Whole home DVR

What DVR models?  Any other boxes?

What are the models of each box?

Definitely used to be a Genie was the only setup that required Whole Home DVR. But it may not be optional anymore as they have been pushing to the complete setup over the last few years.

Having kids or not has absolutely no bearing on this.

We have two standalone Boxes with full DVR on each.

Please provide the receiver model so that we may ensure this is not due to a Genie being on your account.

I think I have the same issue as the OP. When I upgraded from SD to HD equipment, which Directv makes it seem like you must do, I was stuck with paying for DVR service. I don't want and will not use the DVR service but have been told that it can not be removed as it is a "feature" of the HD equipment. So now I have an additional monthly fee for an upgrade that is supposed to be free. Not happy.

If you got a Genie then it can't be removed.

@jbullock 

DirecTV is working on shutting down their outdated MPEG-2/SD-only feeds. So swapping to MPEG-4/SD and HD capable equipment is a requirement going forward.

Regardless if SD or HD, as long as you have one DVR then you pay for DVR service.

Most MPEG swaps are to the Genie which is DirecTV's Advanced Whole Home HDDVR. As such, Whole Home DVR is required along with DVR. As long as it was a swap and not an upgrade, then the HD service should be credited each month (unless you had HD service already).

Same thing at me end.   A while back I had 3 boxes and was told I needed the :Whole House" feature so the boxes can access the recordings on each box.  Only have one Genie now but am told I still need to pay the fee for "Whole House".  Just another way for DTV to add a useless fee onto my account!  

@Wannabe32 

The Whole Home DVR feature is the service that allows one HDDVR to be accessible from all other HDDVRs, HD non-DVRs, and Clients that you have.

The Genie is DirecTV's Advanced Whole Home DVR. It is not a regular HDDVR so requires the Whole Home feature on the account, even if you only have 1 TV on the service. With 5 tuners it is like two HDDVRs in one. If you had no Genie, but two HDDVRs (or 1 HDDVR and 1 HD non-DVR), than Whole Home DVR would be optional.

If it is "required" for the Genie than it should be rolled into the monthly fee for the Genie and not listed as a separate cost so customers can see the real cost of the unit.  BTW, when I got the Genie I was told the whole house subscription was so the Genie can interface with my other units.  Never was it mentioned that it is a Genie unique requirement.  

@Wannabe32 

There is no monthly Genie fee.

You can have Whole Home DVR without the Genie. So they are not going to have two separate versions of the same charge.

Genie is the Advanced Whole Home HDDVR. That is why HD, DVR, and Whole Home DVR are all required. The 3 service cover the entire account, they are not charged per box.

If you have any Clients (Mini Genie, RVU TV, or the new Gemini), they cannot work without the main box. The Genie is built as a server to always be able to connect with the others. That is why it is required as it cannot be turned off.

Pre-Genie setups can have Whole Home DVR. But as they are not servers to always be connected to Clients, that is why it is optional when you don't have a Genie.

Yes the agent should have clarified that the service is required with the Genie in addition to what it provides.

Be glad you are an earlier customer so you can see the actual costs. Newer customers have these fees arranged to make it look like it is included and don't comprehend where everything comes from. Billing model on how it looks changed in late 2015 when DirecTV stopped offering SD-only service to new customers.

Old way: Primary TV free, HD $10, DVR $10, Whole Home DVR $3 = $23.

New way: Primary TV $7, HD "included" (doesn't list on bill), Advanced Receiver Services (DVR and Whole Home DVR together) $15 = $22.

@Wannabe32 

As long as you have a DVR then you pay for DVR service. It doesn't matter if it is a Genie or not. It covers the entire account. So you could have 1 SDDVR, 3 SD non-DVRs, no Genie, and still pay for DVR service.

DirecTV is not deleting SD service. They are shutting down the MPEG-2/SD-only feeds and stopped offering SD-only service. So now we all get SD and HD. Just because we are in a mainly HD world now (and early days of 4K) doesn't mean that HD becomes free.

Bottom line, there is no Genie specific fee. And service updating from SD to HD and starting with a bit of 4K doesn't make charges go away. As much as you don't like it, those costs aren't going anywhere.

I receive an “ongoing” credit on my bill monthly until I upgrade my receiver, (HR24).

They are: $7 Off 1st TV, (Duration: Ongoing), $10 Off AR-DVR, (Duration: Ongoing Until Customer Upgrades Receiver), $10 Off AR-HD, (Duration: Ongoing Until Customer Upgrades Receiver).

This is why I don’t want to upgrade to a Genie. I will lose these discounts. But, I need a Genie in order to receive 4K programming. Frustrating. But, it only makes sense to keep my current receiver. And I also have another brand new HR-24 never activated to replace my current one, should it expire. 

Michael

@skical 

The $7 off 1st TV will remain regardless. You are a grandfathered customer on the old billing model. That means the Primary TV fee is free.

If someone with MPEG-2 only equipment gets the complimentary MPEG swap (not upgrade) then HD service is credited like you have. However, you have an ongoing DVR credit which is rather rare. I suspect you got that a long time ago, meaning you got one of those limited time promotions so you are very lucky.

Genie is nice, but I agree in your situation holding off on an upgrade as that would cause the bill to go up $23 a month (both ongoing credits go away plus adding $3 for Whole Home DVR). However, if you had a remaining MPEG-2/SD-only box, then a MPEG swap (not upgrade) for that (keeping your HR24 of course) for the Genie would only result in the $3 difference.

Yes 4K is an equipment upgrade. And currently 4K only works through a Client connection. That for some means losing some equipment features.

That other HR24 is a concern. Since owned options went away years ago, DirecTV no longer allows other boxes to be activated unless on an official order. If acquired from an authorize seller, that would count as an upgrade losing the HD and DVR discounts and coming with a 24 month agreement.

If your existing HR24 needs to be replaced you call DirecTV to swap it under warranty which is $19.95 delivery. However if you got yours at full retail cost to own years ago ($499) than the warranty was only for a year meaning an upgrade is the only way to replace it.