DISH TV payment question....

I have had a several year history with Pay-As-You-Go DISH. Bought one of the early Dish-For-My-RV setups which included the Winegard Carryout and the receiver. In the beginning, NONE of the CS Reps knew what to do. I had to explain many times what the PAYG plan was. I was always connected to the "Loyalty" department where I usually got someone who knew how to handle my account.
With PAYG, you pay for a full month up front. The account is good for 30 days from that date. If I only use one week of that service, I call DISH and ask them to "Disconnect". I explain that I have an RV and we are now back from vacation. I used to have to prompt the Rep to transfer me to Loyalty (they are the only ones allowed to disconnect service), but lately I am transferred there readily as it seems the word is getting around. In the beginning, I found CS Reps that did not even know what an RV was.
The balance that is left remains on your credit until you use the service again. If you restart within the original 30 days, there is no additional charge. If you restart after the 30 days, you have to pay the difference to bring the account up to the 30 days again. In essence, you are replenishing your account for what you used the last time. Your account can stay for months with a partial credit and you can restart it at any time with no penalty. Due to circumstances, mine was almost a year and I was able to keep my credit. They did, however, think I'd left them and called to woo me back. I told them I never left and explained the RV thing and they marked my account accordingly.
I've used this many times and the only pain is them getting the receiver to come out of dormancy when I don't use it for several months. I have always been able to get it to work though.

Dis you use THIS site and did you call the number on the site?

Thanks to you all for the responses.

I have been on the phone with DISH for the last two days trying to get an absolute answer from them regarding this issue.

I get different answers, depending on the time of day and who I talk to. It seems that DISH does not really understand my question, or they do not understand their RV Tailgater Program.

It is a pretty big risk to spend over $400.00 right now for TV, and find out that I will have to pay $30.00 each month that I use it, even if only for 2-3 days that month. I do not need TV that much!!!

Lots of folks suggesting that I "disconnect" the service, and that will solve the issue and leave me with a credit for the next time I use it. I might try that, but it would mean an investment of buying the hardware.

I will update you all on what I find out, and what our decision is....

Thanks,

Jerry

Lantley wrote:

I don't mean to dispute or challenge what you are saying. The next time I activate my service. I will use the term "disconnect" when I am done and see what happens?

be sure to let us know the outcome.
thanks,
bumpy

lryrob9301 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Lantley wrote:


My experience has been similar to what Kiwi posted above. 30 day windows only. I will say there is confusion do to the fact many Dish customer service people have no idea what a pay as you go plan is.
It's the classic scenario of getting a different answer depending on who you talk to. t

are you positive that the folks with the 30 day consecutive issue used the word "DISCONNECT". that appears to be the magic word. I am assuming that the post by lryrob9301 quoted a Dish statement?
bumpy

That posting came from a email with a DISH senior C/S supervisor from several years ago when the Pay-As-You-Go payment plan first started. I have followed their advice for 5 years and it has worked perfectly every time I have started and stopped my service.

I don't mean to dispute or challenge what you are saying. The next time I activate my service. I will use the term "disconnect" when I am done and see what happens?

Bumpyroad wrote:

Lantley wrote:


My experience has been similar to what Kiwi posted above. 30 day windows only. I will say there is confusion do to the fact many Dish customer service people have no idea what a pay as you go plan is.
It's the classic scenario of getting a different answer depending on who you talk to. t

are you positive that the folks with the 30 day consecutive issue used the word "DISCONNECT". that appears to be the magic word. I am assuming that the post by lryrob9301 quoted a Dish statement?
bumpy

That posting came from a email with a DISH senior C/S supervisor from several years ago when the Pay-As-You-Go payment plan first started. I have followed their advice for 5 years and it has worked perfectly every time I have started and stopped my service.

Lantley wrote:


My experience has been similar to what Kiwi posted above. 30 day windows only. I will say there is confusion do to the fact many Dish customer service people have no idea what a pay as you go plan is.
It's the classic scenario of getting a different answer depending on who you talk to. t

are you positive that the folks with the 30 day consecutive issue used the word "DISCONNECT". that appears to be the magic word. I am assuming that the post by lryrob9301 quoted a Dish statement?
bumpy

lryrob9301 wrote:

Lantley wrote:
I have a pay as you go account. You have 30 days of service use it or loose it.
I agree I don't want to pay for service I don't use however, I don't full time so I will never use a full months service. If I can get 2-3 weeks or even 2-3 weekends per month of use I'm OK.
Truth is I don't/won't use the RV an entire 30 days per month, But I'm Ok with paying/maintaining it for the entire month.

You need to use the correct wording when you stop your service to receive a unused credit to apply to your next re-start.

DISH PAY-AS-YOU-GO

When you wish to stop your service you call DISH and tell the C/S person you want to "DISCONNECT" your service. When you do this any unused funds will remain in your account as a credit against your pre-pay amount when you re-start. Do not use terms like suspend, stop, pause, ONLY USE THE TERM "DISCONNECT".

I suggest you register your account on mydish to make restarting easier and to keep track of your unused funds.

My experience has been similar to what Kiwi posted above. 30 day windows only. I will say there is confusion do to the fact many Dish customer service people have no idea what a pay as you go plan is.
It's the classic scenario of getting a different answer depending on who you talk to.
Not sure why, maybe I'm doing less remote camping these days but I have not used the satellite in quite awhile.
My destinations have either had cable or decent over the air reception. My service is there for 30 day periods if I need it, but I just haven't needed it

I would simply use the dish at home so I wouldnt lose it

Lantley wrote:
I have a pay as you go account. You have 30 days of service use it or loose it.
I agree I don't want to pay for service I don't use however, I don't full time so I will never use a full months service. If I can get 2-3 weeks or even 2-3 weekends per month of use I'm OK.
Truth is I don't/won't use the RV an entire 30 days per month, But I'm Ok with paying/maintaining it for the entire month.

You need to use the correct wording when you stop your service to receive a unused credit to apply to your next re-start.

DISH PAY-AS-YOU-GO

When you wish to stop your service you call DISH and tell the C/S person you want to "DISCONNECT" your service. When you do this any unused funds will remain in your account as a credit against your pre-pay amount when you re-start. Do not use terms like suspend, stop, pause, ONLY USE THE TERM "DISCONNECT".

I suggest you register your account on mydish to make restarting easier and to keep track of your unused funds.