The Nightmare of DISH Network

WARNING:  You do not have to read this rant.  I am only writing it because my doctor told me it was better to do this than go back on Prozac!

Just kidding...but this is such a nuts story of poor performance...we had to share.

When we purchased the BIG new TV we decided to try digital.  We were going to go with MediaCom and my friend John Kelling but there were some wiring issues we could not correct.  So...we knew somebody, who knew somebody who was selling DISH Network and we called. 

That was about a year ago and I can report to you that the system works about...80% of the time.

The only time is doesn't work well is when it rains.   Or, when the wind is blowing hard.  When it snows the reception is pretty bad and it will cut out.  But...when there is no wind, moderate temps and no precipitation...it sometimes works.

In November we were out for about a week and we called.  A nice man from a friendly country came...the same guy that had installed it...and put some wire in.  Got a bill for $29 and the system worked...pretty well until January.

The night of the Super Bowl we were watching and the picture started to go out.  Oh Oh...  We made it through the game but the next day, nothing.

So...we called and set up an appointment with DISH Network for the 19th of February.  I had to stay home between noon and five. 

Nobody showed.

So...a little ticked...I called and a nice young man from Spokane cut my rate and rescheduled for today the 27th between noon and five with some company called BLUE SKY SATELLITE from Kansas.

Nobody showed...or called.

So, that makes ten hours I waited for service.  Not too happy with the entire thing, I called back today and was told they canceled because they did not get permission to drill.  Drill?  Drill for a technical issue?  How do they KNOW they have to drill anything they have NOT SEEN the issue...I know that because we still have SNOW on the ground...no tracks.  No Blue Sky...hmmmm

So, I blog.  And ask you the question.  Anybody else had this lousy experience with DISH Network or BLUE SKY from Kansas?  Anybody happy with their service?  Anybody got a suggestion?

So...I blog...and, because I can, we'll ask the same questions this week on the two radio shows I do.  Maybe John Kelling will call and invite me to try MediaCom?  In the meantime I'll send them all a bill for my time. 

OK...I'm almost calm now.

Michael P. Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications where if our service was this BAD...we'd long ago been run out of town.

Comments

[Craig Dick]

Mike,
I have had pretty good luck with Blue Sky and Dish. My tv rarely goes out, just during the worst rain storms and usually if the tv signal goes so does the rest of the power. Blue sky is scheduled next week to do some updates to my system... between 8 and noon. Hope they show. Sorry to hear about your tv woes, nothing worse than trying to relax and not being able to... well maybe waiting 10 hours for no one to show!

[Matt Coniglio]

Michael,

Have a similar story from Verizion this week regarding DSL service that I have tried to cancel three times since December!!I have spent over 3 plus hours on the phone with them trying get someone to understand that I have been using another companies service since December. They show my calls and my desire to cancel but somehow can not pull the trigger. Their customer service is atrocious..15 mins of hold to get to an operator. They apologize real nice for my inconvenience but can't solve the freakin' problem. This could be a serious downfall of America since we are moving in to the "service economy" from the "manufacturing economy"!!!

[Michael Libbie]

Craig: Thanks for reading. I'm glad you've had good luck with the company. Maybe because they are based closer to you? I think I've found a solution. Cancel everything, read more and the $100 monthly fee that used to go to DISH...it goes to my house of worship. Seems like a good trade. Thanks for the comment! MPL

[Michael Libbie]

Matt: Man did you nail it. There is NO SERVICE in the "Service Economy". Period. Great blog idea by the way! By the way...I feel your pain. An ironic twist. The DISH Network bill arrived yesterday after my post. In it there is a "Service Call Charge" for $29...for the day they did not show up. Amazing... Thanks for the comment. MPL