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New Member

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4 Messages

Saturday, February 11th, 2023 4:24 PM

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Direct TV breach of contract. Price increase middle of contract.

So I have Direct TV Satellite and my bill just went up almost $5 not a lot but a price increase in the middle of my contract. With a 2 year contract price should not go up until after the contract period plus I was told that was the price for the contract. I can't cancel before the contract without being fined but they can change the agreed upon price for 2 years half way through. That is a breach of contract on Direct TV's part. That being said you are in breach of the contract and I should be able to cancel the contract without any cost.

Accepted Solution

ACE - Expert

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23.1K Messages

2 years ago

@RussCrow 

There is no contracted price lock. Getting a discount for 12 or 24 months does not prevent the base cost from adjusting. They have an annual price adjustment because of increased costs from the networks. Your service agreement does not prevent it from happening.

Per the Terms of Service (ToS) prices are subject to change. You may not like it, but it is the reality.

https://www.directv.com/legal/directv-residential-customer-agreement/ 

(d) Our Programming Changes. Many factors affect the availability, cost and quality of programming and may influence the decision to raise prices and the amount of any increase. These include, among others, programming and other costs, consumer demand, market and shareholder expectations, and changing business conditions. Accordingly, we reserve the unrestricted right to change, rearrange, add or delete our programming packages, the selections in those packages, our prices, technologies used to deliver the Service, and any other Service we offer, at any time.

(edited)

New Member

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4 Messages

2 years ago

Also I signed up with AT&T & the contract was through AT&T so another reason to get out of the contract as I didn't make the contract with Direct TV.

New Member

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4 Messages

2 years ago

I don't give a crap about the increase as I was told when I signed up with AT&T (not Direct TV I was not told it was really Direct TV until it was too late) your 2 year monthly cost would be $xxx.xx per month. Well they raised the price so that is a breach of contract. 

Also, I got nothing about the cost increase just a bigger bill. I guess they hope you won't notice or you have auto pay and they just take it!!!

Direct TV what do you have to say?

 

ACE - Expert

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21.2K Messages

2 years ago

While AT&T owns 70% of DTV they are still a separate service and there is no contract with AT&T if you signed up for DTV and there is no price lock as DTVs standard new customer offer states that the first year is a discounted price that reverts to full price in the second. 

This is a customer to customer forum with only a few employees and the moderators that read these posts.  Check that DTV has your correct email address.

(edited)

ACE - Expert

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21.2K Messages

2 years ago

DTV's so called contract is only a commitment to keep DTV for 2 years or pay a fee there is no price lock.

ACE - Expert

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23.1K Messages

2 years ago

Your service agreement is for DirecTV service, no matter who owns it. Be it you got it years ago when it was by itself, just after the acquistion by AT&T, or even adding in the new co-owner.

Ownership or management changing hands does not void your service agreement. This is how the real world works.

New Member

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3 Messages

2 years ago

A final comment on the recent DirecTV ownership change. The ownership of a company does matter; even if the company name and service agreement title stays the same. In reference to existing Residential Customer Agreements: novation and assignment need be considered. DirecTv appears to recognizes this:

 

DIRECTV Residential Customer Agreement

Effective as of November 1, 2020 until replaced
THIS DESCRIBES THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF
AND PAYMENT FOR DIRECTV® SERVICE.

CUSTOMER AGREEMENT

4. CHANGES IN CONTRACT TERMS
We reserve the right to change the terms and conditions on which we offer Service including adding new terms or deleting existing ones. We will provide you with notice of material changes either in your monthly bill or separately. You always have the right to cancel your Service, in whole or in part, at any time, and you may do so if you do not accept any such changed terms or conditions. See Sections 5(b), (d) and (e) below. If you elect not to cancel your Service after receiving a new Customer Agreement, your continued receipt of Service constitutes acceptance of the changed terms and conditions. If you notify us that you do not accept such terms and conditions, then we may cancel your Service as provided in Section 5.

I have limited interest in a forum where top members suppress complaints from users with irrelevant comments such as:

"... prices are subject to change. You may not like it, but it is the reality."
"... does not void your service agreement. This is how the real world works."
"It is not up to you who owns the business or who they share it with."


Adios,

Ferid

ps: I was able to resolve my problem on the phone in a few minutes.

ACE - Expert

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23.1K Messages

2 years ago

@Ferid 

A key point: You may cancel, but you still pay the early cancellation fee (ECF). So all that verbiage really means is you are not forced to continue service if you don't agree with the change, but if you choose to leave then you pay the consequence of doing so.

Not surpressing complaints at all. We are allowed to show where the OP's complaint is in error. Too many see a change and go "grr I didn't agree to this so I'm free" completely ignoring the full ToS (that too many choose not to read and as such are responsible for the bind they put themselves in).

Responses were given honestly. Prices are subject to change, regardless if we like it or not. Reality is going by the Terms of Service, not going by "I substitute reality with my own made up one" (point out OP's feelings about the agreement were vastly different from what was written). And correct it is not up to us customers who owns the business, or shares management with. But owner or shared party naturally will influence what customers decide to do.

And certainly are not concerned you have "limited interest". You having high, low, or no interest at all makes no difference. I like many others will continue to discuss and respond honestly, without trying to appease individual users.

Just like your service agreement does not get voided with a change in owership. If you choose to cancle because you don't like AT&T or the new co-owner, you pay your ECF if you have a service agreement. That quoted part of the ToS does not waive the ECF, only assures you may cancel if you choose.

New Member

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4 Messages

2 years ago

Thanks for the replies...

Russ

ACE - Expert

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23.1K Messages

2 years ago

You're welcome. Sorry it didn't give you the result you wanted, but hopefully with that clarity of the situation you can plan better in the future for any service you might have.

When accepting any promotion, just be aware that listed price with or without monthly discount is not the same thing as a price lock/guarantee. Good thing is that DirecTV's annual price adjustment historically is only up to (depending what you have) $10. So $5 is manageable.

Normally notice is out in December, and then the adjustment is on the January or Februrary bill (depending when your billing dates are). Just to prepare yourself for the next one.

New Member

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3 Messages

11 days ago

Same thing happened to me, guess what, they will NEVER get my business again!👍

New Member

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3 Messages

11 days ago

Do not sign up with DirecTV or AT&T without recording them saying there is No Cancellation Fee!

ACE - Expert

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21.2K Messages

10 days ago

Then you will be on the phone forever.  DTV has had the cancellation fee for 30 years.

ACE - Expert

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23.1K Messages

10 days ago

@Skyhawk1 

All of us customers start with a 24 month service agreement. It is in the offers, order confirmation, even on the handheld the tech has you sign for the install. With any provider, read the paperwork (even digital) in full before you install and activate service.

Same answer you would get before AT&T acquired DirecTV and same now that AT&T got out of the TV business and sold DirecTV.

If you have questions or need other guidance from other customers, please start a fresh thread as this discussion ended over 2 years ago.


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