subject: Satellite TV And Issues With Lock In Rates [print this page] Satellite TV And Issues With Lock In Rates
Every satellite TV provider in the United States of America has specific lock in rate, which is unchangeable. When the subscribers sign in with satellite TV companies and they are offered a price with lock in period, it implies that for that duration of time, the rates will not change. In fact, keeping this in mind, usually consumers opt for different packages. They generally select a pack with nominal monthly rental for a period of either six months, 12 months or for two years. It depends on the company what it is offering its subscribers, but definitely it is assumed that lock in rates doesn't increases during a certain time period.
However, DirecTV, one of the leading satellite TV providers in the country has been alleged for raising its lock in' rates. A subscriber who signed up with the company took up the package, because DirecTV highly advertised a rate, which was locked in' for a period of 12 months. But he was shocked to see his bill after 3 months, which reflected an increase of $10. The subscriber was confused and he immediately called up DirecTV supervisor so that this mistake can be rectified soon.
To his surprise, he received the answer revealing that this was not a big issue and that the company had the right to change the policies and raise the rate whenever they want. This subscriber was greatly disappointed with this act of DirecTV, who in spite of promising a particular rate for a year, increased it suddenly and without even informing the consumer. This was highly disgusting on the part of DirecTV and its employees. In fact, this is not expected of a satellite TV giant as DirecTV.
The abhorrence of subscriber was evident when he said, "No matter how much logical reasoning I tried with these people it was like they were reading a script and would NOT listen to me. I even tried to get out of my contract... of course they won't let you do that. To me this is a blatant abuse of good customer relations. I am severely disappointed in DirecTV. So, now I'm stuck paying $10 a month...which in itself wouldn't be that big a deal but when someone makes you a promise it should be the exact way they promise you. I find it funny they run so many ads about referring friends to them. Why would a customer refer anyone they like to a company that pulls cheap tricks like this with their customers?"
Certainly, as the DirecTV subscriber has remarked although $10 is not a big deal to pay as extra but when a company promises something, it should stick by it. However, DirecTV although being a brand name has indulged into unethical practice of raising a price which was locked in'. Even if it had plans to raise the price within lock in period, it should have at least informed consumers about it.
