Johnny Rock
Footballguy
Give me a 1TB cloud DVR and I’m in. Better yet, let me choose the exact channels. First to do that reliably with an affordable price will win significantly.
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Can you negotiate with DirecTV? (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter oukurt
- Start date
gianmarco
Footballguy
TV was still on as of this morning but I received the email confirming cancellation. Called the 870 number, said I missed a call, wondered if something wrong with cancellation. Of note, I have the Choice plan with 4 receivers with DVR. My previous bill was $78/month (and best they could do yesterday was $95/month). Guy took care of me almost immediately, not much of a hassle, and offered me the following:
Same channel selection and offerings and equipment
Monthly bill now $63/month + taxes
Free Sunday Ticket Max
HBO/Showtime/Starzz for 3 months (need to call and cancel)
$100 Visa gift card
12 month agreement
TV is still on and call took 15 minutes tops. Maybe not as good as some others here but good enough for me. Until next year when I get to do this again....
Brony
Footballguy
I got pretty much the same thing plus a Bed Bath and Beyond 10% off coupon. I'm on Extra plan with 2 receivers only.
skol asylum
Footballguy
Coach3K
Footballguy
Went through the process again this year. 10 year customer, with 7 years or so of doing the Sunday Ticket dance. Had a 12 mo. contract from last year that expired on 9/1, so called the regular # on Saturday to set up a disconnect mid-Sept. Got offered a little bit of a discount offer for my normal package (like $40 a month savings), but I was told they no longer offer NFL ST for free, when I nonchalantly asked about it. MLB whatever was offered for free, but that isn't why we do this, is it?
So I called 870.345.3640, mentioned missing a call, and I wondered if it might be an attempt to keep me. Note: I didn't actually get any calls or emails trying to win me back...some people seem to get them, and others don't.
I was ultimately offered the Entertainment package (I downgraded from Choice), HD DVR/standard lease fees (4 receivers/Genie), Premiums for 5 months (including the sports package), and ST Max for free, with no auto renewal, and no contract. I didnt even have to ask for ST...she just ran what I had last year in the system.
New monthly bill before taxes: $47.98 plus taxes. 20 minutes or so on phone (after a half hour this weekend before disconnecting). Under 50 bucks for the whole shebang, after being close to $200, even before the first ST auto-renew payment processed in July (I always forget to cancel premiums). Works for me!
She said there a $100/mo. credit on top of the 5 months of premium channels and Sunday Ticket Max thrown in for free, basically.
It's worth a half hour of your time to try, I'd say!
So I called 870.345.3640, mentioned missing a call, and I wondered if it might be an attempt to keep me. Note: I didn't actually get any calls or emails trying to win me back...some people seem to get them, and others don't.
I was ultimately offered the Entertainment package (I downgraded from Choice), HD DVR/standard lease fees (4 receivers/Genie), Premiums for 5 months (including the sports package), and ST Max for free, with no auto renewal, and no contract. I didnt even have to ask for ST...she just ran what I had last year in the system.
New monthly bill before taxes: $47.98 plus taxes. 20 minutes or so on phone (after a half hour this weekend before disconnecting). Under 50 bucks for the whole shebang, after being close to $200, even before the first ST auto-renew payment processed in July (I always forget to cancel premiums). Works for me!
She said there a $100/mo. credit on top of the 5 months of premium channels and Sunday Ticket Max thrown in for free, basically.
It's worth a half hour of your time to try, I'd say!
bryhamm
Footballguy
Coach3K
Footballguy
*shrug* I'm going to review the changes closely when they come. I asked 3 times if she could confirm that ST Max was included in the low # she was giving me, since I hadn't even asked for it (yet) and each time she confirmed, she specifically said I'd have to call in next year to have it added, as it would not auto-renew.
She could have been giving me bad info, but what she told me, at least, is accurate.
Wow, I wasn't even offered something to keep me. She just set the cancellation date. :(
I had called a couple weeks ago when my contract wasn't up yet and they weren't offering any packages and the lady applied a $60/month credit without confirming with me. I wonder if that's why. In any case, I set the disconnect date for Monday and will be calling over the weekend and pretending that someone called me to see if it works.
Crossing my fingers because I was really optimistic about getting me some sunday ticket for free.
I had called a couple weeks ago when my contract wasn't up yet and they weren't offering any packages and the lady applied a $60/month credit without confirming with me. I wonder if that's why. In any case, I set the disconnect date for Monday and will be calling over the weekend and pretending that someone called me to see if it works.
Crossing my fingers because I was really optimistic about getting me some sunday ticket for free.
mozzy84
Footballguy
$65 off for one year
free sunday ticket
Free hbo/cinemax for 6 months
free other movie channels for 4 months
sending a new receiver to replace a clunky one and two new remotes
No contract
First call, 20 mins total, bill will be around 72 a month (4 hdr receivers). I probably should have did the cancel thing and gotten more but that can turn into a nightmare too.
I can stop looking at this thread now too
free sunday ticket
Free hbo/cinemax for 6 months
free other movie channels for 4 months
sending a new receiver to replace a clunky one and two new remotes
No contract
First call, 20 mins total, bill will be around 72 a month (4 hdr receivers). I probably should have did the cancel thing and gotten more but that can turn into a nightmare too.
I can stop looking at this thread now too
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skol asylum
Footballguy
All that without cancelling? Well done. That just doesn't seem to happen much.$65 off for one year
free sunday ticket
Free hbo/cinemax for 6 months
free other movie channels for 4 months
sending a new receiver to replace a clunky one and two new remotes
No contract
First call, 20 mins total, bill will be around 72 a month (4 hdr receivers). I probably should have did the cancel thing and gotten more but that can turn into a nightmare too.
I can stop looking at this thread now too
mozzy84
Footballguy
I hung up on the first guy after having about a 30 second conversation with him, I knew that one was going no where quick. Hung up, called back and got some sweet chick from Alabama.
They would not give me the sunday ticket max though which is lame....
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robb
Footballguy
So I called the magic number and I was able to get about $1200/year off and a visa gift card, but no NFL sunday ticket.
At this point I caved and I said, "OK, I'll take it. Now what happens if we add ST MAX to that" (I was willing to pay full price). For some reason she said that if she did that all the other discounts would go away AND I would be placed on a 12 month contract.
So I just took the deal without Sunday Ticket.
I'm guessing that the rep was in error. If I log into my account, there is an option to just buy ST MAX for $400. I assume that if I do that, it won't change the anything else on my account (or if I do, I'll get some sort of message indicating that will happen). Or maybe I'll just call back tomorrow and see what I can do.
Anyone have any advice on my next step?
Couple of other questions
1. Has anyone not received a promised gift card. What do you do if it doesn't come?
2. In addition to the discount they gave me some premium channels for free that I seldom watch, but wouldn't pay for. She repeatedly said that these will come off of my account when they expire without my having to cancel them. I found that a little hard to believe. Has anyone gone through this and had the channels come off automatically. I've never had that happen. I've always had to call. I can't even tell them a couple of months in advance that I want to cancel a channel in the future.
At this point I caved and I said, "OK, I'll take it. Now what happens if we add ST MAX to that" (I was willing to pay full price). For some reason she said that if she did that all the other discounts would go away AND I would be placed on a 12 month contract.
So I just took the deal without Sunday Ticket.
I'm guessing that the rep was in error. If I log into my account, there is an option to just buy ST MAX for $400. I assume that if I do that, it won't change the anything else on my account (or if I do, I'll get some sort of message indicating that will happen). Or maybe I'll just call back tomorrow and see what I can do.
Anyone have any advice on my next step?
Couple of other questions
1. Has anyone not received a promised gift card. What do you do if it doesn't come?
2. In addition to the discount they gave me some premium channels for free that I seldom watch, but wouldn't pay for. She repeatedly said that these will come off of my account when they expire without my having to cancel them. I found that a little hard to believe. Has anyone gone through this and had the channels come off automatically. I've never had that happen. I've always had to call. I can't even tell them a couple of months in advance that I want to cancel a channel in the future.
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![[icon]](/data/avatars/m/5/5167.jpg?1660313464){kind=avatar}
[icon]
Insoxicated
First call...
Nyla from the AZ office said I was subscribed to ST... offered ST Max upgrade free + $60off/mo for 12mo
I said no go, I want ST MAX free + $60/off, told her my buddy got that deal.
She said that offer wasn't available in her system... but can do $12off the $48/mo ST charge.
Set cancellation date for the 19th (my end of contract date). Equipment boxes on the way.
We shall see if they are able to do more once the cancellation order was in.
Nyla from the AZ office said I was subscribed to ST... offered ST Max upgrade free + $60off/mo for 12mo
I said no go, I want ST MAX free + $60/off, told her my buddy got that deal.
She said that offer wasn't available in her system... but can do $12off the $48/mo ST charge.
Set cancellation date for the 19th (my end of contract date). Equipment boxes on the way.
We shall see if they are able to do more once the cancellation order was in.
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FreeBaGeL
Footballguy
GoBirds
Footballguy
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
notoriousbill
Footballguy
For those who only are interested in the RZC, it is available as a standalone outside of Directv...
https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/nfl-redzone-launches-a-standalone-subscription-service-for-cord-cutting/
https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/nfl-redzone-launches-a-standalone-subscription-service-for-cord-cutting/
Gianni Verscotchie
Footballguy
I called last week and they only offered me a monthly discount off my bill, but nothing else, nothing for Sunday Ticket. So I put in a cancellation for this Thursday. Called the magic # today saying I had a missed call (even though I didn't) - the result:
$70 off my bill a month for 12 months
Free ST Max
$200 Visa gift card
Done and done.
$70 off my bill a month for 12 months
Free ST Max
$200 Visa gift card
Done and done.
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
Just made the call. I got Emanuel in West Virginia, who was very nice. Since I got dropped from STM for some reason, I was eligible for the startup package. I got ST free with a one-time payment of $25 for the upgrade to Max. My $5 discount from The Ultimate Package was set to expire next month, so he offset that with $5 off HBO. He renewed my $40 off which was also expiring. So I got the same bill with a one-time $25 extra payment with no agreement. I'm okay with that.
And it takes forever to read the NFL boilerplate. Gack.
And it takes forever to read the NFL boilerplate. Gack.
Since I have found it useful to read everyone's posting of what they got I wanted to contribute in case it helps someone to see what can be negotiated so this is my deal. I did let my account cancel before calling in for a win back deal.
Choice
Sunday Ticket Max
1 month Showtime that I need to call to cancel
12 months HBO
6 months Cinemax
6 months Sports Pack - kind of a waste of a package but for free I took it
12 months $78 per month credit
12 months $5 per month auto bill pay credit
$150 Visa Gift Card
I was told $37.48 plus taxes. All the credits, premiums, Sunday Max, and the gift card note show on my online account but I come up with a slightly different total than $37.48 so I will need to wait for my first bill to see how it all checks out. But however it checks out the credits and programming offers check out with what the CSR told me.
I was planning to try PSVue but this is less than what the PSVue package I wanted will cost and it does not require a commitment.
Also this happened to me last year when I disconnected and reconnected where my login and password would not work. Freakin' took me about an hour to get back my ability to log into my account.
Choice
Sunday Ticket Max
1 month Showtime that I need to call to cancel
12 months HBO
6 months Cinemax
6 months Sports Pack - kind of a waste of a package but for free I took it
12 months $78 per month credit
12 months $5 per month auto bill pay credit
$150 Visa Gift Card
I was told $37.48 plus taxes. All the credits, premiums, Sunday Max, and the gift card note show on my online account but I come up with a slightly different total than $37.48 so I will need to wait for my first bill to see how it all checks out. But however it checks out the credits and programming offers check out with what the CSR told me.
I was planning to try PSVue but this is less than what the PSVue package I wanted will cost and it does not require a commitment.
Also this happened to me last year when I disconnected and reconnected where my login and password would not work. Freakin' took me about an hour to get back my ability to log into my account.
offdee
Footballguy
Don't care about Sunday Ticket, but just got our latest bill and it's $35 per month higher than normal. I called customer service to inquire why and they said our original contract promo deductions have expired and now we're on regular pricing. I told the guy we're on a budget and asked if there's anything they could do with new promos or whatever to get our monthly price back down to where it was...his response "well you could get rid of some of your upgrades like the sports package and DVRs". Uh ok. :hangup:
What number do I call and what's the talking script for this one? I don't really want to do the cancel game.
What number do I call and what's the talking script for this one? I don't really want to do the cancel game.
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JFS171
Footballguy
Called back today per the rep’s suggestion (after week 1). I mentioned that I wanted Sunday Ticket, that the previous rep had tried to add it and the system wouldn’t let her, and that I saw their commercials giving it to new customers and had seen some post about getting it for free on message boards.
She poked around in the system, gave me Sunday Ticket Max plus $50 off per month for the next 12 months.
They’re paying me to get Sunday Ticket.
Best year ever.
Runnyb
Footballguy
At this point I am furious with Directv after 10+ phone calls over the last month.
The woman at the office of the president never called me back, her computer was not working when she first called me. Left several voicemails for her, and still have heard nothing almost 2 weeks later.
They put me in a 2 year agreement, when I am sure I only agreed to 1 year last August. They want $265 to cancel service. I said cancel out of principle, and will file complaint with BBB.15 years with DTV and they pull this crap now?
Not eligible for any discounts according to customer retention department, and they offered nothing other than "you can lower your bill if you shut off HBO" and threats that if I set a cancel date, I lose any discounts and may never get them again. This woman could not have cared any less that I set a cancel date.
I guess it's time to just sub to PSVue for RedZone and pay DTV their cancelation fee.
The woman at the office of the president never called me back, her computer was not working when she first called me. Left several voicemails for her, and still have heard nothing almost 2 weeks later.
They put me in a 2 year agreement, when I am sure I only agreed to 1 year last August. They want $265 to cancel service. I said cancel out of principle, and will file complaint with BBB.15 years with DTV and they pull this crap now?
Not eligible for any discounts according to customer retention department, and they offered nothing other than "you can lower your bill if you shut off HBO" and threats that if I set a cancel date, I lose any discounts and may never get them again. This woman could not have cared any less that I set a cancel date.
I guess it's time to just sub to PSVue for RedZone and pay DTV their cancelation fee.
gianmarco
Footballguy
Yes, you do.
It's easy, takes a few minutes with virtually no hassle, and will save you significantly more.
Drunken knight
Footballguy
just called their regular number (800)531- 5000 and asked if they had any discounts on ST max. they said no... $49.xx for 6 months. I asked if they could do $30. let me check discounts for you...... "oh, i found $32 off for 6 months". yes. that will work for me.
paying $65/month for everything (xtra pkg; all the movie channels; sports pack) with STMax. very happy.
ProstheticRGK
Footballguy
I got something in the mail offering $19.99/mo for lowest tier, free Sunday Ticket and a $300 Visa card. But there's a 24 month agreement. I'm not going to use it,
phone number 888.550.1583
code WBK11
phone number 888.550.1583
code WBK11
SHIZNITTTT
Footballguy
Does anyone have their AT&T cellular plan with their Directv bill rolled together?
If yes did you call and get a better deal?
I have unlimited wifi on 4 phones and would hate to lose that benefit.
If yes did you call and get a better deal?
I have unlimited wifi on 4 phones and would hate to lose that benefit.
Runnyb
Footballguy
So you have to actually have the service shut off, or just a cancel date?
I actually got into an argument with the "cancel service" department. Rep said in a really bad tone of voice (again) that if I wanted my bill lower, I should cancel HBO and lower my package. I suspect it's due to the 2 year contract I never agreed to. He did finally find a note from a previous rep that I am in a 1 year agreement and said he would escalate this.
Everything is roses when we get a great deal, but man does it suck dealing with these new call centers, it is not the same customer service it was before AT&T bought them.
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
You could try the normal number and ask for the customer retention department. You may need to ask multiple times before the flunkie transfers you, but the retention department has the deals.offdee said:
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
I've been thinking about what some of you have said about not having agreed to deals show up. The dude I dealt wthi checked and double checked several times to make sure his adjustments actually registered with the system. Maybe their progamming really is that bad.
cheese
Footballguy
Maybe I missed earlier posts, but it doesn’t seem like you’re following the script. If you just do what everyone else did none of those other things matter. I was in a 2 year contract. Called and said cancel, they quoted me those same fees, I said ok thanks bye. I called back 5 minutes after the cancellation and got the deal and no fees.Runnyb said:
Zegras11
Footballguy
Runnyb
Footballguy
I've been a sub since 2002, and know the drill pretty well by now (although I have never had to actually set a cancel date). Last August, I called to do the song and dance with customer retention or whatever it's called now. The first rep in Aug 2017 simply cancelled the service and hung up on me. I called back and the next rep placed me on hold to see look for discounts, and he also hung up. But he re-activated me. Whenever I called after this, I was told "thank you for be a customer since 2017" and was flagged as in contract until 2019 (never agreed to anything). Office of president lady fixed all this last year and gave huge discounts and Ticket Max and $200 Visa card for a 1 year agreement.
I have the cancel date set for 6 days from now. Argued with multiple reps over this last week, and one of them finally found their screw-up and saw conflicting notes "1 year agreement only written in notes" but the boilerplate at the end said 2 year agreement. Rep was able to find this after I adamantly stated I never agreed to 2 years, and I was going to file a complaint with the BBB.
In the 15+ years with DTV, I have never had so many rude, incompetent reps that just don't give a damn. The office of the president lady that called and was trying to resolve all this with discounts etc. said her computer was locked up and would call back on Tue Sept 4th. No call back. Called about 3 times and left her a voicemail since then, and still have not received a call back. I suspect all this is because they assume I am in a 2 year agreement, and this is why there are no more discounts available according their computer.
Hoping that actually shutting off the service will get them to do something. I've been with DTV for a long time and have always been able to get the bill down to such low levels it made sense to keep DTV. This year I was offered $80 month for Choice - and nothing else. Several reps said rudely "cancel HBO if you want your bill lower or send back one of the two DVRs".
Sorry to rant here, I am just very frustrated. Happy to follow up with how this is resolved if anyone is interested.
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offdee
Footballguy
I just realized that this DTV contract was transferred over from my gf's house and still in her name. Technically I think I could cancel her service and get it resetup under my name and essentially be a "new customer" correct? We've lived together for 2 years and this is under her name and she has me listed as someone who can access the account when calling in if provide a password.offdee said:
What's the best way to play this to get the best deals? Threaten cancelling under her name, or trying to reactivate as a new customer under my name?
msudaisy26
Footballguy
We tried doing this 5 or 6 years ago. My husband was traveling a lot for work so we didn't have the Ticket.
He finally stopped traveling right around Thanksgiving so we called to get the Ticket for the last 5 or 6 weeks of year and they still wanted half price and wouldn't budge off that.
parrot
Footballguy
My discounts recently ran out too. I called retentions, half-assed threatened to cancel, but didn't really feel going through with it. They renewed my discounts at $60 a month for a year, knocked another $5 a month off HBO for six months, and gave me Showtime for 3 months. This is without any contract. Could have done better but not bad without cancelling.
FreeBaGeL
Footballguy
Hmmm we have the option to pay for the Ticket in 6 installments, right? So if I cancel my entire DTV service after the 1st installment is paid would I be good or would they find a way to make me pay the rest I wonder.
Aunt Jemima
Footballguy
you still owe, likely they would send you to collections. no different than anything else you agree to buy on an installment plan
msudaisy26
Footballguy
It might work, but these guys are always trying to pull something. It wouldn't surprise me if they tried to charge you for all of it even if you cancelled.
Got free ST Max, $60 off for 12 months, and a $200 gift card on way. Contract extended 12 months.
Last year did not have ST, only Redzone. I was not in contract, and I had no active credits as all expired last month. Been with DTV for 10+ years but I think they only recognize last few.
Loyalty dept rep was great. Pretty much teed it up for me. They had nothing to offer but suggesting starting a pending cancel and seeing what the next dept could help with. They admitted that they’re trying to stop cancels on the spot, and avoid having to make Win Back calls/offers.
Next dept was someone difficult to understand but who hooked it up right away. I did have to ask for the gift card. 30 mins total between the 2 conversations.
Somehow though they deactivated my MLB package that was already paid for. That took 2 calls and 45 minutes to fix. 2 different people told me it was likely due to the season being over. So as easy as earlier today was, it was good to be reminded tonight that DTV hasn’t changed and I just got lucky earlier.
Last year did not have ST, only Redzone. I was not in contract, and I had no active credits as all expired last month. Been with DTV for 10+ years but I think they only recognize last few.
Loyalty dept rep was great. Pretty much teed it up for me. They had nothing to offer but suggesting starting a pending cancel and seeing what the next dept could help with. They admitted that they’re trying to stop cancels on the spot, and avoid having to make Win Back calls/offers.
Next dept was someone difficult to understand but who hooked it up right away. I did have to ask for the gift card. 30 mins total between the 2 conversations.
Somehow though they deactivated my MLB package that was already paid for. That took 2 calls and 45 minutes to fix. 2 different people told me it was likely due to the season being over. So as easy as earlier today was, it was good to be reminded tonight that DTV hasn’t changed and I just got lucky earlier.
rail
Footballguy
Started the initial salvo today - called to cancel, was immediately offered $20 off and Free ST. Being a savvy FBG and knowing all the great deals you dudes are getting, I said no thanks and set up the cancellation for the end of the next billing cycle, 9 days out.
Will call the magic # in a day or two and do the fake missed call bit, hopefully to save :boatloads: of
.
Will call the magic # in a day or two and do the fake missed call bit, hopefully to save :boatloads: of
.
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offdee
Footballguy
I'm gonna do the cancel game....can someone here post the timeline, scripts and phone numbers to play this out properly so don't have to comb through thread?
Here's my main wants...
- exponentially lower monthly bill (obviously)
- no new contract (at min not more than 1 yr)
- new dish installed on roof (one have now is all rusty and any rain and it's pixeled up or blacked out)
- want to keep my present DVR as houses lots of shows and I don't want to devote the time to reprogram season passes, etc
- Free Sunday ticket would be a nice bonus, but not a huge deal
Appreciate the help!
Here's my main wants...
- exponentially lower monthly bill (obviously)
- no new contract (at min not more than 1 yr)
- new dish installed on roof (one have now is all rusty and any rain and it's pixeled up or blacked out)
- want to keep my present DVR as houses lots of shows and I don't want to devote the time to reprogram season passes, etc
- Free Sunday ticket would be a nice bonus, but not a huge deal
Appreciate the help!
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