My attempts to get reconnected to dish network cable

December 9, 2008 by Curt Siters

 All too often people try to handle things themselves, which sometimes isn't a bad thing. However when it starts costing you time, money and aggravation you seriously need to think about getting professional help, especially if you have little or no knowledge in the area causing you the grief.

What follows is the rant of a friend who spent an unknown number of hours of his time trying to get a situation resolved over the course of two months.

Sept. 29th: my apartment was burglarized. My entertainment system and my computer were stolen.

Sept. 30th: I called up Dish Network and told them to cancel my subscription. I mentioned to the person on the phone of the Burglary.

Oct. 2nd: I received an automated call from Dish Network telling they were sorry I had decided to cancel my subscription to their services. The voice went on to explain that a UPS man would deliver an empty box. After receiving the box I was to place the DVR into the box and send it back to Dish Network.
I called the company just after the phone call and explained my situation. I mentioned that a friend had given me his old used T. V. and I wanted to get reconnected again. I was informed that I would have to purchase a new DVR from one of their “satellite” companies in Altoona. She gave me the number and wished me a good day.
I called the number but got no answer. I left them a message telling them what time I could be reached and hung up the phone.
Sometime between now and the 6th of October I had called back to Dish Network’s home office about something and had to explain again what had happened. I was then informed that if I wanted to be reconnected I would be liable for the DVR that was stolen; I would have to pay an additional $ 300.00.

Oct 6th: The UPS man came by with the empty box. I refused delivery and he looked very unhappy (this was the first time I had ever refused an item he delivered).

Oct 7th: I received a call from Dish Network while I was at the Logan Valley Mall. The woman on the phone wanted to know why I had refused the empty box. I took a deep breath and told her what happened. She then mentioned that she would be able to set me up as a new customer as long as I could produce a credit card number or debit card number. I informed her that I couldn’t because the debit card I had I put on a “hot” list the day after I was burglarized, I would not get a new one for two and half weeks.
Since I was near one of my bank’s branches I went in and had the old card cleared off the hot list (I had kept a close watch on my bank account and noticed no unknown transactions. I informed the bank employee of my problem and she removed my old card from the “hot” list.)
When I got home I called Dish Network again to set me up as a new customer. The man on the other line told I couldn’t do that since I had opened the account then closed it again. I would have to wait until I received a bill from them and then I could call them up and get my cable re-connected. He informed me it could take anywhere from four days to three weeks. I thanked him and hung up the phone. Sheesh…

Oct 10th: I made my way to the Altoona police station and asked for a copy of the police report. I was informed that I couldn’t get one unless I had a Judge issue a subpoena. She could give me a copy of the 911-phone call I made and she said, “If they give you any trouble tell them to call here.” I thanked here and went home.

Oct 21st: While waiting for the Eldorodo bus I received a new phone call from Dish Network. It was the woman who called me last Friday asking if I had gotten my debit card squared away. I told her I did but I was at a bus station and couldn’t do anything right now. She said that she would call back around 2:00 P.M. to set up the new account. She mentioned that she was 2 hours behind me but that didn’t matter. She never did call back that day.

Oct 28th: I decided to wait a week incase she would call again but she didn’t.

Nov 4th: After waiting less then another week I decided to take the chance and call Dish Network to try once more to get reconnected. Of course I had to explain my situation again, though this time it didn’t take as long. The guy on the other end of the line agreed to set me up as a new customer and we went through the process. After getting my name and address he checked my new debit card for validation purposes and he told me the card failed, he didn’t even check for my credit rating he said it was a problem with my name. He mentioned I should call a company called EchoFax to see what went wrong and hung up. After calling EchoFax and being told there was nothing wrong with my debit card I call Dish Network right after not very happy. Of course I got another sales person (I asked for the guy that I talked to originally but the man on the other line said he wasn’t available.). I told him my story again and we went through the process of getting me reconnected but he was adamant that I would have to pay for a DVR because I now had a bad credit rating score with them. I told him that I would have to wait and save up for one and hung up the phone extremely frustrated.

Nov 6th: Netflix sent me an email telling me there was a class action suit against them and the determination was that they had to offer past customers a free month. All that it required was that I had a valid credit card or debit card. In order to see if my credit was good I set up a new account, well, It worked.

Nov 8th: I had kept watching my Fed balance through the web and saving money so I could buy a DVR but on this day I noticed a substantial deduction and called Fed who had taken out money. When they told me it was Dish Network I called them at the speed of light and demanded an explanation. I was informed that there was an automatic deduction from my account because I had not sent my equipment back within 15 days. I was speechless. When I found my voice I explained my situation again and told them that even though they were seriously annoying me I still wanted to be a customer. I demanded my money back and the man on line called corporate headquarters for a determination. I was told that not long after that they wouldn’t return my money. I hung up the phone in total disgust.

Nov 11th: I received a letter from Dish Network telling me they didn’t want me to be a customer anymore because my credit wasn’t good. They even showed me a determination form EchoFax showing me why. One of the reasons was there was “too much activity” during the month. I grabbed the nearest pillow and screamed for several seconds, it was mostly their fault after all. I know what you’re thinking, I could have denied them the money but I felt that it would be better off letting them have it, I was tired of dealing with them and if they didn’t want me I didn’t want them, this way I wouldn’t owe them anything latter. I was wrong.

Nov 12th: I received another letter from Dish Network telling me that since it was I who said I didn’t want to be a customer any more I owed them $24.00 to balance my account. I sighed, fine, I sent them the final balance.

Nov 17th: I went over to Atlantic Broadband to get connected to their cable network around 8:35 A. M. I was already connected to the Internet with them. I figured they would have no trouble allowing me a free hookup. I was correct, and I will be connected to cable again on Tuesday November 22nd. They will also buy back the dish from me.

Now, I know that everyone runs into a not so good situation, even at good companies, every once in a while. However, if you feel you are being dealt unfairly with consider consulting an attorney. I know, I know - attorneys are ambulance chasing sharks without a shred of decency who charge fees that no one can afford, except Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Donald Trump, etc, etc, etc.

Ask yourself this - is your time, family, money, life less important to you than Donald Trumps is to him? How about Warren Buffet or Bill Gates or Oprah? I'll tell you right now it isn't. If anything stands to get between them and theirs you can bet your ass, meaning the animal, that they will talk with an attorney. Should you do anything less?

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So, with a Prepaid Legal membership, not only will you have access to attorneys but you will have investigators ready to assist you if your Identity is stolen.