Preparing for the life after your DIRECTV Contract
If you have been enjoying the services of Directv and you subscribed to any of their offers that come with a two-year contract, then you are likely to be asking yourself what happens after two years. DIRECTV often sends out letters to customers informing them that their contract is about to expire which is why it is good to explore your choices beforehand. In case you are wondering what comes next or how to manage life after signing up for a 2-year DIRECTV plan, here is an idea of what to expect and some guidelines to follow.
The Expiration Process
For instance, if you have a 24-month DIRECTV contract, then you should expect a notification, most often within 30-60 days before your contract period comes to an end. This "contract expiration notice" serves a few purposes:
- Reminds of your contract pricing that is shortly to expire and you get a lower price.
- Shows you what you can do in the next step
- Reminds you to opt in, so you can continue to receive lower prices on linked products
If you do nothing, your DIRECTV service will automatically roll over to a month-to-month basis at the next rate tier offered by the provider, which is typically more expensive than the introductory offers.
What if this analysis is left unaddressed?
Thus, at the end of your contract, your account shall be transferred to the month-to-month packages offered by DIRECTV if you decline to renew your contract. Instead of signing up with a flat monthly rate, you will have to pay for the actual programming and each receiver and piece of equipment more to it. This is not as cheap as your first-month offer, therefore you will find that the charges will increase now and then as you continue to use the service.
The monthly subscription price for month-to-month with direct TV is between $100 -$150 with the inclusion of various hidden costs including equipment costs. As a result of, the constant absence of a long-term agreement that will lock you into service with the provider, the consumer has the right to terminate the service without having to pay for early termination fees. However, you are again deprived of the lower service promotional prices that 2-year contracts offer.
What are you being offered in terms of service extensions?
This means DIRECTV wants to keep customers when they expire; this is why they will come up with various renewal offers. Usually, they issue some notices stating the existence of new customer promotions with gift cards and other short-term incentives to stick to the service.
Some of the more common offers extended to renewing DIRECTV customers include:
- Discounted Pricing: As what was agreed upon when you subscribed to the plan, at costs lower than the standard ones, ranging from 10 to 30%.
- 12 Month Plans: They were supposed to be shorter than 24-month contracts so you don’t get locked into high rates for that long.
- Bundled Plans: Check out their website for more details on how you can save even more by bundling DIRECTV with either AT&T wireless or internet service every month.
- Gift Cards and Credits: Often get Visa gift cards and credits towards your account when renewing, typically worth anywhere between $100 and $300.
If you call them about an expiring agreement some discounts can be even deeper and some fees can be no longer necessary - depending on your payment discipline and in case if you state your intention to change the provider. Usually, they can offer a lower price for a renewal at the end of the subscription period if you ask for it.
Consider Changing TV Providers
However, even for those who are a little more patient, two years feels like a long time, and you might find yourself ready to leave DIRECTV once your contract is up - and that’s okay. Indeed, the search for competitors might just get you a better deal, one that would be lower than what you are now paying. DIRECTV has a quality TV service but avoid it for the cheapest rates or even its best offers.
Some popular alternatives to consider switching to when your DIRECTV plan expires include:
- DISH Network: Extremely economical and offers very cheap packages with the basic one starting at only $49. 99 per month and the package comes with more than 190 channels. They also have a price guarantee for the prices of products for two years if you sign an agreement.
- Hulu + Live TV: Best streaming service with Over 75+ live TV channels and hundreds of movies/shows On-demand for $64. 99/mo. There are no contracts needed or any hidden fees to be concerned about in this case as well.
- YouTube TV: Boasting 85+ channels plus endless DVR capabilities at just $ 64. 99 per month. Also kindly share the login so you cut costs with family and friends as well.
I always advise people to measure DIRECTV against 2-3 competitors each time any service contract is about to end. This helps you to continue enjoying favorable deals or a good price for your TV service. Although this may be a case of intentions that are not fully realized, getting quotes from other providers is useful in negotiating renewal deals even if you choose to remain with DIRECTV.
Transitioning towards a new lifestyle that is healthier and more sustainable is not always easy, but planning for it is a good place to start.
Whether you choose to go with a month-to-month subscription with DIRECTV continue contracting or switch to another provider, planning makes the transition smooth. Here are some tips:
- I suggest writing down the date by which the agreement is due and circling this date so that it is not overlooked.
- This can be done by analyzing the offered prices and packages of the competitors that operate in a given region as the contracts are about to expire.
- Start any new services one or two weeks before service from the other party is due to end to avert disruptions.
- Ensure the account and billing information shows the preferred package/plan before the renewal interval ends
That way, everything works correctly when your current DIRECTV plan changes, or you switch over from another service. call them anytime you have specific questions concerning your account status or renewal by dialing their customer service line.
Preparing for the Post-Agreement World?
It is like leaving behind a long-term relationship when one is relieved from the obligation of having a long TV contract signed. However, having accurate information on policies and exiting options on DIRECTV expiration, the transition can be easy. As of now, you have learned the outcome of your 2-year agreement so you may decide wisely on the services whether to continue or not.
