Well, they handled it right.

After spending around 30 minutes discussing what all caused the issue, they came to the conclusion that they needed some time to get it resolved (understandably, as there were major issues that would take some time to clean up).  They got it right.

By the way, I love my DirecTV.  Being a college football junkie, I took a lot of pleasure watching multiple games in High-Def this weekend on ESPN and ESPN2.  If you are not watching football in HD, you don’t know what you are missing….so get DirecTV and catch at least 4-6 games each Saturday this fall in HD.

(Now, if I can just find a great affiliate program for them…..)

Now, I will say that I LOVE my DirecTV service.  I don’t feel anything they have done is intentional, but their billing software lacks something to be desired.

Some history:

We moved last November to our new house.  When I scheduled the move, I was given the offer for 3 free months of their premium service and the rest of the NFL Sunday Ticket at no cost and could cancel at the end of the term.  I accepted, mainly to watch HBO and Starz over the holidays.

The nightmare begins

After cancelling the premium package without issue, I notice I have an extra $65 (roughly) on my bill.  I look it up and it is for the NFL Sunday Ticket.  I call, have a long round of discussions with the customer service, and they agree to remove it (after all, it was their boiler room that misrepresented the deal to me…had I known they would charge me for it, I would have canceled as I do not watch that much NFL football).

In May/June timeframe, I notice they have charged me again.  I get back on the phone with them, go through the same process, and they remove again and credit me what they had charged me.  They are being responsive (although it took an hour on the phone with them to get the problem fixed).

And here is where it gets really, really bizarre….

I look at my recent bills.  Not only am I getting charged for the NFL Sunday Ticket, but I am getting charged for two services:  the HD DVR and the HD DVR with no locals.

They started billing me this way in June.

The HD DVR with No Locals (I have locals, so not the one I use) is $69.99/month they were overcharging me, including a partial billing cycle.  The billing system had things so screwed up that the customer service rep said it would take them about an hour to get it straightened out.

Now, I do not think DirecTV is trying to scam me with their dual billing.  I believe that is a fault of the billing system and not something done intentional.  The NFL Sunday Ticket deal has been a pain and I believe that I personally was misrepresented on that offer.

But this entire ordeal has me thinking…How many people are paying their bills by autopay that might not immediately notice this issue?  I know I would not have noticed for a few weeks unless I was monitoring my bank account.  I don’t think DirecTV does this purposely, but I know that some other places might.

So buyer beware – monitor your bills to make sure something screwy doesn’t happen.

And DirecTV, if you are reading, please make sure I am not billed again for the NFL Sunday Ticket.  Thanks.