Problems with DirecTV

Last week, DirecTV acknowledged that employees had given customers incorrect information regarding HD packages available in our area. Now one former subscriber says he shouldn’t have to pay for canceling his contract.

John Jacovino had stakes sticking out of the ground and filled holes in his house where his DirecTV dishes used to stand. When his older television went out earlier this year he bought an HD television and had to decide what carrier to use to get high definition service.

Jacovino said, “After talking to DirecTV and their telling us clearly that we would get HD reception with two Wilmington stations and all four network stations in HD, we signed the contract with DirecTV.”

But Jacovino said DirecTV never delivered that service. He said he wrote a letter to the billing office explaining the problem and got a mailing receipt. He followed up with phone calls several times and kept a record of each conversation. After several months with no response or improvement Jacovino canceled his service and feels he should not have to pay the 400 dollar cancellation fee.

He finally spoke with a representative from the DirecTV president’s office. They did not have a copy of the letter.

It seems like Jacovino isn’t alone. The Better Business Bureau gives DirecTV a C rating and said in the last 3 years the company has had more than 20,000 complaints.

They made no adjustments in nearly 7,000 cases.

Consumers have listed detailed complaints on consumer affairs including one Wilmington man just a few weeks ago. Jacovino just wants DirecTV to make good on their word.

“I am owed a $340 fee. I would like that fee waved. I’m happy, DirecTV has done the ethical business practice, that they should do and we can go on from there.”

Jacovino has since switched to a cable service and has HD.

If you have a complaint about a business in our area you can call North Carolina consumer protection at 877-566-7226.