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rlmyers's profile

Scholar

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157 Messages

Friday, June 28th, 2024 9:31 PM

Loyal Customers get screwed by AT&T DirecTv new customer pricing????????

I am a customer since 2000, 24 years.  That is loyal.

I have issues that my bill every 6 months going up.  I called AT&T Loyalty to help fix my bill by threatening account cancellation. They are not offering any more promotional discounts so just accept it.

However, new customers can get a 2 year pricing advantage with the same package.

I was told that cancelling my account, and then reestablishing it does not qualify me as new customer.

Directv told me I need to wait 30 days before I can qualify as a new customer.

These people have lost their minds.

Net of it is a new customer pays $135/mo while my price is $180/mo for the same package, and add-ons.

It amazes me that they have any customers.

Comments?????

Community Support

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20.4K Messages

2 days ago

Hi, rlmyers. We understand that saving costs matters. New customers receive an introductory price when they sign up for DIRECTV. We appreciate your loyalty for 24 years, and we're sending you a DM, so we can look for options to maximize the value of your service. - Carissa, DIRECTV Community Specialist

ACE - Expert

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19.9K Messages

2 days ago

DTV is giving new customers a 2 year price lock that renews at the rate in effect at the time it ends. 

There is something wrong with you bill as DTV only raises the base cost annually usually in Jan. 

ACE - Expert

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20.7K Messages

2 days ago

@rlmyers 

Your bill should not be going up every 6 months. They only have a annual price adjustment. Normally that adjustment is in January, but the most recent one was a couple months early in November.

So check how often the bill goes up. Perhaps you are just exaggerating how often it is. If it is close to what you said, look over the details in full as most likely it is discounts ending. If it still doesn't make sense, list the items of you bill (without personal info) and we can help make sense of it.

To qualify as a new customer it must be over 2 years since you canceled, not 30 days. This is to avoid people pretending to be brand new. The intention is you are only new once. Everybody gets a one-time start up deal of some sort. The new customer price is not the permanent price.

So get the facts first instead of jumping to conclusions based on surface-level info.

ACE - Expert

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19.9K Messages

2 days ago

If you want a discount then join DTV Perks and get a $15 bill credit for every 500 points you get or use them on other things.

(edited)

Scholar

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157 Messages

2 days ago

So get the facts first instead of jumping to conclusions based on surface-level info.

I have the facts, and Direct TV is very expensive dinging you for extra TV's fees, TV access fees,  DVR fees, about $40 a month add on the bill.  After 25 years with them you would think they have some real loyalty programs. 

They can offer promotions, but that has seemed to dry up and all promotions are gone.

I know of at least 10 people who have quit DirectTv in the last year, using Sling, uTube TV, Dish, or just streaming.

The package channel pricing is significantly higher than Dish.  Considering using Dish as a new customer with their new customer discounts.  AT&T is so stubborn here.  Their customers are leaving them in droves for T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.   They refuse to look at their pricing.

Community Support

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20.4K Messages

2 days ago

DIRECTV's goal is to bring customers the best programming at a reasonable price. Throughout the year we are focused on keeping programming costs low, and periodically have to update pricing in accordance with the rising costs of delivering content. Please check your inbox, so we can continue assisting you. - Carissa, DIRECTV Community Specialist

ACE - New Member

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1.4K Messages

2 days ago

All paid TV services are expensive no matter what service you go to the more channels you have the more $$ you pay.  Most services have new user pricing and when that new user pricing is over you are left stuck paying the full price with no promotions and are under a contract.  If you want to save money have you considered switching to the streaming version of Directv with their bring your own device option you would not have to pay all the fees you would just need the devices to stream it on such as Roku, Firestick, etc..

Scholar

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157 Messages

2 days ago

Check you inbox???????  Where is my Inbox???????

ACE - Expert

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19.9K Messages

2 days ago

When DTVhelp sends a PM/DM a box appears at the top of this page near the bell icon when you are logged in. 

AT&T sold off 30% of DTV and no longer handles the day to day operations.

ACE - Expert

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20.7K Messages

2 days ago

@rlmyers 

Yes get the facts. You are complaining you are "screwed" what new customers get. That statement is false. New customers have those extra fees as well. The big difference is the billing model was changed to hide the HD cost in other charges so new customers don't "see" they are being billed for it. Their intro discount is temporary so after they are up to around what you pay.

Intro discount is a welcome basket, not sustainable. There is no requirement they give discounts to any customer regardless of "loyalty". Maintaining a TV service is not cheep, especially with increasing costs from networks (which affect all TV providers), so sustaining big/long discounts for existing customers is not a sustainable billing model.

After a big financial review it was determined that too much in discounts had been given out so they had to pull back. So yes the gravy train is over. You want it then you pay for it, simple as that. You are exactly the kind of customer they were addressing, the ones that had the "gimmie gimmie" attitude for discounts.

So either reduce service so that it is comfortable for your budget or go elsewhere that works better for you. In the end it is up to you manage your finances and costs, not expect a company to do it for you with discounts.

ACE - Expert

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19.9K Messages

2 days ago

DTV has had the 1 year discount with a 2 year contract for almost 30 years so you got it when you signed up so you are a little late to be complaining now.  As stated before new customers now get a 2 year price lock with the added HDDVR and additional TV fees.

Scholar

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157 Messages

2 days ago

When DirecTV offers huge discounts and a two year agreement to new customers and "Nickel and Dimes",  while continuing to raise prices on loyal long term customers that is "screwed".  You must be enjoying your DirecTV Kool-Aid.

DirecTV at least could over the better pricing with a two contract to their loyal customers.

DirecTv should at least offer it's loyal customers a contract extension option for a long term commitment at new customer pricing.

They are a greedy company struggling to maintain their customer base!

Community Support

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20.4K Messages

2 days ago

We value both loyal and new customers. Please respond to our DM and continue our conversation there. Christy, DIRECTV Community Specialist

ACE - Expert

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19.9K Messages

2 days ago

There is no contract when your 2 years are over you go to month to month.  New customers pay the same fees and their price will go up if they continue with DTV when the price lock ends.

Scholar

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157 Messages

1 day ago

My point exactly DTV does not value customers beyond 2 years.  They can do whatever they want to them relative to pricing and packages.  So DirecTV is in a loop new customers come, loyal, old customers leave.  That is why they are losing so much market share.  There are more customers leaving than new customers signing up.  There are a lot of option now and high pricing is not acceptable.


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