All of you have heard and read about pathetic Cable Guy’s disgusting Service but promptness when it comes to bill payments. Now you thought that you could save yourselves only if you had a better option.
Bingo!! you are not alone. I am too am in the same league as you are. Rather was. And that was before I bought the DISHTV from the promoters of the best in town ZEE TV. But did I have a choice? No, DD Direct and DISHTV were the two choices and DD DIRECT only broadcasts FREE-TO-AIR channels.
After much "delibrations" I had this DISHTV installed which came at a price of Rs.3990/=, Free holiday package (with all kinds of conditions) and first year fee waived (for my package it was rs.180) and of course that 3990 also includes Rs. 2000/= as a refundable fee (with a condition that I have to return the same in the condition as good as when it was given to me and not redeemable before 5 years from the date of installation - Howzzat) and of course a 60 Day free service.
Installation was smooth with a competent technician and the channels that were watchable at the time of installation were good in quality of sound and picture. But thereafter starts the real thrill. I have to call the DISHTV line for activation. Activation can take anywhere from 5hrs to 24hrs during which I have to keep my STB (Set top box) ON. And also pray the local electric board not to cut off power during this time.
Finally its received. And I get to view channels that I want. All of sudden in a few hours time I get SCRAMBLED CHANNEL message. I call up the number but it is either engaged or not going through. And when it rings and IVR responds to my call, the wait is never ending. Finally a customer support executive asks me my VC number (Viewing Card, this inspite of IVRS asking me the number and letting me go ahead only after I have fed this number proeprly) and asks me the details of the issue. I tell them and again yes you got it right PRAY THE LOCAL ELECTRIC BOARD because the activation is done anywhere between 5 to 24 hrs and I have to keep my STB ON.
Then alls fine but one day I decide to buy a new TV cabinet (approx 40 days from the date of installation) and hence had to remove the cable connecting the STB. After doing this my channels were again scrambled and called up the dealer to set the matters right. Every time I called the dealer he asked me the details of the problem and promised to send a technician by afternoon. Finally after a two long week wait I called up DISHTV customer care and complained about the dealer. And then after two weeks I got a call saying he is ready to send the tech but I will have to pay because the service package is over. I said OK but he never arrived. I called up the local cable guy’s technician to come and set right the cable connection and that was done right within 2 days time. He just had to joint the cables properly using the right tools.
After that all was OK with regular scrambles ( I never called them after that) until the SONY/STAR package started appearing on my menu. They were promoting this as a free test signal but this was always scrambled.
After the test signals got converted into PAY, I tried calling the TOLL FREE NUM 1800 180 3474 and also that 1901 180 3474 but always was engaged throughout the day anytime. So called up the Noida number (it was a STD call) and bingo CSR was already speaking to me before I could realise. He asked me to make payments through ITZ card. I searched for that throughout Bangalore but to no avail. And finally I shop had this and I bought the same. Now I had to fill the same and options were through WEB/PHONE/SMS. Phone I knew would never ring, SMS I was not sure and tried WEB but after providing all the details the ITZ card number it said was invalid. But it wasn’t so. And finally made the payment thru SMS. And called the STD number and got it activated. And hence later pray the LOCAL ELECTRIC BOARD.
So my dear friends and readers, pls do think twice about the Service levels and then decide as now you have the option (TATASKY is already in, Reliance BlueMagic is approved and so is SUN TVs proposal).
ALL IN ALL
It is Dis-organised, be ready to explain same issue to every time.
Poor local dealer service
Poor customer service
Poor Customer orientation
Poor Poor Promoters
AND yes as per Govt. of India Minitry of Information and Broadcasting, you can use the same equipment if you are switching the service providers. You should only change the Viewing Card.
Source: https://mib.nic.in/informationb/CODES/frames.htm and Ads in Paper
I called up TATASKY but they say I will have to buy new equipments too. So you have another FRAUD in line.