It cost DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV) less than what a slightly above average baseball player makes in a season to settle a consumer protection dispute with 50 states' attorneys. For just $14.25 million DirecTV made the problem of how it tells customers about cancellation fees and other contract terms go away.
Putting a nice spin on it, DirecTV Chief Executive Mike White said the agreement will "formalize many of the customer improvements we have made over the past few years," including, tellingly, that customers should understand they'll be charged a $20-per-month fee for any time remaining on a cancelled 24-month contract.
For more:
- see this story
Related articles:
DirecTV tightens programming belt to keep costs down; will dump some channels in 2011, 2012
Consumer complaints about satellite services spike in Colorado
Cable operators eye customer service to stop subscriber losses
Oh poo! Consumerist sends Comcast 'worst company' trophy