I wonder if DirectTV is treating me different since BK?

[stray]

Still behind on some things, but getting caught up. The last couple of months I paid DirectTV a little late. Mortgage and utilities all come first. If I lived alone I would have cancelled them a long time ago. When I'm a few days late, they start calling 3-4 a day until the bill is paid. They never used to do that. I'm so exhausted by every day life the last couple of years, I decided to send them an email:

I have been a customer for nearly 12 years. I highly recommended your service to friends looking for an alternative to cable.

As with many Americans we are now struggling economically. We justify the DirectTV expense since it is our only entertainment. I receive email bills so am well aware when my payment is late. Yet, I get 4 calls a day from Direct TV that just call and hang up. What is the purpose of this other than to harass me? I work at home, these hang up calls come in all times of the day interrupting work and sometimes sleep. You know I have received my bill and late notice. You will shut me off if I don't pay. Why would you harass and add more stress to a long time customer?

Things will get better for my family one day. Loyalties will be with people and companies that treated us with respect. New technology is becoming available. Cable or satellite is no longer the only choice.

Why not rise to the challenge and treat your customers with dignity?

---------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Ms. xxxxxx,

Thank you for writing. Your email has been forwarded to me for special handling and I am happy to assist you today.

I understand your concerns regarding phone calls that you are receiving from DIRECTV regarding your account. It is not the intent of DIRECTV to create problems for our customers. At DIRECTV every customer is important to us, and your satisfaction is our primary concern. Please understand, DIRECTV reserves the right to contact you regarding your account information. If you would rather we contact you for such informational and business purposes at an alternate phone number, please contact customer service to update your account information. Our customer support team is available to assist you daily between 8:00 AM - 1:00 AM EST. I hope this information is helpful.

Again, thanks for writing, Ms. xxxxxx. I appreciate the opportunity to assist you today.

Sincerely,
DIRECTV Resolution Specialist

Oh well.

[frogger]

I'm surprised that they are calling. Normally, they just suspend the service.........

[katztoo]

They do this to me. I tell them the date (before the shutoff date) that I plan to make an online payment and they leave me alone. My son got his cut off for late (non) payment and they debited his account(he had to give a debit card number when he was late before) for the amount due(about 160), plus shut off charges, plus not returning his equipment. All in one big charge on his bank account of $1200 on payday. After calling them they agreed to give back everything but the amount due on the account but in two installments. It took two weeks to get his money back! Watch out for them... if you have any debit or bank account info with them they will take your money without notice.

[keepsmiling]

Comcast turned me off without any any warning last week.
And we haven't bk'ed yet and aren't that far behind.
I think they are all just getting tougher.

[stray]

Frogger, they pre-bill for their service, and give you a shut off date if you're a few days late. So I am thankful that at least they give us the hard date.

Katzoo, I guess I'll try and call them w/the pay date and see if that works. And no, never gave them a debit card, never will...yuk.

Keepsmiling (your avatar makes me think keepontruckin) I guess you're right, it's just all part of this new world we all live in. My clients want more for less and pay me late, living expenses go up. I guess I just thought that DirectTv would be different since they are an "optional" service. But they know how addicted to "Moonshiners" we are.