How do I get out of my cable contract with Direct Tv?

Can I get out of my DirecTV contract without paying an early termination fee?

• I have had standard DirecTV for over a year and a half and my contract expires in December. I finally purchased an HD TV and so I tried to upgrade. Apparently the HD satellite signals are in a different location than the standard ones and my home does not have any good location to put the new dish. As such I am cancelling and switching to cable. I have called several times to ask that my early termination fee be waived due to the inability to get HD but they keep saying that my contract was based on the standard service and not HD, which is true. I counter by saying that the sales person told me that the new dish would simply replace the existing dish and relying on that information, I went out and spent a lot of money on a new HD TV. Anyway, the early termination fee is only $37 so it's not that big a deal but if anyone knows of another way that I can get out of my contract I would really appreciate it. When I do cancel, my service will stop at midnight that day. After that, will I still be able to watch recorded programs on my DVR or is that dependent on active service? They'll mail me boxes to send the receiver box back to them but that allows me at least some time to watch or transfer some programs if it does continue to work. Anyone know?

• Answer:

  your stuck you signed a commitment agreement for SD. as for as watching recorded shows after the fact, it depends on the model # and software version. you could try and fight the $37 but if you piss them off , you may get a letter saying that they never received the equipt. for you.....i dont think that would really happen but if it were me id pay em and be done