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Attorney General Abbott's agreement with satellite service resolves past marketing deceptions
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Posted: 12/15/2005 Views: 2715 Impressions: 9974
Categories: Government: State, Home Life
Posted: 12/15/2005 Views: 2715 Impressions: 9974
Categories: Government: State, Home Life
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AUSTIN - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott joined 21 other states today to cement a $5 million agreement with satellite programming services provider DirecTV. The agreement requires the company to refund money to consumers who complained they were not delivered all promised local programming and were deceived into paying activation fees.
"Texas consumers need to be fully apprised of the level of programming they are buying and there should be no surprises when they receive their monthly bills," said Attorney General Abbott. "Consumers who were misled and paid fees they should not have paid will receive a refund."
Texans who have been victimized by these deceptive practices and who may be eligible to claim restitution from DirecTV should file complaints with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Divison online at www.oag.state.tx.us or via toll-free hotline at (800) 252-8011.
The Attorneys General have investigated DirecTV's practices since 2000 and found the company to be disseminating misleading advertising about programming plans, rates and costs of equipment.
Attorney General Abbott and the states investigated consumer complaints about misleading fine print on contracts and confusion about the level of financial commitment when opting for particular plans. Only after they were locked into contracts, such as "free programming" offers, were consumers made aware of hidden fees, requirements for additional receivers and the lack of local programming available.
As a result of today's agreement, the company has promised to describe in its advertising the full scope of plans, services it offers and associated costs before consumers commit by contract. The company must reveal in its advertising that not all local programming will be available in certain viewing areas and also must list blackout restrictions of local sporting events.
Other participating states are Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont and West Virginia.
Media Links
Texas Attorney General's agreement with DirecTV
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/newspubs/releases/2005/121205directtv_avc.pdf
Sample of DirecTV's deceptive advertising
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/newspubs/releases/2005/121205directtv_ad.pdf
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