Satellite TV contracts need to be more direct about renewals

Dear Greg: I signed a 12-month contract with DirecTV in July 2005. I was mildly satisfied with the service for two years and paid my bills.

[Cynthia]

Reading this article sparked an idea. I love used book stores and, yes, the rents are horrendous at strip malls. What if our various schools ran used book stores? There'd be no overhead as in rent or utilities and profits would go to the general fund. There would be one at each high school, at a minimum. They would encourage reading by students (I would hope).

The one warning I would offer is that they have to keep an open mind and remember, book store customers are adults, not infants and we want to read what we want to read. I don't go out and buy sex books, but some of the mystery or suspense books do have some steamy pages. So be it.

Also, I don't know what it is like in the libraries in FL, but here in PA, the school libraries sell duplicate books, etc., but the prices they charge are far, far lower than a used book store would charge! What's up with that? Forgive me for saying so but it is like these people have NO clue of the value of their product. Perhaps that's why all of the schools everywhere are in the financial pickle they are in. Hmmm.

[linda]

this is even news to me as i was totally unaware your contract is extended to replace defective equipment. i have the protection plan and have had to replace an hd receiver and hd dvr. i know when you add equipment, your contract is extended.

[Satellite Customer]

I, too, was told I was caught in this scam, when my son's equipment was replaced. But once I reviewed my monthly bills, I discovered that they had been charging me a rental charge for his equipment, from the date they replaced his...thus, they had to cancel my contract, since I didn't receive the "free" equipment that would have extended my contract. And I definitely wanted to cancel the contract because of the very rude customer service. Take a close look at your monthly invoices!

[Grandma Fudd]

A word to the wise again about "Free Credit Report.com " which will debit your credit card monthly for $10 till you are in the grave once you give it to them for that first "free" report. It should be a clue that if it is 'free' then why am I giving them a credit card number? Nice racket! Too bad I didn't think of it.
My advice, run don't walk from "Free Credit Report.com ".

[Justin]

Maybe you should check what you sign....the paperwork does state that your commitment is renewed when equipment is replaced after the 90 day warranty. If you have the Protection Plan with DIRECTV the commitment is not renewed. Stop blaming others for your ignorance.

[Justin]

Satellite Customer,
Everyone charges a monthly fee for the boxes. The difference is with DIRECTV is that they don't charge for the first box.