Direct TV Reverses Charges Following Complaint

Imagine getting charged for something you didn't receive and then having your credit report hurt because of it. That's what happened to one Low Country couple.
Virginia and Jim Meeks said they cancelled their service with the satellite company Direct TV ten days after it was installed in June of 2004. Their reason--faulty service. And until Wednesday their bill had been in dispute for more than a year--with a collection agency calling their home every day.

 
"(Virginia) wanted to pay them and I said no we're not going to give in and pay them," said Jim. "We don't owe them this money."

"They would call here at five minutes of nine on a Sunday night," said Virginia. "They had me in tears--I don't usually cry about anything but they had me in tears."

Those calls are something they said they did not deserve. Especially since they sent back all of the equipment.

The Meeks said they didn't even know their credit had been adversely affected until they went to apply for a home equity loan.

"(Virginia's) credit rating dropped 100 points," said Jim.

Their records show that Direct TV refunded their credit card but less then two weeks later the company reversed those charges. The Meeks said they didn't know why.

After they sent at least four certified letters of complaint they decided to write to NEWS 3 for help. And because of our work Direct TV reversed those charges and told the collection agency to stop making calls.

For Jim and Virginia that news was exactly what they waited more than a year to hear.

"Channel 3 does just what they say--they're on your side," said Jim. "Without you people we'd still be owing Direct TV money-- which we never owed them in the beginning."

A spokesperson for Direct TV said the Meeks were legitimately charged but the company was willing to make an exception and refund the money. They said they hoped their gesture would give the Meeks a reason to consider using Direct TV again in the future.

NEWS 3 also contacted Ross Howard of the Better Business Bureau in Savannah for help. He suggested following these steps to avoid adverse effects on your credit score during a billing dispute.

Step 1: See if the credit report shows there's a problem. For a free copy of your credit report call 866-200-6020.

Step 2: Contact all parties involved including the three credit reporting agencies.The three major national credit bureau's are:

Equifax: 1-800-685-1111 or www.equifax.com

Experian: 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com

TransUnion: 1-800-916-8800 www.transunion.com

For help with writing a compliant letter you can go to www.ConsumerAction.gov and click on "Sample Complaint Letter."

Step Three: Once you have information back from those three agencies double check your credit and see if they've taken it off.

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