8 Messages
Directv Does Not Allow Much Time
Here's a puzzler.
My Directv bill comes from AT&T.
The bill arrived today, Jan. 17.
The bill says "Issue Date: Jan. 3."
It also says "Please pay by Jan. 26."
It also says "Payments may take seven days to post."
First, I don't know what "Payments may take seven days to post" means. However, this raises a concern (see below).
Second, if the bill was issued on Jan. 3, and if it was mailed from Carol Stream (or indeed anywhere in the US), why did it take 14 days to get here?
Third, if I mail it back promptly tomorrow, and if it takes 3 or 4 days to get there, it will get to Carol Stream around Jan. 22, give or take a day.
Yet the due date is Jan. 26.
It seems odd to have a margin of error of only 4 days or less, given that it's a monthly bill; that I am not going anywhere; that AT&T is not going anywhere; and that a month has 30 days, not 4.
An additional concern is raised by the mysterious ""Payments may take seven days to post" statement. If this means what it appears to mean, namely, that AT&T might not credit my account for seven days after they get my check, then they would not credit my check until Jan. 29, give or take a day.
The problem is obvious.
What am I missing?
DIRECTVhelp
Community Support
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254.6K Messages
11 months ago
Hi Robertmkelly49, We're sorry for the inconvenience. Bill processing takes about five days from the bill cycle date. Customers should receive it within ten days after the bill cycle date. Payment Due Dates are 21 days (26 in Illinois) from the bill cycle date (the cycle date is counted as day 1). Because months have 28-31 days, the payment due-by-date may fluctuate monthly. I recommend you switch to paperless billing. For more info and to easily manage your bill, check here https://www.directv.com/support/article/000081907 Carryl, DIRECTV Community Specialist.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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20.8K Messages
11 months ago
Paper checks can take 7 days to process, CC payments are posted same day.
Your billing cycle started the day you where installed, on day 2 your bill is made and sent (to AT&T since you are bundled) or paid if on auto pay, The bill is due 20 days after.
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robertmkelly49
8 Messages
11 months ago
Shannon thanks, I appreciate it. Are you saying that my billing cycle is whatever day that my service was installed? and that AT&T uses that day as my "bill cycle date"?
Just to be clear, I don't have a bundle. I just have Directv. I think that when AT&T bought Directv, that's when the AT&T bills started up.
Anyway, thank you for your response.
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robertmkelly49
8 Messages
11 months ago
Carryl,
Thanks for response, I appreciate it. You mention my "bill cycle date" twice. Is this the same as the "Issue Date" on the bill? If not, where do I find the "bill cycle date"?
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.6K Messages
11 months ago
If the bill is just DirecTV service, not a combined bill with AT&T, then it works as follows:
Day 1 service cycle starts. This is based on day you were installed and activated.
Day 2 bill produces and mails. Also paid if on auto bill pay with a card.
Day 20 is listed due date.
As long as bill is paid (and posted) before the following Day 1, then there is no late fee. However you may be bugged by automated payment reminders once past the listed due date.
As for 14 days, that would be an issue with USPS. Likely weather issues. Since bill can be checked and paid online, or even calling to do so, issues with mail do not give you leeway on when it is due to be paid.
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DIRECTVhelp
Community Support
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254.6K Messages
11 months ago
Yes, you're correct. The day you created your account is the start date of your billing cycle. The issue date is when the bill is generated and is ten days before your due date. Carryl, DIRECTV Community Specialist
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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20.8K Messages
11 months ago
The bill is generated and sent on day 2 of the billing cycle.
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robertmkelly49
8 Messages
11 months ago
Carrlyn, thanks for response. You wrote: "Yes, you're correct. The day you created your account is the start date of your billing cycle. The issue date is when the bill is generated and is ten days before your due date. Carryl, DIRECTV Community Specialist."
Did you mean to say "twenty days before your due date" rather than "ten days before your due date"?
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robertmkelly49
8 Messages
11 months ago
Shannon, you wrote "The bill is generated and sent on day 2 of the billing cycle."
Thanks for response. Yes, exactly. And this is pretty much how Directv handled the billing prior to the sale. I looked back into when the transition from Direct TV to AT&T took place. As a matter of historical interest! The sale of Directv took place in 2015. My first bill from AT&T was Dec. of 2018.
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robertmkelly49
8 Messages
11 months ago
Juniper, thanks for response, appreciated. You wrote that "Day 2 bill produces and mails." This is at variance with what Carrlyn wrote above. Carrlyn wrote that "Bill processing takes about five days from the bill cycle date."
Going back to the original post,
"The bill arrived today, Jan. 17.
The bill says "Issue Date: Jan. 3."
It also says "Please pay by Jan. 26."
It also says "Payments may take seven days to post.""
So, if Carrlyn is right, then it took about five days for the bill to enter USPS. Therefore the bill entered the USPS on Jan. 8. So apparently, it took from Jan. 8 until Jan. 17 to arrive, essentially 9 days. But whether it took 9 days to arrive, or 14 days to arrive, the problem remains. It's not enough time.
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DIRECTVhelp
Community Support
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254.6K Messages
11 months ago
Yes, Carryl is right. It will take 10 days to receive the bill after the bill cycle date. I recommend you enroll your account to autopay and paperless billing, so you don't have to worry about your bill moving forward. Aljoy, DIRECTV Community Specialist
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robertmkelly49
8 Messages
11 months ago
Thanks Aljoy for your response. You wrote: "Yes, Carryl is right. It will take 10 days to receive the bill after the bill cycle date."
But that is not what Carryl wrote. She wrote: "The issue date is when the bill is generated and is ten days before your due date."
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DIRECTVhelp
Community Support
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254.6K Messages
11 months ago
You're welcome. Bill processing takes about 5 days from the bill cycle date. Online bills are viewable by day 8 after the bill cycle date while those who are enrolled to paper bill will receive it within 10 days after the bill cycle date. Aljoy, DIRECTV Community Specialist
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robertmkelly49
8 Messages
11 months ago
teetertotter, thanks first of all for having an outstanding screenname! and second for responding, I appreciate it.
The situation here is that I have no desire to change how I receive the billing. I like paper. I would just like to receive it on time to be able to pay on time. Thanks again and have a nice rest-of-your-day.
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DIRECTVhelp
Community Support
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254.6K Messages
11 months ago
I appreciate the additional information @teetertotter, this is very helpful. Thanks a ton! Kiarha, DIRECTV Community Specialist
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