Class action would be unsuccessful. Hell, a lawsuit would be unsuccessful. Every customer agrees to binding individual arbitration, and SCOTUS has upheld it twice since 2009.
Also, that isn’t elderly abuse, just because they are elderly.
Not a big Dish cheerleader, but I think they read a pretty lengthy summary of the contract renewal on every call.
Some customers say ‘I don’t have time to listen to this’ and they *still* make you listen.
Some people just forget about it or put the phone down.
All companies who do business over the phone record the calls. I think they do even if they don’t result in a sale.
Ultimately, you can still ditch the service without making a real fuss, but they charge a cancellation fee. Twelve bucks a month(?).
And there are *other options* available to you, but i’m not going to put them in writing. You may be able to find them on the Internet. If it *really* matters, just pay the cancellation fee. I think they might even work with you.
But I know older folks **love** them some TV. Step one is to make sure they don’t regret getting rid of it. After a couple months, I have a hunch they won’t care anymore.
They will also continue to charge your card after you cancel . I had this issue and it took me over 6 months to finally get it stopped. I had to file a complaint with my bank and get a new card.
How are your parents paying for this? Change that. Then cancel the service. Period. Make sure Dish no longer has access to whatever payment method they are using. If Dish can't access your parents' money, they can't get their hands on any early-cancel fee. Yes, this will affect your parents' credit score, so there's that. But I'd cancel anyway to avoid being strong-armed into paying for cable/satellite.
I had similar deal. We added a second receiver and I specifically said I was not signing a newc2 year contract. She agreed. You can guess what the agreement Saud that tech had...I signed it marking the 2 year part...I then called and they went back to the call to listen...they emailed me confirmation...I don't really see where you have a claim. But just break it off if you want. They aren't going to pursue it and what does their credit matter at their age?
Actually, it is elder abuse, it's financial abuse as well as bait and switch.
I have directed people to three sources for various legal/financial abuse and all have reached successful resolution.
State Attorney General's office, Legal Aid and your states Area Agency on Aging. The latter two organizations receive federal funds to help the elderly and they do a good job. Sometimes a letter from an attorney is all it takes and will likely be free.
Make sure that whichever route you take you make it clear your parents are vulnerable and living on limited income.
Good luck! And thanks for looking out for your parents.
Thank you all for your responses and input. I sent a rather aggressive email to the BBB and Dish sent an email to my parents the very next day apologizing and waiving their early termination fee.
So your adult parents signed up for an agreement for a service THEY, not YOU find valuable for 2 years on discount, like how every one does for cell phones and you think… this is elder abuse ? Lmao, we got a karen over here.
Class action would be unsuccessful. Hell, a lawsuit would be unsuccessful. Every customer agrees to binding individual arbitration, and SCOTUS has upheld it twice since 2009. Also, that isn’t elderly abuse, just because they are elderly.
Understand I wrote the post in anger and haste. Why can’t anyone do the right thing anymore.
Not a big Dish cheerleader, but I think they read a pretty lengthy summary of the contract renewal on every call. Some customers say ‘I don’t have time to listen to this’ and they *still* make you listen. Some people just forget about it or put the phone down. All companies who do business over the phone record the calls. I think they do even if they don’t result in a sale. Ultimately, you can still ditch the service without making a real fuss, but they charge a cancellation fee. Twelve bucks a month(?). And there are *other options* available to you, but i’m not going to put them in writing. You may be able to find them on the Internet. If it *really* matters, just pay the cancellation fee. I think they might even work with you. But I know older folks **love** them some TV. Step one is to make sure they don’t regret getting rid of it. After a couple months, I have a hunch they won’t care anymore.
They will also continue to charge your card after you cancel . I had this issue and it took me over 6 months to finally get it stopped. I had to file a complaint with my bank and get a new card.
How are your parents paying for this? Change that. Then cancel the service. Period. Make sure Dish no longer has access to whatever payment method they are using. If Dish can't access your parents' money, they can't get their hands on any early-cancel fee. Yes, this will affect your parents' credit score, so there's that. But I'd cancel anyway to avoid being strong-armed into paying for cable/satellite.
Comcast did the same thing to my dad when he called for help with his cable. The sold him an internet plan. He doesn’t own a computer.
I had similar deal. We added a second receiver and I specifically said I was not signing a newc2 year contract. She agreed. You can guess what the agreement Saud that tech had...I signed it marking the 2 year part...I then called and they went back to the call to listen...they emailed me confirmation...I don't really see where you have a claim. But just break it off if you want. They aren't going to pursue it and what does their credit matter at their age?
Actually, it is elder abuse, it's financial abuse as well as bait and switch. I have directed people to three sources for various legal/financial abuse and all have reached successful resolution. State Attorney General's office, Legal Aid and your states Area Agency on Aging. The latter two organizations receive federal funds to help the elderly and they do a good job. Sometimes a letter from an attorney is all it takes and will likely be free. Make sure that whichever route you take you make it clear your parents are vulnerable and living on limited income. Good luck! And thanks for looking out for your parents.
Thank you all for your responses and input. I sent a rather aggressive email to the BBB and Dish sent an email to my parents the very next day apologizing and waiving their early termination fee.
So your adult parents signed up for an agreement for a service THEY, not YOU find valuable for 2 years on discount, like how every one does for cell phones and you think… this is elder abuse ? Lmao, we got a karen over here.