250 dollar gift card scam

The gift card offer must be in the order confirmation, otherwise it doesn't exist. However if it was an offer by a 3rd party Authorized Retailer, such as Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, etc. (which tend to to a store specific card), that is between you and the 3rd party.

If you cancel before all redemption/qualifications have been met, then naturally you don't get the gift card. Also be aware that DirecTV has a 24 month service agreement because of the value of equipment they provided you. You would receive a Early Cancellation Fee (ECF) valued at $20 for each month of that agreement remaining (If after 4 months you cancel, so having 20 months left, ECF would be $400).

No it was directly from directv customer service.  Regardless if it was in the contract or not as stated by the rep after 90 days a 250 dollar gift card will be given.  This is akin to any retailer advertising an offer and then trying not to honor said offer. Or something ringing up at the store for a more expensive price then it's marked on the display, or a number of other examples i could give. Fact of the matter is that if nothing else a verbal contract was entered when the directv associate made the offer. To not honor this is illegal and poor business prectice to boot, the company is showing just how little it cares for its consumers and how little they have their business affairs in order. Also further research has shown that I'm far from the only one that this has happened to so is obviously an issue. Also you're wrong, with directv steam there are no commitments i can cancel at any time. also i said in the first sentence that i contacted directv directly as in not through a third party so the first part of your comment is irrelevant. This company is a joke, they were a joke 16 years ago when i first gave them a shot and they're still a joke today. How they have managed to stay in business this long blows my mind. 

I apologize as you said DirecTV, but you've posted in the DIRECTV STREAM section. Those are two separate providers with differences in billing and offers. (including DirecTV via Internet as billing model and proprietary equipment similar to DirecTV)

DIRECTV STREAM you sign up on the website. Over the phone is normally for traditional DirecTV, and the satellite service occasionally has gift card offers. I wonder if there was a mix-up (accidental or intentional) between which service the rep was discussing with you.

But yes, written terms are what matter. If a rep offered a gift card (that wouldn't exist for DIRECTV STREAM), and was clear you weren't getting DirecTV (satellite) then I would submit a complaint.

And some companies deal with 3rd party gift card offers, which I've seen complaints about (not just with DirecTV/DIRECTV STREAM), so gave the info as a caution for the future which was relevant.

From my experience, DirecTV wasn't a joke 16 years ago (not perfect, no company is). However after AT&T acquired them a few years ago, and more recently split them off back into their own entity with a new co-owner (AT&T retains 70% ownership but is supposed to be leaving the day-to-day operations to the new company) there have been a lot of challenges and concerns. I am hoping the new co-owner will be returning DirecTV to the high standard it was known for.

I noticed that i forgot to put the stream in my initial comment after my reply, and yes i do believe they are responsible to honor the gift card that was offered by the representative. I began on the site and was transferred to a live agent to work out the details. All that aside i would agree to disagree with you. Their service has never been top to par to my knowledge and experience, especially in the "customer service " department. They're overpriced, you have to deal with two separate companies for tv and internet.  Even 16 years ago if i didn't want their extremely low performing dsl then i had to pay an extra fee to keep my cable internet. I absolutely agree that there is no perfect providers, but there are certainly plenty that don't make me feel like I'm being bullied. Basically telling me they don't care what i was told and this what i get whether i like it or not. That's not how business works, ethically at least, and someone needs to hold them responsible. There are enough people that this is happening to that i believe a class action lawsuit is a possible way to go but i have more research to do on that. 

I understand wanting them to honor what was offered. The issue is that companies aren't going to honor offers that didn't exist (no matter what the rep said). To put it to an extreme example, if the rep offered you a car but was not on the paperwork then DirecTV is not going to honor that as not one of their offers.

Submitting a BBB complaint might result in something as a courtesy. Just very doubtful they would create a non-existent gift card promotion out of thin air by the word of a bad agent.

Of course you have to deal with two separate companies for TV and internet. DirecTV has never been an internet provider. They have been TV only since they started 30 years ago. They have simply expanded to reach more of the TV market by having a streaming option. Just like Netflix, Hulu, etc. it is just TV, no internet provider. DirecTV never had DSL, Fiber, or any other internet service themselves.

They have partnered with internet providers over the years for bundle promotions, but that was optional. If the options their partner had in your area didn't work for you, then you went with your ISP of choice. DirecTV was service by satellite, not caring if you had internet, but you got some extra perks if you were connected to internet.

Be aware the Terms of Service limit all us customers to an Arbitration clause. Something to keep in mind before you try to spend money on other options.

Thank you for input, however inaccurate,  but facts are facts.  By the law, if a business or representative of said business makes an offer on the business' behalf the business must honor that offer. So id appreciate you not making it sound like I'm the one being unreasonable here. Their service is bad, it has always been bad yes even when they offered dsl 16 years ago. If anyone else has anything HELPFUL to add id appreciate it. 

DirecTV never owned DSL. Any DSL offered would be another company they partnered with. DirecTV is service from satellite in the sky. They did not own a hardline service. Even their streaming options go through whatever internet you have, not one they own. Those are facts.

And businesses are not required to honor every snake oil offer a bad agent might give. There are limits to how that works. Agent offering everything under the sun doesn't mean you get everything. So again, what is in writing matters as that would be the official offer. (though a handwritten or otherwise doctored offer by an in-store agent can be treated a bit differently).

I have provided helpful info by a realistic perspective, facts about they have been TV service only, and suggested a BBB complaint to see if that gets you anywhere. Sorry it is not the exact words you wanted to hear.