Direct TV may have systemic problems with its billing and business practices.

This is a broad investigation into the billing practices of DirecTV.

Direct TV is one of the largest providers of satellite television. Direct TV requires customers to sign long-term agreements in order to acquire satellite service. These service agreements include hefty early termination fees and are automatically renewed or extended when certain service or equipment changes occur. Direct TV is the subject of numerous complaints regarding its billing practices. This includes failing to inform customers that the service contract is being renewed or extended, failing to disclose that an equipment rental fee is charged even if the customer purchased his/her equipment, and charging customers for movies or other pay-per-view services not ordered.

The investigation has uncovered complaints from customers who were billed for satellite service they did not request or for pay-per-view programming never ordered. Direct TV utilizes independent contractors to install their service and equipment to most customers. These independent contractors are paid a commission for each customer who receives service. In many instances, these contractors establish either false customer information to obtain a commission or use the name and address of an individual who did not request service and establish a fraudulent account in his/her name. Another consistent complaint is that Direct TV ignores or fails to implement cancellation requests allowing them to continue billing the customer at the monthly rate. Often it takes multiple cancellation attempts before Direct TV will actually cancel a customer's satellite service.