Dish Network Satellite TV Provider

Dish Network, Satellite TV Provider, USA:

On September 12, 2006 I contacted Dish Network about canceling my

satellite TV subscription. I sold my home and couldn't move my service

to where I was going.

Since my next month’s bill would be due before canceling service, I was

informed I would need to pay for the service used till the cut off date.

I complied and paid by credit card over the phone. I was then informed I

would have to return all the satellite equipment. This equipment

included the receiver, remote, and satellite dish brought to my home and

installed by a Dish Network technician. I subscribed to this service for

almost 4 years, well past the one year contract.

I agreed to send back the receiver and remote but balked at having to

recover the satellite dish mounted to the roof of my home. When asked

why, I replied to the customer service rep that I had respiratory

illness and climbing a ladder and working on the roof would most likely

be against my doctors wishes. They replied that I could leave the dish

on the roof. I sent the other equipment back as promised. They closed my

account and a 0 balance appeared on my on-line account. I might add that

the shipping box and prepaid label they promised to send in a few days

did not arrive until days after moving out. I had already purchased a

box from UPS and shipped it.

On February 22, 2007 I was contacted by a collection agency and informed

I had a pending past due balance of $53.88 for the cost of the dish I

did not return.

I contacted Dish Network and the customer service rep "Carly" said she

would reverse those charges. After more calls from the collector, I

again called Dish Network on March 5 to find that the rep hadn't

fulfilled that request and the bill was still owing. Another

representative "Mike" promised that he will, and upon my insistence,

claimed to reverse those charges while I waited on the phone.

Now, two days later my account still shows past due so I called Dish

again and insisted on a supervisor "Ryan", who informed me the charges

were indeed reversed but would take 24 to 48 hours to take effect. (it

had already been 48 hours)

While I had the supervisor on the phone I inquired if it was indeed Dish

Networks policy to require their customer to recover the dish from a

roof or wherever installed and return it upon canceling a subscription.

He answered in the affirmative. Yes it is required except maybe where it

is dangerous. I have to ask???.....when is in not dangerous for a

customer to go onto a roof to recover electrical equipment and

disconnect cables??

Ironically, this all started after I contacted Dish about installing TV

in 4 rooms at my current location. The owner of the home asked me to

look into changing our provider. We also were looking to change our

satellite Internet provider as well. I guess Dish Network wasn' t sure

how to reach me before this. Now, not only did they not get their

$53.88, but lost years of subscription service from me and who ever I

can sway away from them as a TV provider.

My suggestion to anyone looking for satellite service is to get in

writing an exclusion to having to return the dish should you move or

want to cancel service.

Another interesting note:

While talking to one of the customer service reps, I was able to find

out that the person who bought my home, also subscribed to Dish Network

when she moved in. That means that the Dish Network technician that

installed her new equipment already had possession of the dish they

expect me to pay for.

Eventually I will resolve this issue, but I would still like to see this

practice stopped as I know most people don't have the time to deal with

these issues and older people may not have the health to.

I think a class action suit would be in order to compensate the many

other customers who have been charged or harassed over these matters.

Thank you Ronald R. Dunn