Customer Service and Technical support, and repeatedly telling me there’s no LOS when there is already a dish. I’ve asked for their tech support to call me when someone comes out to check LOS so that I can show them the dish. But none did, no one called, no one came out.

    After a week of arguing with their CSR and Tech Support folks, I finally gave up and switched to DirectTV.

    I can’t believe that they’ll just make a claim that there isn’t LOS in my apartment when in fact there IS!.

    I believe their local tech support did not even come out to check my apartment but simply said there isn’t LOS for whatever reason.

    bunch of losers. Now I hope I get my refund.

20. 20
    Dishy Says:
    November 9th, 2006 at 12:42 am

    My problem is that local HD channels have an audio problem. Pay the money or cancel….

21. 21
    steve Says:
    November 10th, 2006 at 7:54 pm

    i had the dish for 3yrs i tried to call them to have a remote that stopped working replace. i was told i owed 900$ on my account. the information was based on the fact i had just gotten a new phone #, so i lived w the broken remote for a while. approximately a month later i tried and it sd that i still owed 900$. so i switched to charter cable. i had my service installed and i had to remove the equipment that they installed on the dish outside and the dvr to them. which i did. they are still calling saying that i never sent it back and that i owe them over 600$ even though i provided them with the tracking # provided by ups. “DO NOT DO BUSINESS W DISH NETWORK..INCOMPETENT AND DISHONEST COMPANY”. i am now a happy cable subscriber

22. 22
    Cass Says:
    November 15th, 2006 at 4:03 pm

    I just moved and wanted an additional room. Dish told me they cannot tell if I am eligible for an upgrade until I reactivate service. I said why waste your time installing and transferring if you can’t provide an additional room. Then they proceeded to tell me I could purchase an additional receiver and have it ready when the tech came. Why buy a receiver when I don’t know if I am eligible for a 3rd room. I mean come on why couldn’t I upgrade when all the promos are up to 4 rooms free. Seems easier to close the account and answer to a promo than to pay $299 for a receiver. Is this even lega?

23. 23
    Joe Says:
    November 20th, 2006 at 2:02 pm

    Hi, I am in the same predicament. I called and cancel my service before it was installed and was told that 49.99 would be credited back to my account in 7-10 days. It has been over 20 days and I have not received the money back. So I decided to call and I was told that the first CSR did not put the credit through but she will immediately. For some reason she did not sound sincere so I called back and I did not mention what the second person told me. Guest what the third, fourth, and fifth persons told me the samething the second person told me. So I asked the fifth person if there is anything on record showing that I spoke to 4 other persons ans she said no. I am starting to think that my 49.99 is doomed. BEWARE of Dish network.

24. 24
    annette newton Says:
    November 27th, 2006 at 9:36 pm

    hi, i have had dish for years i just reciently purchased a hd tv..so i called dish to take full advantage of my new prized possession. i was told because i am an existing customer it would cost me 85.99 a month plus 99.99 install fee..i asked about there deals i’ve seen they told me as an existing customer i dont qualify..WELL EXCUSE ME FOR BEING ONE OF THE CUSTOMERS WHO GOT DISH TO WHERE THEY ARE..SO SCREW ME..BY THE WAY I OWN MY DISH BOXES. THEY OFFERED ME A ONE TIME FEE OF 10.00 TO GIVE ONE UP..HOW GENEROUS OF THEM…IDIOTS!!!so i am taking my long time committed stupid self along with my money to direct tv……
    annette

25. 25
    Cameron in Fayetteville, AR Says:
    November 28th, 2006 at 9:25 am

    I just experienced the new AT&T Dish Network for myself. Don’t do it! After speaking with an AT&T rep, I decided to get Dish installed @ my home. The first thing you should realize is that AT&T only CONTRACTS with Dish for your services. After scheduling my installation for a Saturday between 12-5 I waited, waited, and waited.
    I called Dish using the 800# that they provided in the voicemail that they left on my cell # the night before. First they said “We don’t have a record of your scheduled installation”, then “You didn’t provided a working number, so the installer couldn’t get directions”. What? I rescheduled installation (foolish) for a Monday. Another now show. When I called AT&T Dish “customer service” to complain, my call was disconnected. I called back and spoke with a rep, who placed me on hold. He then returned to our call and told me that I had not scheduled installation properly.
    To shorten this story, Dish network ended my call by saying “You will get your installation fee refunded in 3-5 days. Goodbye”.
    Don’t buy into AT&T Dish Network. You will regret it.

26. 26
    Bill Maguire Says:
    November 29th, 2006 at 2:17 pm

    I signed 18 month contract for Dish TV a year ago on a 31.99 per month online promotion through AOL. I was supposed to get 60 channels but got 50. I called and got assurance from a Dish represenatative that my bill may increase a few dollars per year but no more than that. Dish wasted no time raising my rates. My first bill was $2 higher than I agreed on. I called and Dish claimed to have no record of the promotion form I filled out.The monthly increases were steady. A year later I was being billed $45.83 per month.Dish TV customer service was completely unresponsive and had several different stories for my ever increasing monthly charges. There is a $125 termination fee which I don’t feel I should have to pay.

27. 27
    E. Balas Says:
    December 2nd, 2006 at 10:42 am

    Dishnetwork abruptly discontinued one of its Greek international channels without notification to the customer. In calling customer service, to find out about a refund/credit, I was given 3 different answers by 3 customer services representatives, including the supervisor. It took over an hour of time and I still have no idea if I was given accurate information. I heard that Dish is going under. Can this be verified?

28. 28
    Eugene Panov Says:
    December 2nd, 2006 at 12:20 pm

    Dish Network is PATHETIC.
    We had one Russian Channel (ORT) and some additional lame channels for $15 because thats the lowest number of channels I have to have in order to get Russian TV.
    Damn bastards. They cut off my ORT channel and when I called they said they are sorry and instead will be giving me some lame Ukrainian channel.
    WTF. It took me an hour to cancel with the bastards. They said I can keep my dish but they need the receiver. I said I don’t care.
    Bastards came to my apartment and took the receiver. Screw them.
    I called DirecTV and got the best deal. Lovely lady offered me 100 channels for $30 and ORT for $15.
    I pay ~50 bucks for 101 channels. And I mean GOOD channels. ESPN, ESPN2.. I love that.
    Service is great, Customer Support is amazing.
    Don’t sign with the bastards, they are fags and will not let you out so simple.
    DirecTV = Simple installation, two receivers and quality programming. Thank you.
    And bastards are gay. Poor devils..

29. 29
    Byron Clements Says:
    December 8th, 2006 at 12:14 pm

    My mother lives in Ga and had trouble with here local cable channels, due to an accident with the cable company. She could not receive her local channels, which she was use to enjoying. Her phone company, Alltel (Windstream), was offering the services of Dish Network. Dish was offering the local channels, so we signed her up.
    Now, with out notice, they have turned off one of her local channels, her favorite one of course. Then she reads in the paper that Dish Network is in a law suit about the local channels.
    Our problem is that sustomer service is not helpful or carring about the situation. They were helpful when we signed up, because they were putting money in the bank. The Alltel (Windtream) customer service is GREAT and have tried to help us with, but Dish customer service and manager have there script and can’t read anything else into it, plain and simple.

30. 30
    Terri Says:
    December 14th, 2006 at 9:09 pm

    I just cancelled service with Dish Network. I’ve had their service for 7 years and finally had it. I should have done it years ago, but figured every company had customer service issues at some time. The final straw…one of my leased receivers started having problems. After 2 months and numerous calls, every other day it took 5 to 10 minutes to pick up channels. Finally, a technician told me that if the problem came back (like after 2 months it would actually go away) to call and Dish would send out a technician. The catch was (as I found out when I called the next day) it would cost $95 to have a technician come out and no they wouldn’t just send me a new receiver because I didn’t have a warranty (on a leased receiver???).

    No, that wasn’t going to work. I told the rep that I would cancel my service before I paid $95 when their equipment I was paying to lease was faulty. The solution offered was that I start paying an additional $5.99 a month and they could send someone out for $29.99. Uhhhh…no.

    A week later I call to cancel because now I’ve made arrangements to get DirectTV and miracles of miracles, “Since I’ve been a faithful customer for 6 years they can send someone out for free”…not $95, not $29.99 and $5.99. I tell the supreme rep, no thanks I’ll pay DirectTV for awhile and give them a chance to provide reasonable customer service. Besides they’re giving me a free DVR (after the rebate…which is free to me). Would you believe it…now Dish will upgrade me to a DVR too!!!

    Now I’m just disgusted and frankly ANGRY. Last week all I wanted was a receiver that worked and couldn’t get that even with Dish knowing that I’d been an excellent paying customer for 6 years. YUCK!!! I don’t want to do business with this company.

    To add insult to injury, I asked them to come get their dish off my roof and they said, “Sure, that will cost $99.” So, I say okay…if you don’t want it. But no, they want something off the dish and tell me that if I don’t return it with the receiver they’ll charge my credit card on record.

    All I can say…no one could be worse than Dish. I can’t wait to hear that they’re going out of business. If any company deserves to they do.

31. 31
    Shenny Says:
    December 19th, 2006 at 3:04 am

    OMG! I thought I was the only one experiencing these problems with Dish! Their customer service is so unhelpful and have no knowledge at all. I’ve cancelled my service since June and I jsut got another bill today! And I can’t even get a supervisor to talk to me! I’ve been given several excuses such as, “This is an inbound call center and I can’t transfer you to a supervisor.” Or my favorite is, “I can’t transfer your call to a supervisor because I’m busy…I’m in the middle of something.” Then when I hang up and call back they hang up on me.

    I just called about the new bill and was disconnected after a silent hold of 22 min!
    I had my credit card co reverse the unauthorized charges from them after cancellation and they allowed the credit to go through telling American Express that they apologized for inconvenience they caused us. And of course today they bill I just opened says I owe them because my credit card charge did not go through…yes I know that morons…I reversed it!!!

    Then when I got the address to mail the reciever and remote they gave me a wrong address and the package had to be re-routed! I think they do stuff like this on purpose so they could charge my debit card for the equipment! I still have that refund to get back!

    I would never get service with them again! The only reason I signed up was because VOOM was moving most of the HD channels there after they went out of business!

    I work in customer service and if I did what that company does…I wouldn’t have a job!

    They need to have a class action lawsuit filed against them for things like this! Seems like that’s the only way companies will respond these days!!! Some type of action needs to be taken in order for big companies like this to realize that their loyal customers got them to where they are today!!!

    PS-Just got hung up A-G-A-I-N! Should I send an email and wait for repsonse? Still waiting for email response from August!!!

32. 32
    Sathya Says:
    December 25th, 2006 at 11:24 pm

    Dish Network Customer Service SUCKS. They need SS # and Credit Card number to make any changes to the initial order we placed. Their process sucks they do not train their call center agents and none of their agents know how to talk to the customers and have no idea of their products.

33. 33
    Blayne Says:
    January 16th, 2007 at 3:45 pm

    Same thing happened to me. On the 5th call I threatened to call the Better Business Bureau, and the $49 credit showed up on my credit card statement about 10 days later. They just count on people not doing anything about it.

34. 34
    Caryn Says:
    January 24th, 2007 at 3:35 am

    Nickel–thanks for your “rant”!! It’s helped me SO much!! I called Dish Network the other day to TRY to get service hooked up to my house, and needless to say NOBODY has shown up yet! Anyway, they were SUPPOSED to come out on the 22nd, and they NEVER did! I waited from 12-5 like they said, yet NOBODY even bothered to call and give me a reason! I FINALLY had to call them, and after an HOUR, I got to talk with the guy who was supposed to hook me up. He gave me the bull—t reason that his truck got scratched on his way over a small bridge by my house, and that he’d have to get somebody else (with a smaller truck)to come hook me up!!!!!!!!! This guy is SUPPOSED to come out on the 24th (again sometime between 12 and 5). I’m beginning to wonder if it’s worth it! And they’ve already charged my credit card the $49.99 “set up/installation” fee! If they don’t come out tomorrow, I’m just gonna tell ‘em to forget it and credit the $49.99 back to my card!!

35. 35
    nickel Says:
    January 24th, 2007 at 7:23 am

    Caryn: Be prepared to do a chargeback on your credit card — you may not be able to get them to issue the credit (at least not in a timely manner) if you change your mind and decide not to go through with the installation.

36. 36
    christine Says:
    February 3rd, 2007 at 11:48 am

    DISH DEFINATELY SUCKS!!
    I have had problems from the moment they came to install. First the guy was here for like 12 hours, I thought he was going to spend the night!! The next day the signal was lost had to send and recieve 3 seperate recievers, still didn’t work. Didn’t finally get things working till 2 months later. You were supposed to get a free surround sound system w/contract never got it. Free movies channels for the first 3 months, seeing as how we had no service for 2 of the 3 they gave me some lame credit on the bill. Have had to call many times since then for lost signal they usually fix it over the phone, well last night I called and the CSR tried one thing to fix and told me the reciever was bad that I need a service call the receiver is bad,(all the while carrying on a conversation in the backround with another worker about when she was going on break). So I say ok send someone she tells me I need a credit card to pay for the service call before she can schedule it. I told her I pay every month for a warranty why do I have to pay. Informed me if I didnt have the insurance I would be paying 4xs as much, I said yeah ok whatever, gave her my credit card # and scheduled. Said the tech would come between 12-5 three days later. Told her I work 2 minutes from my house can they call me when they are on their way so I can meet them because I cant take a whole day off work waiting for them to come. Her response was not all tech’s carry phones so NO. Anyway, after I hung up I played around with the TV for like 3 minutes changing the transponder and satelitte numbers and guess what it came back on. Called back and asked for supervisor and told him I believe this could of been taken care of over the phone that the CSR was just trying to go on break so she just scheduled a service call rather than dealing with me. His response it is not fixed that all I did was TRICK the receiver I was like WHAT???? He said you may get a few channels but you will not have most. Well its the next day and I am still getting every single channel. So now I have to call them and cancel the service call and probably fight and argue to get my $29 back they charged my card. I have 3 months left on my contract and cant wait to cancel. If you dont have dish DONT GET IT.

37. 37
    Steve Says:
    February 9th, 2007 at 5:26 pm

    I want to start by saying I’m not the type to complain by writing in to companies or at a restaurant about my food. I don’t do that. But I feel compelled at this time because I’m so frustrated.

    I believe my issue is finally taken care of now, but it really is besides the point.

    I was originally a Dish Network customer back in 2002 and 2003. I then switched to Direct TV until I recently switched back to Dish Network in November of 2006.

    I was told I would get a $50 credit on my first bill to reimburse me for the installation fee. When I got my bill, this credit wasn’t there. I immediately called customer service and reached someone who barely spoke English. The only thing he would tell me is the credit wasn’t applicable because I was technically not a “new” customer because I was a customer 4 years ago.

    I ended up getting so frustrated, trying to reason with him, that I told him I want to cancel. He transferred me to an actual American woman who promptly apologized and said she would give me the $50 credit, which would appear on my next bill. She also said she’d make a note of our conversation so that if it for some reason didn’t show up on the bill, there would still be record of it.

    My next bill came, and still no credit. I called back and got another barely-speaking-English man on the phone. He told me the same thing as the first one and said, “sorry sir, there’s nothing we can do”, and supposedly there was no note in the system from the last time I had talked to the other girl. I hung up, furious, and found a different number on the website to call.

    I got through fairly quickly and lo and behold, it was another American woman. I explained the whole story to her and she said I’d need to go through the 3rd party I bought the Dish through. I told her again about the note that SHOULD have been on my account and that this was already supposed to have been done. She said she didn’t have authorization and would need to talk to her “coach”.

    She did that and came back a few minutes later and said they would take care of the issue by crediting my NEXT bill the $50. So we’ll see if it actually happens this time.

    The point of all this? Yes, Dish Network has saved some “hard dollars” on customer service by outsourcing it overseas. But what dollar value can you put on making and keeping your customer happy?!? I would say, as the Mastercard Advertise goes….”priceless”.

    I’ve been telling everyone that I know this story and highly recommending that they DON’T switch to Dish Network because the customer service is TERRIBLE. I dread every time I have to call.

    If it wasn’t such a HUGE inconvenience, I would switch back to Direct TV, who I have had nothing but GOOD customer service from. But eventually, I’m sure that’s what is going to happen.

    Distraught,
    Steven

38. 38
    L Says:
    February 19th, 2007 at 7:41 pm

    DishNetwork has the worst possible customer service of any company I have ever had to deal with. I have 20 clients, who I have all suggested DN to, and who have fulltime subscriptions. That means that by the power of my suggestion I help DN earn over $10,000 a year, not including the installation fees and yet they still treat me like I am a inconvenience to them. DN service is shotty and therefore creates a ton of problems and they never want to be responsible for the solution. I have been transfer over 8 times in one call because no one can answer a simple question. Where to you report such idiocracy but here?

39. 39
    Debbie Says:
    February 22nd, 2007 at 5:12 pm

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I thought I was all alone in this situation! It’s been like reading my own story here! It’s too bad we can’t get one giant lawsuit going! It’s a crime that Dish Network is getting away with parting people from their money, and no one seems to be able to do anything about it.

    Again, thank you for sharing all of your stories. It’s helped me tremendously to know I’m not the only one!

40. 40
    matt Niezgoda Says:
    February 25th, 2007 at 11:55 pm

    Got screwed by both direct Tv and Dish and don’t have the option of regular cable. Dish wouldn’t upgrade my old equip after 8 yrs of loyalty and not one late bill yet they can give some bastard w/ no credit history entire 4 rm deal for 49.00. Got pissed and switched didn’t want to but had to make a stand. I live in Western ny and wanted my Sabres games which are played on msg I was assured by dish they would be on the 60 channel offer. I said it doesn’t show it on pamplet I assure you sir you’ll get it Now after paying the extra 15 or something bucks enough for one friggin channel I use out of the extra 40 or so I get. I have my sabres game. The real pisser is now I get mail every other week by direct tv offering me all the upgrades to comeback. I was livid I called and got a supervisor and chewed his ass for 20 min I said i get one more mailer come to my house asking me to comeback after i had to sign an 18 month contract w/ dish fecal material will hit the rotating fan. Stupidity of the whole deal is they would have made money anyway cause I was going to upgrade to dvr etc Bigger the corp the more they try to sqaush who makes them big no such thing as customer loyalty sad state of affairs in America its not just the satellite industry its everywhere don’t even get me going on oil profits after the last year of gouging us americans Hows that for a rant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

41. 41
    Howard Luken Says:
    February 26th, 2007 at 4:53 pm

    How does one get satisfaction from a Company like Echostar and Dish Network? I cancelled service because it sucked. They made me wait for a UPS box to send back their dish parts, which they make the customer take down off the roof and I UPS’d it back and have the tracking number as proof. I had paid off the last month and thought everything was done. After several weeks they illegally debited almost $100 from my account long after having cancelled service for the dish parts they can’t find. Then I began receiving BILLING for service I didn’t have for months, eventually the billing added up to $500 FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS for nonexistant service. This after dozens of calls to their offshore “customer service” probably located in New Delhi INDIA… I was finally able to convince someone in Calcutta to refund my money and saw a $100 refund and another $300 plus refund for my grief they put me through. I though how wonderful, a company that actually gives money to its dissatisfied customers. Instead after several more calls and several more billings demanding the now $500 from me that I didn’t owe I found the number for Echostar in Colorado. They had me on the phone on hold for a while and then came back saying the refunds were incorrect and they had given me back over $500 which of course they hadn’t. After a while longer on hold they demanded I give them back the second refund of the $300 plus. I said stop sending me billing demands for service I don’t have and stop demanding I return refunds they sent me, correct or incorrect. A multibillion dollar company wants me to refund them after all this grief? Don’t think so. So what happens? I get a collections letter from the CBE Group demanding $349.61 that I don’t owe them, Dish Network or Echostar or they will send it to the credit agencies. INCREDIBLE. I tried to sue in small claims here in Los Angeles and was told it has to be a local mailing address for service. They have you over a barrel as to how to sue them without hiring a lawyer or suing in Colorado. Does anyone have a local California mailing address for Dish Network? I am suing regardless, just on principle since they’ve done this to me.
    Howard Luken
    310-621-0663

42. 42
    John Smith Says:
    March 2nd, 2007 at 1:25 pm

    FYI have u ever heard of Win back a part of dish customer service that is there just to satisfy the customer.. They will bend over backwards for you if u ever have a problem they are the ones to talk to and no the csr does not like to tell u about them…

43. 43
    Patricia Says:
    March 4th, 2007 at 1:34 pm

    I had Dish Network installed in August of 2005. At the time of installation, I had been with Comcast in Spokane, Washington. I got lured by Dish Network thinking that the fees would be less and I would be getting “More”. As soon as I changed providers, Comcast came out with their DVR and In Demand. Well, I was stuck in a contract for 1 year. I spoke to Dish when I ordered about the connections that I wanted and found out later that those connections were not made for the other rooms pending hooking up additional TV’s. I was also told that I could add the DVR later at no extra charge other than the monthly fee for the equipment. I contacted Dish several times about getting a DVR and was informed that it would cost me $99.00 for an installation. I was so used to going to the local Comcast office and returning/picking up equipment that I could remove/install that I asked if they could just mail the DVR and that I could install it myself and save the $99.00.
    That was not an option. In October, 2006, I again was speaking to a rep at Dish regarding an offer for new subscribers which gave you the DVR for free and again was refused. I asked when my 1 year contract ended and was informed that I had completed my 1 yr in August. I told them that I would be going back to Comcast due to their tactics in dealing with customers. I then had Comcast Cable installed on October 7, 2006. While the installer for Comcast was at my home, I called and cancelled my service with DishNetwork. I was informed that they would be sending me a box to return my receiver in. About a week or two later I receive a sugary call from Dish Network regarding my cancellation. They thought that I would be displeased with Comcast Cable and wanted to give me a free installation of the DVR and wire up all rooms with no charge. I informed them that I had been asking for this before when I was on their service and was denied. Well, they said, we are going to keep this offer open to you for a few months just in case you change your mind and want to come back. I told them that they should have offered this to me when I was still on their service and that I was happy with Comcast and would not be coming back and to send me the box to return the receiver in. Got several more calls for the same offer and again asked that they send me the return box. In December I called them and they told me the offer was still available to return to them. I asked about the “Offer” again and paid my account of $54.61 (Bal Due in Oct.) and told them that I use the Comcast feature “On Demand” and that they do not offer this and I would not be returniing to their svc and to please, please send me the return equipt. box. I then get billed for service from October to January and $199.00 for equipment that I returned in December. When I spoke with a representative @ Dish, I was informed that I requested to account to be kept active and agreed to a $10.00 a month fee for this privilege. No way, I am on Soc. Sec. Disability and sure, I am going to opt for $10.00 a month for their convenience to try to get me back. I have spoken with reps and supervisors at Dish and they are unrelenting, arrogant and rude to me re this matter. I am sending this matter to Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Better Business Bureau and see if I can get a local TV Consumer Advocate to look into this matter for me. Be forewarned Dish subscribers, be adamant for cancellation and Comcast informed me that you can give your equipment to them and they will ship it back to Dish for you.
    Good Luck to you (and me).

    PS: If anyone knows of a class action suit, please contact me @ patriciaadair@comcast.net

    Thanks

44. 44
    jim Says:
    March 8th, 2007 at 3:35 pm

    by far the worst cable company i ever had. i have had dish for over a year now, b/c i’m forced to b/c its the only service i’m allowed in my building. consistly have error messages on my screen if i try to flip through five channels and consistly have error screen for the first 2 minutes after i turn tv on. called and they blamed in on my wife and i not turn box off at night, which we do. the one time they agreed to send someone out we had to stay home on a friday b/c he didn’t want to have to travel from new jersey to connecticut to service us. and now i find out they don’t think they are going to have the mlb baseball package this year….THE WORST COMPANY I HAVE EVER DEALT WITH!!!!…can’t wait to move into our home later on this year and get DirecTV

45. 45
    Shawn Says:
    March 9th, 2007 at 7:13 am

    I am a contract installer for Dish, first let me say that you are right, customer service at Dish sucks, BUT, perhaps you got a bad retailer, I do not know; I work for a retailer here in the SF bay area; and it is a requirement that we give a copy of all documents, EVERYTHING. ALSO, each installer has a business card and a sticker with his/her own cell phone, the office number, and the work orders all have this information printed on them as well. This paperwork is a legal contract, you have right to it and you should demand a copy, also there is a spot on there for comments, write down or have the installer do it, any concerns or requirements that you have; a good retailer can be your best friend here, first for one year that retailer “owns” that job, if you open a “trouble call” (not service call), they will send the last installer (company) back out and they will not get paid for it (they do not want this ((the installation company)), plus they get dinged for how many trouble calls they have, talk to a manager at that company, if they do not offer their phone number ask them for it, and let them know that you will call them directly, so that the trouble call doesn’t get reported to Dish (most appreciate this)this effectively makes Dish Network a local company.

    I am sorry that you are not in the SF Bay area, your problem is an easy one and could be fixed in 15-min or less. Good Luck

46. 46
    Gary Says:
    March 14th, 2007 at 9:10 pm

    Ok,
    I’ve been a dish cus. for approx. 10 years.
    never really had too much of a problem with them until I got a new HD Tv. They wanted me to pay
    part of the new rec. update. I told them as a long long dish suscriber I felt they should be able to give me the same deal as a new suscriber. They wouldn’t do it so I switched to Directv. guess what,… they called me back the day directv was hooking up my new system to give me that better deal. guess what,… I told them where the could stick their dish!

47. 47
    jason Says:
    March 15th, 2007 at 6:23 pm

    I find it rather ironic that all these bashing of Dish Network is on a page trying to sell Direct Tv.
    For what it is worth I install both systems and both do have flaws but for the most part and as far as customers complaints Direct TV is much worse but I bet this e-mail doesn’t make it on the site………

48. 48
    nickel Says:
    March 15th, 2007 at 6:29 pm

    Actually, I had forgotten that the DirecTV ads were even up there. The only reason I had them here was to try and punish Dish for sucking so much. That being said, I’m not sure these ads have ever converted, so I’m going to go ahead and take them down.

49. 49
    nickel Says:
    March 15th, 2007 at 6:30 pm

    There… Feel better?

50. 50
    Dish or DIRECTV Says:
    March 18th, 2007 at 8:56 am

    I sell both Dish Network and DIRECTV. My Dish sales out number my DIRECTV sales by 10-1. Dish is a better run company when you compare management, Dish has a much better HD DVR and more HD channels. Other than than, they are about the same.

51. 51
    Gerald Legg Says:
    March 21st, 2007 at 12:54 pm

    Having many problems getting rid of Direct T. V. They have came up with so many non existent charges. Now I am writing the Better Business Bureau. Is there no honest people left in the world??

52. 52
    Teresa Says:
    March 24th, 2007 at 7:39 pm

    I’m having problems with my Dish Net. install, no show today, spent over an hour on the phone with them today. But for all of you that have switched to DirecTV, their customer service is just the same as you are describing Dish’s as. And you will get the same crap about having to pay for upgrades since you will be their existing customer. All these companies operate the same way. I’ve had DirecTV for 7 years and their customer service sucks too. I’m switching to Dish because DirecTV wanted to charge me huge upgrade fees. And once I cancel, after my Dish install, I will start getting the come back for this deal crap, it’s just standard operating procedure. You are fooling yourself if you think DirecTV is going to be any better.

53. 53
    Shawn Says:
    March 27th, 2007 at 3:29 am

    I’ll say it again, you need to get a good reseller/installation company, usually, if they know when your appt. is they can try and get the work put into their Queue do the work even earlier than your scheduled appt. (assuming you and them can get your timings together) the point is, your are not necessarily stuck with just whatever Dish gives you. Ask around if anyone you know has had a good experience with an installation company or on a service call, find out who it was and see if they will take your work, they will then automatically get any more service calls for your house for the next year. If yo live in the SF Bay area email me @ aaa_shawn@yahoo.com, I will see what I can do for you.

54. 54
    Marie Says:
    March 27th, 2007 at 9:58 pm

    I have a similar situation to the first writer though my situation was worse!! I am not stopping with book marking the website for the Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau, I am sending a letter as well as to the Vice President of the company, which they did not to give me his name:

    Michael Kelly at 303-723-1080, michael.kelly@echostar.com, 9601 South Meridian Blvd, Englewood Co 90112

    Just in case you need it!

55. 55
    a Says:
    April 2nd, 2007 at 2:14 pm

    Dish sucks, and I agree with all of you. I called last night, because I got the ICC Cricket package 2007, which CLEARLY states that it will include mobile update, and f**ing guess what, they said they couldnt help me get it setup because they dont OFFER that but when it clearly states that in their commercial and I even have a promo offer in the mail that they sent saying mobile updates would be included. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!

56. 56
    Tracy McKee Says:
    April 16th, 2007 at 3:56 pm

    I receieved a call from a man promoting the home sales of dish tv and I told him NO THANK YOU, he protested to the point of harrassment, I finially was frustrated enough I called him a name and said do not call again. He called 3 more times, I had to transfer the phones to my husband to avoid any further disturbance in my home. He called me a bitch among other things. He needs to stop, his offer was 2 websites and every time some one made a purchase from my website I would make 125.00 if this is your company or you are in any way affiliated he needs not to be allowed to have human contact!

    Thank you
    please advise

57. 57
    William Danielson Says:
    April 20th, 2007 at 9:00 pm

    I am having the same problems. The promised rate is not what i am being asked to pay. It is twice as much as the original offer. Customer service is terrible! I am on the verge of taking a $240 loss just so i don’t ever have to deal with these folks – the cost of getting out from under the contract!

    Terrible!
    Bill

    Stay Away!

58. 58
    William Danielson Says:
    April 20th, 2007 at 9:09 pm

    So last month i talked with a representative and they told me they would give me the rate that i was promised. What they did was pretty tricky. They skipped sending me the first month bill so that I could not send them the first month bill and get the rate i was promised. Now, I got my next month bill and nothing was changed. They promised me the DVD player – well that is a lost cause. Also, the promised movie channels i was supposed to be receiving they almost did not hook up. I have been on the phone for 40 minutes and they refuse to answer the phone. I would suggest to you folks considering getting DishTV to stay away. Unreal!

    Bill

59. 59
    Howard Luken Says:
    April 21st, 2007 at 6:06 am

    Follow up in California. Sue Dish through their agent of process, Corporation Service Company dba CSC-Lawyers Incorporating Service, P.O. Box 526036, Sacramento, California 95852. Check your State’s Secretary of State website for a search on corporations doing business. After months of bs from Dish/Echostar, I finally sued in small claims and what happens? They call me late Friday, the last business day before the court date next Monday. Typical attorney ploy. They send me an unsigned on their part boilerplate “agreement” in an email that basically signs away my rights while protecting their own. After going back and forth with a paralegal, NOT EVEN A REAL ATTORNEY, they have made it clear they don’t intend to do diddly about their having sent me to the CBE Group, Inc. collection agency. The paralegal, read as low paid clerk, sends me screen captures showing me nothing and claiming she got confirmation from a “supervisor” that everything was taken care of. Sure, just like the months of grief they subjected me to. For this they want a gag order and a complete release from liability in exchange for my dismissing the case for which I get nothing. See you in court Monday Echostar. I was told they would send a “local general manager” who was prepared to defend their interest I suppose. Sure, another low paid shlep who is in fear for his job trying to explain something he had no hand in all these months. I have stacks of records and will perhaps move this to a higher court seeking damages. So if you’re disgusted with this company, SUE THEM. Find their agent of service and SUE THEM. I know that they had settlement on their minds since the “agreement” they sent me was dated OVER A MONTH AGO. They stalled until the last minute thinking their customers are stupid and will sign anything.

60. 60
    Howard Luken Says:
    April 23rd, 2007 at 8:33 pm

    Victory in court against Dish Network and Echostar Communications. After Echostar refused to send me confirmation of the removal of my account from collections and my refusal in turn to sign a gag order and liability release for them and not for me I proceeded to small claims court here in Los Angeles. Echostar hides from their customers in Colorado with diversionary phone numbers that connect you with people in India with no clue as to what’s going on here. I found Echostar’s Agent of Service through the Secretary of State’s website. Search them in your home state since this is the only way to get Echostar to respond. I sued them for continued billing long after I cancelled service and they sent me to collections for refunds they claim to have sent me which they wanted back! Their totals went anywhere from $100 to nearly $1000 depending on who I was speaking to on the phone. When the judge heard that he clearly decided in my favor stating incredulously that this corporation wanted their refunds back? It was a priceless moment. The Dish Network local manager they sent had no clue what was going on yet referred to me in insulting terms which didn’t help their case. He then produced a letter from the collection agency The CBE Group, Inc. which Echostar’s paralegal refused to send me unless I signed a gag order. Then he produced a screenshot saved from their computers which still showed me as having been a deadbeat to them, noting a “charge off” of my account for the 155 day “delinquency” which never existed. Billing a customer for services never rendered to hide an extortion attempt at stealing back refunds which I never received apparently didn’t please the court. I asked for treble damages for the approximately $350 they reported to collection and the judge ruled in my favor and awarded me $500 for my months of grief at the hands of this horrible corporation and its employees. I still am apparently reported as a charge off which reflects that I somehow am the bad guy and I didn’t get a copy of their collection agency letter but I have this judgement and will collect soon enough. NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER ALLOW THESE SOULESS CORPORATIONS TO BULLY YOU. I will write a comprehensive account of all this when I have time, the details of which are unbelievable.

61. 61
    Mike O Says:
    April 25th, 2007 at 12:15 am

    Is there any way to get a deal with Dish after you have been there for a couple years? Will they only give you the deals once you cancel your subscription, or is there someway to talk with someone who has a brain beforehand? I’d like to stay with them if possible just to avoid the hassles of switching, but my rates have gone up 40% since I signed up with the new customer deals. Anyone know anything about this?

62. 62
    Manny D Says:
    April 26th, 2007 at 1:09 pm

    Never, ever get DISH Network. If you have them, don’t use DISH Pause. They told me they would notify me when the service was going to be re-started. They didn’t and I my credit card got charged. They will not refund. They just want your money. I have talked to about 5+ reps, they keep on telling me “yes, we will refund”, by they don’t. Stay away from DISH!

63. 63
    Claude Says:
    May 2nd, 2007 at 7:07 pm

    I’m a “former” loyal dish customer. Been with them for over 3 years now. Pay my bill in a lump sum once a year. I just got off the home site trying to pay my bill in advance for another year and was told I couldn’t pay with my credit card, nor my checking account because my account had a $3.58 credit. Called customer service to complain, and was told that they could not accept payment online as I have for the prior three years because of the credit(?)! But the non-american operator said that she could do it for a charge of $5. Boy what a deal! What kind of a company refuses money in advance for services not yet rendered, and charges you for the ability to do the same? We are constantly losing channels on our service pack, and have made our feelings known in their surveys they send out every so often. I KNOW Charlie, met him years ago in the “big-dish” era, and am not beyond calling him since we are in the area with him and his corporate offices and giving him a piece of my mind. This is a first….a company that actually refused money! Will post more later…

64. 64
    blue Says:
    May 7th, 2007 at 3:43 pm

    I do understand where you all coming from. I hate to say I just started training with that company thru a business called teletech. Yes, the DishNetwork CSR. I hope to be gone from that soon. I hate it there not enough training, a load of crab. If you don’t check your time you can go without being paid even though they see you. Even thoug I work for Echostar thru telectech. Tele tech does not train you properly just 3 weeks and then you on the phone if you don’t know what you are doing you be gone. Of course, I don’t know you gave me a whole lot of bs within 3 weeks to learn. They are always hiring. Teletech sucks

    They used something called KRONOS for payroll.

65. 65
    Emily Says:
    May 11th, 2007 at 2:18 pm

    No one is worse than DirecTv. NO ONE!
    We recently upgraded out receiver to HD and ordered it online. We were offered a special promotion: $99 for the receiver, $0 installation fee, $0 delivery and handling, $0 HD dish, $0 relocation fee. Great! Sign us up! The guy comes and replaces our old receiver with the HD one and leaves. For a week and a half we have no HD channels, yet we are paying for HD service. I call them back. This is where it gets bad. The automated system recognizes my telephone number, yet when the CSR comes on the phone I am asked to give my number again along with the name on the account. I explain my situation (that I am not getting HD channels) and I am transferred to the tech people. I have to repeat not only my phone number and name on the account AGAIN, but I also have to explain my problem AGAIN. I am put on hold and eventually disconnected. I call back. They have no record of my previous call and to whom I was speaking with and I have to start all over. Repeat this process three or four times. (not kidding) FINALLY they realize they have to send someone out to the house. It turns out the original installer forgot to attach the HD connector to the receiver. GREAT! We get our bill and we notice that we were CHARGED $49 for relocation of the receiver! With the promotion we were told there would be NO CHARGE for this! Plus, we didn’t relocate our receiver! We sent an e-mail with a copy of the promotion and got a response that we would not be credited with no real reason why. We responded and received no response. We sent another e-mail and received no response to that one either. Finally today I called DirecTv. I get a CSR who needs to transfer me (of course) I get a tech guy and get disconnected (big surprise). Repeat process. I now get a CSR that fights with me about it tells me this offer is for NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY and tells me that there is nothing she can do. Wait a second… If it is for new customers only they would not have a receiver to relocate! What BULL?! For every point I try to make, she has an excuse. I am being COMPLETELY SCREWED WITH! I argue with her for a good half hour. I ask for her supervisor, when I realize that I am getting NOWHERE, and she refuses to transfer me. I ask for her name and she HANGS UP ON ME! That is IT! I call back AGAIN. Go through the motions AGAIN. Have to be transfered AGAIN. Finally get someone who is competent and tells me she has to put me on hold so she can speak to a supervisor about my credit. I tell her that before she does that I need a her number in case I get disconnected again. She assures me that if we get disconnected she will call me back. SURE ENOUGH, I get disconnected. I am not kidding! The woman never calls me back. I had to call YET again. Give my phone number AGAIN. Give the name on the account AGAIN. EXPLAIN MY PROBLEM AGAIN FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME! Finally I get the credit. Total time spent with this hassle- TWO HOURS! There is no customer service department worse than DirecTv. NONE!

66. 66
    Lou Says:
    May 12th, 2007 at 11:53 pm

    When a company reaches a certain number of customers or a certain level of business expanse some will fall through the cracks. It’s un-avoidable, and unfortunately sometimes we are the ones that do fall through those cracks. It has to happen to someone.

67. 67
    Tim Says:
    May 15th, 2007 at 11:40 am

    I had a problem with my DISH box and DISH sent me a new one after determining that they could not troubleshoot the old box. New box arrived with no instructions on what to do with the old box. I held onto it for over a month and got a letter from DISH informing me that I owed them $200 because I had not returned the old box (no instructions on how to packedge the box, no box to send it in, no information on how to send it, ect). I sent the box back to DISH (El Paso) in pristine condition (other than the fact that it no longer received the signal) and did not hear anything more about it. Over a month later I received a letter indicating that the box was damaged on reciept and that I owed them $200 for unacceptable dammage. I spoke to 2 CSRs one supervisior and was told basicly “there’s nothing we can do, we will not reverse the charges”. I have been with the company over 3 years and now I will cancel my service and tell everyone I know why they should go with anyone other than DISH for their TV service. As a business matter it would seem to be shortsighted to force me to pay the $200 and loose my business for life while gaining a former customer who will have no problem informing anyone who will listen how bad DISH is. I am in the process of writting a letter to someone with a bit more business acumen than the low level CSRs or CSR supervisiors who will most likely read my letter. Does anyone know of an e-mail address to the VP for customer relations?

    Thanks

68. 68
    joyce Says:
    May 29th, 2007 at 1:00 pm

    I totally agree, DISH SUCKS, I’ve been trying to get boxes to send equipment back for three months and still haven’t received them. I have called csr nine times and been promised boxes in 7 to ten working days. But they sure can continue to charge my credit card for non returned equipment. I think I will take others advice and contact BBB and other local offices as I’m tired of dealing with people who can’t seem to get anything done.

69. 69
    Ron Says:
    June 2nd, 2007 at 11:21 am

    This still an ongoing problem with Dish network.

    Before I start, Dish Network and Customer Service should never be used in the same sentence. They have NO customer service!
    System installed in November 2006.

    Spring 2007 arrives an no reception.

    Called Dish and would be 7-10 working days before some one could come out to repair.

    The day service technician is to arrive (Someone stayed home from work) they call to reschedule for following week.

    The new appointment date arrives and again a new appointment to be made by Dish because no technician available.

    Called as a new customer and they could have someone out the next day. (Imagine that)

    After several demanding (I was not a nice person) they arrange to have a technician there in 3 more days. (Was going to put their equipment at end of street for them to retreive)

    Technician arrives (nice guy, had not attended the customer bull sh-t school yet) after much testing, his service sheet reads that a Dish Network System should have never been installed her because of reception problems.

    Called Customer Service and they tell us they will have to have a second opinion and would send another technician out in 7-10 work days. (Guess they do not trust their own technicians)

    CSR attempted to please us and we only wanted them to remove the equipment so we could get on with our lives. They did agree to charge us only for time used, $19.00 and that they would send us boxes free of charge (had to threaten to put equipment at end of street, wanted us to pay for shipping).

    Called Direct TV, they were here next AM, installed and the only problem I have had is learning new remote control setting locations.

    UPS shows up at 10PM with 2 return boxes and only one label. It took them 4 days to get here and we were told we had only 10 days to return them or they would be billed to us.

    Called Dish again (had them on speed dial) and explained the situation. (They acted as if this was our problem and restated we would be billed if they did not have equipment in 10 days) Said it would take another 4-5 daays for label to reach us and advised we pay the shipping on the second box. (like this was going to happen)

    Dish has since sent us a couple of free service letters and made numerous threatening phone calls to put us in collection for breaking the contract. A contract they broke by not being able to provide us with service.

    This has been an ongoing problem and I will be glad to be able to get on with out lives. I have likened them to a Governmental Agency (You pick one, they are all the same)

    We just got off the phone (again) and this time with a supervisor, and they have promised to send us a statement showing the final bill of $19.00, verifying that the labels had been sent and to have all customer service personnel alerted not to call and threaten us further with collections.

    Will POST the outcome. 6 months and counting>>

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    Steve G Says:
    June 4th, 2007 at 8:21 am

    Hi all, thanks for the opportunity to vent!
    First of all, does everyone typically have reception problems or is it just me? If there is even the slightest hint of mist in the air we lose reception. This has been going on since installation ( +/- 10 months ago). I specifically asked about reception difficulties before signing up and was assured that only occasionally during the most severe weather would there be interruptions. Several times I’ve called CS and have been told that my service interruptions are “normal and expected”. ( is this really true? )
    However, last weeek I called to complain again about poor reception , even in clear weather, and after 40 minutes in the phone with someone who didn’t really respond to anything I said outside of reading from the appropriate script, they told me that my signal strength was too low and that a service call needed to be made to fix it. Also, I would be charged $49 for the service visit because it was after the 90 day warrantee. I started complaining about the reception during week 1 as mentioned above, but I figured forget it and move on. Cable cmpanies service their faulty equipment and /or installation for free, so I wasn’t happy about that, but what can I do?
    So, I was told to be home yesterday (sunday) from 12 to 5pm for the service call, and even recieved a reminder call confirming as such. I cancelled my fishing trip with my 6 yo son and spen the day waiting, waiting, waiting, and nobody showed up. At 7:30pm I got a voice mail from “”echostar” asking how the service visit went. I immediately called the number and extension that was given to me in the VM but the automated system said the ext was “invalid” and hung up on me.
    So, after another 30 minutes on hold at customer no-service. I was told ( in a way that sounded as though they were doing me a favor ) that they would “credit” my account for the $49 service visit they already charged me for but did NOT make. There was NO information she could provide me with, only that I would get a call from them in the next 24 hrs…………. I’m waiting………. without TV reception because we have light showers today. All I want is what I’m paying for.
    Are my expectations reasonable?
    Is my reception typical? (dish on roof, with clear line of site to sky, no trees)
    Please respond and let me know . Very frustrated indeed.

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    Don Says:
    June 17th, 2007 at 1:20 am

    I subscribed to Dish TV after receiving a promo via e-mail for HDTV free for the frist 10 months of an 18 month contract. It’s been 5 months and I have yet to receive my free HDTV. I have called customer billing and was told it was taken care of. Yet the next bill showed I was still paying $20 for HDTV. I have e-mailed them and was offered another promo for $100 rebate, but not the free HDTV. What gives? I will cancel as soon as my contract is up and go back to Direct TV, which I had for 5 years with out one problem. I should have stayed with them.

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    Wayne Says:
    June 19th, 2007 at 9:38 am

    Thank you for all the posts. I have been thinking of switching from Time Warner cable to satellite………I am sticking with the cable!

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    Calvin Says:
    July 21st, 2007 at 11:35 pm

    Likewise Thanks for all the above posts. I also was planning to switch from Comcast cable to Dish before NFL season…..but NOT NOW!!!!

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    Howard Says:
    July 23rd, 2007 at 4:58 pm

    Some more of dish networks tricks.
    For people who still have the dish 300 dish,only has one receiver on it. If you pay for the dish 120 package, it has now been increased to 200, you are not getting all of your channels because many were moved to a different satelite that you cant receive from with this antenna.But they never told anyone they need to upgrade to the dish 500 antenna.I wonder how many there are out there get cheated.

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    OlympiaM Says:
    July 24th, 2007 at 2:19 pm

    I had Dish installed on Thursday and it was broken by Saturday night. One receiver doesn’t get a signal and the DVR overheats. I called CS numerous times asking to cancel it and kept getting told that I had to pay the $240 cancellation fee and that there was no one higher up that I could talk to.

    I explained that since their system broke within 3 days and that based on the fact that the DVR box was in a tv cabinet with glass doors it would most likely always overheat (as I had been told by their tech help). One of their upper CSR’s was extremely rude. I told him my concerns about the overheating DVR and asked if this was a fire issue and was told to put the box on the floor outside of the cabinet! I told him this wasn’t a good option because I really didn’t want it in the middle of the floor and he told me in a smartass fashion that I was more concerned with where the box was placed than my house burning down. Actually I’m equally concerned about my house burning down and my toddler possibly getting burned or stumbling over a box left on the floor. After that conversation I filed a report with the BBB of Colorado.

    When I asked what would happen if I didn’t pay the cancellation fee and bill I was told that they would cut off my phone and internet. Talk about being held hostage!

    Today I called corporate 303-723-1000 and put in to speak to David Rayner Executive Vice President, Installation & Service Network. I got his receptionist Andrea who was wonderful to deal with. I explained the situation to her and said that I didn’t feel I should have to pay the cancellation fee since I only had the system for 3 days before it broke and that based on my dealings with customer service I really didn’t want anything more to do with Dish ever again. She transferred me to Matt with their Executive Resolution Team. I explained the situation to him and my dealing with customer service and he agreed to waive the fee and send out a box so I could return the equipment.

    10 minutes of being on the phone with corporate accomplished more than 10 calls to customer service AND the corporate people were nice unlike the rude jerks at CS.

    I’ll keep everyone posted as to if they end up charging me anyway or saying that they didn’t receive the equipment as some people have stated they have had done to them.

    Thankfully I didn’t cancel Comcast before all this happened and the comcast tech will be out today to switch the wires over.

    The real kick in the pants about all this? I went to Dish so I could bundle my phone, internet and tv and save money but if I had just switched my phone over to comcast I would only be paying $20 more than with the Dish bundle and they are giving me HBO, Showtime and the sports channels in that price. Lemme tell ya, an extra $5 a week is nothing compared to the aggravation I have had the past 4 days! Also, considering that Dish doesn’t offer any free OnDemand type viewing, it’s really not saving you much if you have to pay $1-$5 for everything on their AtHome system.

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    e. fisher Says:
    August 4th, 2007 at 10:43 am

    To Whom it May Concern:

    Unfortunately, after 2 1/2 years of being a customer, I have just canceled my service with DishTV.

    Let me tell you my story:

    My first call to your company was on July 18, 2007. I reported that all of my channels except the local channels were showing Error 02. I was told that my Dish 500 needed to be changed and an appointment was made for Wednesday July 25th, between 12 and 5 pm. I took 1/2 day off and was at home when your technician arrived at 3:30 pm. He took one look at the system and told me he was not qualified to work on such a system and didn’t have the equipment needed. A new appointment was made for Sunday, July 29th. At least I wouldn’t have to take time away from work. At 8:00 am on said Sunday I receive a call stating that the technician could not come that day since the warehouse was closed and he couldn’t get the necessary parts. A new appointment was scheduled for Monday, July 30th. AGAIN I had to take 1/2 day off. The technician called me around 2:30 pm asking for my exact address. To my amazement the technician was in the Dallas area, over 100 miles from my home and he stated that I was out of his district. He had a completely incorrect address, funny but my statements have always been delivered, and we have never moved. I once again called customer service and spoke with Bob (I now started to write down the names)who assured me he would get on top of the situation. He stated that the first available time would be the following Thursday, August 2nd, but that he would try to move this date up. I did not hear from anyone again and on Wednesday I received a call from someone asking if I had been happy with the service and if my system was now working properly. I had to LAUGH out loud and related to him that I had not seen or heard from a technician and that my service was STILL not working, but that I was hoping that the technician scheduled for the next day would make the necessary repairs. Thursday I took my final 1/2 day off, certain that the technician would be there. Exactly at 5:00 pm I called and spoke with Jason asking WHERE the technician was. To my complete astonishment I was told that there was no technician scheduled! I was put on hold and then kicked out of the system. I called again and spoke with Michael, who once again put me on hold. I was on hold for 27 minutes and finally hung up as I had an appointment at 6:00 pm. When I returned to my home at 8:30 pm, I called once more and spoke with Felicia. I immediately asked to speak with a supervisor. At this point I had related my story so many times to customer service reps, and I felt I wasn’t being taken seriously, maybe a supervisor would be able to do SOMETHING – ANYTHING! Felicia put me on – yep, you guessed it – hold. When she finally returned she informed me that her supervisor told her to tell me that I could leave a voicemail if I so choose. I told her to cancel my account, effective immediately. She told me she would have to transfer my call and I was once again thrown out of the system. Was I angry – you bet! Not only could I not get customer service, now I couldn’t even get this account canceled.
    Did I call back? Yes, I did and I spoke with Dennis. After relating the story for the, I don’t know I’ve lost count I told him to cancel my account – NOW! I was then transferred to Matt, the Account Specialist. Matt, a smoother talker (you guys really need to give him a raise) PROMISED me that I would be called before noon today with a new date for service and that it would have top priority. I arrived home from work at 3:30 pm. Had I been called (by the way I had given everyone my cell phone number) -NO! What did I do? I called one last time. This time I spoke first to John who transferred me to Tim who finally transferred me to Bradley the next Account Specialist. I wanted my account canceled, now, immediately. My next call was not going to be to DishTV, it was going to be to Direct TV. Guess what Bradley the Account Specialist told me??? Direct TV’s service is no better than ours, it’s probably worse. Just what I wanted to hear! One company putting down their competitor. Very professional, indeed.
    My account has now been canceled. Do I expect anyone to care – no, not really. Never in my 49 years have I ever been treated this way by a company. Your reps are trained well in apologizing, but after the 50th apology it begins to sound rather hollow. No one cared whether my system was working. No one cared whether I had to take more time off from work and certainly no one was paying me for my time.
    The calls are monitored, I wish one person on this Executive Team would listen to them, put yourself in my shoes and tell me how you would have handled it differently.

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    Darrell Hundley Says:
    August 9th, 2007 at 12:20 pm

    For those of you who pay for the Dish Home Protection Plan (DHPP Fee)each month, you may want to reconsider after reading this. The following was mailed to Dish Network and after no response it was emailed without a response. Upon emailing it a second time, I received a ‘boiler plate’ response from someone who had not read my letter. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE:

    On April 24, 2007 a service technician attended our home in order to determine the cause of the inconsistent reception we were experiencing with the television in our family room.

    The technician’s Description of Services stated, “Bad 811 Receiver. Called CSR. Will send a new 811 Receiver. RMA #18981180.” Additionally, he wrote “No Damage ___” and had us initial beside this to demonstrate that we agreed with his “No Damage” assessment. On our May 2, 2007 billing, we were charged $29.00 for this Service Call.

    Upon receiving and installing the replacement receiver, we were still experiencing problems and upon reporting this and performing the tasks directed by your telephone technicians, a service technician was again dispatched and attended our home on April 28, 2007. This technician’s Description of Services stated, “TC – Changed out 34 switch & connectors – Loss of Signal.” Again, we initialed the “No Damage” assessment of the technician.

    While still experiencing problems with the television in our family room despite the April 28, 2007 service call, we received a correspondence from Dish Network dated May 14, 2007. This correspondence stated there was damage to our receiver and that the damage claimed is not covered under warranty, thus a $199 replacement fee was applied to our account. On our June 2, 2007 billing, we were charged $199 itemized as ‘Damaged Receiver Fee.’

    Just as we experienced for several weeks prior to the April 24, 2007 Service Call and experienced after the installation of the new receiver that resulted in the April 28, 2007 Service Call, we continued to experience the very same reception problem – that only one satellite was being detected.

    While it seems that there was another Service Call prior to a June 14, 2007 technician visit (in addition to calls to your 800 number), a copy of the work order cannot be located. Just prior to the June 14, 2007 Service Call, we dug up the cable between the pole mounted dish and our residence (approximately 8 feet) and located what would prove to be the problem. On the cable that provided service to the receiver/television in our family room, just a couple of feet from the pole mount, there were two end connectors covered with electrical tape that had been buried when the service was originally installed in August 2005.

    On the June 14, 2007 Work Order, the technician’s Description of Services states, “Trouble Call – Replaced 2 end connectors due to rust.” Of course, we were left to re-bury the cables, but more importantly we have not experienced any problems with the reception since the underground end connectors were replaced.

    Since late March or early April of this year through the June 14, 2007 Service Call, we generally did not watch television in our family room due to the service issues – which before and after this ordeal is the television most often used in our home.

    Prior to replacing the receiver, we experienced the same reception problem that occurred for two months after installing the replacement receiver. Given this and that the service technician specifically wrote “No Damage” on the Work Order requesting a replacement receiver, we respectfully ask that our account be credited for the $199 Damage Receiver Fee charged our account on our June 2, 2007 billing. Alternatively, we ask for the return of our original receiver as we feel confident that it will now function properly since the actual problem has been located and repaired.

    If Dish Network would also consider crediting our account for the $29 Service Call charge (that was unsuccessful in resolving the difficulties) posted on our May 2, 2007 billing, as well as crediting our account for the nearly three months that we could not view television in our family room (most common viewing area), it would be greatly appreciated.

    NOTE: DISH WILL NOT ISSUE CREDIT FOR A RECEIVER THAT WAS NOT ONLY INSURED BUT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PROVEN TO WORK FINE, PLUS THEY
    WANT $199 BUT REFUSE TO RETURN THE RECEIVER UPON RECEIPT OF THE $199!

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    Tom Mash Says:
    August 17th, 2007 at 11:32 am

    I knew it would happen no matter which satellite company we chose.

    Called and ordered DISH service. Offered $10/ month discount & $49.99 rebate for installation. When calling CS to request the rebate form for the $49.99, I was told we don’t get one because we didn’t sign up for an 18 month commitment. I’m holding the contract in my hand where we initialed for the 18 month service agreement.

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    Kenny Says:
    August 19th, 2007 at 4:29 pm

    Well , to start with , I had to have a tech come out after 30 days to replace a small part , it was under warrenty , now after 4 months , I lost signal again , they told me it would be 4 days till they could get sombody out here , I had already bee out 2 days they gave some independants services , they wanted 50 dollars to come out , so now after 6 days of waiting they call and say it’s gonna be anothe 5 days before they can get me help . So I told them if they aint here by tomrrow I;ll have a new company come in like direct tv or the local cable company and when ya’ll do decide to send sombody he can pick up this worthlees equipment you call dish net work , and haul it off , cause I aint waiting 11 days for a tech to come out , and I also want 11 days worth of credit for no service too .

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    Merle Says:
    August 20th, 2007 at 3:16 pm

    We had direct TV for close to 10 years with relatively few problems actually none that I can think of besides the fact that my receiver went bad and I had to purchase a new one which I complained about. I have been a loyal and paying customer for all these years and have to pay to get new equipment when some schmuck off the street can call and get all new free equipment. Well I thought I would teach them and switch to Dish Network they will give me free equipment and Ill still have the same thing I always had. BIG MISTAKE I have had Dish for about 4 month now and HATE HATE HATE it. Constantly losing signal in just these few month they have removed 4-5 channels I watched frequently, You cant talk to anybody without holding for an hour then you may or may not get help. The monthly bill is always approximately $15.00 more than it should be. Had a huge fight getting my rebate back after initial installation and I could go on and on. Take my advice and don’t make the same mistake I did stay with direct TV or start with them I am stuck now for another year and it truly sucks.

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    karman Andujar Says:
    September 2nd, 2007 at 8:18 am

    Dishnet is the worst of the worst. After responding to the 19.99 offer,that never was 19.99.They took almost $900 from my credit card.They have completly ignored.They do not care about complaints to beareaus. I called the Federal trade commission, and they said if they have enough complaints, they will investigate.(call the FCC).Also I,m trying to get a class action suit(that will get there attention.My phone #626-938-0381

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    Sabrina's Money Matters. Says:
    September 16th, 2007 at 12:56 pm

    I think you just have to know how to handle these people, customer service in general is nothing but a memory anyways and that’s everywhere…check out what I wrote about Dish and how to keep from taking “No” for an answer.

    http://sabrinasmoneymatters.co.....ny-review/

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    Carolyn Ward Says:
    September 20th, 2007 at 10:40 am

    Dish Network is a scary company. A Dish Network (Echostar) receiver box blew up in my 81 year old mother’s home. Dish Network was useless in finding out what happened, and they denied all responsibility. It’s a terrible company. A licensed electrician, a representative of the power company and a dish network contractor / installer looked at the box, the setup and the wiring inmy mom’s house and found that the box just burned up and took her big console TV and new DVD player out when it did. Their customer service department is all about “damage control” and limiting their liability. This fire in the receiver box scared my mother so badly that she did not sleep for 3 days and 3 nights until we could get an electrician in to inspect her house to assure her she wasn’t going to burn up in her bed while sleeping. There were no storms in the area, no power surges and her home electrical system required no upgrades or repairs. That box just burned up, shot sparks out through the top, snap, crackeled & popped until mom shoved the big tv away from the wall herself and unplugged it. It was a terrible experience for her. BEWARE of these boxes. This cannot be the only instance of a box burning up. And, Dish Network simply dismissed her worries about the box and denied her claim for the lost TV and DVD player — but that was the least of our concerns. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE THAT BOX, not to be treated like we don’t have good sense and that they are the master race. Their customer service department was completely useless. We wasted precious hours of our lives dealing with them. Read books! Forget TV.

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    Darrell Says:
    September 29th, 2007 at 6:48 pm

    If anyone out there is getting a class action on dish network I would be happy to join from misrepresentation of discounts to probably the most deplorible customer service I have ever delt with. I spent 2 hours on the phone today just trying to get an answer. If I was not obligated under the contract I would be back with Time Warner they may not be the greatest, but you can get a real person on the line instead of two hours listening to a machine while waiting.

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    Travis Says:
    October 3rd, 2007 at 7:19 pm

    I agree with all of this. I am having the exact same trouble with Dish Network. Everytime you call them and they offer you something, they forget to note it. When it never shows up on your account they just say they are very sorry but can’t help you. This must be the only company in the world that can’t give you a simple credit for something. I would never recommend them to anyone just simply due to their customer service.

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    Marie Call Says:
    October 4th, 2007 at 6:46 pm

    I am a former CSR from Dish Networks EchoStar Call Center. I do have to tell you that the respomsibility for this mistake lies completely with the Retailer that you signed up for the service with. When you set up with a reatiler you are really signing the agreement with them and not Dish Network directly and they charge there own seperate cancellation fees, usually around $300. I know it is and aggrivation I listened to customers compain all the time. If you want to become a dish network customer call them directly at 1-800-333-dish. I have never had any problems out of them and have been a customer for 4 years. And as a former employee if you have any problems with dish threten to cancel and speak to the cancellation department and they will give you anyhting you want, within reasonable terms!

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    nazar Says:
    October 5th, 2007 at 2:34 am

    hi marie thx for the comment i am nazar wrkimng for dish in a call centre located in india ….i am happy tht there are people who wants to aware the cust of wats happening …..i am always ready to help my custs though i am not in office ….nazarali_nathoo@yahoo.com

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    Moneymonk Says:
    October 11th, 2007 at 6:16 pm

    That’s because they only paid $10 and work out of a garage. Seriously

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    Jeanie Says:
    October 18th, 2007 at 8:00 pm

    oh boy I can’t say enough to have you understand how much i disrepect Dish Network’s Customer Service. There is no service there. you pay for their employee’s errors even. They are cold and mechanical. HORRIBLE! I quit dish because I moved. I had them for 7years and loved the service, I NEVER had to deal with customer service though. I moved in December of 06 and they come to the new house to hook me up. tree in the way. so I have to use comcast. Told the guy (nice guy too) to take the boxes and if I cut the tree down I’ll go back to dish. he says great, lthey send me boxes to return the equipment and i said i don’t have to call them right? he said no, the boxes will be here. they don’t come and I forget about the boxes in the closet. in august i start getting recorder messages for me to call a numer and never saying who they were. yea right, i’m calling a recorder? ha.
    finally they say my credit is in danger. still thinking something weird as my credit is 780. then finally they start saying Dish and i think why, i don’t even have it so i call to clear it up and very cold and a horribly rude woman says i owe $800 and if i don’t return it it would go to collections. like i wanted to steal it? I explained and she said to bad you owe and we will get it. I said geesh, send the boxes and why wasn’t i billed? she said they had the wrong address! they knew my address when they were going to service me, how would I know they would convieniently lose it? they said i ow a $100 because my acc’t was on suspend not cancel. now why would i say “please keep billing me and i’ll pay for no service” what idiots. liars too. the day i get the boxes (3 days later) i get a call fromthe collection agency for my $100! i paid to get rid of them. sending boxes back saturday. they are still calling and threatening me! I have never done anything to be treated so horrible. I’m apalled that they still have any customers and the CRS people have a job they don’t deserve the title of. I’m will be calling the Attorney General. The email correspondense was just as bad and rude. I bought the pvr for joining up $50, the guy at my house said it is mine to keep. they say i HAVE to give it back now, it was only borrowed? yea right, JERKS! Boy I’ve been want to vent about this. How do you find out who to really talk to there or go above the idiots head i HAD to talk to . also, yest 3 phone calls and 20 minutes wait minimum on hold each.
    They were great while i was there and then out of the blue they are sicking there dogs on me. they even wanted to climb up on a house i don’t own and get a $7.99 piece of equipment for them…in the rain. i said enough is enough now , i’m older and bad back and a lady with no ladder and i’ll get arrested for tresspassing the could stick it. they said. skip that part then. how kind is that? duh!
    I have already got 3 people to not go on Dish that i over heard talking about switching over. i said you’ll go through hell and be treated like a numbskull criminal when you want out. Comcast…you can leave at anytime and the CRS will work with you, not attack you.

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    Don Says:
    October 18th, 2007 at 9:58 pm

    I wish I had known about this site prior to having Dish installed. I actually had DirectTV, but switched when we bought a HD tv. I received a promotional e-mail from Dish that was suppose to save me $20 a month for the first 10 months. I thought Direct, Dish, what’s the difference and went with what was cheaper. Big mistake… after receiving my monthly invoice, it seemed high, but I thought it might be because my billing period had changed. When I got the next invoice, I discovered I was not getting the $20 off as promised. I called the billing department and he agreed to make the change. But the next invoice was no different. I sent numerous e-mails to customer service, but the best I got was $10 off, not the $20 that the promotion promised. I signed up for 18 months and when it’s done, so am I. FHY…when I had DirectTV, I never once had a promblem with the service. We had a fire in our house and had to move out for 3 months. We we moved back in, the remote control didn’t work. I called Direct, they got the tv going and sent me a new remote, free of charge, and it came the next day. Now that’s service.

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    Kevin Berres Says:
    October 26th, 2007 at 4:01 pm

    How Dish network does business
    Please Help me. I have just flown of the handle and swore at one of you customer service Reps. I am sorry for that, but I don’t know what to do. I have contacted you guys every week since we got our service. Your equipment keeps failing, every time I bring it up to you csr reps they tell me that’s impossible our stuff is award winning”. But you service people that come out to my house say off the record all I do is making house calls on this box. If I were you I would tell them you want a different box than the622. Please help me. I feel like I am getting scammed. There was supposed to be a service tech out to my house at noon. He called at 11:00am to say he was on his way. It’s now 2:11pm and nothing. I have had problems with you guys since day one. AS Tech came out to do the install and 5 hours later, nothing was working, He asked if he could come back “off the clock” so he does not get in trouble. The next day a manager showed up and got the disk working in about an hour. I thought everything was OK. / After that the signal went out and someone had to come out and fix it. That was problem two. A week later the DVR box went down. Dish said they would send a new box out and I would have to install it myself. Then I would have to go to a UPS store and mail the old box back, so I did exactly that. Problem number 4 the non-DVR box went out. I had to do the same thing. While I was replacing that box, the NEW DVR box went down. Dish said they would send someone out to look at the box. The tech said the box was bad and if he were I of the record he would tell dish to give him a722 (what ever that is) because he also sees a lot of problems with the 622. That was the last call. Then over the past weeks since he came out to my house I have had to reset the downstairs box at least once a night. The upstairs box is better I have only had to reset that four times in two weeks. I have contacted channel 2 news about this problem, they told me to log every event that takes place and ask you for a previous work order so they can see what kind of paper work Dish has on your end. So to recap here are the problems I have had since dish network.
    #1. The first installation was not right that cost me 5 hours
    #2. The next morning 2 more dish techs got me up and running. That cost me 2 hours.
    #3. The dish on my roof had to be reset and aimed. That cost me one hour.
    #4. The DVR box downstairs was bad. I had to install it myself because Dish said they don’t send out techs for that. That cost me another hour. Plus I had to find a UPS store
    #5 The HDTV box upstairs failed. Again I had to install in myself another hour. . Plus I had to find a UPS store
    #6. The new DVR box went bad and Finally Dish said they would send someone out. That cost me two hours, but since I refused to take the old box to UPS the driver took it.
    #7. The new box has to be reset every day.
    #8 a tech was supposed to be here at 12pm. It is now 3pm and no tech has come.
    #9 I have spent hours of time on the phone twice today your Dish reps disconnected me. I am sending a copy of this email to every one I can. We will also be hanging this on the bulletin board at my work my wife’s work, my son’s college and everywhere else I can. I will not be scammed.
    Please Read

92. 92
    HD fan Says:
    November 3rd, 2007 at 6:19 am

    Nightmare AT&T/Dish Network story. Can you believe that AT&T cannot provide an HD-DVR!!??
    You can get an HD receiver or a DVR receiver but not a combined unit! Dish Network offers an HD-DVR, but AT&T doesn’t distribute it. What’s more annoying is that DISH won’t support a TIVO – you have to have a cable card for their HD-DVR. The worst part – we’re in PASADENA, CA not Podunkville, New Hampshire!

93. 93
    Deb Says:
    November 8th, 2007 at 9:54 am

    Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the following federal rules apply:

    If you find an error on a credit card or charge account bill, you have the right to dispute the problem. Under the law, billing errors are defined as: incorrect credits for payments, charges that you didn’t make, and charges for goods or services that you did not receive or that were not as promised.

    Write to the creditor within 60 days of the postmark of the first bill with the disputed charge. If more than 60 days have passed but you just recently found the problem, you may still be able to dispute the charge:

    1. Send a letter to the address provided on the bill. Do not send the letter with your payment.

    2. Be specific. In your letter, give your name and account number, the date and amount of the charge disputed, and a complete explanation of why you are disputing the charge.

    3. Send your letter by certified mail, with a return receipt requested.

    4. The creditor or card issuer must acknowledge your letter in writing within 30 days of receiving it and conduct an investigation within 90 days.

    5. While the bill is being investigated, you do not have to pay the amount in dispute. The creditor cannot collect this disputed amount, nor can the creditor report the amount as late or close or restrict your account.

    6. If there was an error, the creditor must credit your account and remove any related finance charges or late fees. For any amount still owed, you have the right to an explanation and copies of the documents proving you owe the money.

    7. If the bill is correct, you must be told in writing what you owe and why. You will owe the amount disputed plus any finance charges.

    8. If you still don’t agree, you can file an appeal with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency by calling 18006136743 or by going to http://www.occ.trea.govcustomer.htm.

    (2006 Consumer Action Handbook, pub. USGSA Federal Citizen Infor

94. 94
    Deb Says:
    November 8th, 2007 at 10:03 am

    Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the following federal rules apply:

    If you find an error on a credit card or charge account bill, you have the right to dispute the problem. Under the law, billing errors are defined as: incorrect credits for payments, charges that you didn’t make, and charges for goods or services that you did not receive or that were not as promised.

    Write to the creditor within 60 days of the postmark of the first bill with the disputed charge. If more than 60 days have passed but you just recently found the problem, you may still be able to dispute the charge:

    1. Send a letter to the address provided on the bill. Do not send the letter with your payment.

    2. Be specific. In your letter, give your name and account number, the date and amount of the charge disputed, and a complete explanation of why you are disputing the charge.

    3. Send your letter by certified mail, with a return receipt requested.

    4. The creditor or card issuer must acknowledge your letter in writing within 30 days of receiving it and conduct an investigation within 90 days.

    5. While the bill is being investigated, you do not have to pay the amount in dispute. The creditor cannot collect this disputed amount, nor can the creditor report the amount as late or close or restrict your account.

    6. If there was an error, the creditor must credit your account and remove any related finance charges or late fees. For any amount still owed, you have the right to an explanation and copies of the documents proving you owe the money.

    7. If the bill is correct, you must be told in writing what you owe and why. You will owe the amount disputed plus any finance charges.

    8. If you still don’t agree, you can file an appeal with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency by calling 18006136743 or by going to http://www.occ.trea.govcustomer.htm.

    (2006 Consumer Action Handbook, pub. USGSA Federal Citizen Information Center

95. 95
    LD Says:
    November 20th, 2007 at 2:48 pm

    I agree with all the posts. If you aren’t already stuck with Dish, don’t switch unless you’re desperate. I had been a customer for about 3 years and they wouldn’t upgrade my receivers unless I paid $99 or something close & then could send in for a rebate of $30 I think it was. I called DirectTV & was able to get the DVR receiver installed for free plus $10 off 10 months bills. I tried to call to cancel Dish but was on hold for about 35 minutes so got tired of waiting & sent an e-mail to customer service. Customer service will not forward such requests to the appropriate department. Too lazy I guess. Anyway, 2 months later, we are getting a bill for $153 that they say we owe even the receivers have not been connected all that time. They are crazy if they think we’re paying it. Their customer service is really lousy, you hardly get anyone that speaks good English and they are rude. Go with DirectTV. Their customer service has been very friendly. The installation techs were kind of scary in that it took them quite a while to connect everything, but they only contract through DirectTV & are not employees.

96. 96
    michelle Says:
    November 29th, 2007 at 9:35 pm

    I signed up for dish in June 07 it I wasn’t even off the phone with them when they already debited my bank 49.99 activation fee!!! I was supposed to have free Dish Home Protection Plan (5.99 per month) it has been on my bill every month since. I was moving in August so I called to have account transferred to my sister who was going to be living in the house. They are still trying to charge me $400.00 early cancellation fee. Went to my bank without my permittion and debited 87.00 causing a snowball effect of NSF charges. Now my bank is asking me to send them proof that I cancelled the contract sent back the equipment and send them a copy of my contract or they will go ahead and give dish my money even though they are also billing my sister for the change over in the account!! I would never recommend them to anyone not even my worst enemie They are the worst company I’ve ever dealt with, especially their overseas outsourced CSR who only two words in english “I’m Sorry”.

97. 97
    dave Says:
    December 1st, 2007 at 2:32 pm

    I have had it with Dish network too. They have taken money out of my account without permission twice. $220.00 The first time a week after we started service. The second was in December for $450.00 They did not give notice or anything. They are refunding the money (after lengthy waits on hold and being hung up on) but will not cover the overdraft fees they caused. They are evil people. If they have your account number, change it!!!

98. 98
    John Says:
    December 20th, 2007 at 10:45 am

    New Facebook Group – Dishnetwork Customer Service SUCKS. Join and share your stories there too

99. 99
    Deb Says:
    December 20th, 2007 at 11:02 am

    I had a happy resolution with dish. How?

    1. I kept copies of EVERY document, including the UPS delivery confirmation I printed off the internet, when my equipment was returned to El Paso, and including copies of emails and letters.
    2. Once two months had passed without a satisfactory resolution, I sent copies of all my documentation to the Better Business Bureau in my state, which forwarded the information to the Better Business Bureau in Colorado, home state of Echostar Satellite (dish).
    3. Dish telephoned me within two days to apologize and sent a letter within a week letting me know my account had been cleared.

    You have to be calm, and you have to be thorough, and you have to cover your butt BEFORE they treat you badly–like you’d do in any military campaign. Cheers.

100. 100
     Connie Says:
     December 20th, 2007 at 7:59 pm

     Dish Network SUCK! I got a representative that told me that they don’t make payments arrangements. I told her I had just started my job so I needed a few more days to make my payment. She said I was going to get paid on time to make my payment. A physic rep!?!??? How did she know this? She was insisting on this, repeated herself 3 times!

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