Done after 25 years. Prices are outrageous and Customer Service is terrible

@Unhappy_Longterm_Customer_20 

Yep the gravy train is over. Up to you to manage your finances, not expect a company to keep giving you discounts. As costs rise up for the companies those promotions have become less and less to make up for it.

Calling each year for promotions means you are subscribed to more than you can afford. So time to work within your means instead of expecting others to cover the bill for you.

This may seem harsh to you but this is the reality.

I also am leaving Direct TV after 25 years because it is too expensive and the customer service is awful! Every time I have to call it’s a headache and a wast of 45 minutes to accomplish nothing! They have become a disgrace of a company. 

@Naslonski 

If it is too expensive then absolutely go somewhere else. Or reduce service until comfortable for your budget.

I agree that since the pandemic, AT&T's acquisition of DirecTV and then later selling a portion to a new co-owner, that DirecTV does need to have some improvements made. However, their being a higher cost (like every other TV provider because of rising network costs) does not make them a disgrace.

As a consumer it is our responsibility to work within our means. It is not an entertainment company's obligation to give discounts to make it affordable.

After almost 18 years.  I’m done. We were without TV for almost two weeks due to the cable outside going to the house died out. Technician said it happens, was like 10/12 years old. I was not credited the money off my bill. To funny. I used to think they were great. Awful now. Mark my words by 2030 they will fold, unless they do a total reboot. 

@JonnyB1424 

If your service was completely out because of a technical issue, you are not automatically provided credit. You call once it is fixed to request a time without service credit. That is to cover from day you called and scheduled the service call to the day of fix, prorating your service for those day (no more, no less).

A repair needed after a decade or more seems a bit drastic to say you're done. Did you expect it to last forever? A time without service credit seems reasonable, you just have to call about that.

But if there are other factors for you fair enough. You do what you must. Though creating an account to say you're leaving doesn't really accomplish anything. If you're canceling then you call DirecTV. If you want help or guidance with something then perhaps start your own thread specific to your situation.

I am a senior that has been with ATT since the onset of cell phones/so have internet/tv and 2 phones.  Direct TV is getting so expensive! Also noticing that a lot of the channels are basically reruns of old programs that are repeated over and over.  Called to see if they can reduce monthly at all.... told no discounts.  I too was grandfathered in but costs just went up again.

@bzag 

All TV providers have gotten rather expensive. Even newer streaming services are catching up in that regard. The more networks charge for those carriage agreement the more the higher costs continue.

Programs, rerun or not, are up to the channel owner and not the TV provider. So DirecTV only provides you what is sent to them. They have no influence over the program lineup.

Grandfathered in is not a price lock. Just means you have a package option that no longer exists. Because of cost concern, and it seems you are not happy with the available channels because of too many reruns, I would review over the channels you do enjoy and compare against current packages. Too often that grandfathered plan is higher cost than the current equivalent for no extra benefit for you. Also, you can change your package at any time. So if certain channels in the higher package you only watch part of the year, lower it for the rest of the time.

They did a big financial review in the last few years. Not just increasing costs from networks but their evaluation showed the discount culture they had been running was not sustainable, in fact some customers got way too much in discounts (amount or length of time). So they reeled back in to be more manageable. Never hurts to ask if a discount is available, but budget there may not be as they are not obligated to provide one.

Own the same cell phones since they were in existence-- ATT has me bundled which still costs more than a car payment!  $192/phone+ 79/directv + $49/internet per month.  Asked for a senior discount or some type of relief from monthly payment.... a Representative gave me a ONE TIME $25 credit.  I am dropping the direct tv after the Olympics!  I am a senior and could do tons of travelling with $3836 yearly.

@bzag 

Phone service does have assistance programs out there to help because of needed communication. DirecTV on the other hand is just entertainment, so no assistance programs and they do not categorize their customers (senior citizen, low income, etc.). So adjust package or go elsewhere as you need for your budget.

Be aware your service does not prorate, so cancellations go through at the end of your service cycle. Depends on the model numbers of each box you have if there is anything they will require back.

As for owning the same cell phones since they were in existence, that is a false statement (unless you have them sitting in a display or something). Cell phones from the 1980s (or earlier before publicly available) wouldn't still be working as cell service has changed drastically in the last 40 years.

I have been a DirecTV customer for 22+ years.  I pay for the Ultimate Package which includes ABC, all ESPN Channels, FX, Nat Geo, etc.  I have never missed nor been late with a payment since 2002.  Today I called to find out why they will still bill me for the Ultimate Package when they are not offering the channels (as adversited) in the Ultimate Package.  The Loyalty Dept. said the only thing they could do is give a promotional $20 off per month.  When I said I was going to cancel, the "customer service rep" had absolutely no problem with me leaving DirecTV.  I would have remained with them another 20+ years but they obviously have zero respect for their customers. Very sad.

@JLang1973 

Comes down to it would be impossible to guarantee any specific channel. That is covered in the Terms of Service, so no credit is obligated.

The channels affected are only a fraction of your bill. Even though it has only been about a couple days they are already offering a sizable courtesy credit compared to the percentage of channels in your package that are affected by this (and your bill is more than just your package so TV fees, receiver services don't matter what channels you have so don't compare the $20 against your entire bill, but just the programming cost).

Of course the rep has no problem with you leaving. They are not there to give in to your demands. They provide you the options that are available, not make up their own. Recheck your "obvious" as there was nothing that demonstrated "zero respect" for their customers. You just didn't get what you wanted and got upset that your crying cancel got called out.

For reference:

(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.

same here. I was a 20+ year customer with a $200/mo. bill.  The Disney nonsense motivated me to look at streaming options which turned out to be much better than DTV and I am now going to be saving $100/mo. (I went with  Hulu).  Customer rep when I called to cancel never once thanked me for being a loyal 20 year customer - which made my decision to leave DTV feel even better. 

Until Hulu has the same contract disputes and raise their prices. All TV provides are in the same boat.

However, Hulu would need to increase it's monthly rate by over 100% to match what DTV was currently charging me for an inferior package (i.e. no Disney+, Hulu, or ESPN +).  

And since there is no contract commitment with Hulu, I could switch again if I don't like their service.

No brainer...

Read the TOS that states channels and programming are subject to change at anytime.  Hulu will still charge you for their product when they have a contact dispute as they also have the same/similar clause. 

 What makes you think Hulu can't raise their price by that much?