Kim Gale  |  May 25, 2020

Category: Electronics

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Young family watches TV from couch

Best Buy and DirecTV are facing a class action lawsuit alleging they were charged exorbitant fees when they tried to return DirecTV equipment they thought they had purchased, but found out they had only leased.

Plaintiffs John Murphy, Greg Masters and Roberta Weiss filed the consumer class action lawsuit alleging the conduct by Best Buy and DirecTV was unfair, unlawful and fraudulent in relation to their marketing and sale of DirecTV satellite receivers and digital video recorders (DVRs) to consumers through Best Buy stores.

Were You Misled into Buying DirecTV Equipment?

The plaintiffs allege the receivers and DVRs were presented as being for sale, but in fact were only available for lease.

According to the lawsuit, “In fact, DirecTV’s contract with Best Buy requires that, unbeknownst to the customer while the customer is in the store, there be extensive electronic communication between Best Buy and DirecTV to determine the customer’s status in DirecTV’s system, run a credit check, determine pricing and, apparently, to transfer title to the equipment the customer thinks they are buying for themselves to DirecTV, somehow creating a purported lease between the Best Buy customer and DirecTV.”

A consumer who believes to have purchased the equipment usually found out it was only leased after they paid to obtain the satellite equipment, after DirecTV installed the equipment in the consumer’s home and after DirecTV subjects the consumer to substantial penalty fees and requires the return of the equipment with no refund if the customer declines the lease.

Can You Return DirecTV Equipment After Cancellation?

Close up of DVR recordingIf you try to return DirecTV equipment after canceling, the Best Buy class action lawsuit alleges you will be on the hook for a $150 non-activation fee if you do not activate service under the lease agreement and for penalties of anywhere from $55 to $470 if you terminate service, but keep the DirecTV equipment. These fees are in addition to the monthly lease fees that are around $5.

Why Has a DirecTV Class Action Lawsuit Been Filed?

Plaintiffs say they were falsely led to believe that they were purchasing DirecTV equipment from Best Buy, but in the end, they had only leased the equipment.

Best Buy is primarily a retailer of goods and services, not a well-known leasing company. The plaintiffs argue that anyone exchanging money for equipment at Best Buy would reasonably presume they were purchasing the equipment, not leasing it.

According to the DirecTV lawsuit, consumers previously were able to purchase DirecTV equipment at Best Buy until March 1, 2006, which is when Best Buy and DirecTV changed the terms of the agreement to a lease instead of purchase transaction. The very real difference in the terms of the agreement allegedly were not properly disclosed.

DirecTV and Best Buy allegedly sold the DirecTV equipment “in a manner that reasonable consumers would find indistinguishable from any other sale that occurs at Best Buy.”

Consumers paid virtually the same price for purchasing the equipment prior to March 1, 2006 that they paid to lease the same equipment after March 1, 2006. Prices ranged from $99 to $499 for the privilege of leasing the identical equipment that was previously bought outright for the same price.

A search of online reviews found one long-time customer said, “It’s absurd that DTV charges so much to upgrade your box when THEY still own the equipment, lock you in for 2 years, AND charge a $10/mo. Fee for HD and $6/mo. For DVR.”

Another customer complained that even though he was charged a few hundred dollars for the equipment, it wasn’t his equipment and never will be. He is charged an extra $5 per month for each additional receiver, then an extra $10 for to receive HD.

Should You File a DirecTV Lawsuit?

If you were a Best Buy customer who paid for a DirecTV receiver and/or DVR and later discovered you were leasing the equipment instead of buying it, you may wish to file a Best Buy and DirecTV class action lawsuit, especially if DirecTV tried to charge you even more money for attempting to return DirecTV equipment.

What Kind of Damages Can You Expect to Receive?

A Best Buy DirecTV class action lawsuit could seek compensatory damages, declaratory relief, restitution, punitive damages, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees and other damages on behalf of the proposed class.

The Best Buy DirecTV Equipment Lawsuit is John Murphy, et al., v. DirecTV, Inc., et al., Case No. 2:07-cvo-06465-JHN-VBKx, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Join a Free Best Buy DirecTV Receivers Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you paid for a DirecTV receiver or DVR from Best Buy only to find out that you leased the DirecTV equipment instead of buying it, you may qualify to join a free Best Buy DirecTV receivers class action lawsuit investigation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.

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27 thoughts onWere You Penalized for Failing to Return DirecTV Equipment?

  1. Shaun OHara says:

    Me too since I was also victim of DirecTV in same manner and methods as described by the countless other victims that commented thus seeking entry as class member herein to include current and future investigation /complaints & any similar claims resulting in claimant relief or any other settled upon agreement between parties. Thank you,

  2. Lynnette Thompson says:

    I mailed it back but they said they never got it they charged me $470

  3. Dee Housey says:

    Add me please

  4. Annette says:

    Add me to the list

  5. Angela jackson says:

    Add me please

  6. Jeanne says:

    Add me please. Best Buy and Solid Signal both did not disclose the fact that they were only leasing the equipment to me when I purchased it in 2016. Why wouldn’t I get it directly from Direct TV if I knew it was actually a lease? Direct TV is such a lousy company for deal with. It got so much worse after ATT took them over.

  7. Sharon Paytom says:

    Had Direct TV from until we switched to bright house it time. We had 3 boxes and a DVR. We got equipment at Best Buy. i to fight with them for a long time.
    ADD ME

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