Direct TV

[Cowgirl]

So I got a mailer from Metrocast telling me how wonderful they are and how they will save me $500 if I switch from Direct TV.

I sincerely doubt I will, actually I am pretty sure I won't switch but Direct TV doesn't know that.

So I am going to call and cancel Direct TV.......kinda......and when they put me on to the "loss prevention" department who tries to talk you into staying, I am going to extort a discount or a couple months free out of them.

I do not feel dirty about this at all because they scam customers all the time with their "deals" and packages and blah blah.

Anyone have any good stories about how much you got them to give up to keep you as a customer? I need a baseline to set as a goal.

I did that several times. I got a free DVR, $10 off the bill for a whole year, 6 mos of Starz, Encore, and one other movie channel, and 3 mos of HBO free.

We finally did switch to cable so we could get the triple play, but I still miss DirecTV. The cable company doesn't negotiate at all.

 

[Aerogal]

I never bothered to try any of these 'tricks'. We've been with DTV for over 11 yrs now. We did get $10.00 off the bill for 6 months for being a 10 year customer.

Just wish I could lose the land line phone - it's the only reason I have one still.

 

[Dye Tied]

I never bothered to try any of these 'tricks'. We've been with DTV for over 11 yrs now. We did get $10.00 off the bill for 6 months for being a 10 year customer.

Just wish I could lose the land line phone - it's the only reason I have one still.

I have Directv and I don't have a landline. You can order movies online.

 

[Pete]

OK, just did it. I kind of suck at negotiating because I can't be a huge penis and demand a bunch of stuff but this is what I got.

1 Month completely free, no charge at all for anything. Saves me $136.

$10 off HD access for 12 months. since HD access is $10 basically I got HD for free for a year. Saves me $120

$10 off the base package for 12 months. Saves me $120

$5 off star for 6 months. Saves me $30

$5 off Showtime for 6 months. Saves me $30

Free HD DVR and installation. Cost me $6 a month plus a 2 year contract. I can drop the packages or programming to a lower level but can't cancel for 2 years which I was not likely to do anyway.

So the verditc is. If I had just paid along as nothing changed I would have given Direct TV $1632.00 roughly for a 12 month period.

I saved $436 by calling and letting them work to keep me from bolting to Metrocast plus the $199 cost of a DVR and installation, then I gave them back $6 a month DVR fee.

 

[LusbyMom]

OK, just did it. I kind of suck at negotiating because I can't be a huge penis and demand a bunch of stuff but this is what I got.

1 Month completely free, no charge at all for anything. Saves me $136.

$10 off HD access for 12 months. since HD access is $10 basically I got HD for free for a year. Saves me $120

$10 off the base package for 12 months. Saves me $120

$5 off star for 6 months. Saves me $30

$5 off Showtime for 6 months. Saves me $30

Free HD DVR and installation. Cost me $6 a month plus a 2 year contract. I can drop the packages or programming to a lower level but can't cancel for 2 years which I was not likely to do anyway.

So the verditc is. If I had just paid along as nothing changed I would have given Direct TV $1632.00 roughly for a 12 month period.

I saved $436 by calling and letting them work to keep me from bolting to Metrocast plus the $199 cost of a DVR and installation, then I gave them back $6 a month DVR fee.

So what did you say to them when you called?

 

[Cowgirl]

OK, just did it. I kind of suck at negotiating because I can't be a huge penis and demand a bunch of stuff but this is what I got.

1 Month completely free, no charge at all for anything. Saves me $136.

$10 off HD access for 12 months. since HD access is $10 basically I got HD for free for a year. Saves me $120

$10 off the base package for 12 months. Saves me $120

$5 off star for 6 months. Saves me $30

$5 off Showtime for 6 months. Saves me $30

Free HD DVR and installation. Cost me $6 a month plus a 2 year contract. I can drop the packages or programming to a lower level but can't cancel for 2 years which I was not likely to do anyway.

So the verditc is. If I had just paid along as nothing changed I would have given Direct TV $1632.00 roughly for a 12 month period.

I saved $436 by calling and letting them work to keep me from bolting to Metrocast plus the $199 cost of a DVR and installation, then I gave them back $6 a month DVR fee.

Sounds like a lot of stuff! Guess you're a big penis after all!

 

[Jameo]

I have Directv and I don't have a landline. You can order movies online.

 

[Pete]

So what did you say to them when you called?

I said, "Hello, this is Pete from SOMD.com forums, perhaps you have heard of me." and the lady said "Hell yea you are my FAVORITE POSTER and I love you!

It went pretty good from there on.

 

[LusbyMom]

I said, "Hello, this is Pete from SOMD.com forums, perhaps you have heard of me." and the lady said "Hell yea you are my FAVORITE POSTER and I love you!

It went pretty good from there on.

Once I get the kiddos on the bus I am gonna call them and see what I get

 

[Pete]

So what did you say to them when you called?

OK, seriously this is how it went.

I called the number off my bill and went to the voice menu. I said "cancel account" but surprisingly I sent me to "change programming" it ran me about and finally I said "agent".

I spoke to a chick who I told "I got a flyer from Metrocast and they say they can save me $500. Right now I am researching what I have, what I can get and I will compare them and make a decision if I want to stay or drop DTV and go with Metrocast.

After a few minutes she said "I can't do much financially other than take $5 a month off for 3 months, but I can transfer you to the #$%@#$% <---(couldn't understand her) department.

Then some guy came on and I repeated the Metrocast $500 savings (giving him a figure to work to) story and told him I was going to look at what I am paying and service to Metrocast and choose one. He offered up a couple things right off, I just kept him talking and a wary tone and he kept adding stuff.

 

[Pete]

I have Directv and I don't have a landline. You can order movies online.

Yes, you can order via your online account or by phone. Online is best because i think if you call and order via the phone they charge you more.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Yes, you can order via your online account or by phone. Online is best because i think if you call and order via the phone they charge you more.

We were hooked up to a faux line and ordered movies for free for a few months. I hear this happens a lot, especially when a 3rd party contractor is doing the DTV installation. They don't care that you are getting movies for free.

 

[cattitude]

We have Comcast..triple play (phone, internet & cable). It's expensive and after May it will be even more.

I've been calling Direct TV and they won't even give me a price unless I give them my credit card number. WTH? I have a ballpark idea of what it will cost but they don't get versus and I want to be able to see the all of the Caps games, especially if they get into the playoffs. I don't want to have to buy the NHL package either. Too much $$.

In PF, I wouldn't know what to use for internet, we don't have access to anything other than Comcast.

Phone would be much of a problem, we could get a cheapy service from Verizon.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

I've been calling Direct TV and they won't even give me a price unless I give them my credit card number.

That's really weird and I don't remember doing that. DTV does request a credit check though.

 

[cattitude]

And when I call Comcast and say I'm thinking about chaning to Direct TV, they say "okay......"

 

[Chasey_Lane]

And when I call Comcast and say I'm thinking about chaning to Direct TV, they say "okay......"

MetroCast said the same to me. Not once did they ask why I was switching or offer any special stuff. Made my decision to switch that much easier.

 

[nomoney]

MetroCast said the same to me. Not once did they ask why I was switching or offer any special stuff. Made my decision to switch that much easier.

On the other hand I've had to cancel Direct Tv before and they make you feel like you're trying to do something illegal or morally wrong. I just felt dirty.

 

[Pete]

anyone else call? Post your deal! Oh and no exaggeration like guys do when they bought a car either; Oh yea man the sticker was for $49,765. I was brutal and got them to knock off $23K right away then I got even uglier. by the time I got done with that sales manager he was actually sobbing, the sales guy quit and I got the car, floor mats, an upgraded radion, a 100 year warranty for $29.95 and 5 coupons for free oil changes! I stole that thing!

 

[Dye Tied]

Yes, you can order via your online account or by phone. Online is best because i think if you call and order via the phone they charge you more.

I got a free year of HD when I upgraded. Then my face became a Benjamin and another $10 a month came off from friends.

 

[nomoney]

anyone else call? Post your deal! Oh and no exaggeration like guys do when they bought a car either; Oh yea man the sticker was for $49,765. I was brutal and got them to knock off $23K right away then I got even uglier. by the time I got done with that sales manager he was actually sobbing, the sales guy quit and I got the car, floor mats, an upgraded radion, a 100 year warranty for $29.95 and 5 coupons for free oil changes! I stole that thing!

when I was moving they had a great deal for new customers....I can't remember exactly but it was something like 30$ off a month, free hd for a year, free reveiver and free starz and hbo for 6 months. I called up and said I wanted all of that or i was canceling because I was moving. The best they could do was 15$ off a month and free starz/hbo for 6 months. So I cancelled my service and when we moved just signed up under the hubby's name. Got all that original stuff..and when his two years are up we'll probably cancel and put it back under my name to get whatever awesome deals they have for new customers then.