I guess I got lucky. I had a problem with DirecTV, called their customer service, and got a new decoder shipped express at no charge. They didn't even ask for the old one to be returned. It turned out to be a transient problem, so now I have a spare.

I've been a DirecTV subscriber for 12 years, and they've cut me some slack on service calls (customer service is handled by local affiliates and can vary from one location to another, explaining why subscribers in different locations can have very different experiences). A few years ago, I wanted to switch to Dish Network because I hated the thought of sending money to Rupert Murdoch each month, but he sold the company after only a couple of...

I guess I got lucky. I had a problem with DirecTV, called their customer service, and got a new decoder shipped express at no charge. They didn't even ask for the old one to be returned. It turned out to be a transient problem, so now I have a spare.

I've been a DirecTV subscriber for 12 years, and they've cut me some slack on service calls (customer service is handled by local affiliates and can vary from one location to another, explaining why subscribers in different locations can have very different experiences). A few years ago, I wanted to switch to Dish Network because I hated the thought of sending money to Rupert Murdoch each month, but he sold the company after only a couple of years (and Dish wouldn't take me on because my credit rating is in the toilet).