Is Adding a Mini Considered an Upgrade?

Unless you have a Genie already you can't use a mini and yes it will be a upgrade.

Sorry, should have said we have the HR-54.  So that $23 off a month would get added back on the bill?

Yes.

The $23 covers everything the Genie (HR54) requires (HD, DVR, Whole Home DVR). Not optional. If an agent removed all of it, they made a big mistake. The system isn't supposed to even allow it. Have a DVR, pay for DVR service, simple as that.

If you did a MPEG swap to the HR54, for those that had legacy MPEG-2/SD-only boxes, then the $10 for HD service is credited until you actually do an upgrade order. And that swap doesn't come with an upgrade. It is a one-time option to keep service fully working since the MPEG-2/SD-only feeds are shutting down.

Adding a TV is an upgrade regardless of what kind of box it is. So adding another one comes with a 24 month service agreement. And naturally it adds $7 for the additional TV fee.

So if the $10 DVR and $3 Whole Home DVR are not even listed, that is a huge problem as the Genie requires it to function properly. If the services are there, but you are receiving promotional credits, then those continue. Only if you have the special indefinite credit (until you upgrade) would that be affected by adding another TV/Mini Genie Client. In that event, it should say on the bill something like "until you upgrade".

The $10, $10 and $3 are still on the main part of the bill and the credits for it are in the adjustments section.  The CSR took it off because I returned a Gemini when they first came out and paid for it with my Mastercard.  The CSR couldn't give me a credit on my Mastercard, so the CSR gave us that $23 off month until next upgrade credit.  Our HR-54 still works fine.

If you had a MPEG swap only the $10 for HD gets credited. I would check what it says for the description of the credits. If the HD was for MPEG swap then it would wording like "until you upgrade".

DVR and Whole Home DVR should either be a one-time credit or you got a general promotion to get for so many months, such as $10 off for 12, 1 of 12 (2 of 12, etc.). They cannot credit DVR and Whole Home DVR indefinitely.

The 3 services are regardless of what other boxes you have. Once you have a Genie you are required to have all 3. And if you did have the credit for HD from a MPEG swap, than upgrading to the Gemini invalidates that credit, even if you return it later.

My suspicion is the agent gave you temporary credits with the impression they were ongoing.

Could you screen shot the line items of the bill? (leave out personal info of course). Seeing the exact wording for the receiver services and description of credits would help clear this up.

Side note: The HR54 is working fine because the services are there. The credits didn't remove the services.

This is what it says:

DIRECTV Whole-Home DVR Service 08/13 - 09/12 $3 off until next Equip Upgrd

-$3.00

Advanced Receiver-HD 08/13 - 09/12 $10 off until next Equip Upgrd

-$10.00

Advanced Receiver-DVR 08/13 - 09/12 $10 off until next Equip Upgrd

-$10.00

Wow, you got something very special to count DVR and Whole Home DVR credited indefinitely as well. And upgrading is normally one-way, so being able to reinstate with returning equipment was very lucky.

With that clearing up the confusion, then the answer is simple. Adding the Mini Genie would be an upgrade, so the credits for the services would be forfeited. And you update your 24 month service agreement. Do not expect that returning Mini shortly after would reinstate the credits again. So be prepared to be fully committed if you place the order.