There are a lot of good reasons why you might want to get out of a DirectTV contract. Maybe you want to cut out television altogether so that you can make better use of your time. Perhaps you stream everything these days and don’t need satellite TV or cable TV anymore. Or maybe you just want to switch to a different provider in order to save some money.
Whatever the reason, you have the right to turn off that service. But, be careful, because if you’re in a contract, they might charge you money. Here are some things that you can do to get out of a DirectTV contract without paying:
Legitimate Reasons to Get out of a DirectTV Contract
Let’s look at the easy stuff first. If you have a legitimate reason to get out of a DirectTV contract then you can do so at no charge. Reasons that DirectTV will accept include:
- You’re moving. If you’re moving to a new apartment that doesn’t allow you to install a satellite dish, then they will cancel your contract without an early termination charge. If you’re moving to a new country where the company doesn’t operate, the same story.
- The service is constantly having outages. If you have consistently experienced outages that prevent you from regularly using the service then they will often work with you, allowing you to get out of your DirectTV contract at no charge.
- You’ve experienced fee increases. If the company has raised rates during your contract then you might have an argument to get out of the contract. Here’s more information on what to do if the company doesn’t provide the services agreed to in the contract.
- The person whose name is on the account has passed away. Hopefully, this is not the reason that you want to cancel a DirectTV contract. However, I suppose it’s good to know that if that happens then they won’t charge you.
Speak to a Retention Representative
If you don’t have one of those reasons, then you’ll need to put in a bit more effort to work with the company. Notably, you could say that one of those reasons is the case, but sometimes they ask for proof. In any case, it’s time to try calling them.
You need to call their customer service number. However, once you reach someone, you need to ask to speak to a retention representative. That’s because the regular customer service person is not going to be able to assist you.
Obviously, given their job title, the retention representative is going to do all that they can to convince you not to cancel your service. You just have to stay calm and firm on the phone. Be very clear with them that you need to cancel, that you can’t keep paying for the service, and that you need to know how to get out of your contract.
Notably, they do charge a cancellation fee to get out of your contract. But, as with almost all other companies, you can negotiate with them. Be patient. Be kind. Remember that this is another human on the other end of the line, just trying to do their job. If you’re lucky, they’ll work with you. Sometimes they’ll waive the fee. Sometimes they’ll reduce it. See what you can work out.
Look for a Deal to Switch to a New Provider
If you want to keep satellite TV but just don’t want to work with DirectTV anymore, then you may be in luck. Sometimes companies will run promotions for new customers. They’ll offer to pay off your termination fees with the other company if you sign a new contract with them. This doesn’t make sense if you want to get out of TV contracts altogether. But if you’re just tired of dealing with DirectTV and wouldn’t mind getting the same type of service from another company, then this can be a smart way to go.
Other Options to At Least Reduce The Cost
If the above options don’t work, then here are some things to know:
- It might be cheaper to pay the early termination fee than to keep paying the monthly fee through the end of the contract. If you truly don’t want the service, that’s something to consider. DirectTV typically charges $20 per month for the remainder of your contract as their early termination fee. They also charge a $15 deactivation fee on top of that.
- If you don’t want to pay for a service that you’re not using then you could at least see about downgrading your DirectTV service to the lowest possible monthly plan. Then you can use that plan until the contract runs out. Confirm with the company that you are not starting a new contract though!
- Sue the company. This is a long shot since you did sign the contract. However, if you think that you have a good case then you can file a lawsuit against DirectTV to recoup your termination fees.
If you cancel your service, make sure that you return all of DirectTV’s devices (like your remote) to them immediately. If you take too long, they’ll charge you for that too!
Read More:
- Cord Cutting: How to Save Money on TV
- Health Costs of Binge Watching TV
- 10 Socially Irresponsible Companies to Avoid
If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!
Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.
Comments