What Factors Can Cause My DIRECTV Bill to Be So High?
So if you have been like many others, you may have realized that the bill you pay for your DIRECTV has been increasing lately. One common question many customers often pose is “Why is my DIRECTV bill so costly?” Well, several factors explain why you are charged more than you anticipate.
Promotional Pricing Expired
Like most of the cable and satellite services, DIRECTV also enjoys offering services at a cheaper rate in the first year or two as an introductory offer. This consists of adjustments in the base package price, and charges for additional services such as LPA’s, equipment, and many others. But, as soon as that promotion is over, the price hikes sometimes skyrocket and you are left with an even bigger bill. Another thing is, to be clear on what your regular non-promotional price will be so that you don’t end up being shocked at a later date when the balance is due.
Price Increases
However, what is also to be noted is that promotional price expires usually and then there are annual generalized and across-the-board price hikes at DIRECTV. While these are mostly in the range of $3-$8 per month, the concept of incremental increases does have a way of paying off in the long run. The study found that new channels or features attract high charges and users have to pay more as seen through DIRECTV.
Premium Channels and Add-Ons
The basic packages at DIRECTV appear affordable but that is where most people get into more costly packages which come in the form of extra premiums, sports, DVR services, and HD services among others. Every addition or improvement comes with another fee, and one’s bill elevates almost immediately. It is possible to go overboard on the number of channels and services and be more strategic and specific about what you require.
Leasing Receiver Fees
Like any other cable company, DIRECTV binds its customers into leasing receivers and DVR boxes to access their programs. This equipment is not paid outright but you are required to make monthly payments for each connected TV this can cost approximately $15-20 per month for advance DVR boxes. Reduce these fees by not hooking up all the TVs in the house and only getting equipment in areas that require it.
Going Over Allowances
Certain DIRECTV packages require limitations for example data for streaming shows or number of receivers allowed. In that case, you are charged overage fees that are not regular charges and appear randomly on the bill. Be very conscious of your usage to avoid getting charges which you never expected to get. This is a particularly big issue if you primarily stream the DIRECTV rather than viewing the satellite signal for the Satellite TV.
Late Payment Fees
Like most companies, DIRECTV allows payment to be made by a due date, and if this is not done, you are given a late fee. The late fee has been at $10 per month. They may be a trivial amount, but what it means is effectively, to let fees lapse day by day is to waste money. This feature of alerting you about bills should be set to avoid being charged when you are not in a position to meet the costs.
Taxes and Surcharges
Programming charges form the largest part of the DIRECTV cost although taxes, fees, and surcharges can also significantly increase the total amount that you incur. These charges differ depending on the location and they are one of the things that can accumulate over time. To this end, clients should be prepared to pay at least $10- $15 per month more in addendum charges outside the offered rates.
Bundling With Internet
Combined with AT&T Internet or wireless phone, DIRECTV often comes at a cheaper cost than paying for each service individually, but there are many deceptive and seemingly-too-good-to-be-true deals. Be careful not to be put in a state of shock when you discover what your rates would have increased to after having used a certain service for 12 months or 24 months. On average, customers who agree to bundle services may find that their overall savings is just a fraction of the earlier advertised amount as soon as the promotion period elapses.
Trouble Cancelling Service
Essentially, the subscription services with DIRECTV are available for subscription for as short a period as 1 year and a maximum of 2 years. If you plan on changing your mind early, you’ll owe a prorated early termination fee of $10-15 for every month left on your contract. This entails that it will be very costly for one to terminate their contract if they are dissatisfied with the service being rendered to them. Just remember one thing before going in for the long-term contracts, make sure you are ready to stay in for the long haul.
The Takeaway
Although DIRECTV has always been cheaper in the initial stages of subscription, milestone prices and the accumulation of extra charges make the monthly bills drastically high. Be very selective with upgrade costs of premiums or renting equipment, you will be surprised at some of the costs that will appear in your statement. It is also important to not shy away from contacting DIRECTV customer service and demanding a billing assessment or re-consideration concerning the prices which may appear to be too high for offered services.
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