Why was I charged for a ‘Free’ movie?

Are you a Directv Satellite customer or a Directv Streaming Customer?  Are you talking about a free PPV or a free movie channel?  I guess it doesn't really matter your best bet would be to call and talk with customer service and as long as you have the proof then they should refund you.

DTV Satellite customer. Free PPV movie was offered, but we were charged for it anyway. We *never* watch PPV, and in fact this is the very first time we used the PPV on demand service, so I am positive this should not have been charged. 

DTV is not going to charge you for a movie unless you  chose to watch one. I have received that email twice and did not do the offer because they credit up to $5.99 takes 60 days to take effect.

We did watch a movie, but I don’t see why it would take so long to apply the credit. Why would you pay for a free movie, then get reimbursed at a later date outside of the billing cycle? This makes no sense, as it will result in mismatched billing within the audit cycles, which is a very poor (borderline fraudulent) accounting practice. 

The up to 60 days is essentially within the next 2 bills that you receive. For example if you watch a PPV near the end of the bill cycle then the charge is on the next bill, but if by the time the promotion was validated and processed the cycle started over then the credit covering the PPV charge could be on the bill following it (so charge and credit not on same bill).

It is not fraudulent (borderline or otherwise) as long as you get the promotion as stated. I am not a fan of how it is setup, but it spells out that technicality in the fine print (something always important to review with any promotion).

Just so you don't run into a similar issue, be aware of any "free" 3 months (or 2 for 1s) of any premium packs (HBO, etc.). Since the packs bundle into each other for a built-in savings, you show a partial charge from the day added thru the end of that month with the full charge showing for the next month all on the first bill. Starting with that bill you get a flat credit for the value of what is free for 3 bills. If you remove that pack at the end of the 3 months then on bill 4 you get a partial credit that equals out to that partial charge at the start. You do get the full value of the special, but it is the fine print that reminds on how the prorating works. I mention this as the most common example of simple advertisement vs detailed fine print that others have complained about for similar reasons as your PPV issue.

he credit takes 60 days to be applied. It says so in the fine print in the offer at the bottom.

The fine print officially says

Offer available to select customers only. Customer must be an active DIRECTV account holder in good standing. Offer valid for rental of one movie title up to $5.99. Upon rental, the customer will be billed for the full listed price and then credited for the rental amount up to $5.99. Offer excludes movies $6.00 and up. Movie available to watch for 30 days following rental date. Once the movie has been started must complete viewing in 48 hours. Allow up to 60 days for credit.

To simplify as different posts on this topic are being posted to:

As long as the credits equal the value of the individual cost for 3 months (in the case of 3 month free premium), or you get credit for the PPV within the set time period (up to 60 days), then there is nothing "illegal". You are getting exactly what is offered. Nothing requires the special to show $0 from the start. What matters is that in the end the numbers (credits/charges) cover what the special is worth.

This way it is listed on the billing doesn't have to be liked by every one of us customers, but we are getting the promotion.

This will cost Directv a customer!! Very bad free offer, why would anyone scroll down after clicking watch now and read the fine print on a free movie. I've been a customer  for over 10 years and changing my bill immediately to add a free movie my movie was $3.99 plus tax and it didn't take up to 2 billing cycles for them to change my bill. They have blocked me from removing my autopay. To me this is a criminal act. I wanted to pay online immediately before auto pay and change method of pay. But Oh No money hungry (Edited per community guidelines)s. I should have canceled them after they expose my personal information to hackers including my SS# all on the dark web.  Ignorance isn't bliss but ignoring it is.

You probably didn't read the TOS either. it states you have to have a payment method on file at all times  so to change or stop auto pay you have to enter a new payment method.  DTV isn't the only one with your info.