Direct TV pulls credit to determine your monthly bill!!

[IOBA]

Oh my gosh!  I was SHOCKED that Direct TV would not even give me a quote for monthly service (TV) without verifying my name, my address, my DOB, and pulling my credit!!!

The guy said all companies must verify identity and credit before giving a quote.  If they don't do it, then the rates for service will be much higher than quoted, especially without a contract.

My auto insurance, my homeowners insurance, my *cough* internet, and now my cable/satellite rate is determined by my credit!?!?!?!?  That is insane!!

The guys justification - well, we are giving you thousands of dollars in equipment.  I pointed out that he was NOT giving me thousands of dollars in equipment.  I was calling to find out the rates to make an informed decision about whether to get cable/satellite tv.  My credit should have nothing to do it with it.  He disagreed.  I also pointed out that the equipment is "leased" to me monthly, on a 2 year contract.  He agreed, but said credit had to be verified to determine the lease rates as well as the service rates for tv.

And the guy couldn't say if excellent credit gets a better rate than terrible credit!  He just said that since I haven't been a customer in the last two years, there is no deposit required.

The other kicker is that a valid credit card is required to have service unless I live in one of two states.  I don't live in either of those states.

Does anyone else think it's insane that my monthly tv package costs are determined by my credit score??  The monthly rate should not be.  Whether I have to put down an equipment deposit & how much the deposit should be determined by credit.

** when I got internet, they wouldn't quote me or sign me up for service until AFTER they had pulled credit AND a valid credit card must be kept on file. 

[RobertEG]

The reverse question would be:

Do you think that their risk in providing equipment and services, and thus the return of equipment and/or timely payment of bills, is dependent upon a consumer's prior credit history in paying their debts?

Regardless, the FCRA clearly recognizes the permissible use of credit reports for business transactions that dont involve the actual extension of credit, but rather have a legitimate business need to review a consumer's prior credit history.  FCRA 604(a)(3)(F).

[Anonymous]

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@IOBA wrote:

The other kicker is that a valid credit card is required to have service unless I live in one of two states.  I don't live in either of those states.

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Are you saying that you don't have a credit card?  Just curious.

[DaveInAZ]

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@IOBA wrote:

Oh my gosh!  I was SHOCKED that Direct TV would not even give me a quote for monthly service (TV) without verifying my name, my address, my DOB, and pulling my credit!!!

The guy said all companies must verify identity and credit before giving a quote.  If they don't do it, then the rates for service will be much higher than quoted, especially without a contract.

My auto insurance, my homeowners insurance, my *cough* internet, and now my cable/satellite rate is determined by my credit!?!?!?!?  That is insane!!

The guys justification - well, we are giving you thousands of dollars in equipment.  I pointed out that he was NOT giving me thousands of dollars in equipment.  I was calling to find out the rates to make an informed decision about whether to get cable/satellite tv.  My credit should have nothing to do it with it.  He disagreed.  I also pointed out that the equipment is "leased" to me monthly, on a 2 year contract.  He agreed, but said credit had to be verified to determine the lease rates as well as the service rates for tv.

And the guy couldn't say if excellent credit gets a better rate than terrible credit!  He just said that since I haven't been a customer in the last two years, there is no deposit required.

The other kicker is that a valid credit card is required to have service unless I live in one of two states.  I don't live in either of those states.

Does anyone else think it's insane that my monthly tv package costs are determined by my credit score??  The monthly rate should not be.  Whether I have to put down an equipment deposit & how much the deposit should be determined by credit.

** when I got internet, they wouldn't quote me or sign me up for service until AFTER they had pulled credit AND a valid credit card must be kept on file. 

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Red: The guy you spoke with either lied or doesn't know his job.  Cable, cellular companies all advertise their rates, I know what monthly rate I expect before even calling. If I spoke to a rep who told me he couldn't quote me a rate until he pulled my credit I'd tell "good luck with that, and goodbye". All your credit score/profile does is for them to decide if they want you as a customer and if they will require a deposit. Such as, if your score is in the 500s and you have a bunch of collections they will view you as a very risky customer and require a large deposit.But your rate would be the same as someone with a 800 CS.

Blue: No on any utility rate determined by your credit, yes on insurance. The insurance companies claim studies show those with poor credit are more risky and more like to have claims. IMHO probably true, but one's driving record and claims history are probably a more accurate predictor of risk.

[MakingProgress]

Ok I work for a large cable/internet/phone providor.   I will give you a quote anytime you ask for one, weather you are a new customer or a current one looking to upgade your services.

My company will do a soft pull before finalizing an install for a new customer.   I will not get a score or any info on you I will only be told if I need to have you pay your first month and install fees up front or not.  In my experience the biggest factor in determining if we need the prepay or not is your history with us.   If you owe us money you will need to pay off old debt and prepay, if you have a history of late payments to us you will have to prepay.   The soft credit pull just helps us know it's really you when you sign up for services.  

I would tell Direct TV to go jump in a lake.

[rmduhon]

Same thing happened to me OP. When i was asked for my social so they could pull my reports u told them no because I wasn't sure if I wanted the service or not which was why I was calling g to see how much it would cost. The rep said he needed it to see if I needed to pay a deposit. When I straight up asked what a deposit had to do with how much the monthly fees would be he couldn't answer me. He kept pushing for my social and I told him either tell me what the monthly fee would be or I was done talking to him. He asked me again and I hung up on him. I'm not having my credit pulled jyst to see if the service will fit into my budget. And unfortunately, AT&T and Comcast don't service my area.

[mitchblue]

I got a HP from Cox 4 years ago when I got internet in my new house. It's one of the reason I freeze now.. Soft pull I could understand but hard pull, seems a bit much.

[rmduhon]

I can understand a HP when you get services (although SP is nicer) but not to see what the service will cost

[pizza1]

This is why I have my reports frozen. They can SP me all they want, but not getting a HP. I don't need cable that bad...Ill stick to my Apple TV and DVD's, and basic channels.

[IOBA]

I live in a rural area.  There is ONLY one internet provider.  I have no choice.  They did pull credit before they would quote me.  lol - then no showed for the first two dates scheduled for install!     And wouldn't allow me to order a phone service to go with the internet until AFTER the internet was set up and in service.  (ARGH!)

I live in a rural area.  There is ONLY one TV provider.  I have no choice.  The phone guy (love Skype - never did get a house phone) said no price quote until they ran credit, but there was definitely NO deposit required becuase I was a brand new customer.

Today, I took several deep breathes, went online.  Hit a few fake Direct TV sites and finally got the REAL one that I could order from.  No credit check required!  Just a valid phone number.  Hahahhaha - don't have one.  So I will make something up like I always do.  But I can order online.  I can see what the total will be monthly for the first few months.**

It's a two year contract with the first 12 months locked into one rate.  I have the 2017 NFL ticket for "free" if I order services anytime before end of Sept.  

The 2018 NFL ticket will automatically be added to my tv subscription next year at the going rate.  (Going rate now is currently - rounding up - $290 plus taxes.)  

I can't get an answer as to whether the 2018 ticket price will be divided up monthly and added to my account starting in Jan 2018 OR if a lump sum will be charged to my account in Sept 2018 OR if the ticket price will be divided up and applied to the last 12 months of the 2 year contract.  Does anyone know???

So knowing the cost, I know I can't afford it for another 6 months.  And the unknown costs for the second year scare me!!!  It's more than double the expense of the first, almost triple the cost!  How do you guys afford cable/satellite TV???  Or landlines???

The landline is similar deal.  Two year contract, equipment "leased" to me without a warranty, first year is xx price, but second year the price goes up at LEAST 33% plus taxes and fees.

And what's the deal with having to "lease" equipment - no option to purchase the equipment - that has no warranty???  If it's defective, you have to pay to repair it or replace it.  OR you can pay $8-20 a month, plus taxes, to have a "protection plan."  How do you guys do it???

You guys = the people who actually have these services, not everyone in general.