Poor Customer Service.

The channels want more money when the contract comes up for renewal so DTV passes it onto the bill just like every company does.  AT&T CEO stated about 2 years ago there will be no more discounts for existing customers.

Then why would anyone want to stay with Directv? YouTube, fubo, Hulu (and more) have the same or better service and channels at $64.99 mo. Certainly the customer service is way better at these other companies, I'd say YouTube tv has a far better DVR with the same channel line up. There is no value to staying with AT&T.

I guess, according to @shannon02 the answer is that the other providers do a better job negotiating with the networks. I take from that Directv is on its way out of it can't compete.

You certainly have choices. However, not everyone has internet service that can support streaming video services. So there will always be a market for satellite TV services like DirecTV and Dish Network. Only you can decide if it's worth changing or not. 

Other providers are also raising their rates,  while DTV and all other providers try to minimize the increase there is still an increase. 

Networks increase their costs to all TV providers. Streaming providers are more in the early days for that, but have been increasing. As traditional TV providers fight back against the continuous increases, some networks create their own individual streaming service that is not allowed through any provider (think Disney Plus).

If you are seriously thinking of canceling over your current account status, when you call DirecTV and get the voice system say "cancel" that routes you to their retention/cancellation department. The agent saying retention would callback, with an offer to lower the monthly rate as well, was absolutely a lie. Customer support, even retention, are inbound.

Your choice is to adjust service to within budget or try elsewhere. There is no guarantee of discounts as those are temporary perks. A $65 a month is only achievable perhaps with the Family package adding in your receiver services, TV fees, etc. You are not getting your bill discounted in half permanently. That is just not realistic.

Remember, streaming providers don't have equipment or delivery medium of their own. You get your own streaming device and is delivered through whatever internet you have. That is part of how they are lower cost, as they don't maintain their own equipment and such outside of the initial broadcast center. Not everywhere has good enough internet, if internet at all, to support streaming.

Just because prices are not what you want doesn't mean they are ripping you off. Every year the networks increase their costs to the TV providers. Naturally the bills go up. Your request the business fails and they deserve bankruptcy is rather petty. They are not required to price within your budget. If you cannot afford it, then adjust services or go somewhere else. It is your responsibility to manage your budget, not them.

No they are definitely ripping me off.

I am a long time customer who always made it clear I would not agree to pay the $120+ rate. This is not a small increase in the rate this is a gouge.

Had they not tried to gouge me I would be a good customer forever.

The going rate for the service is $64.99 to $69.99.  DirecTV is charging $120.

Rate aside; call or chat their customers service is run around and a horrible experience. Reason enough to cancel by itself.

I have no internet questions.

Where is the value in paying $120? Answer. There is no value in it.

People have said a lot but no one has shown any value in paying more. You do not get more for that money, infact you probably get less.

Satellite and cable tv are dinosaurs on their way out, obsolete.  Gouging the customer is bad policy.

Do you also pay more to wire your telephone?  I think not because cell service and Voip phone service are very good and cost less.

There is no "price gouging" going on here.The "going rate" is probably the one for new customers. $120 is the rate everyone else pays, unless you get a discount. You were obviously getting a discount, and you are not getting it any more, because directv's discount policy has changed. You can't "make it clear" you would not pay $120. If you can get a service somewhere else that is right for you, sign up for that service.

Yeah because yea, pay $30 more per month for inferior service

It's amazing how people stand up for a giant crop overcharging for crap service.

No-one is commenting on the quality of the service. That's your personal view. We are just saying that directv is not gouging you, you are just paying the normal price. There's no reason you should get a discount just because you want one.

@jerb0987654321 

The annual price adjustment was only a few dollars (depending on what you have). A great increase would be your temporary discounts completing. Those discounts are not permanent.

You are not being gouged. You are just upset with paying what the service actually costs now that the gravy train you've experienced is over. You don't get to dictate the cost. You simply choose out of the available options what works for you. If you want about $60 a month, you lower to Family or just close your account since you cannot afford it. DirecTV is a business, not a charity.

You have absolutely no idea what the going rate is. Discounts are not what the rate is.

Based on having service for "years", I take it you are on the old billing model where practically everything is itemized.

Check the base cost of your package that is listed on your bill. That channel package is most likely above $64.99 itself.

You then have your receiver services (which cover the account, not charged per TV)

HD $10

DVR $10

Whole Home DVR $3

$7 per each additional TV authorized on the service. The Primary TV is free.

If you were on the absolute lowest package, which is Family $29.99, a 2 TV home would be at $66.99 before tax. Even at Select, the 2nd lowest package, you would be at over $60 just for the package portion of your bill. So with tax it is very normal to be around $120.

The going rate is not $64.99. At best you are looking at the package cost of Select and ignoring all your other charges. Saying you would not agree to the actual price does nothing. You don't set the prices, they do. If you cannot pay the cost, or are simply unwilling to, then you reduce to a cost that you accept or you close the account.

Too much was given in discounts over the years resulting in problem accounts, such as yours apparently. I say again, they are a business, not a charity, so they don't price to what you can pay but what the service actually costs. It is a harsh wakeup that you were overdue for.