Not Sure Where To Post This - I'm Running Into DirecTV Billing Issues And Need Some Advice....

[global1]

First - I have problems interpreting the bill. Years ago I cancelled Comcast to got with DirecTV. The reason was I wanted to consolidate my Internet/Landline/Mobile Phone and TV into one bill a month. I was told that if I consolidate all these into one bill - that there would be money savings. Note that all these services fall under AT&T.

Initially - it seemed like a good deal - but now - everytime I get a bill from them - the price is different. It appears that DirecTV is the culprit as they keep on changing their pricing structure, make the bill confusing and impossible to interpret and make me more frustrated month by month.

Does anyone have any good advice as to how to deal with DirecTV/ATT on this and how to catch a break on my monthly bill.

I recently retired and am on a fixed income and this situation makes it hard to budget my money.

[marble falls]

1. Cut the cable.

[global1]

3. My Fear Of Cutting The Cable Is That My Internet/Landline/Mobile Pricing Will Go Up .....

because I no longer have the package. So I might save on the TV but will have to pay at least as much or more for the other services.

I'm looking for advice as to how to negotiate my monthly outlay down with DirecTV/AT&T versus cancelling and going with another TV service.

[MoonchildCA]

8. We recently cut the cord with AT&T/DirecTV.

We are so happy we did.

We still have AT&T internet, not the fastest in the world, but we have no issues with streaming. It's about $50 a month.

We switched to TMobile, which has a senior special for 55+ at $50 for two lines, unlimited everything. I don't always have the same connectivity as I did with AT&T, but it's not bad. Once in awhile I might only have 1 or 2 bars, but for the savings, it's worth it.

We cut our landline many years ago. There are many free apps to make internet phone calls, even overseas. Whatsapp is a good one.

We have a Roku box for our TV, which has many free stations, plus we have Netflix and Amazon Prime, and use my daughter's Hulu account. If you really want DirecTV though, you can add the DirectTV Now app to your Roku and pay $35 a month--you just won't have the recording device. There are a couple other less expensive pay-for TV apps though, like Sling and Philo which cost around $15 - $25 a month depending on the Channel package you choose. We haven't found the need to add any of the pay apps to our Roku though (except of course Netflix and Amazon, which we've already had for years.

After the switch, we are saving over $150 on cell phones, and at least $100 on cable.

Edit: My husband just informed me we are saving $142 on cable, and our AT&T internet costs us $40.

[jayfish]

7. Cutting The Cable Is Behind Us...

now that every content holder is coming out with thier own services. You want an honest opinion? Switch back to Comcast for everything and be done with it. You can probably get everything for a couple of years for $50 a month.

[Submariner]

10. If you like U.S. and International motor sports don't go near Xfinity Comcast

No MAVTV and no BEIN Sports. The Comcrap substitute of NBCSN is an insult to the motor sport viewer.

Also, no MGMHD movies anymore, and they actually charge disabled military veterans (everyone actually) $10 per month for the Military History Channel, which is free on all other cable and satellite providers.

I'm moving, in part, to get away from Comcrap as a cable/internet provider.

[jayfish]

11. Blame The US Viewer...

not Comcast. When was the last time you heard anyone discussing the days WRC stages or who won the most recent Rolex 24h race? Oh, and F1 is garbage I wouldn't pay a nickle for right now.

[Codeine]

13. You wouldn't say that if you had seen the Austrian Grand Prix.

An absolute corker! You are, however, right that the rest of the season has been uninspiring.

[JCMach1]

2. Pull the cord... Go with YouTube, or Hulu for TV

Hulu has a very good live TV service now. FuBOtv if you are into sports. Hulu will have your local channels.

Best thing it's pay as you go. Broke one month just let it slide ...

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. The DU Lounge

All sorts of TV discussion goes on there.

[Dennis Donovan]

5. Cord cutting sounds scary, but it's as easy as using a See -n- Say 😊

Do you have a "smart TV" or a device like a Roku, Fire TV or Apple TV? If not, they're very inexpensive - any can be had for under (a one time fee of) $75.

From there, you can subscribe to a streaming service. My recommendations are YouTube TV, Sling TV - but I'd avoid DirecTV NOW, which is what I'm presently using. I will be switching shortly due to how badly they abuse their customers with price hikes, content removal, and the MOST ANNOYING local ad insertions where the crank the volume by a factor of two!

Anyhow, let's get to the math. Before cord cutting, I was paying $80/mo for internet, and $150/mo for cable (DirecTV - satellite). Since cutting the cord, I'm still at $80/mo for internet, but only paying $50/mo for DirecTV NOW.

The things you will have to ascertain before cord cutting are present internet speeds (anything less than 10 megabytes per second will be problematic), or whether you're still under a contract with DirecTV. If no longer obligated to DirecTV *and* you have decent internet speeds, cut the cord!

Any questions, feel free to PM me - I've been off the traditional cable grid for over a year now.

[gibraltar72]

6. In the past

before AT&T bought Direct TV I was able to threaten to discontinue and get a break on price. Since AT&T now owns Direct TV I've seen two increases. My wife is boiling mad that we've lost CBS. AT&T has no qualms about raising prices, but apparently not willing to pay for CBS.

[Johnny2X2X]

9. They're all crooks

I ditched Comcast years ago because of pricing issues, they were very obviously deliberately over charging me most months. They have a convoluted rate system designed so that no one will be able to know what they signed up to pay for. They count on most people just giving up and paying their bill.

I switched to AT&T Uverse, the service was not as good, but the customer service and billing was straight forward and more honest. This all changed after a couple years and AT&T started the Comcast practices and worse.

In the mean time, Comcast took a bunch of heat publicly and settled a class action lawsuit. So I switched back to them. Much more straight forward and I feel they've improved although I'm still overpaying. The quality of their product is the best to me.

I will be cutting the cord soon though, looking at my options right now. What do people use that provides local and cable TV? I want it to be fully integrated with my Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Video accounts.

[GeorgeGist]

12. DirecTV is a subsidiary of ATT ...

which in my experience is soon to pass Comcast with the worst customer service in US.