I spent some time this week on the phone with Direct Tv discussing an issue with my bill. Last month when I noticed a steep increase in the bill I phoned and managed to get what I thought was a pretty good discount, bringing the bill back down to what it was previously. Because the GF had signed up for the service and used my account as a referral I also knew I'd be getting an additional $10 discount for the next 10 months. So when I took a look at the statement and the bill was once again $24 more I got on the phone. My first attempt to understand this was unsuccessful, the customer service rep I got was very confusing and just kept repeating the same thing over and over (Yes M'am you got those discounts last month this is why your bill is this amount. No if I got discounts the bill would be the lesser amount not the original higher amount. Yes M'am you got those discounts last month that is why your bill is this amount. ) until I wanted to scream, just as I was about to ask to speak to an account specialist the call got dropped. I decided to let it rest for a couple of days while I cooled off. My next call began just as confusingly. The customer service rep explained that because I'd called after the statement was generated the discounts didn't apply to last month's bill. Although I have direct debit and THEY took out the discounted amount they were now adding that amount to this month's bill because the discounts weren't supposed to start until this month. You see once the statement is generated the amount due cannot be changed but their own direct debit system automatically takes out the lower amount because it has been entered into the system. So since you have no way of knowing if your bill is increasing without receiving a statement and the statement cannot be changed once it is generated even though they will work with you on discounts they still get to screw you once a year. And she could do nothing to help me. Understand? I politely asked to speak to an account specialist who immediately removed the additional amount on my bill, lowering it to the same amount as last month and once I enquired about the referral discount also added that as well when she saw that it hadn't automatically been added to my account. I then asked if because my statement had been generated with this higher amount and can never be changed would I have the same issue next month with them debiting the lower amount than the statement reads. Now she assured me that it would not. It remains to be seen. It sure pays to read your statements carefully even with direct debit payment.
As for what I spent in cash here is how it breaks down:
Sunday: $18.65 for gas for the SUV; $120 for Pampered Chef items.
Monday :$0
Tuesday: $0
Wednesday: $0
Thursday: $8 for Wendy's for younger son's dinner (college age dd and I had a staff meeting after our aftercare jobs and dinner was provided; adult son worked late and bought his own dinner out)
Friday: $0
Saturday: $17 on ingredients for large Ambrosia Salad I took to Family Reunion picnic
Ugh your phone nightmare is just like my issue with the cable company. I wrote corporate, and received a phone call message (was at work, didn't take the call) telling me that they are open 24/7 and to just call them. Did she not read the letter that stated what has been going on the 4 times I called? sigh. I called and confirmed the message I received and paid the lower amount that I knew was due. Fine. I would get a new bill for the new month and the same amount should and will be my new monthly charge. Fine. Got my bill. Grr-it does have an $8 credit but it is $746 more than the month I just paid for. time to call yet again????
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