they have to upsell, it gives them bonuses $$$
i feel you pain, as i had a similar dispute
was "upsold" a cheaper package, with more programming ( i was saving over $7 due to upgrading my package, and getting rid of a system access fee, and additional receiver fee)
i would get the same programming, but pay less money!!!
wow, what a deal
then some HD channels vanished.....
then we got our bill, and it went up????
called into complain too many times to keep track, but many hours of arguing
its funny, i thought the calls were recorded for quality assurance, and training purposes, so when i asked them to listen to the call where the salesman (not csr) told me i would SAVE money, by changing my package, but they said it couldnt be done.....
then the knucklehead tried to convince me i WAS saving money
"well sir, you are saving over $7 now, that you used to have to pay for your system access, and additional receiver fees"
i told him that my bill went up $6, and i am missing channels!!!
so, they put $7 in my front pocket, and when i turned around, stole $13 from my back pocket
good deal
long story short, i received credits to balance out what i was overcharged for changing my package (shoulda stuck with the original package)
the thing that burned me, was that there is NO accountability
these salesman/csr's have carte blanche, to tell you whatever you want to hear, to get their sale (and bonus) and then laugh when the customer has to call in numerous times to straighten the problem out (which is usually done with programming credits!)
like the poster above recommended, do your own research, then call in
btw, call in, and ask tell them you want the cancellation dept
tell them your story, and ask what needs to be done to cancel your service, when is your rental contract up, how much notice do you have to give, etc.....
maybe a little push, and fear of losing a customer, will get them moving in the right direction, as your current method, of the polite, pay your bills on time customer, doesnt seem to be working