Can you negotiate with DirecTV? (4 Viewers)

[⚡DEADHEAD⚡]

Couple pointers.

1. Do whatever you can to stay out of a contract. Don't accept hardware upgrades unless absolutely necessary.

2. When calling, if you want to know if you're talking to somebody who's got some pull, ask if they will tell you the buyout cost of your contract. The frontline people can't see that information and they will transfer you immediately to retention.

3. They are handing out Redzone much more easily this year that years past. And for free (as opposed to whatever it costs per month).

 

[NewlyRetired]

3. They are handing out Redzone much more easily this year that years past. And for free (as opposed to whatever it costs per month).

This is my first time getting Sunday Ticket (Max). Is RedZone a different package or is it part of Sunday Ticket?

 

[⚡DEADHEAD⚡]

3. They are handing out Redzone much more easily this year that years past. And for free (as opposed to whatever it costs per month).

This is my first time getting Sunday Ticket (Max). Is RedZone a different package or is it part of Sunday Ticket?

It's part of Max. DTV has said in the past the only way to get RZ is to buy the entire package. Over the last few years, there were stories of guys getting RZ without buying the whole package. No one knew if it was true cause others failed. Sort of a unicorn story.

But this year, I know of two guys getting RZ without any commitment to the Ticket, if that's your thing.

 

[shuke]

3. They are handing out Redzone much more easily this year that years past. And for free (as opposed to whatever it costs per month).

This is my first time getting Sunday Ticket (Max). Is RedZone a different package or is it part of Sunday Ticket?

It's part of Max. DTV has said in the past the only way to get RZ is to buy the entire package. Over the last few years, there were stories of guys getting RZ without buying the whole package. No one knew if it was true cause others failed. Sort of a unicorn story.

But this year, I know of two guys getting RZ without any commitment to the Ticket, if that's your thing.

I had RZ two years ago without ST.

 

[flapgreen]

Also had rz last year without ticket. Didn't know that was a thing.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Couple pointers.

1. Do whatever you can to stay out of a contract. Don't accept hardware upgrades unless absolutely necessary.

2. When calling, if you want to know if you're talking to somebody who's got some pull, ask if they will tell you the buyout cost of your contract. The frontline people can't see that information and they will transfer you immediately to retention.

3. They are handing out Redzone much more easily this year that years past. And for free (as opposed to whatever it costs per month).

No- just ask for the retention department. You should get put right through.

And the genie hardware upgrade was excellent.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

i no longer understand what is happening with my bill. it's -$1.03 this month. the credits are more than the bill. #followthescript

 

[Binky The Doormat]

i no longer understand what is happening with my bill. it's -$1.03 this month. the credits are more than the bill. #followthescript

They will double you up next month. Similar thing happened to me but it was like $25 instead of the $62 or so I thought it would be.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

doubt it. as i mentioned earlier in the thread, they didn't take any of my old discounts off when they gave me the script deal. with the cancellation of the premium channels this month, the credits were more than the bill. this is the last bill with my old $20/month credit. it should revert to normal next month, meaning the script deal.

 

[snogger]

i no longer understand what is happening with my bill. it's -$1.03 this month. the credits are more than the bill. #followthescript

I can beat that.. When I log into DirectTV and check our account I see this:

Current Balance: -$53.55

Previous Balance: $65.59

Auto-Pay is set for 9/24 so we shall see

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

My credits expire on 9/21 this year. Is it best to wait until then to start negotiating?

Also, are they doing the free week 1 Sunday Ticket preview again this year?

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

My credits expire on 9/21 this year. Is it best to wait until then to start negotiating?

Also, are they doing the free week 1 Sunday Ticket preview again this year?

yes

 

[Emerson Biggens]

What's the best a new customer coming from Dish and being an AT&T wireless customer can expect? This is my girlfriend and she would be using a referral from me as a current Directv customer. I just got the awesome (script) deal in June and have been with them for years.

 

[beercat]

My credits expire on 9/21 this year. Is it best to wait until then to start negotiating?

Also, are they doing the free week 1 Sunday Ticket preview again this year?

In the same boat, credits expire on 9/18. I called last month and they said to call back when the credits fall off.

 

[bagger]

3. They are handing out Redzone much more easily this year that years past. And for free (as opposed to whatever it costs per month).

This is my first time getting Sunday Ticket (Max). Is RedZone a different package or is it part of Sunday Ticket?

It's part of Max. DTV has said in the past the only way to get RZ is to buy the entire package. Over the last few years, there were stories of guys getting RZ without buying the whole package. No one knew if it was true cause others failed. Sort of a unicorn story.

But this year, I know of two guys getting RZ without any commitment to the Ticket, if that's your thing.

inhave done this consistently the last 3-4 years and did it again this year.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

3. They are handing out Redzone much more easily this year that years past. And for free (as opposed to whatever it costs per month).

This is my first time getting Sunday Ticket (Max). Is RedZone a different package or is it part of Sunday Ticket?

It's part of Max. DTV has said in the past the only way to get RZ is to buy the entire package. Over the last few years, there were stories of guys getting RZ without buying the whole package. No one knew if it was true cause others failed. Sort of a unicorn story.

But this year, I know of two guys getting RZ without any commitment to the Ticket, if that's your thing.

inhave done this consistently the last 3-4 years and did it again this year.

Every year, I call and ask for RedZone stand alone, but they end up giving me ST Max for free

 

[bagger]

Well that works too.

Honestly a lot of this depends on your package, whether you're in contract, etc.

But it is certainly an option.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

OK - looks like I am getting hosed again - anyone else's monthly bill not what they were told it was going be at the time of all the discounts were given?

It was clear to me that I was going to pay $60-$63/mo for the Xtra pkg and the same set up I had before (HD svc/3 boxes/service protection). I had been paying $103 with about $30 in discounts. This amount was to be held for a 12 month period - same as everyone else here heard - AND could re-up for 12 more months of that same deal with this one was up (same deal).

1st mo. bill - $25 (had something to do with old account closing and new account bill date changing)

2nd mo. bill - $187 (acct rep explained that it was the dates changing and the lower bill the first month, also that the $50-some amount for the free movies had to be billed before the discounts were applied and I would get the 3rd discount in month 4 of the three month trial ...so ####ed up)

3rd bill - $77 (everything should be settled down after the transition but the amt is not the $60 as was told - ALSO, the $77 billed this month is going up by $10 next month because a 2 month $10 extra special customer discount is going away. So I will be at $87/mo. after a little over 3 months on this deal.

I called today and after getting passed to 5 people and spending a little over an hour on the phone, a rep from the retention department told me that someone higher up would call me in the next couple of days with whatever they could do about it.

How is everyone else's bill settling in?

 

[SoCalBroncoFan]

40 minute call, used the script saying I wanted to go to Dish and that my equipment was old and Dish was going to give me a DVR that would record more than 2 shows at a time. Here is what I got:

Free Genie upgrade and 2 extra receivers for bedrooms.

Free Sunday Ticket Max

$68 off my bill for first 6 months

$40 off my bill for months 7-12

Only had to agree to one year contract

 

[simsarge]

Called last Saturday and got literally nothing for discount offers "We don't have anything at this time" . Set the cancellation for this Saturday and waited, No phone calls or emails. So I called back tonight (25 mins on hold) to push the date out a week because "That's the soonest the DishNetwork people can come out". Lady that answered said ok, no problem" and reset the date for next week. No how can we keep you as a customer shpeel, nothing. So I asked is there anything DTV can do to keep e as a customer? She put me on hold to check, Came back on and sad the system wouldn't let hem in because the shutoff date was already set.

Did I not get retention and just got a crappy old CSR?

 

[flapgreen]

Love seeing Binky get slapped around.

 

[simsarge]

Third time's the charm I guess. STMax, $20/ for 6 months, Showtime & Cinemax free for 6 months

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Love seeing Binky get slapped around.

No love. I gotta have some pretty bad "notes" on me that my nice "on phone" behavior can't overcome.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Called last Saturday and got literally nothing for discount offers "We don't have anything at this time" . Set the cancellation for this Saturday and waited, No phone calls or emails. So I called back tonight (25 mins on hold) to push the date out a week because "That's the soonest the DishNetwork people can come out". Lady that answered said ok, no problem" and reset the date for next week. No how can we keep you as a customer shpeel, nothing. So I asked is there anything DTV can do to keep e as a customer? She put me on hold to check, Came back on and sad the system wouldn't let hem in because the shutoff date was already set.

Did I not get retention and just got a crappy old CSR?

Dump the service (happens at midnight) and call early the next morning. You should get whatever the best new customer pkg is at that time and your service will be back on in less than an hour. At least that part worked for me.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

OK - looks like I am getting hosed again - anyone else's monthly bill not what they were told it was going be at the time of all the discounts were given?

It was clear to me that I was going to pay $60-$63/mo for the Xtra pkg and the same set up I had before (HD svc/3 boxes/service protection). I had been paying $103 with about $30 in discounts. This amount was to be held for a 12 month period - same as everyone else here heard - AND could re-up for 12 more months of that same deal with this one was up (same deal).

1st mo. bill - $25 (had something to do with old account closing and new account bill date changing)

2nd mo. bill - $187 (acct rep explained that it was the dates changing and the lower bill the first month, also that the $50-some amount for the free movies had to be billed before the discounts were applied and I would get the 3rd discount in month 4 of the three month trial ...so ####ed up)

3rd bill - $77 (everything should be settled down after the transition but the amt is not the $60 as was told - ALSO, the $77 billed this month is going up by $10 next month because a 2 month $10 extra special customer discount is going away. So I will be at $87/mo. after a little over 3 months on this deal.

I called today and after getting passed to 5 people and spending a little over an hour on the phone, a rep from the retention department told me that someone higher up would call me in the next couple of days with whatever they could do about it.

How is everyone else's bill settling in?

UPDATE: Got my call today. Initially the lady offered an additional $10/mo. off of the pkg amount (on top of the $43 off for the Xtra pkg) but after some further prodding she also offered up $10/mo. off of the HD service.

This puts me back to close to where I was told I was going to be for the full year - $67/mo. for everything with tax (instead of the $63 or so).

Still curious how everyone else sees their billing matching up for a similar pkg.

 

[flapgreen]

Until you get next month's bill

 

[DA RAIDERS]

OK - looks like I am getting hosed again - anyone else's monthly bill not what they were told it was going be at the time of all the discounts were given?

It was clear to me that I was going to pay $60-$63/mo for the Xtra pkg and the same set up I had before (HD svc/3 boxes/service protection). I had been paying $103 with about $30 in discounts. This amount was to be held for a 12 month period - same as everyone else here heard - AND could re-up for 12 more months of that same deal with this one was up (same deal).

1st mo. bill - $25 (had something to do with old account closing and new account bill date changing)

2nd mo. bill - $187 (acct rep explained that it was the dates changing and the lower bill the first month, also that the $50-some amount for the free movies had to be billed before the discounts were applied and I would get the 3rd discount in month 4 of the three month trial ...so ####ed up)

3rd bill - $77 (everything should be settled down after the transition but the amt is not the $60 as was told - ALSO, the $77 billed this month is going up by $10 next month because a 2 month $10 extra special customer discount is going away. So I will be at $87/mo. after a little over 3 months on this deal.

I called today and after getting passed to 5 people and spending a little over an hour on the phone, a rep from the retention department told me that someone higher up would call me in the next couple of days with whatever they could do about it.

How is everyone else's bill settling in?

you poor bastage..

same package i think, minus the service protection and only 2 boxes.

these are ball park numbers bill is around 100 with no discounts. i had around 30 in discounts. so around 70 when i called and FOLLOWED the script

1st three bills were $26. somehow they forgot to take my existing credits off. sweet!

4th bill, -1.03 this is the last month of previous discounts.

5th bill, i expect my bill to go to agreed upon 60 or so as per the script

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Until you get next month's bill

Karma is going to get you #######it

 

[Binky The Doormat]

OK - looks like I am getting hosed again - anyone else's monthly bill not what they were told it was going be at the time of all the discounts were given?

It was clear to me that I was going to pay $60-$63/mo for the Xtra pkg and the same set up I had before (HD svc/3 boxes/service protection). I had been paying $103 with about $30 in discounts. This amount was to be held for a 12 month period - same as everyone else here heard - AND could re-up for 12 more months of that same deal with this one was up (same deal).

1st mo. bill - $25 (had something to do with old account closing and new account bill date changing)

2nd mo. bill - $187 (acct rep explained that it was the dates changing and the lower bill the first month, also that the $50-some amount for the free movies had to be billed before the discounts were applied and I would get the 3rd discount in month 4 of the three month trial ...so ####ed up)

3rd bill - $77 (everything should be settled down after the transition but the amt is not the $60 as was told - ALSO, the $77 billed this month is going up by $10 next month because a 2 month $10 extra special customer discount is going away. So I will be at $87/mo. after a little over 3 months on this deal.

I called today and after getting passed to 5 people and spending a little over an hour on the phone, a rep from the retention department told me that someone higher up would call me in the next couple of days with whatever they could do about it.

How is everyone else's bill settling in?

you poor bastage..

same package i think, minus the service protection and only 2 boxes.

these are ball park numbers bill is around 100 with no discounts. i had around 30 in discounts. so around 70 when i called and FOLLOWED the script

1st three bills were $26. somehow they forgot to take my existing credits off. sweet!

4th bill, -1.03 this is the last month of previous discounts.

5th bill, i expect my bill to go to agreed upon 60 or so as per the script

Holy ####

 

[NewlyRetired]

How is everyone else's bill settling in?

Mine was exactly as they explained it would be.

I did get the nice surprise that when I cancelled the Free Movie Channels, they actually returned me the credit for the channels that I never spent any money for.

When you first got your deal did your online bill look correct? That was the first thing I checked when I got my deal.

 

[southeastjerome]

I called on Tuesday and set the shut off for Monday. They told me someone might call "with an offer I can't refuse, but they can't guarantee that someone would call". Still no call. They offered me $5 off my bill for 6 months and free Sunday ticket. I might have to call back and take them up on that, but would love to hold out for more. Are some people not getting calls back? Is there a special # to call for the better deals or just the main line?

 

[Binky The Doormat]

How is everyone else's bill settling in?

Mine was exactly as they explained it would be.

I did get the nice surprise that when I cancelled the Free Movie Channels, they actually returned me the credit for the channels that I never spent any money for.

When you first got your deal did your online bill look correct? That was the first thing I checked when I got my deal.

Nothing changed on my equipment/service - just the amount of discounts given ...or not given in my case.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

I called on Tuesday and set the shut off for Monday. They told me someone might call "with an offer I can't refuse, but they can't guarantee that someone would call". Still no call. They offered me $5 off my bill for 6 months and free Sunday ticket. I might have to call back and take them up on that, but would love to hold out for more. Are some people not getting calls back? Is there a special # to call for the better deals or just the main line?

Just let your service lapse and call the next morning.

 

[southeastjerome]

I called on Tuesday and set the shut off for Monday. They told me someone might call "with an offer I can't refuse, but they can't guarantee that someone would call". Still no call. They offered me $5 off my bill for 6 months and free Sunday ticket. I might have to call back and take them up on that, but would love to hold out for more. Are some people not getting calls back? Is there a special # to call for the better deals or just the main line?

Just let your service lapse and call the next morning.

Problem is I waited to long. I want the ticket so I can watch the skins get dominated Sunday (live near Boston), ticket not set to lapse until end of day Monday.

 

[Monsters of the Midway]

Got my best deal today. Background: I have 8 TVs so my bill is pretty expensive, which helps I guess when I call.

So I finally call in, and instead of my usual "I'm quitting" I just say something to the effect of "this is the time of the year where Sunday Ticket auto renews and I call to get discounts"

Last year I got it for around $50 I think? There's a post to that effect but I can't find it.

At any rate I called at the right time because I got:

- Half off ST Maxx: $42 per month for 4 months or something like that.

- $8 off HBO for 6 months

- 4 credits totaling $40 per month for 12 months(!)

So my bill goes down slightly for the 4 months I have the Ticket, then goes down by like $45 per month for the following 8 months. (bolded because this post is long and this part cuts to the chase)

That's the best deal I have ever gotten by far.

 

[flapgreen]

You're doing it wrong

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Got my best deal today. Background: I have 8 TVs so my bill is pretty expensive, which helps I guess when I call.

So I finally call in, and instead of my usual "I'm quitting" I just say something to the effect of "this is the time of the year where Sunday Ticket auto renews and I call to get discounts"

Last year I got it for around $50 I think? There's a post to that effect but I can't find it.

At any rate I called at the right time because I got:

- Half off ST Maxx: $42 per month for 4 months or something like that.

- $8 off HBO for 6 months

- 4 credits totaling $40 per month for 12 months(!)

So my bill goes down slightly for the 4 months I have the Ticket, then goes down by like $45 per month for the following 8 months. (bolded because this post is long and this part cuts to the chase)

That's the best deal I have ever gotten by far.

That is getting bent over - and this is coming from a guy that seems to be Direct TV's gimp.

 

[Monsters of the Midway]

Huh thought I got a great deal...shows what I know (very little).

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Huh thought I got a great deal...shows what I know (very little).

Even I got ST for free - they called me everything but a red-headed step child and slapped me around a bit, but still got it.

ETA: "a lying red-headed step child" ...sorry

 

[Monsters of the Midway]

Don't tell my wife I was just bragging about the great deal I got

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Don't tell my wife I was just bragging about the great deal I got

No problem, maybe you can leverage that at home with momma for a little extra.

 

[McGarnicle]

I completely forgot that I canceled. Wife goes to turn on her food network crap this morning, whoops, no directv. I call to reconnect, they transfer me to the new customer department, treat me like I'm just signing up. Free ST Max, bunch of free movie channels for three months. My bill will be $104/mo for 3 TVs and whatever they call the package that's just below their best -- choice, select or whatever. I said I needed to have HBO and showtime. And we have the genie which is pretty sweet. They're so dumb giving this stuff away.

 

[southeastjerome]

I called on Tuesday and set the shut off for Monday. They told me someone might call "with an offer I can't refuse, but they can't guarantee that someone would call". Still no call. They offered me $5 off my bill for 6 months and free Sunday ticket. I might have to call back and take them up on that, but would love to hold out for more. Are some people not getting calls back? Is there a special # to call for the better deals or just the main line?

Just let your service lapse and call the next morning.

Problem is I waited to long. I want the ticket so I can watch the skins get dominated Sunday (live near Boston), ticket not set to lapse until end of day Monday.

So I never got a call. Ended up calling last night and said that I was told someone would be calling. Mentioned that I wanted to work out a deal, but $5/month for 6 months and 1/2 off Sunday ticket Max wasn't going to do it. I said if you give me $10 off for 12 months, free Showtime for 6 months and free Sunday Ticket Max, I'd stay. I was put on a long hold and they came through. I am already getting $7/month off HBO and another $25 or so in credits/month, so I'll take it. Best part was not having to sign a contract.

 

[Warsteinner]

Called today and told the IVR I wanted to cancel. I got transferred to a rep and told her the same. She gave me $30 per month off, free movies channels for 4 months, and free Sunday ticket. No callback needed.

 

[Ray Karpis]

Called today and told the IVR I wanted to cancel. I got transferred to a rep and told her the same. She gave me $30 per month off, free movies channels for 4 months, and free Sunday ticket. No callback needed.

Same thing, except I really did cancel. Very first offer was $5 off/month, free Sunday Ticket and free movie channels.

 

[Spin]

Called yesterday during the noon set of games when I tried to switch over to RedZone and found out it's part of the "upgraded sunday ticket now". I got annoyed, and asked to transfer to retention department.

I told the lady that I wanted to cancel my Sunday Ticket (I was paying full price this year after having it free last year) and wanted a refund for the 2 or 3 payments I had already made, that I'd rather just go to a bar each week then pay the 350+ for the Ticket Max that let me watch RedZone channel. And that I would not be renewing once my contract was up next year and just go with local cable who has RedZone included.

She dropped my Sunday Ticket price to $25 a month, and gave me the Max upgrade free, for mobile and RedZone. Crediting my bill for the payments I had already made at the full price, and gave me free Showtime/HBO for the next 4 months.

Pretty happy with that. Can't believe they moved the RedZone up to the "Max" version of Sunday ticket. If I can't get a similar deal next year I'll likely go back to Cable. With all the "prime time" games and RedZone you can see the majority of your teams games anyhow without the $400 ticket.

 

[Plorfu]

Tried the cancel thing today. Set the date for October 10th. They offered 25.00 a month for a year and half off Sunday Ticket Max. Obviously I want free. We're out of contract so I'm hoping for more.

 

[snogger]

Well first bill came in and It is lower then last year @ $54 .

Looking at the bill, it looks like they gave me more credits then they mentioned on the call:

$31 off $70.99 for 12 months (1 of 12)
$10 off $70.99 for 12 months with Auto Bill Pay (1 of 12)

$2 Advanced Receiver Credit

Save $10 for 12 months (1 of 12)

Save $5 for 24 months (13 of 24)

Not to mention Free ST MAX for this year and free movie channels for the next 3 months..

 

[GoFishTN]

Called last week and got $50 off for six months and $40 off for the six months after that. They offered ST half off with a bunch of credits to make it something like three payments of $20 as well.

 

[Plorfu]

Tried the cancel thing today. Set the date for October 10th. They offered 25.00 a month for a year and half off Sunday Ticket Max. Obviously I want free. We're out of contract so I'm hoping for more.

Got the newdeal1 email today. I'll update the thread with the offer later tonight when I call them.eta: actually, it was "greatdeal1."