Directv says I need a new receiver (for free?) or I'm losing channels

DirecTV has long planned to phase out MPEG-2/SD-only. Non HD TVs haven't been made in over a decade and SD-only service was grandfathered late 2015. They had public announcements about a decade ago for this to happen in 2019. It started on time, but hasn't finished in all areas which gave some like yourself additional time.

What are the models of each box you have?

MPEG swap is no service agreement and no new monthly charges. But READ the order confirmation. Some have experienced where order was placed as an upgrade instead.

It is a D12-100-R.  It replaced my original receiver which I bought in 1996.  It is also an "owned" receiver.  I don't want to be paying any lease fees since I haven't leased any equipment.  Will my standard dish work with the new receiver I would be getting?  I won't buy any new equipment...I'll just go streaming (which wasn't an option in 1996).

D12 is the last non-DVR MPEG-2/SD-only box made.

There are no monthly lease costs, never have been. Owned or leased is no difference in monthly cost. You pay for level of service, not owned/leased status.

A equivalent swap would be H24 or H25 (depending on stock) which credits the $10 HD service monthly as long as done as part of the MPEG swap program. However equipment shortages, and DirecTV's design going forward, has for many put the Genie as the swap option which adds in DVR/Whole Home DVR ($10 and $3).

If the MPEG swap option is still Genie only, then to get an HD non-DVR would be using an upgrade. That would add in the 24 month service agreement and $10 HD service.

The standard dish will not work. You need a slimlin SWM dish as that is MPEG-4. In either the required MPEG swap or optional upgrade, the new dish is part of standard install.

I know there is no lease fee...it's called a tv access fee.  Same thing.  I get that $7 credited back, because I own my equipment.  Also, if they are switching out a new receiver...I will own it also?  I refuse to return equipment to directv when I have always owned my receiver.  This is their decision & their "free" offer.

No, everyone gets the first tv access fee credited back. It has nothing to do with whether or not you own the equipment. Monthly fees are the same. 

They won't want the D12 returned, but it will soon be a doorstop anyway. Your new receiver will be leased, but no-one cares anymore, there's virtually no value in having an "owned" receiver.

DTV doesn't want your D12 as it is obsolete same with the dish. You have to lease the new receivers that DTV owns or end your service with DTV.  That credit back is not because you own the receiver but because the first receiver is not charged the additional TV fee.

Directv just told me that I would be charged a $7 fee monthly.  That makes no sense to me.  One person says no...another says yes.  How hard is it to answer a simple question.  Will the new HD equipment add to my regular monthly bill or not?  Same problem I have had since AT&T took over.  More reasons to just go to streaming. 

Your bill will go up as Genies are required to have Whole Home service at $3 per month even with only one TV and the new billing system no longer credits the TV fee.

Ok you apparently misunderstood what the billing is for. Owned or leased has nothing to do with if the $7 is credited.

You get the Primary TV Fee credited because on the old billing model the first TV is free. You pay the $7 regardless if owned, leased, or even if no box at all (DirecTV Ready/RVU Client TV) for your additional TVs.

Old billing model that you and I are on:

Primary TV Free (the $7 that is credited), $10 HD service, $10 DVR service, $3 Whole Home DVR service. All additional TVs are $7 each, not credited.

New billing model that is for people who activated after SD-only service that was grandfathered in late 2015:

Primary TV $7 (not credited), HD included service, Advanced Receiver Service $15 (DVR and Whole Home DVR together). Additional TVs still $7 each.

So again, owned or leased makes absolutely no difference on monthly cost or crediting anything. However a MPEG swap or upgrade does not change that you are on the old billing model. Only if you completely canceled service and reactivated later would you be on the new billing model as you lose all grandfathered status by doing so.

Why refuse to send box back to DirecTV? Once deactivated you can not use it again or give to someone else. It goes back to be refurbished or parts salvaged, or if old enough a model you recycle it. Now in the case of the D12, regardless if owned or leased, it may only be recycled once deactivated as not a returnable model since it is obsolete.

Everything on your monthly bill will remain the same and the equipment offered is usually the genie. There will be no advance rcvr service-hd, whole home, and dvr fees ($23 total) those will all be waived until your next equipment upgrade (includes adding boxes)

After you agree with the upgrade, the $23 fee will appear on the bill but will be credited back, so you can just disregard it.

Anyway these will be disclosed by the agent once you call DTV regarding the upgrade. Make sure you remind the agent to put it all in the notes.

The agent shouldn't have to be reminded to note the account, but fair enough. Best to cover all bases.

Make sure you read the order confirmation that is sent. That will verify if was processed as a regular upgrade or the MPEG swap. If it shows 24 month agreement, then you can call and cancel the order before you are installed.

But regardless, all boxes now are leased. Once deactivated you must send back, or recycle if not one they require anymore. There is no value in keeping the box as it is just a fancy looking paperweight at that point that cannot be used by someone else (without going back to DirecTV first).