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Curious to learn about the additional costs that affect your total bill? When signing up for a DIRECTV plan, many customers focus on the advertised rate and end up being shocked when the monthly bill arrives.
Well, not on our watch as we’ll uncover all the DIRECTV hidden costs, including installation fees, equipment charges, regional sports fees, and so much more in this blog, so you can make an informed decision when choosing a plan for your entertainment needs.
All Hidden Costs with DIRECTV
Keeping an eye on DIRECTV hidden costs while subscribing to its services is important, especially if you’re on a budget. Let’s take a look at these costs that can rack up the total bill of a DIRECTV plan:
DIRECTV Promotional Prices
DIRECTV offers a 2-year price guarantee with its plans. However, once the promotional period is over, you will be charged the ‘current’ price of the plan. The ‘current prevailing prices’ can be troublesome, especially if you don’t expect such a price hike in your selected plan. Though it’s not added to your bill, if your promo period is ending, expect a hefty amount in your next billing.
DIRECTV Billing Breakdown
| Fee | Purpose | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| TV Access Fee | Cost for connecting a new receiver | $7.00/receiver |
| Advanced Receiver Service Fee | HD, DVR, and whole-home services | $15.00/mo. |
| Vacation Hold | Holding services and avoiding termination when you’re on vacation | Up to $7.00/mo. |
| Restoral Fee | Reinstating your regular service after it changed to minimum service | Up to $20.00 per restoral |
| Dispatch Fee | Technician fee when dispatched for repairs | $99.00 |
| Ledger Request | Itemized ledger post request (only when requested) | Up to $2.75 |
| Regional Sports Fee | Including regional sports networks | Up to $15.99/mo. |
| Late Payment Fee | Paying your bill late | Up to $6.25 |
| Returned Payment Fee | Using payment methods that end up in declined payments | Up to $30.00 (as permitted by law) |
| Minimum Service | Placing your account in minimum service status because of non-payment | Up to $9.99/mo. |
| Phone Payment Fee | Talking to customer service rep to pay via phone | Up to $5.00 per payment |
| Order Assistance Fee | Speaking to an agent to order Pay Per View | Up to $5.00 per payment |
| Duplicate Statement Fee | Sending a duplicate written statement at your request | Up to $1.75 |
*Prices are subject to change
These are the additional fees that you may have to pay when you’re subscribing to DIRECTV services. Some of these fees, such as duplicate statement fees, phone payment, ledger request, and vacation hold, can be avoided since they’re not applicable to your bill unless requested.
In addition, you can keep an eye on your online account and account statement as well as make timely payments to avoid any additional fees being added to your billing statement.
DIRECTV Installation Fees
| Fee | Purpose | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| Activation Fee | Activation of your DIRECTV service | $19.95 |
| Additional Activation Fee | Activation of DIRECTV on each TV after 3 devices per household | $49.00 per TV connection |
*Prices are subject to change
DIRECTV only charges for the activation of your service, which means you can get a professional technician to install your connection (streaming and satellite) free. However, it only allows you to get service activation on 3 TVs in a household, and you’ll have to pay $49 per TV for activation on each additional TV!
DIRECTV Equipment Fees
| Fee | Purpose | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| Genie Mini Receiver | Adding 1+ receivers to your package | $7.00/mo. Est. |
| Genie 2 Bridge Fee | Upgrading to the new Genie 2 | $99.00 one-time charge |
| Equipment Non-Return Fee | Fee for not returning equipment (varies by device) | $45.00–$135.00 |
*Prices are subject to change
The advanced receiver fees, mentioned in the taxes section, comes under the DIRECTV equipment costs. It is not fixed, and you can expect it to cost more (changes with period). In addition, the Genie Mini receiver is available at $7/mo.; however, it’s still an estimated price and can cost more.
The Genie 2 has its perks (wireless setup and more recording time); however, the additional bridging cost and somewhat buggy interface (according to online reviews) make it a risky choice.
DIRECTV Premium Channel and Add-On Costs
| Channel add-ons | What it includes | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| Max | HBO's streaming service | $15.99/mo. |
| CINEMAX | Big-name premium channel | $10.99/mo. |
| Paramount+ with SHOWTIME | Indie films and prestige TV | $12.99/mo. |
| STARZ | Thousands of movies and shows | $10.99/mo. |
| MGM+ | MGM+ channels | $5.99/mo. |
| MOVIES EXTRA PACK | More HD programming, including classic and contemporary movies, short films, documentaries, and musical performances | $4.99/mo. |
| Outdoor Channel | Real-life outdoor adventures airing all day | $4.99/mo. |
| NBA League Pass | All out-of-market NBA games | $49.99/half season |
| NHL CENTER ICE | Up to 40 out-of-market games each week, and NHL Network is included during the NHL season | $39.99/half season |
*Prices are subject to change
The good thing about DIRECTV is that you get premium channels, including HBO Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ®, MGM+™, and Cinemax® added to the lineup for the first 3 months.
DIRECTV has access to almost all premium channels, and you can easily get your favorite channel added to the lineup after paying its monthly subscription fee.
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DIRECTV Cancellation Fees
| Fee | Purpose | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| Early Termination Fee | Canceling your DIRECTV service before the end of your contract | Up to $480.00 (prorated monthly) |
| Equipment Non-Return Fee | Failing to return equipment after you cancel service | $45.00–$135.00 |
*Prices are subject to change
Since DIRECTV holds the price for up to 2 years, cancelling the service means you’re terminating the contract earlier. Hence, you’ll have to pay an early termination fee. Apart from this, if you don’t return the equipment once the service is cancelled, you’ll have to pay the non-return equipment fee as well.
How to Avoid DIRECTV Hidden Costs?
With so many additional costs, it’s hard to make up your mind and choose a DIRECTV plan. However, if you keep these tips in mind, you can stay informed and avoid unnecessary fees in your billing:
- Examine your bill for any additional charges. If you spot one, ensure to communicate it with DIRECTV customer service and resolve the issue.
- Get in touch with the customer service to negotiate a discount. In most cases, the representatives provide information on conditions where additional fees are waived.
- Time your cancellation in case you don’t want to pay the revised offer for your plan. Keep an eye on when your plan’s expiring, and find other options under budget that will address your needs.
- Check out online resources such as LocalCableDeals that provide the latest updates on DIRECTV deals and promos.
To conclude, DIRECTV's hidden costs can be troublesome, especially if you’re on a tight budget. However, some of these costs are avoidable, and if you play it right, you can surely keep your DIRECTV plan under budget.
FAQs
What happens if you don’t pay your DIRECTV bill?
If you don’t pay your DIRECTV bill, you’ll be charged a late payment fee. If you consistently miss your payments, DIRECTV will suspend your services at the end of your billing cycle.
Can I Use Xfinity Internet with DIRECTV?
Yes, DIRECTV is a TV service provider, and you can use Xfinity Internet or any internet of your choice with a DIRECTV plan.
How do I reduce my DIRECTV costs?
You can watch out for late payments, early termination, and other such hidden fees. Another way is to politely ask the customer service to offer you an additional discount, which, if it works, can lower your overall bill.
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