New Music Stations SONC Stinks !! by: Tommy Walters
I miss the XM Satellite Radio. I made the grim discovery earlier this week that XM Radio was replaced with something called SONC.
Many of the stations are parallel like the rock stations, country stations,classical music stations ect..
But I am a big fan of the 40's 50's and 60's too. (And I am only 39) The XM 40's station was terrific.
It played the ORIGINAL recordings of the Big Band and Pop era including groups like the Mills Bros and Ink Spots.
I also loved the fact that they played vintage recordings of the 20's and 30's as well as they included 50's Pre Rock Pop. It was getting better everyday.
The XM 40's station has been replaced with Big Band and Swing and it is not remotely the same. They are not original recordings and I very rarley hear a tune I am familiar with.
They are playing the right bands, but not the songs that made them famous or you that can even sing along or relate to in any way.
I am not hearing Mills Brothers or Ink Spots, two very popular and influential groups of that Era.
SONC Big Band and Swing is way off the mark and it stinks!!
The SONC Malt Shop station is very good, but I will miss some of the radio shows that XM 50's played.
I enjoyed a lot of the interviews with the singers of that time and I learned so much triva from the MC's.
And XM 50's also include the Pre-Rock Pop music of the early to mid 50's. My Dad would comment that it really sounded like radio and juke boxes from that time.
I used to enjoy the Easy Listening station ESCAPE on XM. It was elevator music but it was nice and relaxing now and then and they played songs you knew and could even sing along to.
The replacement for this is Contemporary Instramentals and is more of a smooth jazz station.
I haven't recognized one song on that station yet. The whole idea of piped in music is to have what you want.
There isn't enough to make real music lovers happy with this SONC. SONC has not properly replaced stations I loved and the XM Radion 40's and 50's was the only reason I haven't gone to cable.
Now I might as well, I can get my internet, phone and TV for one low price. I wasn't going to because of XM 40's and XM 50's but now I am strongly considering it. SONC needs to get a station like Malt Shopt but plays the popular music hits of the 40's 50's, 60's and beyond. (including the 20's and 30s and even more recent years.)
AM radio used to have "The Music of your life" stations. (They have gone down hill too.) That's what's needed, the "Music of your Life" stations they way they used to be.
Do it before I go back to cable, I am not on contract any more and without XM radio or an acceptable replacement there is no reason for me to stay with Direct TV.
Feb 04, 2010 Rating
Direct TV Bad Service by: KRK
I HAVE ENDED MY SERVICE WITH DIRECT TV AND HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ABOUT 4/5 WEEKS FOR THE BOXES TO RETURN THEIR EQUIPMENT.
AS OF TODAY, ALL I'VE GOTTEN IS A LOT OF EXCUSES AND PROMISES. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THEY OWE ME A SUBSTANTIAL REFUND WHICH I CAN'T GET UNTIL THEIR EQUIPMENT IS RETURNED.
Jan 08, 2010 Rating
comcast cable by: Jim Dunn
I don't know what Direct TV contract is with comcast but I wish Direct TV would stop advertising for them.
I am a super Portland Trailblazer fan and it kills me that the channels that brodcast the blazer games is black out in my area because comcast isn't available in my area,so why not black them out?
Sep 21, 2009 Rating
Att&t lied to get you hooked-up with Direct TV by: Anonymous
I was conned into trying Direct TV thru At&t. They told me I woulnd't have to sign a 2 year agreement, and so when the guy came to hook-up Direct TV, I told him and he said since I was told that he wouldn't have me sign an agreement.
So after 2wks of getting no good channels like I was informed of 350 at $34.99 month and never going up, I got my first bill and it was $65.00!! Hey wait a minute that was not what I was told in the beginning!
Oh well sorry, stuck with it now!! So then they said I had to get rebates over internet to knock down the price, well they took some time and my bill is still not $34.99 month!!
I called to cancel and they told me for a mere $410.00 I could... and told me I was committed for 24m months, how is that? I never signed anything?
They are rip-offs!! We need to all stand united on this!! I am widow, on fixed income and that is not right!!
Aug 12, 2009 Rating
Quality of Direct TV customer Service and Cost by: Anonymous
Numerous calls to Direct TV service results in run around menu driven selects, that eventually gets you to a service tech that does not know S--T.
The Direct TV cost of service is exorbitant at $75 for one HD unit and one SD unit. Adding in any premiums or service repair contracts and you are well over $100 a month. At that price they should give you satellite internet..
Aug 01, 2009 Rating
Direct TV has bad customer service by: Daniel Rickman
As soon as my contract is up I am finding someone else. I only got Direct for the NFL Sunday Ticket and they have held that over my head very close to blackmail.
I over paid by 18 dollars last month and they can't (or won't) tell me where it has been credited to this month?s bill.
I was told by three different customer service representative that the money was credited to my account but they don't show that on the bill.
Why? And all three told me I need to learn to read my bill. I never raised my voice nor talked disrespectful.
Two of them got loud and disrespectful with me.
All I wanted to know was where my money went. I signed up for 18 months and have only 6 more to go. Direct TV can keep there Sunday Ticket . . .
I'll be going to Dish Network. Parents have it (2 1/2 years) and their bill has never been over 38 dollars.
Jun 29, 2009 Rating
Direct TV Customer Service STINKS by: Anonymous
They won't help over the phone anymore, to people who are 6+ year customers. They have raised their prices in the last 3 months and they won't help over the phone. They are pushing service contracts of $5.99 a month and pushing that a service call is needed for $59.99. They are unfair to their good customers. Won't be keeping them. Going to another company.
Direct TV is the most expensive and their customer service stinks.
They said it was their equipment, now it is mine and they won't fix it! BAIT AND SWITCH!
DIRECT TV CUSTOMER SERVICE STINKS DON'T SIGN UP!
Jun 24, 2009 Rating
Terrible Direct TV Customer Service by: Rose Nash
I cannot register my rebate on line as it is not accessible and the whole package of direct TV and Att&t Internet DSL is a HORRIBLE nightmare.
Mar 30, 2009 Rating
Common criminals by: Anonymous
Direct tv is nothing but a bunch of common criminals. They lie about the service they will provide and the price you will pay, they take your money with NO ACCOUNTABILITY!
I wrote a letter to their complaint department, and was basically told tough sh&t. In this economy, we need better customer service and more accountability.
Direct tv should be ashamed of themselves stealing from American families like they are.
Mar 13, 2009 Rating
NO ACCOUNTABILITY by: Anonymous
DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE RAZZLE DAZZLE. This company has no accountability. They do not do what they say and once they get your monies, you are screwed.
Their customer service is awful. I have called 8 times on the same issue and get a different story every time.
Find another provider!!
Mar 08, 2009 Rating
Disrespectful Repair Service for Direct TV by: Penny Wilson
On Sunday, March 2, 2009 it snowed 4 inches and the wind gusted to 35 miles an hour here in Northwest Alabama.
It messed up my Direct TV satellite signal by moving the dish attached to my home. I called Direct TV that night and after figuring out that they could'nt fix it by phone they set up an appointment for a service repairman to come to my home.
I had to work until the following Sunday and they set up a guaranteed time between 8am and 12pm for him to get here. Meantime I had no reception for the whole week.
After waiting until 12:20pm and no repairman I called Direct TV again to find out what was the problem.
They credited my account 100.00 for the inconvenience and told me the repairman would call in 20 minutes and he did.
Joe stated he would be here in about 30 minutes. I then waited until 2:20pm and was irritated because I was promised a guaranteed certain time for repair and had other appointments besides this.
I then called Direct TV and they stated repairman didn't have proper directions to my home, so I gave the directions.
10 minutes later a lady from TV Connections called and stated that repairman wasn't coming today.
This was the straw that broke the camel's back along with the comment she made that the repairman had tried to call my home and the line was busy.
I told her that was a lie because I had not been on the phone, figuring they would have to call for the directions because Direct TV and the 1st repairman phone call did not ask for directions.
The repairman never called and she stated he was now 90 miles away and would not come today. I am very disgusted with this service from both parties and I am actively looking for an alternative Satellite TV source.
I have been a customer since 2005 and have always paid before time. I then called Direct TV back and stated I wanted to file a complaint about being done this way.
Little did it matter but I did went to a lady. She was sorry for the inconvenience. I had this service repair order in for a week, and I even wonder would anyone have called to let me know the repairman wasn't coming.
Mar 03, 2009 Rating
unfair to customers by: Anonymous
I was told by one of direct tv customers that if i paid my bill i would be turned back on the same day.
Now after i paid the bill now they say i need a credit card or debit card to get turned back on.
I think that is really unfair and there employees just to get you to pay.I am taken it to the better business bureau here in Maine Plus seeing a lawyer.
Mar 02, 2009 Rating
Lies & Steals Money by: Anonymous
I had Direct TV for 24 months. During that 24 months I moved to another home and only transferred my service over.
When we transferred our service we asked and made sure that we were not getting in another 18 month long contract since my contract was already up with them.
I did not want to be locked in. We were told we weren't since all we were doing was transferring our service, and the home we moved to had Direct TV dish and cable ready.
When the guy came out he laughed because he said he didn't even need to be there to connect my boxes that we brought over from the other house.
We asked him again about being in a contract and he again said NO and I did not sign anything stating otherwise.
My husband called Direct TV to confirm that we were not being locked into another 18 month contract and again they said NO.
Six months after living in the new house we had to move again. We decided not to go with Direct TV again because we were going to get a better deal through another company saving us money.
When I called to cancel my service the customer service girl told me about an early cancellation charge and I told her "No I should not have that" and she said "ok" then she proceeded to tell me whatever my final bill was she would charge to the credit card on file.
I stated to her that the credit card she had on file was NOT my credit card and since I was the only person on the account to mail me my final bill and gave her my forwarding address to do so.
We got a big surprise when Direct TV charged a credit card $340 on someone's credit card who wasn't even on the Direct TV account.
When I called the customer service number they refused to credit the person's card back the charges was the final bill and early cancellation fee.
Direct TV put financial distress on the credit card holder and so far we have not been able to resolve the problem.
Calling the 800 number won't help you. You ask for a supervisor and they will NOT give you one.
Good luck in getting your money back from them, they do everything they can to screw you over! Going to blog, go to BBB, write Direct TV personally and do whatever it takes to get those charges reversed.
Oh and by the way they say 8 days to get your money back if you follow their directions on how to do it.
What do you do when they cleaned out your account and now you have no food or gas money until they figure out they have made a mistake?
This can't be right nor legal.
Feb 27, 2009 Rating
No Local Service by: Nelson Hewgley
I had dish network, switched to Direct TV told i would have local service in 2 months.
I had been here for a year still don't have. Every other satellite tv provider in area has local channels why can't you?
I'm taking my choice back to dish network. and I shouldn't have to pay an early out since i'm up in may 2009.
Feb 24, 2009 Rating
Deceptive Business Practice by: Anonymous
Direct TV has so many complaints against it for it's practice of deceiving customers that is is amazing that they are still in business.
We upgraded our service to HD after a year of standard service. We were never told that we agreed to extend our "contract" for 2 years by doing so.
After a year of HD service we had the service disconnected and now they want to have us pay a $240 early termination fee.
No way are we letting this happen, no one should be intimated by Direct TV. Fight back and join a class action lawsuit like we are going to do.
Feb 23, 2009 Rating
Referal offer by: Anonymous
AS of November 4, 2008 we became a Direct TV customer. The referral offer activation was done on November 13.
Even received an e-mail November 20 confirming submission for the "Direct TV rebate". When said rebate was not noted on any statement as as February 10th, I called to find out why.
On that date I was told that it should have been activated. Today I received a letter stating that I would not be getting the $50 rebate because I did not order Direct TV service at the same time as the rebate submission.
AT NO TIME was that information shared until I received the letter today February 23. Needless to say, I am not a happy Direct TV customer what with the above and other issues I have had to deal with concerning this account.
Feb 20, 2009 Rating
UPSET CUSTOMER by: Anonymous
I feel like we have been taken by this company. I knew we were in trouble when the service man came and hooked us up then came with a contract.
We did not sign that but we did sign a work order. Direct TV says that the same thing as a contract.
We are only here in AZ for three months, we ordered this through Quest a bundle package. They never told us about a contract, they knew we are only here for three months.
They told us we could turn it off when we leave, now Direct TV says:"no."
We have to pay now, this depends on who you talk too. I have spent over 7 hours trying to resolve this issue and each person has a different story.
We have been so upset, we do not have the extra money to pay this company as like others have said.
Their bill is taken out of the bank auto and each time its for more money.I called them three days after we had it installed due to weekend and they said there is no way to get out of the contract unless we pay three hundred and sixty dollars.
I had told the installer to take it out the same day and he said he couldn't do that.We fell we have been defaulted by the company.
We will tell everyone what we think of this company. They are misrepresenting their company!
Feb 17, 2009 Rating
Bad customer Service on Direct TV by: Elizabeth
On 2/09/09 my TV went from a perfect picture to "Searching for Satellite". When Customer Service contacted I did all the reset, check cables inside & outside.
Appears that all connections are ok. I was given a date of 2/26/09, almost 3 weeks for a technician to service. This amount of time is unacceptable.
Making me seriously thinking of closing my account & going with another company.
Feb 04, 2009 Rating
loud commercials by: Anonymous
we have direct tv and have been a steady customer for 12 years but lately we are watching tv and a commercial comes on and the volume comes up so loud, till you would think the house blew up will get in touch with them and if they cant keep the volume level the people will be on the outside looking in.
Feb 04, 2009 Rating
Bad Customer Service by: Long Time Customer
There is no customer service - and what there is has been one of the worst experiences I have had in a very long time.
4 appointments to upgrade to digital; 2 never showed and 2 did but after tried; and still no TV.
Is there anyone out there that has a clue?
Jan 25, 2009 Rating
large volume on commercial ads by: Howard miller
I have noticed since i got Direct TV that the programming is poor.
When you are watching a program and a commercial comes on the volume go way up and you need to constantly playing with the volume control.
The customer service gave some weak excuse that this is the channels problem and not theirs but when we had other services this didn't happen.
Jan 19, 2009 Rating
Horrible Experience with Direct TV by: Waller
We ordered Direct TV on Nov. 19, 2008. Our home is in IL. but we winter in TX. and that is where we wanted to get hooked up. First, could not get equipment shipped. Called about 2 weeks later and they said they were checking shipping address.
No equipment received. Called again-did not have all parts. Told them to ship by certain date or cancel. We received at 6:30 PM on date before date to cancel. Then someone from IL called to hook us up. Told them we were in TX.
Called Direct TV several times. Finally got installation date. Said would call l/2 hr before coming and be here between 8 and l PM. No one called or showed up.
We called and cancelled. They said would ship labels to send equipment back. Did not get. Called again. Labels were sent to IL. Called again. 2nd labels sent to IL.
Have Emailed several times and spent hours on telephone re: this whole deal. They took their money out of our bank and now say will not pay back.
The problem has been with the people that they hire to hook up the equipment but it sure makes Direct TV look very inadequate and gives them a bad name.
We have told so many people about this experience already and we will continue to tell others as we travel.
Direct TV many have taken our money but they will lose much more as we tell our story. I We have never had such a horrible experience with a company before.
We have been dealing with this for 2 months now and still have equipment sitting in boxes. Shame, shame on Direct TV.
Jan 19, 2009 Rating
Direct TV has Poor Service by: Anonymous
I have been a Direct TV customer for many years. I responded to get my system upgraded for the new HD service.
One installer came out and told me the new satelittes are lower in the hemosphere and I now have trees blocking my view.
I have tried to get a service tech to come out and place a dish on the other side of my tree line. This all started back in October.
I am about to loose what HD service I now have. I have a new date of 01-28 for a tech to come out and tell me again that I can't receive service.
There is a huge disconnect between Direct TV customer service and the local techs who are subcontracted.
I feel as if there is knowone with a brain that I might speak with and work out a solution for me to give them more money. Unbelievable.
Jan 13, 2009 Rating
Worst customer service in the business by: Anonymous
I too have had billing problems. Charging me more than what was advertised, then saying we must sign-up for autopay in order to get the price quoted us.
We were to pay 39.99 plus 4.99 a piece for three receivers. The first month our bill was for 90.03 and this month it was for 102.03.
My husband called three numbers trying to talk to someone to resolve it to have the third person give him the number he called first!
I would never recommend this service to anyone. I think they are on the verge of a Better Business investigation!
Dec 31, 2008 Rating
Bad installation service by: Anonymous
I had a dish installed on a metal roof and now can not get service for my dish.
I have called several times after receiving a letter stating they will pay for my roof being repaired wanting to ask if they are going to relocate my dish or do I have to pay someone to reset it for me.
After two days they have not returned my phone calls. Frustrated !!!!!
Nov 25, 2008 Rating
No Direct TV signal by: Anonymous
When it rains hard, or snows normal or a litle above average, I loose my picture.
Sometimes the locals stay on, and the rest are off. Direct TV had better get some better ways to service their customers like me, and they should re-imburse me for all the lost Direct TV programing.
Nov 23, 2008 Rating
Held hostage by: Gary Allsebrook
My DVR 20-700 died - completely cold to the touch. I am slightly past due (no service interuption until Dec. 4th) and I did pay the bill through bill-pay at my bank.
I can't get past the "pay now" voice mail menu and when it asks if I made a payment, what amount and when it then hangs up on me.
I tried to email to the customer support and it tells me that the "phone number listed is "not the one on the account". Bullshit. It's extortion plain and simple.
Anyone else have problems with billing.tech support? Is there a "backdoor" to customer support?
Nov 17, 2008 Rating
Worst Satellite TV company I've ever had to deal with. by: Ida Dorn
Direct TV is by far the worst company I've ever had to deal with. First they promised me a 29.99 a month plan and it wasn't till I got my first bill that I saw they were charging me 64.99 instead of 29.99.
Their excuse was that I had to wait 2 to 3 payments to get my 29.99 price not just that but I would be paying the 64.99 after the year even though I was never told this before - I signed up for a 2 year agreement.
And that was only the half of it, twice already they've cashed my checks but cut my service insisting I still owed them full price only to clear it up 3 days later. I cant wait till I can get rid from them...
Aug 28, 2008 Rating
Direct TV rating "1" by: Marilyn Holland
Direct Tv could care less about customer service. HD monitor caught on fire.....No body could give me a moment of their time.
"We will send you a new receiver..took 3 weeks" When ask for the number of corporate HQ - "sorry, they dont have that number" Next Direct TV will bill you for 3 receivers ..then 2 then 1
Then Direct TV will send you a box with no air bill. You can make endless calls and wait another 2 weeks and a lot of time on the phone.
When you move you are promised 3 receivers "Oh Gosh! Thats not right! you only get one"
The tech doesn't even know how to hook up, he just sits on my sofa and looks dumb.
My husband was able to fix!Gee.. Should I be upset or is this the American way?
Aug 26, 2008 Rating
Direct TV Tech services by: Anonymous
I have been without video service now for 2 weeks .. All because some technician/customer service representative cancel my appointment without notifying me as to why.
On the day that the technician shall visit my home and never showed, I called Direct TV and all they offered was their apology and a appointment for a technician to come out in 4 days, they also could not explain why my appointment was canceled in the first place, all they kept offering were their apologies which is no good for service that you are paying for.. not to mention their paychecks.
