More DirecTV Stupidity...

Did you know that DirecTV:

• Retains EVERY credit card you ever used with them and will charge them out accordingly as they see fit.  (Note to self:  CANCEL EVERY CARD EVER USED!)
• While they often will tell you that the equipment is yours, it is not.
• If you pay for the DVR at Best Buy, it's not your equipment - it's still theirs.  Therefore, you are out $200.00.
• You need to return the equipment after you cancel or you will be charged after the final disconnect.
• They can send you boxes to return equipment that you will be billed for the shipment for OR you can pay for it yourself and know that it got there.  (Thankfully I was a cable wench so I will do an equipment inventory to include with it).
• You can't dispute the charge until you START UP NEW SERVICE (boy did that situation make me laugh)
• will often route you to an overseas call center where you will get conflicting stories about the situation.
• When you get back into the States, you will often get a rude gal who won't note the account and will force you to lose your daggone mind asking for a manager.
• Customer Care cannot help a gal at all - I now have to go through the Billing Dispute Department, the Office of the General Counsel and a ton of other hoops.

I'm happy to report that after 4 hours of my life that I will never get back, constant repeating of my story again, and again, and again, howls for a MANAGER v. Supervisor, etc., it took ONE LONE Supervisor, Ms. Laura, who apparently was no stranger to this mess and probably has heard it all before.  She gave me the requisite addresses and told me that there is nothing she can do - it's in the offices of the Billing Dispute department and the General Counsel.  She also is sending me a final bill - turns out I was paid up through Sept. 15th when I paid on Sept. 4th and the $141.65 should have never been billed.  No kidding Sherlock!

One bright note, USAA has been a godsend in this drama and are helping me through the ramifications.  As much as I whined about the cable install upon moving here, I could hug Comcast right now.  I am a stickler for brand loyalty and I will NEVER leave USAA and Comcast and I will be BFF from hereon out.

Monday - I have tons of letters to write to the Attorney General in Florida & California, the Better Business Bureau, the FTC and the FCC about the DirecTV drama.  DirecTV's in-house counsel's assistant will be none too pleased at the amount of paperwork coming their way.

DirecTV - we're done.  There is no Ross/Rachel break - lose my phone number, lose my name and, yes, GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK!