After 18 years we canceled service and Directv found a way to screw us over. So much for treating long term customers with respect.

Discounts do not extend for one-month. Some agents (of any company) say something like that when all they do is apply a one-time credit to make it the next agent's problem when you callback. And no agent can promise what is available in a month as far as discounts go. They can only see what is available when they are speaking with you.

A one-month credit, or even a month discount on a premium service, does not extend the service agreement. What extends an agreement would be an upgrade of equipment (24 months), Movers order (12 months if without upgrade), or some 12 or 24 month discounts have come with an agreement for the same time but haven't heard of those being available recently. So I would callback DirecTV and find out exactly what the agreement was for.

$189 would not be for canceling early. The service agreement is valued at $20 for each month left. What happens is you don't get the final bill prorated. That means you pay for the full service month, no matter how many days are left in the cycle (even if you cancel on day 1).

That email is on AT&T's website. Since AT&T spun DirecTV off back into their own company I doubt that is still valid. The payment dispute is for missing, misapplied, etc. not for a dispute of the amount. https://billing.directv.com/ 

Review over the bill or call DirecTV to discuss what that bill actual was for because a one-month credit did not do anything to a service agreement and that amount certainly wasn't for one.

All I can say is both an email and two agents stated the additional charges were for an early cancellation of a 24-month contact, something we did not sign up for. They basically told me to pound sand.

An Early Cancellation Fee (ECF) is valued at $20 for each month remaining. There is no such thing as a one month service agreement.  One year (12 months) remaining would have been a $240 ECF for example.

So your final bill may have included an ECF, but it certainly wasn't for a one-month discount (one-time credit). I would read the bill and see exactly what the charges were for. Or call and have an agent go over each line item with you.

I would also check your service dates on that bill. That amount sounds close to a regular bill depending on exactly what services you had.

If your bill still doesn't make sense to you, then you can post the details (without personal info) and we can help sort out exactly what is going on.

We had a credit applied to our account which is why the balance is $189. The actual amount without the credit is $220.

Here's another fun fact, if you have an outstanding balance on your account, you can't easily talk with an agent - no matter what number you call or option you select, an automated message insists you pay your balance first. The only way to talk with an actual person is by not providing any account information.

There is nothing we can do short of taking legal action (small claims) and for the small amount this does not make sense. Directv wins and we will never recommend the service, company, or parent company (AT&T) to anyone who asks.

A while back AT&T changed their system to bring balance current before talking to an agent. Though I would make sure you are calling the DirecTV number, not AT&T, to make sure you're in the correct system to begin with. I am not a fan of that restriction when good chance once needs to discuss their bill and address any disputes or possibly just needs help to understand it.

What are the exact line items on the bill?

What are the service dates on the bill?

What is the exact date you called to cancel?

Thank you for helping. We have filed a complaint with the BBB.

We canceled one month after (unknowingly) accepting the new contract.

A 12 month discount with an agreement for the same time is a promotion they have had before. That is absolutely something the agent is supposed to discuss with you and not just add without your knowledge. Historically an email confirmation goes out as well.

I would just verify that is what it was for, and not something just over a year ago (if it were a 24 month agreement). If simply 12 month for a new 12 month discount and agent didn't disclose, I hope your BBB complaint goes well.

Less than four hours after filing with the BBB we were contacted by a DirecTV representative. She had reviewed the recorded conversation with the agent who signed us up for the 24-month contract and confirmed we were not informed of this information. The charges will be refunded. So much aggravation could have been avoided had DirecTV customer support done the right thing to start, but at least it ended correctly.

Four hours and they had a recording (those are randomly monitored for training and quality purposes)? Lucky success and nice turnaround. Just check with the next statement or two (show the reversal plus verifying leaving it at a zero balance counting your last payment) for your records.

Something similar happened to me. I called to cancel Directv once I lost hours at work. I was told that I could not cancel because I had a past due balance. I told him that does not make sense. I clarified that I wanted to keep my internet and could no longer afford Directv so he transferred me to another department who provided a discount. I was livid. It took everything in me not to go off.