Time to Change Some Laws

Regarding my last post about DirecTV and their abuse of power, I believe very strongly that it is time for changes in the laws (or maybe new regulations, if there aren't any) regulating all telecommunications companies. All companies that require customers to sign long-term contracts and require us to give them our credit card numbers before service is initiated whether satellite TV or cell phone, internet or wi-fi, are allowed too much power over us; and this needs to change. 

There is entirely too much room for abuse of that power and the companies are all too willing to take advantage of that room. I certainly have experienced this and am told by a friend that she was a victim of the same wrongs by one of DirecTV's competitors. Although that company claimed it was a "glitch" in their system which caused them to repeatedly double the amounts which they took from her. Uh Huh.

Sorry, but NO company should have the right of access to our private bank accounts. In my opinion, it is no less than extortion to demand free access to our money before giving any service. This takes away our right of choice, our right to decide whether or not we want to go on with a so-called service that we may feel has been misrepresented, or has declined in quality of product. It even takes away our right to dispute erroneous charges or fees if the company can just say, "You know what? You don't want to pay what we tell you to, we'll just take it anyway. Nothing you can do about it." 

EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER SUPPLYING THE SERVICE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE SHUT IF OFF, THEY CAN STILL ,AND WILL, TAKE YOUR MONEY!!!!! 

I did not ever have automatic bill pay with DirecTV; I always sent a check each month so I was doubly shocked when I got a notice in the mail from my credit union that all my money was gone and I was $249.25 over-drawn. My first thought was that someone had stolen my account number. When I called the CU and they told me it was DirecTV, I was stunned. I couldn't believe it. 

I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, but discovered I am at the back of a very long line. Over 26,000 of us. The BBB does not accredit DirecTV; way too many complaints. They have been investigated and sued by the government and fined millions. And yet, are allowed to go on committing the same abuses. 

To be fair, I expect that most other same-such companies do likewise.
Still doesn't make it right. That is what my mother always said when I'd whine that all the other kids were doing it, or were allowed to do it (whatever). "Doesn't make it right" or "Doesn't mean you have to."

Yes, I know, it is just business. But these companies have the gall to talk about "Customer Care". Does anyone believe this? Do I believe that anyone at that company "cares" about what happened to me, "cares" that the amount they took from me was greater than the monthly social security stipend I live on? NO, I do not. They don't care that due to lack of work, I can no longer afford their "service." Their sole answer is always to hide behind that contract they forced me to sign. Well, never again.

I have written to the White House, my two US Senators and the two US Representatives from my state of Maine. I think we should all do this until they listen to us rather than the telecommunications lobby. 

  P.S. That amount they said they were re-crediting has not arrived yet.