Free NFL

You have been lucky,  AT&T CEO said years ago there would be no more discounts for existing customers.

Discounts are temporary perks, not intended to get again and again. Intro offer is one-time. Getting those discounts these days has been lucky for you. Because of some customers abusing the privilage, where they are on too much in discounts or for too long, they are no longer seen as profitible. And losing money on a customer is really not a loyal customer. So their CEO announced quite some time ago those discounts would be pulled back.

Now certainly enjoy any discounts when they are available. But NEVER rely on them to afford the service. If you cannot afford without discounts, then bottom line you cannot afford it. As such, it then is your financial responsiblity (not DirecTV or any other company) to manage service within your comfortable budget. If it is too much, then lower service until it is within your affordable means.

And if it really comes down to it, if it is still too much then just go without. Pay TV is a luxury entertainment service, not something required for living that you are obligated to have.

Thanks for the tip on how to reach loyalty department more easily! 
it's often quite hard to get connected to them. 

Well "loyalty" is just a customer friendly term for the retention/cancellation department. But trying to avoid you canceling and instead retaining your business, they are keeping loyalty. Not a guarantee you will get what you want, but they may have limited offers for account if the system calculates it is worth it.

Just make sure you call the correct number, as U-Verse (AT&T) and DirecTV have their own separate customer care numbers. And transfering from one side to the other has not been the smoothest, especially now that there is a new co-owner who is managing the DirecTV side.

But yes, like other companies, when you get the voice system say "cancel" and that gets you to retention/cancellation/loyalty (or whatever else name people want to use).

I did the exact same thing you did. I'm a 20 year customer and last year they took $70 a month off my bill and gave me NFL Sunday ticket for free. When I called them today, Sept. 7, I got the the so-called Loyalty Desk and was told there were no discounts and no free NFL package. I pointed out that new customers get the NFL package for free when they sign up to the same plan I have. The guy didn't budge. That's some Loyalty desk. They ought to call it the Go Screw Yourself Desk. So I signed up for the package so I wouldn't miss any of this Sunday's games, but will ook for another way to get the NFL, cancel DirecTV after all these years, and call them and tell them to take their two boxes and their satellite and go to (Edited per community guidelines). I'm incredibly disgusted by this. They reward new people and screw loyal customers.

It is not that the guy didn't budge, but your account didn't have that offer available. Agents don't create offers, they select what the system shows as eligible for your account. Getting $70 a month is a rediculous discount, historically higher than the cost of their 3 lowest packages (though possibly only higher than 2 at current prices, but still).

Intro offers are supposed to be a one-time deal, not repeatable. Think of it as a welcome basket. If not having NFL Sunday Ticket free and them throwing a discount at you is not enough to stay, then fair enough. But to fly off the handle because you have reached the end of the gravy train is not facing reality. They are in no way obligated to give you any promotion, never mind the huge ones you have experienced before.

Certainly when you call ask if anything is available. But if not, then either continue with service as is or cancel, whichever is the best way to go for you. Throwing a tantrum and being disgusted that you didn't get a handout is not the mature way to go.

It was announced quite some time ago that those big promotions for existing customers would be pulled back. They are addressing an issue of losing money on some accounts that have had way too much. And the amount you have had sounds like exactly the kind of hemorrhaging account they are taking care of.

Fair enough, but nowadays we have so many choices that I don't have to stay with them to get what I want. I can get everything they offer on my local internet for less than half DirecTV's price, and then stream my NFL games for $4.95 a month. Saves e #1400 a year. Maybe the reason why DirecTV is losing money is because they are very high priced in a market that is offering a lot of other options.

DTV been around for 30 yrs streaming maybe 10 and for the areas that still don't have broadband internet there are only 2 choices.

DirecTV being by satellite, means they reach practically the entire country. Streaming services depends on the internet infrastructure available where you live, if you even have it all.

They expanded out with DIRECTV STREAM as an alternative provider. But until the internet can reach everyone nationwide, not forsaking rural, and can handle the speeds and stability needed for overall use (especially since the pandemic), streaming cannot replace satellite.

Each of us must go with what works. There is not one provider best for everyone.

As for costs, consider DirecTV is satellites in orbit and provides the equipment and install. Streaming services rely on your internet and your chosen devices to work. If your internet or streaming device goes down, they don't fix it and you get no credit from them as their service is not the issue. Just a comparison as they follow different billing/service models, one handing it all themselves the other relying on others handling the rest of the chain. Again, depends which setup is best for you personally.

I mean I do have 7 tv's with the entertainment package with all the movie channels... that get me more offers then most

@Maus599 

Subscribing to the ENTERTAINMENT package is nothing to write home about. I’m sure DIRECTV gives NFL SUNDAY TICKET free to only customers with CHOICE and above who have been customers for a certain amount of time and pay the bill on time. However, I could be completely wrong because I don’t work for DIRECTV and thus don’t know their secret algorithm.

@Maus599 

Entertainment itself is on the low end of value. It is your premium channels and 7 TVs that brings it up. With Family, Select, Entertainment, Choice, Xtra (or Preferred Xtra), Ultimate, and Premier you are only the 3rd lowest package.

But any offers you get are based on many factors of your individual account. But that is  done by their system as agents don't know any of that criteria as is built-in.

Now if you were on the absolute highest package Titanium (grandfathered), I wonder what you would get as for offers.

@Juniper 

Haven’t heard of Titanium in awhile. Didn’t that cost like $600/month and give you access to all PPVs, etc?

@detuch254 

$10,000 a month. All channels, sports subscriptions, and PPVs. And $7,500 for each additional home. Can guess who this package was for.