DirectTV Techs: Policy Makes Lying Part Of Job

[The Straight Story]

DirectTV Techs: Policy Makes Lying Part Of Job

POSTED: 5:32 pm EDT May 1, 2006
UPDATED: 5:52 pm EDT May 1, 2006

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A group of DirectTV satellite technicians who have installed systems in homes across Central Florida sought out the Problem Solvers to fight back against a company policy they say creates an environment where lying to customers is part of the job, according to an investigation.

A large group of DirectTV technicians traveled to Local 6 studios to talk about being pressured to sell systems connected to phone lines.

The technicians said their supervisors have been putting pressure on them by deducting $5 from their paychecks for every DirectTV receiver that's not connected to a phone line, the report said.

"They admit, they've lied to customers along the way," Local 6 reporter Nancy Alvarez said.

http://www.local6.com/money/9142100/detail.html

[Ecumenist]

1. Isn't DirectTv a "red company"?

That's what I thought and if it is, it doesn't surprise me. It's par for the course.

[politicat]

2. Dish does this kind of thing, too.

Don't know if they cut people's pay the same way, but they lie and use very high pressure sales tactics to get the same thing - it's not necessary to connect a receiver to the phone line, but if the receiver is connected, then the company gets usage stats that they otherwise don't get.

It's one of the reasons we ultimately dropped all forms of pay TV. (That, and we couldn't justify paying $60 a month and only watching The Daily Show.)

[fairfaxvadem]

3. I was given the same "line"....

Both from the dude at Best Buy, who wanted to sell me that wireless phone jack, which I'd heard worked like crap, and the DTV installer. But I went around and unplugged the phone lines, fortunately I didn't need to add a phone line or any new jacks. I don't order movies and DTV hasn't bothered me about it.

Between Cox Cable, Dish and DTV, choices are pretty slim, and I confess I'm not ready to throw out the old boob tube yet. Maybe I'll get there one day.

[The Straight Story]

4. I had DirecTV and loved it

Switched to another company (a cable one) when I moved back in to the city - though now I wish I had stuck with dish.

[Yollam]

5. MasTec is a very corrupt Miami company run by right-wing Cubans

I'm not surprised to read that, as there were many news stories about their unscrupulous practices back when I lived there.