UGH! Verizon service rep misinformed me! So, Verizon triple bundle w/DirecTV, or Time Warner bundle?

Cafe Society
1

We have a huge HDTV we bought off my mother when she moved to a smaller place. For over a year, we’ve had an HDTV but not the HD.

We’ve had a Verizon bundled packaged for 3 1/2 years–Verizon home phone, internet, and then DirecTV for television. Our prices have been inching up over the years. I would like HD, but the first time I inquired this of DirecTV I was told it’d cost about $200 for the new receiver box. Um…pass.

So, I called Verizon to get info on new packages, since I’m not on a contract anymore. A woman quoted me about $130/mo (when taxes and such are considered) for 2 HD DVRs, the home DVR (so we can watch and pause from one room to another), and the premium channel package. Then…nothing happened. I called yesterday and was juggled back and forth from Verizon to DirecTV,and despite having an order confirmation number, no one had any record of this change in service. Then a Verizon rep told me the woman I spoke to had no authority to change DirecTV since I’m an existing customer, and that I would not be receiving anything I was quoted. ALl changes to TV service from existing customers have to be made by contacting DirecTV, not Verizon, he said.

Next I called DirecTV, who said for $200 I could get two DVRs (I only need one to be HD, but they said since I’m “a longtime loyal customer” I can get it for “only” $100, too), and then my monthly charges would be something along the lines of what we’re paying now–$200/mo–OH, plus taxes and fees.

First, I was furious that a representative of the company so spectacularly misinformed me, then I was aggravated that no one knew anything, and THEN I was bothered that for being a longtime customer, I have to pay MORE than a new customer.

Screw this, I contacted Time Warner Cable…and for $160/mo before taxes and fees), I can have 2 HD DVRs, the most premium channels, and their fastest internet service. This means it’s at least $40 less than we’re paying now per month, and we don’t have to shell out $100 for the HD DVR. It also means signing up for a 2-year contract, boo.

BTW–the Better Business Bureau gives Time Warner an A+ rating, and DirecTV an F. Yikes.

So Dopers–what are your recommendations? If we switch from DirecTV to TWC, are we going from bad to worse? (FTR, Verizon Fios isn’t available in my area.)

2

I can’t speak for Time/Warner since we’re under the cable monopoly of Comcast here but we used to have DirecTv as our television provider and I can say from my experience that you’re never going to receive better service from them than you just did.

We’ve been pretty happy with Comcast since we switched our business to them, knock on wood.

3

Time Warner. They have their problems, for sure, but compared to Verizon and DirectTV (and Cablevision), they are a clear winner. I had so many problems when I had Verizon DSL, and the telephone people and the DSL people kept batting me back and forth until I got so annoyed and went to a provider where one call gets things fixed.

4

I’ve had Time Warner Cable since 2000. Best thing I ever did.

5

Your total ends up being about what I pay for a similar service with Dish Network + Comcast internet - about $100 for 2 HD-DVRs, Showtime + HBO for Dish network, and $60/mo for Comcast internet with no TV. I could drop that by $30 by going with my local DSL provider but Comcast internet is much better.

6

We don’t have cable, but time warner provides our internet service, and they really do have great customer service. If we were to get some sort of cable, they’d absolutely be my first choice.

7

I had ATT U-Verse and liked it, then I moved to a building where it is not available.

I have Time-Warner now.

I cannot count all the ways in which they suck.