Putting it bluntly, I do not like calling Direct TV. Like so many other companies, you call in and have to give a computer your information. You then get sent to a live operator - after pressing 0 numerous times to get the computer to shut up and get to a real human being.
The person that answers the phone wants you to give the exact same information that you already gave to that freaking computer all over again. You already know the person you are talking to isn't going to be able to help you - at all - unless it's a very simple problem. The woman that answered the phone today? Her English was so poor it was unintelligible 50% of the time I was listening to her speaking. I won't even attempt to try to get anything done with a person that doesn't fluently speak the language that I am speaking, it is a complete waste of my time. However, she transferred me to the technical support department.
THAT person asked me the SAME information AGAIN. NO. WHY can't you people get software incorporated into your computer system to pass along the fact that I have already, completely, thoroughly identified myself at least twice before I got to YOU? Yes, I did ask her that. I have asked alot of Direct TV associates that same question over the years. I expect, but I hate it. It's very irritating to have to be passed from one person to another AND have to fully identify yourself every time.
This woman got rude with me, so I asked her her name and employee ID number. "Well I want YOUR name first!". That was enough of that. I declared to her that she had made a huge mistake in treating me that way, I am relentless in my quest for "revenge", if that's even the correct word, when verbally assailed by a customer service agent. I demanded to speak to her supervisor.
Lots of yada yada yada not worth going into and this guy gets on the phone. I start telling him my issues, including the previous woman - when he starts talking over the top of me. I usually go silent when that occurs as I did this time. I wait for him to finish and then I proceed, again, to inform him of why I had called since he had asked. He starts talking over the top of me again.
This is one of the most aggravating, irritating and confrontive types of things you can do to a customer, or at least to this customer. This means, to me anyway, that that person does no want to hear anything I have to say, he is right and I am wrong, it doesn't matter what my problem is and he is superior to me. At least in his own eyes. I asked him the location of corporate headquarters and informed him that I would reporting him, as well and what is HIS ID number? He gave me it. He told me corporate headquarters is in Colorado.
GONG. LIAR. I remembered it was in California somewhere, I just couldn't remember what town. El Segundo, when I saw it, it rang the bell as I have called that number before. Back and forth, I dialed the number and got on the phone with a person. I tell him that I am on the phone with a supervisor.
I know, it sounds like too much to go through, but, these ordeals net me wins every time. You see, I got my new DVR today. It's a nice little unit, looks brand new - but who knows. Works great is what I can say. But what was not in the box were the 2 extra remotes I had asked for. I'll admit that the man I was speaking to a few days ago did not actually agree to send me 2 remotes for free, but he NEVER said he wouldn't. I had brought the subject up 3 times and he danced away from that subject and was only focusing on the issue with wanting to quit Direct TV and what would appease me to stay with Direct TV. That day was a score, so was today, though at no small amount of aggravation.
Long story short. No, of course not, it's already been a long story. But - besides getting the card activated - I also got the 2 remotes for free. This whole thing started earlier this week when I saw my bill and saw that they had raised my rate - even though I had been promised it would not.
It's a never-ending story with this company.
3 comments:
Thursday
I had thoughts of attending this family reunion in North Carolina. Besides financial factors - the cost of an air ticket to get there and back would undoubtedly be very high, not to mention a rental car, hotel and eating, plus whatever activities - I don't know any of these people.
The idea of spending a week with people I don't know? Could be an awesome time, could be a nightmare, could be a bit of both. Last time I spent a single day with an unknown family was not the greatest time on earth. That was when Caleb and I went down to visit my dad and his wife for - Thanksgiving I think it was. Some of her family was there and the dad/husband/son of my dad's wife was........more than I was willing to deal with.
He talked and talked and talked and talked - endlessly - didn't want to hear anything anyone said, or if he did let in a word or two, he would instantly go on his own little venture of how HE had done the same thing or been through that kind of ordeal or whatever.
I don't even have these people as FB friends - my family lines - save one. So, let's say I could magically come up with the $1,500 or whatever to go and "enjoy" myself. Lots of unknowns in that sort of situation.
Funny that I have all of these relatives that I have never known. I saw them when I was a little kid - I mean little as in around 8 years old or younger, I really can't remember what age, I am sure it was before the age of 10. My family moved out west when I was 10 and that was the end of any visits to relatives.
It's a strange thing to have a family that lives within 50 miles of each other but doesn't want to talk to each other, much less spend any time together. I have never really given any consideration to the fact that I have never known any of my relatives.
Well, whatever. It is what it is and I'm not going to do anything to change at this late point in the game.
The news is all over the scale. Japan and it's denial that the plant is going to melt down - we all hope it won't, of course, but experts from the U.S. are saying elsewise; the security council is waffling while the "rebels" are being slaughtered in Libya; but here's one that got my attention: a mayor in Florida is recalled and booted for his stance on tax, tax, tax the people.
I would love to see that happen with certain members of the city council in the city of Phoenix and it's mayor as well. There have been proposals by one of the council members on how to save money so that taxes don't have to be increased. They seem to want to up the water bill by 5% every year. It would be a hoot if it started a trend: just recall these people who think that dumping the burden on the taxpayers even more than they are already being dumped on is, somehow, a good idea.
That would get them ALL shaking in their boots. Gee, I better rethink this. Here's the point: these municipalities are basing their activities, expenditures, budgets on what it USED to be. You know, when the economy was good and all kinds of money was flowing into their coffers? Instead of cutting back, they seem to want to just keep things the same and make taxpayers foot the bill for it. I don't think so. The average pay and benefits for a city worked in Phoenix is $100,000 PER YEAR.
This is what the council member was talking about cutting back, that and other things.
Whatever, just musing. I must get offa here.
ben
I'm sick of all TeeVee providers.
I called Direct TV to turn off my service while I am away. Call answered in minutes, entire call took less than five.
Separate comment. Ben, because I was between places and busy, I skipped a few entries and just now caught up. I say this as someone who regards you as a friend and a good person: you have a LOT--I mean a REAL lot of anger showing in the posts here and going back 4 or 5.
That is not a criticism: it is what it is, and I am fine with you deleting this comment, but I wanted you to be aware how jolting it is to read 4 or 5 successive entries like that.
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