Hardrock69
12-18-2010, 02:14 AM
DirecTV just settled a lawsuit with the Attorney Generals' offices of all 50 states and agreed to pay ALL of their customers a refund.
Only thing is, they are hoping that their customers will remain unaware of the settlement, as they are not automatically giving a refund to their customers.
You have to contact your state AG's office to set the wheels in motion.
Not only have I already sent an email to my state AG's office about this, but I have also sent the press release to one of our local TV stations asking them to spread the word.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/DirecTV-Settles-Suit-Over-Misleading-Marketing-111838
DirecTV Settles Suit Over Misleading Marketing
Hidden fees, covert contract extensions, and other fun
by Karl Bode Wednesday 15-Dec-2010
DirecTV has settled a lawsuit claiming the company has been engaged in misleading marketing practices. Specifically, DirecTV was accused of failing to clearly disclose limitations on advertised prices, failing to clearly disclose contract terms, extending user contracts covertly when replacing defective equipment, promising "cash back" but instead delivering bill credit, and burying misleading fees below the line.
According to the original 2009 suit announcement by Washington State's Attorney General's Office, they received more complaints about DirecTV than any other business. The AG notes the company repeatedly violated the State's Consumer Protection Act:
"The miniscule 5.5 point fine print at the bottom of a DIRECTV advertisement is enough to give someone a migraine," McKenna said. "Even if consumers used a magnifying glass, they still wouldn’t discover that the 'good deal' they were promised came with potential expensive pitfalls."
As part of the settlement, DirecTV will pay $14.25 million spread out among the 48 States, largely to help counter the cost of the year-long joint investigation into the matter. Consumers can obtain refunds by contacting their State's AG Office. DirecTV's amusing announcement of course tries very hard to downplay the settlement, insisting the company was simply "contacted by a few states with some issues they wanted to address" and that "99 percent of our customers are extremely happy with DIRECTV's service." The company also insists that they were, like, totally just about to fix all of this misleading stuff before being contacted by several AG offices.
The DirecTV press release, which truly is a load of shit. Yes, they are SOOO fucking happy to take care of this. Fucking bastards! :mad:
www.directv.com/ag
DIRECTV Inc., Reaches Agreements with State Attorneys General
What is this agreement about?
The specific issues identified in the Attorneys General agreements address DIRECTV's advertising and promotions, customer communications, service and agreements.
We are pleased that more than 99 percent of our customers are extremely happy with DIRECTV's service. But in a business where we serve more than 19 million customers and take more than 120 million phone calls a year, we recognize that we don't get it right every single time. We are moving forward with a continued dedication to delivering exceptional customer service as we strive to revolutionize home entertainment across all platforms.
How did it come about?
DIRECTV was contacted by a few states with some issues they wanted to address. We then welcomed the participation of as many states as possible to ensure that all of our customers are treated the same way. We were happy to formalize these improvements
What does this mean for me?
You won't notice much of a change since DIRECTV was already in the process of implementing the majority of these improvements when contacted by some of the states. As a national company we were happy to formalize these improvements in agreement with Attorneys General across all 50 states and D.C. We will, of course, continue to monitor the overall customer experience to ensure that we are serving the customer with best-in-class products and service.
Will this change DIRECTV's advertising and promotions?
Advertising and promotions will include more prominent placement of information pertaining to specific offer details. Benefits and obligations will be made even clearer than they were previously.
If I have an unresolved issue along these lines what can I do?
Customers can forward any issues to their local state Attorneys General office who will in turn process them in association with DIRECTV for resolution.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Dec. 14, 2010 — DIRECTV, Inc., announced today that it has reached agreements with state Attorneys General in all 50 states regarding the company's advertising, customer service, and third-party retailer policies for its U.S.-based residential operations.
"DIRECTV has worked hand-in-hand with the Attorneys General to formalize many of the customer improvements we have made over the past few years and are pleased to have come to this agreement," said Mike White, chairman, president and CEO of DIRECTV. "DIRECTV is committed to always operating with the highest standards of integrity and will move forward with continued dedication to providing the best video experience possible for our customers."
The agreements formalize many of the improved advertising, customer service, and third-party retailer policies and practices DIRECTV had already implemented to better inform and serve its customers.
For more information about the settlement go to www.directv.com/ag.
Media Inquiries: 1-855-773-4732
So...14 million clams divided by how many customers.....14 million? So you might get a dollar...but what the fuck....a dollar taken back from DirecTV is a dollar earned. :biggrin:
Only thing is, they are hoping that their customers will remain unaware of the settlement, as they are not automatically giving a refund to their customers.
You have to contact your state AG's office to set the wheels in motion.
Not only have I already sent an email to my state AG's office about this, but I have also sent the press release to one of our local TV stations asking them to spread the word.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/DirecTV-Settles-Suit-Over-Misleading-Marketing-111838
DirecTV Settles Suit Over Misleading Marketing
Hidden fees, covert contract extensions, and other fun
by Karl Bode Wednesday 15-Dec-2010
DirecTV has settled a lawsuit claiming the company has been engaged in misleading marketing practices. Specifically, DirecTV was accused of failing to clearly disclose limitations on advertised prices, failing to clearly disclose contract terms, extending user contracts covertly when replacing defective equipment, promising "cash back" but instead delivering bill credit, and burying misleading fees below the line.
According to the original 2009 suit announcement by Washington State's Attorney General's Office, they received more complaints about DirecTV than any other business. The AG notes the company repeatedly violated the State's Consumer Protection Act:
"The miniscule 5.5 point fine print at the bottom of a DIRECTV advertisement is enough to give someone a migraine," McKenna said. "Even if consumers used a magnifying glass, they still wouldn’t discover that the 'good deal' they were promised came with potential expensive pitfalls."
As part of the settlement, DirecTV will pay $14.25 million spread out among the 48 States, largely to help counter the cost of the year-long joint investigation into the matter. Consumers can obtain refunds by contacting their State's AG Office. DirecTV's amusing announcement of course tries very hard to downplay the settlement, insisting the company was simply "contacted by a few states with some issues they wanted to address" and that "99 percent of our customers are extremely happy with DIRECTV's service." The company also insists that they were, like, totally just about to fix all of this misleading stuff before being contacted by several AG offices.
The DirecTV press release, which truly is a load of shit. Yes, they are SOOO fucking happy to take care of this. Fucking bastards! :mad:
www.directv.com/ag
DIRECTV Inc., Reaches Agreements with State Attorneys General
What is this agreement about?
The specific issues identified in the Attorneys General agreements address DIRECTV's advertising and promotions, customer communications, service and agreements.
We are pleased that more than 99 percent of our customers are extremely happy with DIRECTV's service. But in a business where we serve more than 19 million customers and take more than 120 million phone calls a year, we recognize that we don't get it right every single time. We are moving forward with a continued dedication to delivering exceptional customer service as we strive to revolutionize home entertainment across all platforms.
How did it come about?
DIRECTV was contacted by a few states with some issues they wanted to address. We then welcomed the participation of as many states as possible to ensure that all of our customers are treated the same way. We were happy to formalize these improvements
What does this mean for me?
You won't notice much of a change since DIRECTV was already in the process of implementing the majority of these improvements when contacted by some of the states. As a national company we were happy to formalize these improvements in agreement with Attorneys General across all 50 states and D.C. We will, of course, continue to monitor the overall customer experience to ensure that we are serving the customer with best-in-class products and service.
Will this change DIRECTV's advertising and promotions?
Advertising and promotions will include more prominent placement of information pertaining to specific offer details. Benefits and obligations will be made even clearer than they were previously.
If I have an unresolved issue along these lines what can I do?
Customers can forward any issues to their local state Attorneys General office who will in turn process them in association with DIRECTV for resolution.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Dec. 14, 2010 — DIRECTV, Inc., announced today that it has reached agreements with state Attorneys General in all 50 states regarding the company's advertising, customer service, and third-party retailer policies for its U.S.-based residential operations.
"DIRECTV has worked hand-in-hand with the Attorneys General to formalize many of the customer improvements we have made over the past few years and are pleased to have come to this agreement," said Mike White, chairman, president and CEO of DIRECTV. "DIRECTV is committed to always operating with the highest standards of integrity and will move forward with continued dedication to providing the best video experience possible for our customers."
The agreements formalize many of the improved advertising, customer service, and third-party retailer policies and practices DIRECTV had already implemented to better inform and serve its customers.
For more information about the settlement go to www.directv.com/ag.
Media Inquiries: 1-855-773-4732
So...14 million clams divided by how many customers.....14 million? So you might get a dollar...but what the fuck....a dollar taken back from DirecTV is a dollar earned. :biggrin: