Can you negotiate with DirecTV? (4 Viewers)

[No. 4]

Yes I am in contact for another year. Got Sun Ticket Max free, 3 mos HBO, Max and Showtime free, and $15 off bill for a year. No contact extension.

Have you ever had the Sun Ticket Max free? I just called and was told that it's only a one-time offer.

Yes I got it free as a new subscriber last year at this time.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Yes I am in contact for another year. Got Sun Ticket Max free, 3 mos HBO, Max and Showtime free, and $15 off bill for a year. No contact extension.

Have you ever had the Sun Ticket Max free? I just called and was told that it's only a one-time offer.

Yes I got it free as a new subscriber last year at this time.

Wow I guess I was just talking to a stern ##### then.

 

[Wingnut]

Wow, twice now they've called my bluff...I also found out that my ETF is $20 per month, making it $320 to cancel...

Looks like I may not be getting any deals this year, but I've got one call left. If nothing is offered this time I'm stuck like Chuck.

I've never been denied like this before.



Guess ill call FiOS and see if they'd be willing to pay for part of the ETF fee...if I don't have Sunday Ticket, theres no reason to keep DirecTv, IMO....and next year I'll get a sweet new customer deal to go back. Lol

Welp, FIOS will give me a $400 visa card as well as a package that will include RedZone for about the same price I'm paying now (actually about $10 less)...it does require a 2 year agreement, but if after 15 years as a DirecTv customer they don't want to take care of me, I'll give Verizon $2400+ over the next 2 years and DTV can suck it. The $400 prepaid card will cover my ETF plus about $80, so no out of pocket to cancel and switch.So I'll set up a cancel date with DTV, set up a hook up date for FIOS, and if DTV doesn't contact me and give me a decent offer to stay, I'll be jumping ship.

I really hate Verizon, but if DTV doesn't appreciate my business I'll take it elsewhere if I have to.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Wow, twice now they've called my bluff...I also found out that my ETF is $20 per month, making it $320 to cancel...

Looks like I may not be getting any deals this year, but I've got one call left. If nothing is offered this time I'm stuck like Chuck.

I've never been denied like this before.



Guess ill call FiOS and see if they'd be willing to pay for part of the ETF fee...if I don't have Sunday Ticket, theres no reason to keep DirecTv, IMO....and next year I'll get a sweet new customer deal to go back. Lol

Welp, FIOS will give me a $400 visa card as well as a package that will include RedZone for about the same price I'm paying now (actually about $10 less)...it does require a 2 year agreement, but if after 15 years as a DirecTv customer they don't want to take care of me, I'll give Verizon $2400+ over the next 2 years and DTV can suck it. The $400 prepaid card will cover my ETF plus about $80, so no out of pocket to cancel and switch.So I'll set up a cancel date with DTV, set up a hook up date for FIOS, and if DTV doesn't contact me and give me a decent offer to stay, I'll be jumping ship.

I really hate Verizon, but if DTV doesn't appreciate my business I'll take it elsewhere if I have to.

"Doesn't appreciate you as a customer"?

I think we've gotten a sense of entitlement with DirecTV over all these years of getting free stuff from them. Really, "they won't give me enough free stuff so I can't stay with someone that doesn't appreciate me" is an odd way to look at this considering no one else gives ANY free stuff on an annual basis.

I mean, what other company can we call up and say "I want $30 off my bill for the next 6 months for no reason whatsoever" and they'll just say "ok". Your ISP doesn't give you free credits/services every year. Nor will Verizon FIOS. Does that mean they don't appreciate you and should be canceled? I was with my previous ISP for 10 years and if I called them and said "I want $1 off my bill or I'm canceling" they'd say see ya later.

 

[Hawks64]

Wow, twice now they've called my bluff...I also found out that my ETF is $20 per month, making it $320 to cancel...

Looks like I may not be getting any deals this year, but I've got one call left. If nothing is offered this time I'm stuck like Chuck.

I've never been denied like this before.



Guess ill call FiOS and see if they'd be willing to pay for part of the ETF fee...if I don't have Sunday Ticket, theres no reason to keep DirecTv, IMO....and next year I'll get a sweet new customer deal to go back. Lol

Welp, FIOS will give me a $400 visa card as well as a package that will include RedZone for about the same price I'm paying now (actually about $10 less)...it does require a 2 year agreement, but if after 15 years as a DirecTv customer they don't want to take care of me, I'll give Verizon $2400+ over the next 2 years and DTV can suck it. The $400 prepaid card will cover my ETF plus about $80, so no out of pocket to cancel and switch.So I'll set up a cancel date with DTV, set up a hook up date for FIOS, and if DTV doesn't contact me and give me a decent offer to stay, I'll be jumping ship.

I really hate Verizon, but if DTV doesn't appreciate my business I'll take it elsewhere if I have to.

"Doesn't appreciate you as a customer"?

I think we've gotten a sense of entitlement with DirecTV over all these years of getting free stuff from them. Really, "they won't give me enough free stuff so I can't stay with someone that doesn't appreciate me" is an odd way to look at this considering no one else gives ANY free stuff on an annual basis.

I mean, what other company can we call up and say "I want $30 off my bill for the next 6 months for no reason whatsoever" and they'll just say "ok". Your ISP doesn't give you free credits/services every year. Nor will Verizon FIOS. Does that mean they don't appreciate you and should be canceled? I was with my previous ISP for 10 years and if I called them and said "I want $1 off my bill or I'm canceling" they'd say see ya later.

It's the TV game, someone is ALWAYS offering a better deal to get customers. And if your ISP has any REAL competition they absolutely will give you a better deal.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Wow, twice now they've called my bluff...I also found out that my ETF is $20 per month, making it $320 to cancel...

Looks like I may not be getting any deals this year, but I've got one call left. If nothing is offered this time I'm stuck like Chuck.

I've never been denied like this before.



Guess ill call FiOS and see if they'd be willing to pay for part of the ETF fee...if I don't have Sunday Ticket, theres no reason to keep DirecTv, IMO....and next year I'll get a sweet new customer deal to go back. Lol

Welp, FIOS will give me a $400 visa card as well as a package that will include RedZone for about the same price I'm paying now (actually about $10 less)...it does require a 2 year agreement, but if after 15 years as a DirecTv customer they don't want to take care of me, I'll give Verizon $2400+ over the next 2 years and DTV can suck it. The $400 prepaid card will cover my ETF plus about $80, so no out of pocket to cancel and switch.So I'll set up a cancel date with DTV, set up a hook up date for FIOS, and if DTV doesn't contact me and give me a decent offer to stay, I'll be jumping ship.

I really hate Verizon, but if DTV doesn't appreciate my business I'll take it elsewhere if I have to.

"Doesn't appreciate you as a customer"?

I think we've gotten a sense of entitlement with DirecTV over all these years of getting free stuff from them. Really, "they won't give me enough free stuff so I can't stay with someone that doesn't appreciate me" is an odd way to look at this considering no one else gives ANY free stuff on an annual basis.

I mean, what other company can we call up and say "I want $30 off my bill for the next 6 months for no reason whatsoever" and they'll just say "ok". Your ISP doesn't give you free credits/services every year. Nor will Verizon FIOS. Does that mean they don't appreciate you and should be canceled? I was with my previous ISP for 10 years and if I called them and said "I want $1 off my bill or I'm canceling" they'd say see ya later.

It's the TV game, someone is ALWAYS offering a better deal to get customers. And if your ISP has any REAL competition they absolutely will give you a better deal.

Right, better deal to GET customers. As in new customers, one time.

How many of them are going to re-up that deal year after year other than DirecTV? None.

Try calling Comcast a year later and tell them that you want your new customer pricing back or you want the MLB package for free. They won't even understand the question.

 

[Hawks64]

Wow, twice now they've called my bluff...I also found out that my ETF is $20 per month, making it $320 to cancel...

Looks like I may not be getting any deals this year, but I've got one call left. If nothing is offered this time I'm stuck like Chuck.

I've never been denied like this before.



Guess ill call FiOS and see if they'd be willing to pay for part of the ETF fee...if I don't have Sunday Ticket, theres no reason to keep DirecTv, IMO....and next year I'll get a sweet new customer deal to go back. Lol

Welp, FIOS will give me a $400 visa card as well as a package that will include RedZone for about the same price I'm paying now (actually about $10 less)...it does require a 2 year agreement, but if after 15 years as a DirecTv customer they don't want to take care of me, I'll give Verizon $2400+ over the next 2 years and DTV can suck it. The $400 prepaid card will cover my ETF plus about $80, so no out of pocket to cancel and switch.So I'll set up a cancel date with DTV, set up a hook up date for FIOS, and if DTV doesn't contact me and give me a decent offer to stay, I'll be jumping ship.

I really hate Verizon, but if DTV doesn't appreciate my business I'll take it elsewhere if I have to.

"Doesn't appreciate you as a customer"?

I think we've gotten a sense of entitlement with DirecTV over all these years of getting free stuff from them. Really, "they won't give me enough free stuff so I can't stay with someone that doesn't appreciate me" is an odd way to look at this considering no one else gives ANY free stuff on an annual basis.

I mean, what other company can we call up and say "I want $30 off my bill for the next 6 months for no reason whatsoever" and they'll just say "ok". Your ISP doesn't give you free credits/services every year. Nor will Verizon FIOS. Does that mean they don't appreciate you and should be canceled? I was with my previous ISP for 10 years and if I called them and said "I want $1 off my bill or I'm canceling" they'd say see ya later.

It's the TV game, someone is ALWAYS offering a better deal to get customers. And if your ISP has any REAL competition they absolutely will give you a better deal.

Right, better deal to GET customers. As in new customers, one time.

How many of them are going to re-up that deal year after year other than DirecTV? None.

Try calling Comcast a year later and tell them that you want your new customer pricing back or you want the MLB package for free. They won't even understand the question.

Yeah except for my parents who call Comcast every single time their prices go up and they get their old pricing or better pricing back.

 

[Bogeys]

Wow, twice now they've called my bluff...I also found out that my ETF is $20 per month, making it $320 to cancel...

Looks like I may not be getting any deals this year, but I've got one call left. If nothing is offered this time I'm stuck like Chuck.

I've never been denied like this before.



Guess ill call FiOS and see if they'd be willing to pay for part of the ETF fee...if I don't have Sunday Ticket, theres no reason to keep DirecTv, IMO....and next year I'll get a sweet new customer deal to go back. Lol

Welp, FIOS will give me a $400 visa card as well as a package that will include RedZone for about the same price I'm paying now (actually about $10 less)...it does require a 2 year agreement, but if after 15 years as a DirecTv customer they don't want to take care of me, I'll give Verizon $2400+ over the next 2 years and DTV can suck it. The $400 prepaid card will cover my ETF plus about $80, so no out of pocket to cancel and switch.So I'll set up a cancel date with DTV, set up a hook up date for FIOS, and if DTV doesn't contact me and give me a decent offer to stay, I'll be jumping ship.

I really hate Verizon, but if DTV doesn't appreciate my business I'll take it elsewhere if I have to.

"Doesn't appreciate you as a customer"?

I think we've gotten a sense of entitlement with DirecTV over all these years of getting free stuff from them. Really, "they won't give me enough free stuff so I can't stay with someone that doesn't appreciate me" is an odd way to look at this considering no one else gives ANY free stuff on an annual basis.

I mean, what other company can we call up and say "I want $30 off my bill for the next 6 months for no reason whatsoever" and they'll just say "ok". Your ISP doesn't give you free credits/services every year. Nor will Verizon FIOS. Does that mean they don't appreciate you and should be canceled? I was with my previous ISP for 10 years and if I called them and said "I want $1 off my bill or I'm canceling" they'd say see ya later.

It's the TV game, someone is ALWAYS offering a better deal to get customers. And if your ISP has any REAL competition they absolutely will give you a better deal.

Right, better deal to GET customers. As in new customers, one time.

How many of them are going to re-up that deal year after year other than DirecTV? None.

Try calling Comcast a year later and tell them that you want your new customer pricing back or you want the MLB package for free. They won't even understand the question.

That is the problem though, they are basically telling us we need to shop to get the best deals. If you have options (cable, FIOS, Uverse, etc) you can switch every year or 2 and get the best deals (including with Direct TV). It is strictly a bottom line decision with them so why shouldn't it be with me? Loyalty doesn't mean anything either way.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Yeah except for my parents who call Comcast every single time their prices go up and they get their old pricing or better pricing back.

All they're talking about is that their bill went up from $121.36/mo to $122.04/mo and they let them keep the old price. That's totally different than giving them the $30/mo introductory pricing they had for the first 6 months of signing up, which is essentially what DirecTV is doing here (giving existing customers the new customer deal every year just for making a phone call).

There are no shortage of people in this thread saving $200-$500 every year just for making a call. You could take Comcast to freaking court for blowing up your house and they wouldn't let you get that much money out of them.

That is the problem though, they are basically telling us we need to shop to get the best deals. If you have options (cable, FIOS, Uverse, etc) you can switch every year or 2 and get the best deals (including with Direct TV). It is strictly a bottom line decision with them so why shouldn't it be with me? Loyalty doesn't mean anything either way.

"Basically telling you that you need to shop to get the best deal"? No, that's what everyone else is telling you to do when you call them after the first year and ask for a better deal and they say "LOL you signed a contract dummy, deal with it or go elsewhere, we don't care".

Regardless, I don't see any issue with people changing providers every year to save money (although seriously, who wants THAT hassle...people already moan in this thread about having to make a quick phone call) if they want to do that. The issue is people saying things like "they don't appreciate me as a customer" because they gave me awesome free stuff every year for 7 years but on year 8 my free stuff wasn't quite as good, so instead I'm going to go to this other company who will give me absolutely nothing after the first year.

Every company values you when you're a customer they don't have and they're trying to get you to switch. DirecTV is the only one that doesn't treat you like a used up piece of meat once you're already onboard. But getting all these free deals from DirecTV over the years has given people this sense of entitlement that we deserve it every year and if we don't get as awesome of a deal then we should just go to another company that would offer nothing in the same situation just to spite them.

 

[Wingnut]

Lol I KNEW someone would jump all over my post...

I get what you're saying but I've spent close to $20k for DirecTV the last 15 or so years...I have only been calling for discounts for about 4 years. They want to give new customers the world, but someone who has been loyal for a decade and a half gets the cold shoulder...its just not good business. I get that they don't really need me as a customer, they make billions...but I'm only asking for something they give away to probably 65+% of people who call and ask for it.

Sorry, I've stuck with them all these years, even the years where I had no discounts, paid full price for Sunday Ticket and had the $130/month programming package. If they can't comp a $300 package for me, Ill walk on principle.

 

[Bogeys]

Yeah except for my parents who call Comcast every single time their prices go up and they get their old pricing or better pricing back.

All they're talking about is that their bill went up from $121.36/mo to $122.04/mo and they let them keep the old price. That's totally different than giving them the $30/mo introductory pricing they had for the first 6 months of signing up, which is essentially what DirecTV is doing here (giving existing customers the new customer deal every year just for making a phone call).

There are no shortage of people in this thread saving $200-$500 every year just for making a call. You could take Comcast to freaking court for blowing up your house and they wouldn't let you get that much money out of them.

That is the problem though, they are basically telling us we need to shop to get the best deals. If you have options (cable, FIOS, Uverse, etc) you can switch every year or 2 and get the best deals (including with Direct TV). It is strictly a bottom line decision with them so why shouldn't it be with me? Loyalty doesn't mean anything either way.

"Basically telling you that you need to shop to get the best deal"? No, that's what everyone else is telling you to do when you call them after the first year and ask for a better deal and they say "LOL you signed a contract dummy, deal with it or go elsewhere, we don't care".

Regardless, I don't see any issue with people changing providers every year to save money (although seriously, who wants THAT hassle...people already moan in this thread about having to make a quick phone call) if they want to do that. The issue is people saying things like "they don't appreciate me as a customer" because they gave me awesome free stuff every year for 7 years but on year 8 my free stuff wasn't quite as good, so instead I'm going to go to this other company who will give me absolutely nothing after the first year.

Every company values you when you're a customer they don't have and they're trying to get you to switch. DirecTV is the only one that doesn't treat you like a used up piece of meat once you're already onboard. But getting all these free deals from DirecTV over the years has given people this sense of entitlement that we deserve it every year and if we don't get as awesome of a deal then we should just go to another company that would offer nothing in the same situation just to spite them.

I have only had the ticket 1 time and my yearly deals were all about price and my cost. I don't really care about movie channels and there is enough good sports (college and pro football and basketball) to keep me entertained on that front.

The don't want to give you the new customer pricing every year and that is fine, but that is my baseline whenever I deal with companies that provide things like this for the most part. I only do the contracts that last as long as the pricing I agree to, never beyond and have never had a problem switching when I need to. Takes about an hour of time at the most on a Saturday morning. I get that people love some companies, but just look at the varying deals people get in here with no rhyme or reason to it....that tells you it is luck of the draw on who answers the phone and that these companies don't give a crap about you or I. Don't get me wrong, there are varying levels of customer service and direct tv is towards the top most of the time but that isn't enough for the extra $500 a year I was going to be paying them.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Lol I KNEW someone would jump all over my post...

I get what you're saying but I've spent close to $20k for DirecTV the last 15 or so years...I have only been calling for discounts for about 4 years. They want to give new customers the world, but someone who has been loyal for a decade and a half gets the cold shoulder...its just not good business. I get that they don't really need me as a customer, they make billions...but I'm only asking for something they give away to probably 65+% of people who call and ask for it.

Sorry, I've stuck with them all these years, even the years where I had no discounts, paid full price for Sunday Ticket and had the $130/month programming package. If they can't comp a $300 package for me, Ill walk.

Firstly, they will comp that package for you, you just have to try a few times.

Secondly, and mainly, any other company in the world is going to give you NOTHING in the same scenario that DirecTV is giving you stuff but not as much stuff as you want. Spend $20k with Verizon over the next 15 years and call and ask them for a $5 credit and they'll tell you to go to hell.

I've had ATT as my wireless provider for the last decade. What do you think they'll say if I call them right now and tell them I want tethering added to my plan for free and an additional $15 credit towards my bill every month?

That's the part where you're letting your emotions get the better of you. You spent a lot of money with them and they won't give you enough free stuff (or in this case, won't give it to your on your first phone call) so instead you're going to go to a company that you can spend a lot of money with and will then give you nothing, as if that is somehow better.

 

[Bogeys]

Lol I KNEW someone would jump all over my post...

I get what you're saying but I've spent close to $20k for DirecTV the last 15 or so years...I have only been calling for discounts for about 4 years. They want to give new customers the world, but someone who has been loyal for a decade and a half gets the cold shoulder...its just not good business. I get that they don't really need me as a customer, they make billions...but I'm only asking for something they give away to probably 65+% of people who call and ask for it.

Sorry, I've stuck with them all these years, even the years where I had no discounts, paid full price for Sunday Ticket and had the $130/month programming package. If they can't comp a $300 package for me, Ill walk.

Firstly, they will comp that package for you, you just have to try a few times.

Secondly, and mainly, any other company in the world is going to give you NOTHING in the same scenario that DirecTV is giving you stuff but not as much stuff as you want. Spend $20k with Verizon over the next 15 years and call and ask them for a $5 credit and they'll tell you to go to hell.

I've had ATT as my wireless provider for the last decade. What do you think they'll say if I call them right now and tell them I want tethering added to my plan for free and an additional $15 credit towards my bill every month?

That's the part where you're letting your emotions get the better of you. You spent a lot of money with them and they won't give you enough free stuff (or in this case, won't give it to your on your first phone call) so instead you're going to go to a company that you can spend a lot of money with and will then give you nothing, as if that is somehow better.

I get about $80 a month off of my bill from ATT wireless (I have 5 phones, 4 of them smart phones with data plans) because of a national discount they added to keep me happy...maybe you just haven't called back enough?

 

[Wingnut]

Lol I KNEW someone would jump all over my post...

I get what you're saying but I've spent close to $20k for DirecTV the last 15 or so years...I have only been calling for discounts for about 4 years. They want to give new customers the world, but someone who has been loyal for a decade and a half gets the cold shoulder...its just not good business. I get that they don't really need me as a customer, they make billions...but I'm only asking for something they give away to probably 65+% of people who call and ask for it.

Sorry, I've stuck with them all these years, even the years where I had no discounts, paid full price for Sunday Ticket and had the $130/month programming package. If they can't comp a $300 package for me, Ill walk.

Firstly, they will comp that package for you, you just have to try a few times.

Secondly, and mainly, any other company in the world is going to give you NOTHING in the same scenario that DirecTV is giving you stuff but not as much stuff as you want. Spend $20k with Verizon over the next 15 years and call and ask them for a $5 credit and they'll tell you to go to hell.

I've had ATT as my wireless provider for the last decade. What do you think they'll say if I call them right now and tell them I want tethering added to my plan for free and an additional $15 credit towards my bill every month?

That's the part where you're letting your emotions get the better of you. You spent a lot of money with them and they won't give you enough free stuff (or in this case, won't give it to your on your first phone call) so instead you're going to go to a company that you can spend a lot of money with and will then give you nothing, as if that is somehow better.

That's just like, your opinion, man.Actually I've made 3 calls and have got retention on the 2nd and 3rd. I've done this dance enough to know how to schmooze them and get a deal...they aren't budging, and both times I've got retention they were setting up a cancel date when I interrupted and said "let me talk to the wife to make sure this is what she wants"....I'm going to wait 2 weeks before I call back and will see how that goes.

As far as trying this with other companies, the point is moot. Other companies don't have the Sunday Ticket (at least not right now), and other companies aren't DirecTv. DTV is known to give deals to keep customers, Verizon is not. I LOVE DirecTv. I love them enough to have stuck with them when I could have had much cheaper service over the years, but I love their product and service....but they seem to be forgetting how this works: You give me Sunday Ticket and I re-up for another year. Thats the deal. Thats the yearly dance. Its just how it is now. Giving me Sunday ticket ensures I will remain a customer for another year. Its like cash back on a credit card. If you take away the perks, I will use another card.

Will I actually walk if they don't give me the ticket? Probably not...but right now I'm thinking about it. Its not that I can't afford it, if there were no freebies or deals, I'd pay full price for the ticket every year because I love watching my team every week. But when you set a yearly precedence and tradition, its gonna be what I expect. I'm sure in the end I'll get the ticket, but playing this game of 'we don't have any deals' when I know damn well they do is what ticks me off. Just give me the ticket (and not even Max, just the plain Jane ticket), I don't need any additional discounts, and you will get my auto payment every month. Simple.

 

[avoiding injuries]

They advertise their pricing for new customers. Why wouldn't existing customers want that same pricing?

With the ability to switch from one provider to another after each contract is up, theoretically you could always have new customer pricing. It makes sense for one company to offer it you and keep your business 100%!of the time.

 

[Drifter]

They advertise their pricing for new customers. Why wouldn't existing customers want that same pricing?

With the ability to switch from one provider to another after each contract is up, theoretically you could always have new customer pricing. It makes sense for one company to offer it you and keep your business 100%!of the time.

Because they know they have inertia and, for some, Sunday Ticket on their side. In short, they don't need to do that.

 

[avoiding injuries]

They advertise their pricing for new customers. Why wouldn't existing customers want that same pricing?

With the ability to switch from one provider to another after each contract is up, theoretically you could always have new customer pricing. It makes sense for one company to offer it you and keep your business 100%!of the time.

Because they know they have inertia and, for some, Sunday Ticket on their side. In short, they don't need to do that.

So the customers who stay and don't try to negotiate can't really complain. Customers who are willing to go through with switching, DirecTV (and other providers) offers incentives to have them stay. The easiest customers to get are the ones you already have. Having a monopoly with the Ticket was nice, but redzone is serious competitor in that space.

 

[McGarnicle]

Spoke to Jeremy in retention. He said I'm still under contract until July 2015, so it would be $20x11 months if we cancel now, so $220. I said that's great, since Xfinity will charge just $90 for TV & Internet plus give me a $200 visa gift card (totally talking out of my ###). So yeah Jeremy, let's go ahead and cancel.

My first payment for ST had already posted, so he removed that so the system would show him available promotions. I got half off ST Max -- $163 divided over 4 payments.

Then got $10 off per month for 12 months and free Showtime & Cinemax for 6 months which we were already paying for, so another $120 off. Net $77 in my favor.

I think I've gotten ST effectively free every year since we've had DirecTV (2006).

 

[derek245583]

I would just call up and ask for Tammy wingnut

 

[Mr.Pack]

I would just call up and ask for Tammy wingnut

I'm sure there are no other Tammy's working there.

 

[lumpy19]

Wow, twice now they've called my bluff...I also found out that my ETF is $20 per month, making it $320 to cancel...

Looks like I may not be getting any deals this year, but I've got one call left. If nothing is offered this time I'm stuck like Chuck.

I've never been denied like this before.



Guess ill call FiOS and see if they'd be willing to pay for part of the ETF fee...if I don't have Sunday Ticket, theres no reason to keep DirecTv, IMO....and next year I'll get a sweet new customer deal to go back. Lol

Welp, FIOS will give me a $400 visa card as well as a package that will include RedZone for about the same price I'm paying now (actually about $10 less)...it does require a 2 year agreement, but if after 15 years as a DirecTv customer they don't want to take care of me, I'll give Verizon $2400+ over the next 2 years and DTV can suck it. The $400 prepaid card will cover my ETF plus about $80, so no out of pocket to cancel and switch.So I'll set up a cancel date with DTV, set up a hook up date for FIOS, and if DTV doesn't contact me and give me a decent offer to stay, I'll be jumping ship.

I really hate Verizon, but if DTV doesn't appreciate my business I'll take it elsewhere if I have to.

"Doesn't appreciate you as a customer"?

I think we've gotten a sense of entitlement with DirecTV over all these years of getting free stuff from them. Really, "they won't give me enough free stuff so I can't stay with someone that doesn't appreciate me" is an odd way to look at this considering no one else gives ANY free stuff on an annual basis.

I mean, what other company can we call up and say "I want $30 off my bill for the next 6 months for no reason whatsoever" and they'll just say "ok". Your ISP doesn't give you free credits/services every year. Nor will Verizon FIOS. Does that mean they don't appreciate you and should be canceled? I was with my previous ISP for 10 years and if I called them and said "I want $1 off my bill or I'm canceling" they'd say see ya later.

I play this same game with my isp(time warner) just recently I got them to send me a $150 gift card and upgrade my service for less than the cost I was already paying. So my bill went down my service got upgraded and they sent me $150.

 

[Tiger Fan]

They advertise their pricing for new customers. Why wouldn't existing customers want that same pricing?

With the ability to switch from one provider to another after each contract is up, theoretically you could always have new customer pricing. It makes sense for one company to offer it you and keep your business 100%!of the time.

Because they know they have inertia and, for some, Sunday Ticket on their side. In short, they don't need to do that.

Actually, this is the way it was pitched to me. You're out of contract...you're techically a new customer

 

[McGarnicle]

Spoke to Jeremy in retention. He said I'm still under contract until July 2015, so it would be $20x11 months if we cancel now, so $220. I said that's great, since Xfinity will charge just $90 for TV & Internet plus give me a $200 visa gift card (totally talking out of my ###). So yeah Jeremy, let's go ahead and cancel.

My first payment for ST had already posted, so he removed that so the system would show him available promotions. I got half off ST Max -- $163 divided over 4 payments.

Then got $10 off per month for 12 months and free Showtime & Cinemax for 6 months which we were already paying for, so another $120 off. Net $77 in my favor.

I think I've gotten ST effectively free every year since we've had DirecTV (2006).

So I just flat out ask what she can offer me since I'm not satisfied. She looks at my package (hahahahaha!!!) and says she can take off $25 a month for 6 months for a total of $150. So in effect that cancels out the $147 for ST Max which is what I really wanted.

So to summarize:

Free Genie to replace a standard box

$45 off per month for one year ($540 in savings)

Sunday ticket Max half price -- $147 spread over 4 payments

$25 off per month for 6 months ($150 in savings)

So my bill with 2 DVRs plus a Genie, ST Max and every premium channel they offer will be $145 for 4 months, $108 for two months after that, then $133 for 6 months. Before I called the first time, my bill was $178.

And she said I should call back in March to ask for additional savings when this latest deal expires.

 

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Yeah except for my parents who call Comcast every single time their prices go up and they get their old pricing or better pricing back.

Yep.

I do the same with ADT

 

[fred_1_15301]

Made call # 2 this morning and the best I can get is 4 months of showtime free with no credits or other discounts. I'm not even under contract. I guess I'll just cancel.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Made call # 2 this morning and the best I can get is 4 months of showtime free with no credits or other discounts. I'm not even under contract. I guess I'll just cancel.

What's stopping you from cancelling and then signing up again? The real qeustion is, what do you need from Direct TV that you can't get from Dish.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Made call # 2 this morning and the best I can get is 4 months of showtime free with no credits or other discounts. I'm not even under contract. I guess I'll just cancel.

What's stopping you from cancelling and then signing up again? The real qeustion is, what do you need from Direct TV that you can't get from Dish.

Nothing is stopping me and that's why I'm planning to cancel. I'm probably just going to go with Dish.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Made call # 2 this morning and the best I can get is 4 months of showtime free with no credits or other discounts. I'm not even under contract. I guess I'll just cancel.

What's stopping you from cancelling and then signing up again? The real qeustion is, what do you need from Direct TV that you can't get from Dish.

Nothing is stopping me and that's why I'm planning to cancel. I'm probably just going to go with Dish.

I would have info ready and next time you talk to Direct TV say "I can switch to Dish and get xyz." I am going to switch to them unless you treat me as a proper new customer and give me "xyz"

 

[fred_1_15301]

Made call # 2 this morning and the best I can get is 4 months of showtime free with no credits or other discounts. I'm not even under contract. I guess I'll just cancel.

What's stopping you from cancelling and then signing up again? The real qeustion is, what do you need from Direct TV that you can't get from Dish.

Nothing is stopping me and that's why I'm planning to cancel. I'm probably just going to go with Dish.

I would have info ready and next time you talk to Direct TV say "I can switch to Dish and get xyz." I am going to switch to them unless you treat me as a proper new customer and give me "xyz"

Yup I plan to do that. I wasn't that prepared the first 2 times. I'll have all the numbers in front of me and just go with the best offer.

 

[joseph80]

"You can negotiate anything." -Herb Cohen

 

[Andrew74]

I called today to cancel and got a whopping $35/mo off from retention. Nothing else. Not under contract, $90 bill and customer since 2006. Not close to what I got last year. Not a good start.

 

[Aerial Assault]

Can a thread serve as its own Honda?

 

[McGarnicle]

So crazy how random their deals are. No two posters get exactly the same deal.

 

[fred_1_15301]

So crazy how random their deals are. No two posters get exactly the same deal.

It all just depends on the ***** you talk to. The one I talked to this morning was very nice and gave me her entire life story and after 50 minutes told me that she can give me Showtime free for 4 months.

 

[derek245583]

I would just call up and ask for Tammy wingnut

I'm sure there are no other Tammy's working there.

I would like to speak with the Tammy that gives away all sorts of free ####

 

[5Rings]

They just told me to kick rocks....my contract is up August 12 (same time I called and got free NFL ticket two years ago), I'll try again then.

 

[fred_1_15301]

I wonder if they have a certain quota that they can give out free and some of us just made the call too late.

 

[flapgreen]

Wow, twice now they've called my bluff...I also found out that my ETF is $20 per month, making it $320 to cancel...

Looks like I may not be getting any deals this year, but I've got one call left. If nothing is offered this time I'm stuck like Chuck.

I've never been denied like this before.



Guess ill call FiOS and see if they'd be willing to pay for part of the ETF fee...if I don't have Sunday Ticket, theres no reason to keep DirecTv, IMO....and next year I'll get a sweet new customer deal to go back. Lol

Welp, FIOS will give me a $400 visa card as well as a package that will include RedZone for about the same price I'm paying now (actually about $10 less)...it does require a 2 year agreement, but if after 15 years as a DirecTv customer they don't want to take care of me, I'll give Verizon $2400+ over the next 2 years and DTV can suck it. The $400 prepaid card will cover my ETF plus about $80, so no out of pocket to cancel and switch.So I'll set up a cancel date with DTV, set up a hook up date for FIOS, and if DTV doesn't contact me and give me a decent offer to stay, I'll be jumping ship.

I really hate Verizon, but if DTV doesn't appreciate my business I'll take it elsewhere if I have to.

"Doesn't appreciate you as a customer"?

I think we've gotten a sense of entitlement with DirecTV over all these years of getting free stuff from them. Really, "they won't give me enough free stuff so I can't stay with someone that doesn't appreciate me" is an odd way to look at this considering no one else gives ANY free stuff on an annual basis.

I mean, what other company can we call up and say "I want $30 off my bill for the next 6 months for no reason whatsoever" and they'll just say "ok". Your ISP doesn't give you free credits/services every year. Nor will Verizon FIOS. Does that mean they don't appreciate you and should be canceled? I was with my previous ISP for 10 years and if I called them and said "I want $1 off my bill or I'm canceling" they'd say see ya later.

It's the TV game, someone is ALWAYS offering a better deal to get customers. And if your ISP has any REAL competition they absolutely will give you a better deal.

Right, better deal to GET customers. As in new customers, one time.

How many of them are going to re-up that deal year after year other than DirecTV? None.

Try calling Comcast a year later and tell them that you want your new customer pricing back or you want the MLB package for free. They won't even understand the question.

Yep!

 

[lumpy19]

Had cancellation setup for 8/21

Called back today and got ebony, a senior retention specialist.

My previous offer was $35off/month.

Got $25/month, free sunday ticket, free red zone

After I got the deals I then disconnected 4 of my 9 receivers. Going to do some re-wiring in my house and run these http://www.amazon.com/HD-102-Powered-Splitter-Certified-Support/dp/B005HXFARS/ref=sr_1_2?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1407503019&sr=1-2&keywords=hdmi+splitter to have 5 receivers that I still have active feed the 9 tv's I have.

I'm still under contract for another 1.5 years.

 

[Wingnut]

Had cancellation setup for 8/21

Called back today and got ebony, a senior retention specialist.

My previous offer was $35off/month.

Got $25/month, free sunday ticket, free red zone

After I got the deals I then disconnected 4 of my 9 receivers. Going to do some re-wiring in my house and run these http://www.amazon.com/HD-102-Powered-Splitter-Certified-Support/dp/B005HXFARS/ref=sr_1_2?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1407503019&sr=1-2&keywords=hdmi+splitter to have 5 receivers that I still have active feed the 9 tv's I have.

I'm still under contract for another 1.5 years.

So you had a disconnect date, but YOU called THEM back? What did you say? You're giving one last chance? Lol

 

[lumpy19]

Had cancellation setup for 8/21

Called back today and got ebony, a senior retention specialist.

My previous offer was $35off/month.

Got $25/month, free sunday ticket, free red zone

After I got the deals I then disconnected 4 of my 9 receivers. Going to do some re-wiring in my house and run these http://www.amazon.com/HD-102-Powered-Splitter-Certified-Support/dp/B005HXFARS/ref=sr_1_2?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1407503019&sr=1-2&keywords=hdmi+splitter to have 5 receivers that I still have active feed the 9 tv's I have.

I'm still under contract for another 1.5 years.

So you had a disconnect date, but YOU called THEM back? What did you say? You're giving one last chance? Lol

I said give me sunday ticket/max and I'll cancel my disconnect

Took 5 min

 

[Vykng]

Just called, lowered my bill from $93 before tax to $67.

Gained ST MAX

Showtime for free for 4 months, doesn't automatically renew.

Upgraded from Entertainment to Choice(SEC Network) for $30 off for 12 months.

She also told me to call back again next year and I would get a similar deal.

 

[fred_1_15301]

This thread is really annoying the hell out of me. I called twice and got squat. I think I'm going to take the lumpy route or just switch over to Dish.

 

[Wingnut]

This thread is really annoying the hell out of me. I called twice and got squat. I think I'm going to take the lumpy route or just switch over to Dish.

Im gonna call in a few days and set a cancel date for 2 weeks out and wait & see if they call...if not I'll call them a couple days before the date and try one last ditch effort.

 

[Hawks64]

This thread is really annoying the hell out of me. I called twice and got squat. I think I'm going to take the lumpy route or just switch over to Dish.

Im gonna call in a few days and set a cancel date for 2 weeks out and wait & see if they call...if not I'll call them a couple days before the date and try one last ditch effort.

I am going over to a friends house to check out their X1 from Xfinity/Comcast. If I like it I am gone and setting the cancel ASAP....

 

[Wingnut]

I'm sure there is at least one FBG who works for DirecTv lurking or just not telling us...

OUT YOURSELF!!!

 

[Brony]

Half off of Sunday Ticket Max. I think that's the same deal I've gotten each of the last 3 years. They know me by now.

 

[GoFishTN]

Half off of Sunday Ticket Max. I think that's the same deal I've gotten each of the last 3 years. They know me by now.

I called today and took another $30 in credits for a year and an upgrade to the Genie. The half off Max was the best she could give me too, I declined. I'll probably just live without Red Zone this year, although she did keep saying something like "I'm not advising you to proactively call, but you are a valuable customer and we want to keep your business", so I might check later.

 

[Brony]

Half off of Sunday Ticket Max. I think that's the same deal I've gotten each of the last 3 years. They know me by now.

I called today and took another $30 in credits for a year and an upgrade to the Genie. The half off Max was the best she could give me too, I declined. I'll probably just live without Red Zone this year, although she did keep saying something like "I'm not advising you to proactively call, but you are a valuable customer and we want to keep your business", so I might check later.

The Sunday Ticket is one of my favorite things, probably just behind beer. I don't mind paying it, but if I can reduce the cost with a 10 minute call, even better. I don't get bitter that some are getting it for free.

The initial offer was $5 off my bill for 6 months. That was a little insulting after what they've been willing to do in the past.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

What's the best offer I could expect if I call them now as a first time (potential) subscriber?