DirecTV Installers: Tell The Truth? Fined! Reveal That? Fired!
from the yeah,-that-looks-good dept
Earlier this week, we wrote about a bunch of DirecTV installers (who work for a contractor) who blew the whistle on the fact that their employer told them to lie to customers, saying that a phone line was required to be hooked up to the DirecTV box. If they didn't lie and get customers to hook up the phone line, the installers were fined $5 per box that wasn't hooked up that way. DirecTV wants the connections to make it easier for them to track usage and to push pay-per-view content on users. Of course, now that the story has been exposed, rather than apologize or explain their position... the contractor in question fired the complaining installers (found via Broadband Reports). It's not too surprising that a company that believes lying to customers is a good policy would also figure that whistleblower protection laws don't really apply either.
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
lies....never
what do you meen that satalite companys lie. they dont lie, (i was being sarcastic). Satalite companys have been lieing to their customers for years and years about everything, from channel linup to actual priceing and the actual price they will see on their bill every month, its just that they only own the satalites in space and and about 90% of the communication process involved then charge phony fees and tell the customer that the goverment is forceing them to charge them. lies, lies, and more lies, thats all iv ever hear from satalite companys.
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Re: lies....never
Buddy, you need to use the spell-checker in the Google toolbar. Every other word in that post was spelt wrong. I know I'm not perfect, but that was just... annoying.
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Re: Re: lies....never
Ditto and I Second that!!!
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Re: Re: lies
Not every other, but still, 15/80 (not counting "and", "the", "to", "is", etc.) misspelled (Not counting Grammar errors)
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Re: Re: lies....never
Ok, the spelling wasn't the greatest, but what about the content of the post ?
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Spelting
Mikester, Spelt is something found in food. Words are SPELLED wrong...but I think (HOPE) you gnu that.
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are we debating whether a person can spell correctly while typing or are we discussing "Satelllite companies lying to their customers"?
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to topic or not to topic
Apparently the discussion about spelling is more engaging than the topic of the story....
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Ohhhh!
Burned!
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my installer was fine without the phone line but told me I would see 25 more hd channels in january. What a rip off to see only a handful.
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Lied? So what.
I was under the impression that we as a society thought that lying was a good thing. Or is it only when politicans in our party lie that it's okay?
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DirectTV Lies
My office told me the installer couldn't find my house three times in a row, never calling for directions or typing it in mapquest.
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Re:
They were telling me that "25 more HD channels" line 2 years ago. I dropped them like a bad habbit, and am using comcast. Not perfect, but more HD, my cable modem, and I am using VOIP...so it was a winning situation.
Oh, and I agree with the need for spell check on the first post. It hurt my brain to read that.
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Wow
I don't know what surprises me more; the fact that DirectTV is lying to their customers, or the fact that people posting on Internet forums generally can't spell very well.
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haha
i don't understand why people can't spell very well, and if u can't then just get the google toolbar for firefox. yes, firefox. ok, fine, i admit, now in a discussion for sattellite TV i am putting in a good word for google and firefox.......at least that is better than watching a billion TV ads. and yes, i intentionally spell anonymous wrong.
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I'm dyslexic and i could not even tell that there was anything was messed up in his post since it doesnt matter if anything was wrong. if you read phanetically it all makes sence anyway or if you can fallow the contex of what he is saying its also easy to read. so if you combine the two its really easy to read.
the need for correct spelling means nothing unless its so bad, that even the person who wrote it, is unable to read it.
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Whistle Blowers?
You know Mike, the last time I checked the term "whistleblower" covered employees that report illegal actions, not just immoral ones. So the AT&T technician who reported illegal NSA wiretapping, he's a whistleblower, but these guys are not.
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Re:
was anything was messed should read as
was anything that was messed
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Clouds
DirecTV and Dish have the same liability. Shgould the clear skies fill with clouds, you are in trouble. You lose your signal. Re the "lies" - wasn't this just one goon who owns an installation company. This fraudulent scheme didn't come from corporate headquarters - it was "the contractor in question"
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satelite sucketh
as i said before, to the hate of anonymous coward:
Satellite. Sucks. My. Balls.
so ther you have it. the number one reason to buy radio. like in the 1920's.
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TV is such a waste
As a college student, TV is a luxury. Perhaps I'm becoming used to not having a TV, but there's nothing good on nowdays. I will admit, I got hooked on 24. But i downloaded those. Being poor makes me choose between internet and cable. And watching TV is much more of a waste than WoW.
So everyone go pay your $97/month on your hi def cable/satelite while us poor people make the next eBay (i hope... but don't we all? :P)
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In the end
People who don't take the time to spell-check, go on in life to ask there employees to lie!!
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not that you care
as a satellite tv installer who of course works as a sub contractor all i can say is that for most part as a installer i'm just trying to do my job. i do installations for dish network and the number one problem that i have aside from ignorant customers is the people that sell the service to them. fact anyone can sell dish and/or direct tv these companies have little or nothing to do with the sale of their service. it is all sub contracted out. when you call someone to order the service the person on the other end of the line sees you as nothing more than a hundred dollar bill. what with the signing up for this months promo and the dvr and hd...
customers have told me that they have actually been hung up on when they start asking questions about what their bill will really be after every cost. as to phone lines, no they dont make a difference the service will work without it but in dish networks case it saves you a couple bucks a month. as for the installation, well i've done some pretty f ed up stuff just to get the service in, why? becuase i dont get paid if i dont.
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Re: Re: lies....never
There is no such word as "spelt."
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Re: In the end
I love too fart and watch tv I hate com cast thay suck big time
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Let's just say all you satellite bastards need to pay. I for one am glad I found out about hex editing and bought a hex editor from Radio Shack before they became illegal here. DSS Hacking at it's finest. keep changing your cards and your formats, have fun. We will always find a way.
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Re: TV is such a waste
I happen to like wow for some of us it is enjoyable part of life. Yes its lazy but its still friends and good times... and you get to slam pvp how awsome is that
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Re: Re: Re: lies....never
From: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=spelt
v. spelled, or spelt (splt) spell·ing, spells
v. tr.
1. To name or write in order the letters constituting (a word or part of a word).
2. To constitute the letters of (a word): These letters spell animal.
3. To add up to; signify: Their unwise investment could spell financial ruin.
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Re: Re: Re: lies....never
No such word as spelt huh? http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=spelt&db=*
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Are we all english teachers now??? I enjoyed the good ol' days when the only person to correct another on spelling was an english teacher, now everyone is correcting each other on the subject. And how could it hurt your brain to read it, studies have shown that all we need is the first and last letters to be located in the correct order and we can figure out what word it is suppose to be. Maybe you just need some more brain stimulation.
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Ending such words in t, like burnt and so forth, is an English thing. Americans tend to end in -ed. However (as an American), I've always thought -ed sount better. :P Less abrupt--a softer sound.
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Truth?
I'm not at liberty to give any identifying information about myself for very-soon-to-be-obvious reasons. I recently went to work in a DirecTV Customer Service center. In fact, I just finished training not very long ago. Here's the truth, and is exactly what we are supposed to tell our customers:
A phone line is not required to recieve your monthly programming. If you ever choose to connect a phone line, it will enable you to order PPV from your remote [as opposed to calling the PPV order number] and give you the ability to enable some advanced features, like on-screen caller ID.
If the phone line isn't connected, the only thing the customer loses is some features and convience. It is not required except under very specific (and I do mean selective and specific) circumstances, and we let the customer know that.
The installer that lied was giving mis information to customers. I do not know if he was told to do that, or how high up that goes... but I know what I've been trained to do from day 1, and it's not incist on a phone line connection.
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Re: Re: lies....never
Get a life.
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Re:
When will people learn that it doesn't exist unless it's in writing. Just because some installer told you it would be this way doesn't mean squat. Wake up sheep! This is corporate we're talking about!
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though I beleve that DirectTV TIVO Dose require a phone line, and the box will complain if there is no phone line.
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Direct TV installers
What am I failing to see in all of this? It doesn't hurt anyone to have a phone line connected. If having it connected causes you to order more PPVs then you have a problem not a company that supplies them. We as Americans are always looking to blame someone else for our behaviors. When I researched Direct TV and Dish I choose Dish as I thought it was best for me in my house. I asked a whole bunch of questions and got answers to all that I asked without being hung up on. I do not work for a cable company nor do I have stock in one. Just retired and happy that majority of time I flip on the TV and something comes on. Those that do not think that it is worth while..................well just don't buy it.
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Satellite TV is awsesome. If you don't want to pay for it, you don't have to. I have 700+ free channels. 50+ PPV, 20 Adult Channels, Locals for every city that i want. Everything except HD. Free from Dish Network and Bell Express Vu from canada. All you need is a $150 FTA Reciever found all over the net. Satellite tv is not awesome if you have to pay for it. The picture quality is not the best.
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complaining about spelling is impolite
since the old days of usenet, it's largely considered to be unsporting to make fun of typos or misspellings.
it's like trying to settle a political disagreement by saying "oh yeah, well you're ugly."
the internet is a place where the whole world can meet on equal terms to exchange ideas and opinions. not everyone in the world speaks english as their first language, and not everyone has the US equivalent of a highschool education.
believe me, there are plenty of things to judge a person by online. when you consider the number of flamers, trolls, attention whores, schills and newbs in any given setting online, you shouldn't have to resort to calling a person out for their typing if you want to look down on someone.
BTW, all businesses lie. show me a person who has never told a lie and i will show you someone who has never sold something for a profit.
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The only reason I've held on to DirecTV is the NFL Package. No other provider has it.....
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I find Cable to be much more of a scam when it comes to high prices for service. Sure, dish cost more but then there is more equipment to set up and buy. Look at the replacement cost of a three LNB dish, it's about $130.
And just for the record, my original DirecTV Tivo box would not work without a land line. So they were correct in that "lie". However, they were more than happy to replace it with a DVR without the Tivo name that works flawlessly. Love my dish at work and at home. Not that I don't have a choice, I do. I choose to have DirecTV so that I can have Sunday Ticket. Where else you going to get that?
Cable TV installed with "lifeline" service, channels 2-13
HD dish installed with every channel they have.
SDSL comes in throught the phone line.
Standard old POTS telephone, no VOIP allthought there are three services available to me.
One more comment, Caviot Emptor.
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Re: phonetic spelling
Do you ever worry that your doctor might give you a prescription using phonetic spelling?
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Re: Re: Re: lies....never
too little too late ...
people who fall for the satellite tv trap deserve to get customer service from New Dheli. The DirecTV installer that came to my house said they needed an extra $150 to put a post in the ground. When I told them to leave the stuff and I would set it up myself, they did it for free.
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Re: lies....never
Have you considered running spell-check on your comments? If not, please do.
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Re: Re: In the end
Wrong "too", Comcast, they
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As a former installer of DirecTv I can vouch for the push for a phone line. Many DirecTv installers actually work for a third party as I did. My immediate employer never pushed for the phone line but all the RCA paperwork that came with the basic box did. Some instruction packages and service forms definitely read as if the box would not work without it. Of course the basic non-DVR box did work without a phone line, and every installer knows that. I did several installs in hunting cabins and the like where there was no phone service at all.
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Phone line
I recently wrote DirectTV directly (can produce the email) asking whether the phone line is required. I don't use a land based phone. I have a cell phone that meets all my needs. Don't want to pay the extra $40+ month for a phone that I don't need. The reply from DTV was that the phone line is required.
Two possiblities:
1) I need a phone to watch TV...not gonna illogical and not going to happen.
2) They lied to me. I won't do business with a company that lies.
So, no satellite for me. Oh well. Life goes on.
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Re: Whistle Blowers?
Except there was nothing illegal about the NSA wiretapping, so he's not a whistleblower. He's a felon. Divulging classified information is a felony. The paper that printed it should also be held accountable.
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DTV phone lines
I work for DTV (not a satelite instalation company) and it's the third party installers that require the phone line, we don't. We just need to know if it's connected or not, if not, we simply turn off the PPV ordering.
There is one other reason we do prefer to have the phone line whenever possible though. Having the phone line helps us to determine the location of the receivers. Sometimes ppeople will try to give us a false address so they can get locals or sports programming from another area of the country. (doesn't allways work for locals... but does for sports.) The phone line also helps us to insure that all the receivers really are located in the same house.
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Spelt is perfectly acceptable as past tense/past participle version of the verb "to spell", as is spelled, so both "He spelt it wrong" and "He spelled it wrong" are valid sentences. Spelt is also a form of wheat.
As for DirecTV, does this kind of behaviour really shock anybody? This is just hard-selling, the majority of the more unethical companies engage in it - and there are several clauses in anybody's employment contracts that will say something along the lines of if you piss them off they can sack you.
People have just got to work out now what's worse, firing your employee's or suing your customers...
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What are all you complaining about...
My Dish Network works just fine... the bill rarely ever goes up (I think we had a $1 price increase the otheryear... ooooh!) and the service is great.
Beats the hell out of cable.
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If I owned a business, I would try to hire these guys. The trouble is, I haven't lied and cheated enough to be able to get the cash to start one.
People like being lied to. That's why many hire the low bidder that does not comply to laws or code as long as it is cheaper. They hire a contractor based on price who has illegals working for him and then complain about the illegal immigrant problem.
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Re: Lied? So what.
Party? You have a party?
Hey, everyone! Party at John's house !
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PPV
Does it only impact PPV? What about TiVO? Does the built in tivo work without phone line? Doesn't it have to update the TV schedule?
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Phone line
As a former Directv customer service rep(sub contracted) I can tell you the REQUIRED reasons
1. PPV
2. Regional Sports channels
3. DVR function (DVR's need to dial out periodically to stay updated)
4. HD Programming
Not all installers are crooks (I talked with a lot of crooks, but not all were crooked)
Why don't I work their anymore?.. Could handle talking with whiners such as you people.
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Re: Re: lies....never
You should pick up a dictionary. "Spelt" I think you meant "spelled". Spelt (noun) a hardy variety of wheat of inferior quality, sometimes grown in mountainous regions. Latin name: Triticum spelta
Before you clown someone, check yourself first.
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Re: Truth?
As A former installer for a LARGE (nationwide) DirecTV contractor, I can tell you that our company insisted that techs install phone lines. Period. DirecTV may not stress this to CSR's or on to the customer, (they just want the account), but there sure is pressure from somewhere to get these boxes hooked to phones. Lists of non-responding recievers are posted every week to show which newly-installed units aren't answering an automated call to them. If a tech's numbers are low...a verbal or written reprimand may be in his near future.
So what we have seems to be duplicity on DirecTV's part. They don't train the CSR's to stress the importance of phone hook-up's. They will tell customers that don't want a phone line attached, that they don't need one. Yet on our (the contractor's) work order, it states that a phone line will be attached to all new recievers. I felt that DirecTV would do or say anything to get the customer's comittment, yet force the installers to do things that the customers weren't aware of. Installers aren't in the habit of lying to customers to make MORE work for themselves. From my experience,the issue here is DirecTV's habit of telling their prospective customers anything to get the sale, but pressuring their contractors to install land-based phone lines to increase their pay-per-view revenue by making it easier to order PPV events.
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Re: Re: phonetic spelling
I would worry if my doctor was writing prescriptions online. I can't read a thing on the little prescription pad.
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Re:
Um...neither "so" nor "forth" are words that end with a t.
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Doesn't surprise me...
I work for a very large company that rhymes with SmellBouth. It doesn't surprise me in the least that DirectTV asks to install a land line since it is owned by BellSouth a Phone Company. And yes I know of their business practices, not always on the up and up. Ugh, I experience them first hand.
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Re: Re: lies....never
The word "spelt" isn't in the dictionary. Take your own advice.
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Mikester, Spelt is something found in food. Words are SPELLED wrong...but I think (HOPE) you gnu that.
actually, spelt is the proper english word. dont try to flame becuase you messed up our language.
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Re: Re: Re: lies....never
"The word "spelt" isn't in the dictionary. Take your own advice."
Gullible is not in the dictionary either - go look it up.
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Ive always had big brother installed on my TV i mean hooked up to the phone line, ive even gotten a call from them telling me what im watching, i dont care
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Re: Re: Re: Re: lies....never
I hate to continue this but "spelt" and "gullible" are both in the dictionary. Spelt is under spell and gullible is also in there, I think you should go visit that dictionary again.
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DirecTV Sucks
At my house I have DISH, but I had DTV at my vacation house and I decided to cut it off when I put it up for sale. I called DTV and the CSR would not help me - but referred me to a "Customer Retention Specialist". This person told me it would be better to just "pause" my service for 3 months - in case my plans changed. It sounded like a reasonable suggestion - so I said that sounded OK and actually thanked him for making the suggestion.
In three months, I got a buyer for my property, so I contacted them about closing my account. The CSR on the other end of the line was snippy, to say the least, when I told him I did not want to be transferred to a Customer Retention Specialist. I said I just want my account closed because I sold the property. He tried every tactic they had on his script, but I wasn't getting it through to him that I SOLD THE PROPERTY AND NO LONGER NEEDED SERVICE.
I finally got so fed up I asked for his manager. When he transferred me to somebody who was supposed to be his manager, this person tried some of the same closing tactics! I was really getting frustrated at this point, until by some miracle the guy finally said "Ok, you're all set, your account is closed. I thanked him and was glad to finally be rid of them.
Two weeks later, I get a bill from DTV. Now, keep in mind that I had "paused" the service 3 months earlier, so there should have been NO charges. I get a bill for $8.95. I contemplated just paying the damn bill but I couldn't let them get away with it. I called up to find out why I was being charged. Another Snippy CSR tells me "Well sir, I see you had it turn on 2 weeks ago and then abruptly turned it off again. Your being charged for time you were reconnected! I was at the point of wanting to reach through the phone line, realizing that the last A-hole had turned my service on and then turned it off again so I would be charged. Again I ask for a supervisor, get another run around, and 30 minutes later, I finally get somebody who takes the charge off and says it's all clear.
So that's the last time I'll EVER deal with DTV - and I tell anyone who'll listen how much they suck.
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They lie about HD
Direct TV HD has audio out of sync with the picture.
It is unwatchable. The first time I complained, they tried to get me to swap DVRs. But I had checked their own support forums and this is a problem nationwide, and they knew it when they sold me the service.
After soem negotiation, they now give me the "HD" service for 5.00 / month. Whoopie.
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Re: lies....never
Good lord... your second grade English teacher must be rolling in her grave.
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Re:
That used to work real good until they came out with the #5 cards, as far as I know those have not been cracked yet.
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Re: haha
w00t for proxys =p ;)
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Re: Spelting
"Spelt" is an acceptable spelling of the past tense of spell. It is more often in use in the UK than the US. Being a worldly type, I simply assumed I was dealing with a brit, and left well enough alone.
Verizon, as I'm sure other broadband providers do as well, has software that is supposed to assist in tracking problems. It has the side effect of slowing down your connection and making it take longer to connect if you need to do that. They don't tell their customers about it, and will dodge questions concerning it.
I know that because I used to work for Verizon.
None of this is really too surprising. It is nevertheless a bit nauseating.
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Re: DTV phone lines
Is that right Misty? Or another DTV lie? I am a SBCA certified installer for one of DTV's largest home service providers...not just another jack leg contractor. YOU DO require a land based phone line for PPV only. It has nothing to do with local programming. That is what the area code and zip codes are for. As for the rest of your comment, it is total BS. If I don't install a phone line (that I don't get paid extra for) to each receiver that I install, DTV will back charge for each one. Now the company I work for is talking about back charging the techs. When I call DTV after each install to activate service, you want to know what room each receiver is in and if there is a phone line connected. Within 24 hours, you poll the receivers to see if the line is active...if it isn't, WE the techs are to blame. No, I do not use spell check because I don't care.
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Re: Whistle Blowers?
It's not illegal to lie to your customers about this sort of thing? I thought this behavior was covered in a number of consumer protection laws that we have. Caveat Venditor!
Bogamol
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I cand spel nuthin u taurds.
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My mind is crying right now, CRYING. Oh my GOD! STOP SPEAKING NOW!
No more messages after this point.
Man... Techdirt can really lower your IQ in times like these..
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So how bout that Goss thing....
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Dammit
I had an installer tell me the same thing. He said he could not install the box unless I had a phone line. I have vonage, I do not need a phone but he still insisted that he run phone lines from outside and into the house and install phone jacks. I didn't really question it at the time but now after reading this story, I'm pissed. I think we should class action these bastards. DTV put holes in my hardwood floor to secure the uneeded phone lines.
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mass ignorance
I suppose the "spelter" and those on his side smoke three packs a day too, corporate said they were cool. No one tells 100% truth when selling, period. As far as spelling and learning to communicate, (and this might be over your head a little) if you can't use the set of rules that apply to communicating in any given locality and it is no more or less than ignorange precluding you, you are one of the 5.5 billion too many people on this planet. GO H4N1, GO SARS, cull the herd, you heard?
Oh yeah, spelt has nothing to do with spelling except in half assed english. The only way spelt is acceptable is in an organic bread.
So if you spelt it otay on ur appication, u can wurk at a satelite compiny........
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Re: Dammit
i recommend your state attorney generals office, or department of consumer protection, for the wood floor damage it is worth contacting them
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every company lies about something
that's what pr, marketing, investor relations, and sales departments are for.
companies feel that they have to lie because to tell the truth is or not hide facts means that they would have to explain more than they are comfortable with.
the reason that satellite companies want you to have a phone is to bill you for ppv and to monitor and sell your watching habits.
tivo, dtv, dish, cable companies are all monitoring what you watch and storing that data in their dbs and when they start selling targeted ads to their clients or when the police come calling, they can, and will hand over a list of every tv show that you've been watching.
so remember that the next time you purchase a porno ppv movie or watch something that your boss would frown on.
all the information is being recorded and it's simply a matter of time before it's used against you...just like the Internet.
we've become a big brother society and it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that this is happening and it shouldn't shock these workers to get fired for admitting the truth.
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SAD TO WACH
The genral subjekt of this phorum iz the problom with most things in amerika. Our government lye to us, our business' lies to us our religious leeders lye to us. The result, we get lost is some non-sense, like, Jees "Buddy" you can't spels vary good, or hey there going to give us $100 gas rebate.
TRY TO FOCUS YOU MORONS. A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE TAKING YOUR FREEDOM, CHOICE, AND PRIVACY AWAY FROM YOU DAILY, AND YOU ARE LETTING THEM.
YES, the spelting and grammar intenshionaly uncorrect. NOW RUNTELDAT.
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Why the phone line is "required"...
I suspect that satellite companies "require" their installers to install the phone line to avoid disappointing new customers. If the installer doesn't install the phone line, then the satellite representative has to explain to the customer why they aren't able to conveniently take advantage of their advanced PPV services. Then they have a potentially disappointed customer, and they might have to send a second installer out to install the phone line. Installing the phone line is just more work for the installer, especially if there's not a jack nearby. Since most installers get paid by the job, it's an easy corner to cut...and it takes the customer a while to notice the missing features. Of course, the installer doesn't care about PPV or caller ID services... they just want to fit as many jobs into one work day as possible to maximize their income. But it doesn't do the satellite company any good to offer these advanced phone features if the installers don't connect the boxes to phone lines. Plus, to some customers, on-screen caller ID is a big deal. Such customers feel short-changed when they find out that the installer didn't "complete" the job. I would imagine that this is a common new-customer complaint, so the satellite companies now "require" that the installers connect the boxes to phone lines. Competition is increasing in the video services market, so it is important for service providers not to disappoint new customers who just switched over to their company's service. Obviously the phone line is typically NOT REQUIRED to receive broadcast program information. However, it IS REQUIRED if you want to utilize all of the service provider's advanced and included features. To further complicate the issue, some DirecTV reps and installers might still think that the phone line is always necessary because TiVo boxes require the connection. Lastly, installers and contractors will continue to lie (not all, but some will)...just to get their job done with as little customer resistance as possible.
As for the spelling topic, find another forum. It was only funny for a brief moment...now it is just sad.
(What's worse is that someone actually looked up gullible in the dictionary, completely missing the point.)
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Re: Re: Spelting
Of course its most often used in the UK. They also actually say "whilst" out loud....
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izzat turds or tards hilk hilk hilk
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Re: Why the phone line is "required"...
The fact remains, we (the installers) are forced to run phonelines for people who DO NOT want them or do not have land line phone service. We do not get paid extra for running phonelines anyway so why do it when it will never be used. Danny, you must be in managment with one of the HSP's or contractors because that is the same spill we here before you tell us, "if the customer does not believe you, lie. Just get the line in."
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re: DirecTv Installers
I've experienced this twice ( once at my home, and once at my mother's ): the installer would insist that there would be no reception for the signal, and that a pole needed to be put in the ground, and the dish be mounted to it. I then pointed to all of the neighbors houses, and the fact that had dishes on their houses, and not on poles. He was also trying to charge $60 to $80 for the pole, plus labor. I could have went to the local hardware store and got what I needed for less than $20.00.
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Not sure why it's a big deal, it's not like you have to get another phone line installed...plus in order to use the pay per view you do need to have the phone line connected otherwise it cannot order your movie...
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Re: In the end
More like they are asked by their employers to lie!
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DTV is telling me right now that the DVR service REQUIRES phone hook up, to download the cghannel schedule, and there is THERE IS NO data being uploaded from my home...commments anyone?
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Re: TV is such a waste
How did you manage to download shows from 24?
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Re: lies....never & The truth of Dish Network
It is sometimes tough to stay on focus when you read a post as badly crafted as this one. But the reality is, Dish Network ans always been a very straightforward company for me. Much cheaper than and cable provider I have ever encountered. Taxes and fees are outrageous for both sattelite and cable companies so it is a poor argument to mention one and not the other. What I like best about Dish Network is that there are several pricing plans to choose from depending on your interest level. Sattelite companies are also likely to be the first to offer an a la carte pricing model so you only choose and pay for the channels you want to watch.
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Re: Spelting
Simply incorrect. The past participle of 'spell" is 'spelt'. Or, perhaps, you know of a more authoritative source than the Oxford English Dictionary.
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Hmm
Hey, check my spelling in the following, please:
The msot rteraedd tnihg abuot cmomnuicitaon on the Intnreet is liltte dmusabs kdis mtneinonig ohetr's txet bneig not porofaerd pfrceet.
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laughing at all of you
I'm having more fun reading people's comments than reading the article. (And yes, I proofread what I wrote and spelled everything right.)
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Re: Hmm
Actually, funny thing about that, and reading ur post, Joe, I'm sure you read the study and/or myspace bulletin.
The human brain is pretty sweet, actually. As long as the first and last letters of the desired word are in place, the rest of the letters can be jumbled up as much as possible and we can stull comprehend it.
Prtety Naet huh?
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spelt
I hate when people tell you that certain words are not actual words. The word "word", wasn't a word until mankind made it a word. Uh? right?
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Re: spelt
...and if you really think about it; the word "word" is really a weird sounding word. Don't you think?
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buyer beware
The current methodolgy for installing cable or sattelite
work like this...
The corporations go out and offer a set fee for any install.
Each wire ran, pole set, extra equipment sold, is more money in the installers' pocket. The basic install fee is very small so techs will try to sell extras to increase what ever little money they can make from a single job. As an installer from the large dish ( C band) days, cable installers are just as dirty.
As an example...
I had pre-wired a customers new home. Two weeks after moving in, he wanted cable as well. He called the office screaming that we ripped him off, due to the fact that the contractor stated we used the wrong type of cable. After showing up and ensuring that customer that we used the same type (only higher quality) cable for our cable I confronted the tech. He kept telling the customer that the signal would be bad but after connecting to the house the signal was fine. The tech was facing a tiny fee for the hookup and trying to sell more drops to get more money.
The problem is that there are "shady" people in very business. People get taken advantage of all the time.
On the side of the techs... these folks are expected to work 12 to 16 hours