Why does my DirecTV receiver keep turning off?

Should I downgrade my DirecTV package?

• I currently have DirecTV Plus HD DVR that charges $75.99 a month without any credits subtracted. I have on HD DVR receiver and one SD receiver in the house. Now my total is around $70 a month with tax and credits. I initially wanted the lower CHOICE plan when getting DirecTV, but like the unsuspecting guinea pig, I got lured into the higher package because the salesman made it sound cheaper and that I could downgrade whenever I wanted. After about six months, I realized I wasn't really watching as much TV, not to mention that 90% of the channels were useless to me and the stuff I DVRed I could just stream online the next day. The stuff I mostly watched, like CNN, weren't even HD material or HD worthy. I called DirecTV and tried to get my plan lowered. It turns out, since I have an HD receiver, they will continue chargng me $10 for HD even though I just want SD material because they said it is required for the HD receiver. The other option is to send it back to them and have them ship another SD receiver to me, which would cost $20 to ship the HD box back to them, $70 for the new box, $20 for them to ship it to me, applicable taxes, and the time and hassle involved, totaling well over $100. Sending the HD box back sounds like a bad option. There is also a $6 protection plan that they had tacked onto my bill. I never asked for it and I didn't really know what it was, assuming it was a price protection plan of some sort. Turns out it is just insurance for the box and the satellite. When I tried to cancel it, they said they would have to charge a $10 cancellation fee. So it basically boils down to this. I can downgrade to the CHOICE plan, saving $20 a month, keep the HD which adds $10 a month, and cancel the protection plan which saves $6 a month but requires a $10 cancellation fee, bringing my costs down by about $15 a month.. Ignoring how much I am starting to resent DirecTV, do you think losing some channels, all DVR functionality, as well as the protection plan is worth a $15 savings per month? There isn't much breathing room with their twisted pricing schemes, but any other tips to save money would be worth it because I can't outright cancel DirecTV without incurring large fees and I do want at least basic cables channels.

• Answer:

  You shouldn't have fallen for the sales pitch. Kinda hard to be gullable, and the turn around and be tough. I would call back and talk to a different CSR about lowering your service. I have seend DTV stop charges for the DVR and HD service without hassle. I think you must have had a newbie CSR. They would leave the box with you, but your HD channels would say "Channel not purchased" and your DVR would not function. The protection plan can be cancelled whenever you like after 30 days. So try that one again too. Although it is actually a good idea. It doesnt just cover the box and the satellite. It covers the cabling in the house, the multiswitch, and all connectors and such involved with your system. Becuase it all belongs to you except for the receivers. No need to resent DTV, though. Any other cable company would pull the same stunts, too. lol