[Direct TV] 26 Viacom Networks to Be Dropped @ MIDNIGHT

You have to tell those guys you have intentions of canceling due to the inconvenience from Viacom. If you call and just ask for a discount they are going to offer you ****. Stay adamant about canceling your service and you'll get the hook up.

 

Great deal. NFL Sunday Ticket free (1 year contract), $20 off my bill for the next year, $10 off my bill for the next 3 months and Starz! for the next 6 months for free.

 

Just called them and got $20 off my bill. And got them to replace an HD receiver I was having issues with a newer model. I already have Premier Package so didn't need any of the other channels. Guess I should have pushed for NFL Sunday Ticket.

 

I just got offered crap from retention. Starz and showtime for 6 months free?!

I want the $20 credit!

 

Was the $20 credit offered to you guys, or did you ask for it? I can't seem to come up with a way to get it offered to me. I keep getting offered free premium channels or downgrading my channels package

 

How long have you been with them? And what sort of channels package do you have already?
They said, 'Let me see what we can do.' I cut him off and said, I already have the Premier Package. I have all 285 of your channels plus some International Channels. There's not much you can offer me. He had to backtrack and said, 'We'll see what we can do to compensate you monetarily then since you were paying for something that you can't get anymore.' He looked up something and said I was eligible for $18 a month. But at the end, without my prompting, he said it's actually $20.
I didn't have to ask for that. I did ask about the HD receiver replacement since that is something that's been pissing me off.
Also, I've been a customer for about 10 years.

 

I've got Choice Extra. I told them that I value the monthly payment amount more than free premium channels. I have 15 months left on my deal. It cost me $350 to cancel, so it would make sense for me to cancel now instead of waiting for the contract. I pay $80 a month right now.

 

Sorry. Forgot to mention I've been with them for 2 years

 

Yeah, I'm not certain but it would be likely that they take the package and length as customer in consideration.
I've been a customer about 10 years and pay about $175 a month. Which means they still make a ton off of me despite their $20 discount.

 

Well just called back and got something different. I just said I would like to take them up on their offer from the last phone call. Didn't mention the specifics. It was 6 months of either Starz or showtime for free.

He came back a minute later and gave me $10 off my bill for the next 3 months and gave me showtime for free for a year.

Is getting a discount from directv as simple as asking? Or do I have to keep calling retention?

Also, FWIW, the guy told me that a deal with Viacom should happen by next week. I was probably speaking to Hennigan

 

FWIW

I just got off the phone with Directv.
A little about my situation. I have been a customer less than a year and i have Choice extra with auto bill pay. (don't know if any of that matters)

I called and told them i wanted to see what it took to cancel my service. They transferred me to the cancelation dept. A service rep picked up and asked why i wanted to cancel and i told him that i'm more than frustrated with the viacom situation and that it was the same deal last year with FX. TOld him i didn't sign up for this and i was real big fan of the channels that are not available right now. He tested me basically when he asked what shows i enjoyed from the channels, i ran down a list of shows and programs from Comedy Central VH1 and Nick (90's nick baby!) I told him i was a BIG football fan as well.

Anyway, the guy initially offered me STARZ and i politely told him i was not big on the premium channels. He then offered me $20 dollars off my bill for the next 6 months. He then says he can offer me free NFL Sunday Ticket instead, I opted for the $20 credit. I didn't get as much as others but more than i thought because i've only been with them almost a year.

And i lived happily ever after. The end.

 

Forgot to add that i DIDN'T have to agree to another contract ( have a little over a year left)

Also i pay 37.99 plus tax a month (prior to me calling)

 

Just called back on an unrelated issue. Got an upgrade to hd/dvr receiver to replace hd receiver with half off install ($25).

So to recap.....

Dvr upgrade.
$50 NFL Ticket.
1 yr dvr service free.
$30 off next bill.
$20 off next 11 months.
Free Showtime for six months.

Not bad at all. Wish I'd gotten the Ticket for free though like some of you did. Maybe I'll call back.

 

Next time I'll just rep someone from here to make the call for me. Illeep that person for a month straight or something

 

This!! It's very important to call and not ask for deals right off the bat. Ask them how much it will cost to cancel your contract. At this point you are bluffing.
Your intent is to cancel due to the Viacom issue and/or, like another user stated, that you view most of your programming via Netflix, Hulu, etc. If you are bringing up the Viacom issue be sure to list some of the Viacom channels and the programs that you and your family enjoyed watching. The rep will bring up comparable programs/channels, the extra channels that they've enabled, etc. But stand firm about the programming that Viacom offers... Spike, MTV, VH1 all offer unique programmings you can't get anywhere else, if you have kids, tell them that your kids enjoyed watching Nickelodeon. More than likely, some of these channels are the reason why you went with DirecTV in the first place.
Once you've expressed your displeasure, the rep will go down the list of deals in which you are "qualified" for. I think it's up to the rep's discretion on what they can/will offer you. They will never call your bluff to cancel.

 

This is not true. I had a friend who was relatively new with DirecTV and tried to get Sunday Ticket for free in his second year with the cancellation threat. They told him the cost it would be to cancel the remaining months of his contract without fulfilling it if he wished to continue and it was the end of the conversation.


I really think it is dependent upon which agent you get when you call in

 

I misread the title and thought that BET was being canceled as a channel........smh I got excited for nothing.

 

Here is what I did when I called in:

Enter account information

When prompted say "Cancel Service"

I was first transferred to the Premium Services department. I started off by asking what type of fees or penalties I would incur by canceling and they told me I was currently day-to-day meaning I would incur none. I continued asking about cancellation by asking what I would be charged if I canceled today, what is the charge per day if I cancel in a week, etc. The agent finally stated they could not help me and would transfer me to the Cancellation Department.

Once there I asked the same cancellation questions as above. I was then asked why I wanted to cancel an if it had anything to do with the Viacom issues that the service was going through. I stated that it was sorted of related and gave her my spill, the same one I listed on the previous page. Basically how I have been a customer paying for the biggest package and Sunday Ticket in full price over the last several years and other have not. After that, the agent began listing the things that she could give me for compensation

 

Just got off the phone with Directv. I got...

12 months showtime
6 months Starz Super pack
$5 off bill for 6 months

Man, that was easy...:grin:

 

Looks like the freebies are now over. Viacom channels returned.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/di...gital-rights-for-directv-customers-2012-07-20