DirecTV Fined For Do-Not-Call Violations (About Time)

Firm to pay $5.35 million in FTC's largest civil penalty protecting consumers. Updated: 11:46 a.m. ET Dec. 13, 2005

WASHINGTON - DirecTV Inc. will pay $5.35 million to settle charges that its telemarketers called households listed on the national do-not-call registry to pitch satellite TV programming, Federal Trade Commission officials said Tuesday.

The proposed settlement, if approved by a federal judge in Los Angeles, would be the FTC’s largest civil penalty in a consumer protection case.

The DirecTV complaint, filed by the Department of Justice at the FTC’s request, named the company and five telemarketing firms it hired, as well as six principals of those firms.

snowy TV reception

Sounds like a poor installation likely from bad connectors or a broken coax shield. I live in a rural area. Although I was 20 miles from all tv stations reception due to terrain was impossible. So I bought the 12 footer and all was well. I could pick up distant cities networks most services were free.

Along comes the local stations which even though it was impossible for me to receive their broadcast had laws passed to where distant cities were also prohibited as well. The ratings company Nielsen was supposed to determine what was a local viewing area. This was done simply by getting a map and drawing a 50 mile circle.

To get distant city stations I had to obtain written permission from each local station manager. In the mean time the newer receivers designed by the founder of DISHNET came on the market. If you ever owned a 12 foot system and dealt with the problems you would appreciate the newer ones. Still though all local networks were blocked. That is something you can thank the Cable TV companies and local stations for getting passed.

The two small dish companies finally had enough customers to raise a voice in congress to stop the unfair laws prohibiting distant city viewing. I have used both Dish Net and Direct TV and I have to say I was not dis satisfied with either ones service. If installed correctly it is far more reliable and clear than cable can ever be unless the cable is fiber optic. I have not been bombarded by callers from either one and I am in the phone book and on the Do Not Call list. I have however been hounded by COMCAST who uses subcontractor telemarketers to make fraudulent sales pitches and yes the calls originate off shore.

I would not use Direct TV's Internet because of speed and cost issues. COMCAST in my area missed out on many customers because it refused to run cable in our area. When almost all houses had made the dish purchases up rolls the cable installation trucks and tighter control over local viewing.

I would only buy cable for Internet service and nothing more. I get 150 plus channels and some fantastic music choices. In the mean time the cable industry has stagnated in providing meaningfully upgrades to their systems. Satellite will be the future and within a decade the major cable tv companies will be providing it as well. For that matter MA Bell will likely have to do the same as her systems are not being maintained for long term usage any more.

(thank GOD for the National Do Not Call list!!!)

I am on it as well and it has really helped get rid of the unsolicited business calls.

But now I have a different problem.

I gave to a good charity (Disabled Vets or something) and they sold my name and number to every charity in the world. I get 3 to 5 calls every night and am completely sick of it.

Anyone know how to get off such a “suckers” list?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.