Contributor
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2 Messages
Re Activating DirecTV after 3 years
We used to have DirecTV then cancelled it 3 years ago (all paid up, nothing wrong with account, no money owed). I own and kept all the equipment.
When I called DirecTV to reactivate, after several hrs on the phone, with multple transfers to multiple depts (including to #s that were disconnected) I was finally told that an account that was cancelled more than 2 years prior can NEVER be reactivated, and in fact, if I want DirecTV service, I'd have to use a different phone number to set up a new account, as they will always have the phone number associated in that old account in their system.
So, the rep said I have to call "Direct Sales," set up a brand new account, including setting a date for an install. Once I have that new account number, I should wait 2 days for the new account to be activated, then call the "Disconnect Department" b/c they can transfer the reciever I already have to this new account number. Then, I should cancel the installation that "Direct Sales" set up.
I actually did all that (even though it seemed ridiculous). The Disconnect Department did what I was told to ask them to do. The tech there transfered my old RID to my new account and was able to send a signal, but he said it wasn't working for some reason. When I mentioned it worked fine 3 years ago, he said he should have asked me how long it's been deactivated, as any access card that has been deactivated more than 2 years, will just not work. He sent me over to the access card dept, they sent me a new access card for my reciever (for free) although the woman there said she'd never heard of an access card being too old, that my reciever should be working and she showed on her screen that it WAS working. Yet, when I tried again to download info thru the phone line to the satellite, it would not do it. The satellite shows it is working fine, getting good signals. My reciever is a DirecTV Tivo RCA DVR80. I never had a problem with it. All these techs know I was dealing with a tivo reciever.
Any ideas, anyone? I'm waiting for the new access card to come, but I don't have much hope. Has anyone heard of access cards being too old to work again?
peds48
Expert
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32K Messages
13 years ago
don't really know the answer to the access card question. But why do you get better updated equipment? If you were to sign up with somebody else's name like your spouse or sibling, with their acknowledgment of course, you would qualify for the current new customer promotion of 1 HDDVR, 3 HD receivers, and 2 SD receivers plus WHDVR installation all at no cost to you.
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TexasBrit
ACE - Expert
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14.1K Messages
13 years ago
Also you say you were trying to download "info", do you mean you were trying to download software? The TiVo software is no longer in the satellite download stream so you can't get an update...
As peds_48 says, you would have been much better off just getting a new account, and getting all the new subscriber benefits. You probably can't do that now, because of the steps you have already taken, I hate to think what it would take to "disentangle" the mess your account must be in.
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do3333
Contributor
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2 Messages
13 years ago
Don't have HD, only one TV. I did get the new subscriber benefits b/c this is a new account, ie discount rate, 3 free months of premium channels, etc. I really liked my DirecTV tivo, besides. At this point, telling me what I "should" have done is not particularly helpful. DirecTV knew what I was getting into and didn't tell me there would be any problem.
Update: the new access card made no difference. DirecTV says they show I should have service. Nothing is wrong with the satellite (it passes all tests), but when it comes to aquiring data, it won't get any. Under "purchases" the Tivo screen says "you have inserted the wrong card." (Not according to DirecTV, I�m on the phone with them now.) When I try to go thru the steps on tivo to change the access card, Tivo tells me "your access card is not authorized to be replaced." It's wrong. DirecTV has replaced it and everything works on their end. The DirecTV tech could not figure this out and is sending someone for a service call. If anyone has any useful ideas, I'd love to hear them.
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daadee11
Contributor
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1 Message
13 years ago
Not that it is a help, but sometimes even the most simple task or tasks are performed by the most inept of so called Tech's or service reps. Things that make u go HMMMMMM!!!!! if i had hair i would have handfulls. It could be something as simple as a cable being faulty, which I am sure you checked, or just going with the new stuff.
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dcd
Expert
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20.7K Messages
13 years ago
If anyone has any useful ideas, I'd love to hear them.
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Call Directv and ask what you need to do to be a new customer, to have an installer come to your home and install and check the operation of fresh equipment.
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bmccarron81
Teacher
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18 Messages
13 years ago
This may sound silly, however, when you left DirecTV I am guessing you went to cable? Maybe they disconnected a wire that was previously connected to the dish, or put a splitter in, which based off the setup you say you have wouldn't work. Just some thoughts, the splitter thing (even though you only have one tv, i have seen it put in instead of a barrel connector in a pinch) seem to me as it might be a good possibility. just chase down the wire from the dish to your tv and that should answer your question.
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