Is there a penalty for canceling DIRECTV?

  • Posted on: 31 Aug 2024
    Is there a penalty for canceling DIRECTV?

  • How Much Does It Cost to Cancel DIRECTV?

    DIRECTV is a leading digital television services provider in the United States, with millions of customers in the country. Similarly to most other cable and satellite services, DIRECTV expects customers to agree not to cancel the service during a certain period, generally 12 or 24 months. This raises a common question many DIRECTV users have: That being said, are there any penalties for canceling my DIRECTV service before my contract is up?

    The short answer is yes. However, if you decide to cancel your DIRECTV service before the contract period, then there will be an early termination fee charged. However, the details of that cancellation penalty do vary depending on the account type. In this article, we’ll discuss the most prevalent early termination fees, where they are imposed by DIRECTV, and how to avoid them.

    DIRECTV Early Cancellation Fees

    In most of the plans and packages that they offer, DIRECTV broadcast satellite service will charge you $20 for each remaining month in your contract if you decide to cancel. So for example:

    • For example, if you subscribed to a 24-month DIRECTV package and canceled at the end of the first year, you would be charged 20 x 12 = 240 dollars.

    • If you signed a 12-month contract and canceled after 6 months, you would pay $20 x 6 = $120

      This formula applies to most DIRECTV account holders who accept an annual or bi-annual contract. However, some exceptions exist:

      NFL Sunday Ticket Subscribers

      In case you subscribed to the special NFL Sunday Ticket plan from DIRECTV which allows you to watch NFL games every Sunday, extra charges apply apart from the per-month fee mentioned above. These can total up to three hundred and sixty dollars in fees.

      DIRECTV Special Offers & Promotions

      Sometimes there are special offers from the company, new customers or temporary accounts receiving their services through packages that have different or special terms of agreement when it comes to early termination of their contract. These exceptions as well as special offers will be clearly stated in the terms and conditions when subscribing. So, make sure you read the small print!

      Longtime DIRECTV Customers

      In cases where the subscribers have served DIRECTV continuously for several years without cutting their subscription short, the provider may choose to reduce or altogether remove cancellation fees as a sign of goodwill. There is no certainty but it is a possibility that DIRECTV may consider exceptions especially for their long term customers.

      Methods to Prevent DIRECTV Early Termination Penalties

      Like with most other satellite TV services, most subscribers seeking to terminate their subscriptions early are subjected to some form of early termination fee. Here are a few of the main ways to cancel your DIRECTV service without getting charged:Here are a few of the main ways to cancel your DIRECTV service without getting charged:

      Go Elsewhere Where DIRECTV is not Offered If you move to a new home where you cannot have or activate DIRECTV services according to your new location, the provider will release you from your contract with no consequence. For instance, you live in a place that is not within the continental US or in an area with no access to satellite reception or some specific construction types that do not allow dish installation.

      Military Deployment or Transfer The United States armed forces members who have subscribed to the DIRECTV service can pause or even quit accessing the service without any fines if they are deployed, relocated, or are about to go on a TDY that will render home television access impossible. We will need to have the receipt of the orders.

      Offer Upgrade Account with New Contract DIRECTV customers are able to initiate a new service agreement where new advanced services, premium channels or different equipment used to nullify previous contract terms and conditions without incurring the early termination fee. In other words, by renewing with DIRECTV for better services, you do not attract penalty that may otherwise be charged from wanting to fully disengage.

      In summary, regarding the Early Cancellation policy of DIRECTV, one can surely anticipate some form of fee or penalty charge concerning the termination of service before the due contract period, but there are still some exceptions open. Identify whether any of the plans you signed up for had special cancellation provisions, and do not assume that the customer service personnel of DIRECTV will not disclose further charges you probably did not know about, especially when you are through with your subscription. When it comes to making the decision of cutting ties with DIRECTV, knowing the fees involved with cancelling your satellite TV as well as preparing for other fees that may come along, you may be able to make the best decision.


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