New Member
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I'm getting tired of all the fees on my direct bill. How many of you see all this stuff?
MOVIES EXTRA PACK
$4.99
TV Access Fee
$7.00
TV Access Fee
$7.00
TV Access Fee
$0.00
Advanced Receiver Service - DVR
$10.00
Advanced Receiver Service - HD
$10.00
Whole-Home DVR Service
$3.00
Regional Sports Fee
$11.99
DIRECTV Protection Plan
$8.99
Seriously? All these add-ons amount to $70.
I'm ready to cancel directv unless there is a reasonable explanation for all of this. I never asked for regional sports, or the movies extra pack, or the protection plan, or the advanced receiver service. And why are there three TV access fees?
I'm sick of paying for stuff I never asked for.


Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23.4K Messages
4 years ago
Based on how your receiver services are itemized, you have the older billing model. So your account started before late 2015 (7 years ago) where you can see the cost of HD, but new customers have it hidden/built-in to the overall cost since SD-only service is no longer offered.
You pay $7 for each additional TV on the service. The primary TV fee is waived/$0. It matters not what kind of box is on it as this is authorizing the number of TVs on the service.
As long as you have at least one HD box you pay the $10 for HD service. The same goes for the $10 for your DVR service. The $3 Whole Home DVR is required if you have a Genie, as that is DirecTV's Advance Whole Home HDDVR. Naturally the Genie requires all 3 receiver services on the account. If you have HDDVRs, but not Genie, then Whole Home DVR is optional. Though that is how each box can watch the recordings on the others.
The Regional Sports Network (RSN) Fee is on packages Choice and up. This is because they include the RSNs for where you live. Used to be hidden in the package cost, but several years ago it was itemized as each region charges differently. The only way to remove this fee is to reduce to a package low enough that the RSNs are not in it.
The Movies Extra Pack (formally called the HD Extra Pack) is a small pack of special channels (565 - 573). This is optional. As a note, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (HM&M channel 565) as of a few years ago is now in Select, Entertainment, Preferred Xtra, and Premier. If you end up changing to one of those packages you would still have that channel.
Equipment Protection Plan is also optional. Covers value of service calls ($99), delivery of warranty replacement boxes ($19.95), and remotes ($15). It boasts a free upgrade after 2 years. Since you pay for it whether you use it or not, those one time costs over the years should be cheaper for how little you should need them. Remotes are cheaper through other retailers (Amazon, Wal-Mart, etc.). And if it has been over 2 years since your last upgrade with account in good standing you should be qualified for a free upgrade anyway. And DirecTV is not inventing new lines of equipment every year or even every 3 years. As such I do not find this a very good value, unless you are someone who needs a small known cost in your monthly bill if you are not good about managing reserve funds.
Bottom line: The Movies Extra Pack and the Protection Plan are optional. Everything else is required based on how many TVs you have, what level of equipment you have, and what programming package you are on. Call DirecTV when they are open if you want to remove those 2 services. Consider the channels you do watch if perhaps a lower costing package might be better as well.
I would also suggest for any company, not waiting almost a decade before reading your bill and understanding your service.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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23.4K Messages
4 years ago
Just in case my full response may have been overwhelming.
If you have 3 TVs and have HDDVRs, or even a Genie:
Primary TV $0
Additional TV $7 (each, so $14 between the two)
Receiver services are based on level of equipment, but cover the account, not charged per TV: $10 HD, $10 DVR, $3 Whole Home DVR.
Other charges:
Regional Sport Network (RSN) Fee is in Choice or higher and is based on what region you live in. Only way to remove is lowering package below Choice or going to Preferred Xtra (for those that watch little to no sports).
Movies Extra Pack (565 - 573) and DirecTV's Equipment Protection Plan are optional.
Based on your receiver services being individual line items (not grouped together or hidden), your account is at least 7 years old. If ever you are concerned about what you are paying, then call DirecTV to discuss or seek guidance in the forum much sooner than years later.
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