Dish TV woes. Review on Dish TV

I was very happy with my cable TV since last 5 years without any major problems of their services. However after watching the advt of DISH TV by SHAHRUKH KHAN my son persuaded me to buy Dish TV and finally it is summer holidays for kids and just as an incentive to kids I thought of changing from my modest cable wala to so called hi tech Dish TV.

My woos started on the unfortunate day when I decided to buy this connection. I told my cable wala to disconnect as I am 'UPGRADING ???' and went to reputed retail chain brand shop of Spencer's electronics and paid Rs. 2950 vide their bill no. 2844 dated 17.04.2008 for set top box of DISH TV. My Viewing Card (V.C.) number is 01504836833. The sales guy SAGAR said I have to pay the balance of Rs. 1000 towards installation and another 1040 towards annual subscription to the DISH TV people who will come to install the dish and set up box at my home next day. I opted for Saturday that being holiday for me. I was told that the installation guy will come to my place on Saturday at 11 AM and I was waiting for him at home leaving all my other jobs. He did not come till 2 PM and then I started following up with SAGAR and he gave me the number of DISH TV PUNE incharge KAMLESH.

After my repeated phone calls finally 2 guys arrived with cable and dish at 4 pm and installed it. They said as per company policy only 12 meters (40 Feet) of cable is free and I have to pay for extra cable at Rs. 15 per meter and said he has installed 20 meter cable and thus collected Rs. 2040 + 130 towards extra cable from me. However no receipt was given to me for this amount of Rs. 2040 and also Rs. 130.   He finished He said that now the dish is installed and some free channels are coming and remaining channels will start  in maximum 24 hours i.e. next day by 4.00 PM. He also said that is maximum time limit is 24 hours but it can start anytime before that. He told me keep the set top box on for that whole night so in case the network is activated it will get the signal during the night.   To my surprise the network did not start the next day even up 8 PM and I lost my patience. I called SAGAR at SPENCER'S who said being Sunday DISH TV office is closed he can help me only next day. I tried KAMLESH's number but it was switched off. Then I started trying DISH TV toll free number. Even after 45 minutes of continuous dialing it was always busy and not reachable. Has anyone ever tried reaching this number and got through within 5 minutes or 5 trials ? I bet no one can get through it.   The I tried the other number using STD services. Here I was connected immediately but kept in queue for long time saying 'YOUR CALL IS IMPORTANT TO US' and also making me listen to their product updates recorded messages at my cost. I disconnected after 7 minutes and connected again. Again same thing repeated for 8 minutes. I gave up trying and then again tried at 9.30 PM and I could connect the toll free number after 4 efforts. I given all the details required by the so called 'CUSTOMER CARE EXECUTIVE' and he said my installation is not registered and updated in the system. It is dealers fault he said. I replied saying I have paid the full money and I should get services. If it is dealers fault DISH TV should look into it. He said he will talk to his superiors and get back to me. He kept me on hold dis appeared.

It happened 3 times every time a new guy on other side. However I knew he can do nothing apart from giving me the complaint number so I gave up sat to write this complaint fully frustrated and disgusted.   So now I realised that I am trapped in their tentacles by paying money. I was so happy using cable wala network by paying just Rs. 100 per month. Here apart from hard wards of Rs. 4000 I am also paying Rs. 300 every month for the services but no one is responsible and pass on the buck as a system. MY cable wala was one person contact for whatever complaint I ever had and sorted out it by just one phone call or else he knew he will not get money for the next month. Here you try for 2 hours then you have some one to listen to you but you will not get the solution but get a complaint number for follow up after paying so much.

I really am cursing my self for getting into this and I am ready to sell this whole hardware which is not used even for a day for half the amount I paid. I also urge all people out there not to get attracted by the advertisement by these companies using celebrities so tell you advantages of DISH TV I can count so many dis-advantages of having this. Be SANTUSTH with cable wala and don't wish for more which you will never get. The cable wala is 1000 times better than these people at a much less price. Also if any problem or maintenance in the cable it is cable wala responsibility and he sets it right without asking money from you where as here in DISH TV you would have to pay for everything. I really can see the future shelling out money and wasting time calling up these guys every now and then and have a complaint number to follow up with them.