celia
12-14-2009, 02:24 PM
Hi. My Mom has gotten into a mess with Direct TV. She ordered what she thought was a 'trial' however she has nothing anywhere indicating as such, and the installation was offered as "Free". When the installers (who did not speak english) arrived they installed it without consulting her, then gave her something to sign to verify they had done it. She signed it even though the job was not done right, and it was installed incorrectly and in violation of her condo communities code. It didn't even work after installation, and was not hooked up to her vcr either, as she had requested of the installers in person. Now, unfortunately, as i have looked at what she thought was a signing of a work order, was actually the front side of the contract to a 2 year term with direct tv committing her to the service for 24 months and the cost of the equipment as well. Upon discovering that DirectTV wanted $150 and up to come out and "fix" the "Free" installation so that it did not violate her condo communities' code, because the customer retention manager said that if we had an issue with the installer we had to contact them-whom we had "NO contact information for-, as well as get it to at least even "work", she chose to terminate the contract, committing to pay an adjusted rate of i believe it was $340 to terminate completely, (I wrote it down, I was the one on the phone on her behalf, and i did take the name of the manager i spoke with).
Since that time, she has been billed for over $500 for the termination (she has yet to pay); She has been Fined by her local condo committee, and has been notified that she will in addition have to pay the local condo committee an as yet undetermined amount to both take down the dish, and replace the siding as its integrity has been compromised. This can amount to as much as $1500 and so the total of this fiasco of taking advantage of an elderly woman living alone may exceed $2000?? It is just a crazy situation to me, and she (my Mom) unfortunately just does not know what to do, i have tried to get her to at least consult a lawyer but she will not.
Does anyone have anything to say whatsoever about this situation i so very much would appreciate it. I mean, is she just out of luck, a very expensive lessen learned, or does she have legitimate legal ground to sue w/ recovery of legal expenses?
Please, someone help?
Thank you to anyone with an informed reply, and god bless:)
Since that time, she has been billed for over $500 for the termination (she has yet to pay); She has been Fined by her local condo committee, and has been notified that she will in addition have to pay the local condo committee an as yet undetermined amount to both take down the dish, and replace the siding as its integrity has been compromised. This can amount to as much as $1500 and so the total of this fiasco of taking advantage of an elderly woman living alone may exceed $2000?? It is just a crazy situation to me, and she (my Mom) unfortunately just does not know what to do, i have tried to get her to at least consult a lawyer but she will not.
Does anyone have anything to say whatsoever about this situation i so very much would appreciate it. I mean, is she just out of luck, a very expensive lessen learned, or does she have legitimate legal ground to sue w/ recovery of legal expenses?
Please, someone help?
Thank you to anyone with an informed reply, and god bless:)