complaintoftc
@dlls.dlbtx01r1
| Mad as Hell? File a complaint!
If you are like me, a directv dsl customer without a working service, or just wishing to switch or cancel your service but can't due to being held hostage then please file a complaint with the FTC. The link is below:
»https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z···ODE=PU01 |
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ITGuy72
Permanently Disco
Premium
join:2001-11-01
New York | Can you clarify how you feel you are held hostage?
Dispute your last month's bill, disconnect, and move on.
What good will it do filing a complaint against a company that is shutting down? |
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dimitrir
join:2002-11-03
Cary, NC | The 'disconnect' part is a problem - it looks like there is nobody left @ DTVBB to handle disconnection requests, and this can be a MAJOR problem when switching to another provider. |
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ITGuy72
Permanently Disco
Premium
join:2001-11-01
New York
| I disagree, there are people here in this forum who put in disconnect requests, and have been disconnected. The problem is that they now have to wait for their line to be released for another provider. This has always been a lengthy process, and typically takes around 2 weeks. I guess that's where the 'held hostage' feelings are coming in, but it's nothing new and has always been the case whenever you disconnect your DSL line from any provider.
I just hope now DirecTV can speed up the releases so everyone can go about getting their new service activated, but I don't think filing complaints is going to do much but maybe make people feel like they've got a load off their back by complaining! |
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echo2k5
join:2001-11-10
06969
| reply to complaintoftc
quote:
The 'disconnect' part is a problem - it looks like there is nobody left @ DTVBB to handle disconnection requests, and this can be a MAJOR problem when switching to another provider.
Exactly...I got the disconnect...but they still have my line tied up...There is no way to contact them...my telco (Qwest) can't even get a hold of them and it's their freakin line! What a mess they left us with...the transition is another joke...do some reading here and there...I had this service for only 2 weeks...they charged me for a month...their website states:
"In any event, you will only be billed for services received through termination of your service (whether terminated by DIRECTV Broadband or at your request)."
[text was edited by author 2002-12-19 15:38:35] |
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complaintoftc
@dlls.dlbtx01r1
| reply to ITGuy72
As others have suggested, I can't move on!!!!!! I would like to switch but there's no way to do so!!!!!! I have no service (I had just signed up and haven't been able to get the modem working) now and apparently will have to wait weeks for this to get resolved. You don't think *thats* being held hostage!
As for what good this will do, Directv Broadband is owned by Hughes which will continue doing business and continue treating consumers this way. Unbelievable..... |
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ITGuy72
Permanently Disco
Premium
join:2001-11-01
New York
| Well, to be fair you never really explained your situation in your first post. I do feel sorry for you since you just signed up, hopefully they can speed the process up now they're going out of business and have your line released in a matter of days rather than weeks. |
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tr6nut
join:2000-12-03
Stafford, VA
|  Hughes CEO should be hung in the town square
I think we need to get some terminology straight. Directv DSL is owned by Hughes Corp. Hughes Corp is not going out of business or bankrupt. All they are doing is closing a division. Therefore, there is no excuse (other than greed or incompetancy) for closing up shop at Directv DSL the way they have done. IMHO, the way they should have done it was to figure out the closing/transition plan BEFORE they fired everybody, next inform the customers (instead they informed the media), and lastly actually man the phone lines in customer service and billing to handle the questions. But I guess that was just too ethical for the CEO of Hughes to understand. |
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echo2k5
join:2001-11-10
06969
| reply to complaintoftc
Re: Mad as Hell? File a complaint!
quote:
I think we need to get some terminology straight. Directv DSL is owned by Hughes Corp. Hughes Corp is not going out of business or bankrupt. All they are doing is closing a division. Therefore, there is no excuse (other than greed or incompetancy) for closing up shop at Directv DSL the way they have done. IMHO, the way they should have done it was to figure out the closing/transition plan BEFORE they fired everybody, next inform the customers (instead they informed the media), and lastly actually man the phone lines in customer service and billing to handle the questions. But I guess that was just too ethical for the CEO of Hughes to understand.
I agree 100% ! |
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Brutal Truth
@telocity.com
| What other action did you expect? The decision makers may be top level brass, but they are still immature brats. We are not talking about a planned orderly phase out of a division - we are talking about a tantrum ending in drastic action and gutting the system - all in order to make the point "FTC and FCC should have let the merger go through (and we top brass get our kickbacks and bonuses). Now see what happened instead!!! Whine!!! Deflect responsibility!!! Pout!!! We CEOs *TOLD* ya all so!!! Whine!!! Oh well, with Christmas and our expenses coming up we *had* to close that division to stop losing money and face - now pick up the pieces yourself!!! I'm not going to worry about my former customers or former employees while I'm having a happy holiday!!!" |
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echo2k5
join:2001-11-10
06969 | reply to complaintoftc
Wow! now that's Brutal and Truth !  |
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ninersfan
join:2001-02-09
Hayward, CA
| reply to tr6nut
Re: Hughes CEO should be hung in the town square
said by tr6nut  :
I think we need to get some terminology straight. Directv DSL is owned by Hughes Corp. Hughes Corp is not going out of business or bankrupt.
While Hughes Corp is not going out of business or bankrupt that doesn't mean that DirecTV DSL won't. You are aware of the legal company name aren't you?
It is:
DIRECTV Broadband Inc.
What that means is DTV could very well go bankrupt, liquidate and write-off *all* DSL related debts. Actually, I think that is quite likely myself. Sure, Hughes probably owns most if not all of DirecTV Broadband Inc. but that is the reason for separate corporate status, same as when you have a company incorporated they can't take your house away if it goes broke.
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Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental. |
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mavsfan2121
join:2002-12-18
Euless, TX
| I am very upset also I ordered the Sunday before they closed and have not been able to get online and thought I would have it before XMAS and then find out the BS they pulled on Friday then patiently wait until Tuesday only to find out they dont update there site until that evening. So I put my disconnect in at 6:30PM there time Tuesday and have yet to get an email from them even saying they went out of business or one saying they have disconnected my service I am so upset. Since I cant order SBC for how long I feel I may just go to ATTBI instead of waiting for my line to become free. |
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tr6nut
join:2000-12-03
Stafford, VA
| reply to ninersfan
I stand by my statement: there is no excuse (other than greed or incompetancy) for closing up shop at Directv DSL the way they have done. This was not a case of the company running out of cash. This was a case of the parent company making a decision to screw employees and customers. If I was a customer of any other Hughes "products" I would be very worried. |
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ninersfan
join:2001-02-09
Hayward, CA
| I'm not making any excuse for them mind you, just stating what might just be the facts of life in corporate America.
When a separate corporate entity is taken down, they don't usually continue getting support from any benefactors. On the contrary, they are probably just as likely as any other company to seek bankruptcy protection in order to wind down their business in an orderly fashion.
I don't see Hughes sending any big fat support checks the way of DTV, more likely they will be forced to live on whatever income they can drain from customer accounts in the coming 30 days. Not a good thing.
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Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental. |
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beerbum
Premium
join:2000-05-06
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to Brutal Truth
Re: Mad as Hell? File a complaint!
said by Brutal Truth:
We are not talking about a planned orderly phase out of a division - we are talking about a tantrum ending in drastic action and gutting the system - all in order to make the point "FTC and FCC should have let the merger go through (and we top brass get our kickbacks and bonuses). Now see what happened instead!!! Whine!!! Deflect responsibility!!! Pout!!! We CEOs *TOLD* ya all so!!! Whine!!! Oh well, with Christmas and our expenses coming up we *had* to close that division to stop losing money and face - now pick up the pieces yourself!!! I'm not going to worry about my former customers or former employees while I'm having a happy holiday!!!"
wow!
hey man.. you sure sound like your name is Jack A. Shaw..
the same Jack A. Shaw who can be reached at Hughes Electronics Corporation , P.O. Box 956 , El Segundo, CA 90245-0956 ? Who can probably be reached via corporate phone (310)364-6000 (likely the best is some minimum wage paid phone slave). And I am sure that e-mail to corpcomm@hughes.com would go ignored.
hmm.. I wonder if the "A" stands for Ass
note: all the address/phone/email info was gathered from Hughes corporate website - »www.hughes.com/ir/general/execut···ault.xml and »www.hughes.com/about_us/contact_info.xml
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Reverend Ike
Premium
join:2001-08-24
Sacramento, CA
| reply to tr6nut
Stupid is as stupid does
Not that it makes any difference, but I basically felt the same way as tr6nut about how this way handled. Everyone knew the Dish merger died months ago - so if that was truly the cause, this whole situation could have been handled much earlier. Twelve days before Christmas was quite possibly the worst time of the entire year to do this. Force an inconvenience on 170,000 customers in the middle of the holiday season. Good thinking.
DTV BB was/is losing X amount of dollars each day. They could have assigned a couple of execs to formulate a smooth transition plan, laid the groundwork, got completely organized, put a moratorium on new orders and made this announcement a month ago. Customers would have had their questions and concerns answered promptly, and workers would have had a bit more time to take care of their own problems. The result would have been far fewer angry customers and workers, and overall DTVBB still would have saved themselves a ton of money compared to what transpired.
Not to mention the negative spillover onto the DirecTV satellite TV business. Did you notice how many times they went out of their way to reassure everyone that DirecTV satellite TV wasn't affected? Sometimes "brand recognition" becomes "brand confusion".
I think Hughes simply waited until the last minute to act, and then told DTVBB "this is what you will do, and you will do it now". Kinda like your boss knowing on Monday that he needs you to do something before the weekend, but waiting until 4PM Friday to tell you about it. True, DTVBB is a separate corporation, but I'm pretty sure when GM sneezes, Hughes jumps, and when Hughes sneezed, DTVBB jumped ...
[text was edited by author 2002-12-19 21:25:45] |
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Pumbaa
join:2000-07-24
Vienna, VA
| __________________________________________________________
Not to mention the negative spillover onto the DirecTV satellite TV business. Did you notice how many times they went out of their way to reassure everyone that DirecTV satellite TV wasn't affected? Sometimes "brand recognition" becomes "brand confusion".
__________________________________________________________
Yes, you have a good point there. The "DirecTV DSL" name is so incredibly misleading. I work at a Hughes subsidiary, and it's unbelievable how many Hughes employees, managers, etc., don't understand that "DirecTV DSL" service does not use satellites -- it uses phone lines. The brand recognition of DirecTV is not worth the confusion caused by the name.
But, it's a real shame about the shutdown. DirecTV DSL is a fine product. I have had excellent service as a subscriber (and I did pay for it, i.e. I didn't get it free as an employee ) |
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ninersfan
join:2001-02-09
Hayward, CA
| I think the name change from Telocity to DirecTV DSL was a mistake in the first place (not sure if a name change was necessary but probably was for legal reasons).
In any case, the resultant name "DirecTV DSL" surely didn't help sell the product as confusion is never a good thing.
I even hated it when I finally had to get a replacement gateway when my old one finally bit the dust...The prominent DirecTV logo is not a benefit in my mind, but something to be hidden out of site.
Now Hughes needs to be very careful how they handle the transition/shutdown because the name is so closely tied to ongoing product lines. Where bankruptcy would usually be an option for a separate corporate entity, I wonder how much more bad press that would bring?
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Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental. |
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Gargoyle8
join:2001-01-14
Downers Grove, IL
| Wow, two good points ninersfan: Bankruptcy is very much a possibility and their choice of a corporate name was none too wise in light of what's happening.
You should have been running the company, maybe it would still be around.
I guess that, for we customers, we should expect that they will continue to bill us all the way up to the bitter end. It is very much to their benefit to do that plus they have the contractual right. And should I be concerned that they might bill beyond that point? Who are you gonna call if they do? |
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