DirecTV Consumer Complaint

Pay per view now expires 24 hours after purchase

The following notice just appeared in medium-fine print at the bottom of my monthly statement:

IMPORTANT NOTICE Starting 4/15/08, when you buy a PPV movie, it will expire from your DVR playlist 24 hrs after purchase. Get more info at directv.com/ppvexp.

Now isn't that grand. Ordinary television shows that I pay nothing for stay on my DVR as long as I want, but something I specifically pay for evaporates in a puff of smoke if I don't watch it within 24 hours.

Here is the note I sent to DirecTV customer service:

Dear Sir/Madam:
IMPORTANT NOTICE Starting 4/15/08, I will no longer purchase pay per view movies through my DirecTV service. I have switched to Netflix internet on-demand service to obtain my pay per view choices.

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By mhkay
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Comments - Consumers and Companies Connect by Commenting

ScottWest says: (2 months ago)

On behalf of DirecTv, I am hereby authorized to send each and every account that has outstanding balances to CBE for collections. This is my job. Pay your bills on time and in full, and we would not have to do this. Being poor/broke is not an excuss, you ordered the service, you pay the bill. Scott West DirecTv Albany, OR 1-541-926-4635 Field Office 1-360-885-9669 Regional Office 1-541-936-1908 Office 1-800-531-5000 Customer Service

darvinraph says: (2 months ago)

Note that this policy change was driven by the studios and not DirecTV. I guess the studios are worried that they will lose the DVD sale of that favorite Disney movie your children want to watch over and over. These are the same people who thought that VHS tapes would kill the movie theater revenue. They were wrong then and wrong now. It will simply drive down pay per view purchases. More choices creates more revenue in the long run. Fewer choices hurts the industry.

PondScum says: (4 months ago)

I already complained to DirecTV and got their form letter response that it was the Movie studios forcing them to do this. I said I wouldn't order any more PPV. Well, my son went an got I am Legend on PPV this weekend before I block the PPV channels. I wanted to see this movie and tried to watch it the next day, trying to beat the 24 hours (which is waaaay too short). Right in the middle of the movie the time ran out so I didn't get to finish it. So I went to my computer, found an torrent and downloaded the movie so I could finish it. DirecTV has turned me into a pirate with the crap 24 hour limit. If it was 3-4 days like a rental I would be able to understand that they were making a reasonable compromise, but 24 hours??!?!?! I don't think so.

john7117 says: (4 months ago)

The new movie policy is the final straw to make sure I never buy another PPV movie. I travel and pre-set to record movies that I watch when I return. I now will rent or do Netflix!!!!!

kipwing says: (5 months ago)

never again ppv id rather drive to movie rental store,thought i was done with that!

jhurdjr says: (5 months ago)

Hello, NetFlix. I travel 3-5 days a week, and when i come home, I look forward to watching a movie I paid for 2 days earlier, and recorded, so that I could watch it at my leisure. NOT YOUR LEISURE! Bastards.

henfuzz says: (5 months ago)

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A HDTV AND SPENT A LOT OF GOOD MONEY ON THE HDDVR FROM YOU, EVEN THOUGH I COULD HAVE WENT TO ANOTHER CABLE COMPANY AND RENTED A HDDVR FROM THEM, BUT BEING THE FAITHFUL DIRECT TV PATRON THAT I AM I WANTED TO STAY WITH YOU. AFTER READING YOUR NOTICE ABOUT THE PPV SHAFTING THAT I AM TO RECEIVE I HOPE EVERYONE GOES TO NETFLIX/BLOCKBUSTER STORES. WHY SHOULD YOU DELETE THE OLD MOVIES THAT ARE OVER 2--3 YEARS OLD THAT WE PAY 3.99 FOR VERSA THE NEW MOVIES THAT YOU ADVERTISE AND WE PAY THE SAME PRICE FOR. HASN'T THE MOVIE COMPANIES MADE ENOUGH MONEY OFF THEM ALSO? WELL, NO WONDER NETFLIX HAS THE SPECIAL FREE TRIAL GOING YOU PROBABLY OWN THEM. SIGHED A VERY DISGRUNTED PATRON OF YOURS THAT IS GOING TO CANCEL YOUR SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

henfuzz says: (5 months ago)

WHEN I GOT DIRECT TV I WAS VERY SATISFIED WITH EVERYTHING THAT CAME WITH IT AND THE SERVICE & TECH SUPPORT, EVEN BRAGGING TO MY WORKING COMPANIONS ABOUT HOW GREAT YOU WERE. BUT AFTER READING ABOUT THE STIFF SHAFTING THAT THE DIRECT TV PPV SUBSCRIBERS ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE I AM REALLY THINKING ABOUT TERMINATING MY CONTRACT WITH YOU EVEN THOUGH I JUST RENEWED MY CONTRACT WITH YOU A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

ROCTOR says: (5 months ago)

If DIRECT TV goes through with this daft move, it will totally elide the need for PPV. Why are they so eager to shoot themslves in the foot and cleave once ssatisfied customers from their services? I am nonplused and angry. I foresee a dramatic drop in their financial status.

hepost says: (5 months ago)

Really object to this change.....loved being able to buy and record so I could watch later when I have/had time to enjoy the movie. Hope this isn't final and you will somehow modify the timeframe --- otherwise will have to enjoy NetFlix or some other provider.Thanks for listening and will be hoping another announcement will soon be on my screen.

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DetailsReview Rating: 1 out of 5
Reviewed By: mhkay
Company: DirecTV
Product: Pay per View
Date Added: 5 months ago

DirecTV Consumer Complaint