Direct TV

"That's not a problem sir, you can cancel your account for free, if you're moving to an area we do not service"

...Direct TV's response to my concern around signing a 2 year commitment with them, as I knew we would be moving to the UK within that term.

So I thought we were safe, I thought we would be able to have decent satellite service until our departure.....I thought they were telling the truth.

That was about 8 months ago. Since then we canceled our High Definition (HD) service, and in the process of unplugging the HD box (and sitting it to one side to await Direct TV's shipping return box), none of it works anymore. Calling Direct TV reveals that although we lease the receivers, we in actual fact own...yes own...the satellite and all the cabling.

Which means that providing that the receiver powers on, the problem must lie elsewhere (and thus with our equipment), so an engineer to come fix my now defunct satellite would be $99. I can of course reduce this fee by signing up for their protection plan (quel surprise) which would then cost me $20 for the engineer and $5 a month for the continued protection.

Now at this time, I explain (yet again) to the customer 'service' (and I use the term loosely) representative that I'm moving in June, and I may as well just cancel it at that time as I can do so for free.

"Well, there's not a lot of places we don't service...all you
need is a view of the Southern sky"

I'm told in a disdainful tone

"Would that be the Southern sky viewable from the United
Kingdom?"

I thought not.

So, I resolve to the fact that I will indeed not have decent satellite service until our departure, but frankly am not willing to spend a single penny on having this problem resolved when it is so very clearly their fault (yes, I really am that stubborn).

So, it's getting kind of close to the move date and I think it's about time to start getting our ducks in a row; so I call Direct TV and ask...

"What exactly do you need from me, for us to cancel our
service?"

I of course have to explain the whole story yet again (as, heaven forbid they should actually write any of this down) to 3 different people; and then...then I find out what they need from me to cancel my service...

"$212"

I won't include the entirety of the story, but you can probably imagine roughly how it went. Bottom line; it's not true. Direct TV has no option to cancel your service for free (with the exception of military overseas deployment). I am told repeatedly, that there is nothing they can do, and there is nothing I can do.

This is not a new policy, it has always been the policy; I WAS LIED TO...TWICE!

Now, here's the little cherry for the top of this crap-sundae. The HD receiver that was put to one side to await Direct TV's return shipping box...it's still there. We never received the box; so Direct TV have now charged us $240 for the receiver having not been returned.

So another query to our friends at customer [dis]service reveals that the box was indeed shipped to us, minus our apartment number, so it was rejected. They knew this, it was recorded in there web-of-lies...I mean their logging system...but they did nothing (except wait until the time had elapsed and then charge $240).

So, trying to be as patient as possible, a now frustrated Ashley attempts to have the charge removed as this is so very obviously their mistake.

"The only way to have the charge removed, is to return the
equipment to us"

So, bottom line...we have to pay the $240, and they'll return it when we return the box. No real act of remorse, or attempt to rectify the situation, all we're told, over and over again, quite frankly, in the same disdainful tone...

"Well, I'm sorry about that, but there's nothing I can
do"

Which roughly translates as something a long the lines of...

"Look, it's not my fault, and if you'd bothered to read the
plethora of posts, blogs and forums about Direct TV on the Internet you would
have been expecting this"

I can't honestly find the words to describe how disappointed, offended and annoyed I am at the abundance of poor service and misrepresentation Direct TV have thrown upon Ashley and me; my mind is restored only by Ashley's calming influence and the overwhelming excitement (and growing daily) of returning to a country that has a better understanding of customer service...and no Direct TV.

I would implore anyone thinking of going with Direct TV to think long and hard. Please, do your research, read up on them (good and bad)...(the latter is surprisingly easier)...but if you want this humble guy's opinion...run...run away....run away now.

Buyer beware.

James

A chapter ends, but the book is yet to be written

This is the story of how I came to understand my faith, began to understand what it meant to have God in my life and how I began to let go of a great deal of anger surrounding my Dad's death.

If you haven't read it, go ahead and do so now (click the word 'This' and it will take you there). It's not the most elequantly written piece, but it's honest and heart felt.

I really thought that was it, I really felt like I'd done my bit; it was over now, I'd taken the great leap into the realm of 'faith', God would leave me alone now, right?

I mean, as long as a talk to Him occasionally, and do nice things to other people, He wouldn't have a need to talk to me, right?

Well, I think most people know now; Ashley and I are moving back to the UK. Some of you might not know (and actually, probably don't care, but it's happening in June). Not the most interesting of months, it's my birthday, it's Ashley's birthday...but it was only a few weeks ago, where June's significance was brought front and centre again.

You see, if you've read the above, you'll know. June is when 'it' all happened. June 2001, my Dad passes away; June 2006 (to the day), I make the apparent leap into unknown terretories. And 2008 is no different.

We've been planning to buy Ashley's ticket for a while now, but we've been waiting for my company to confirm certain things. We keep an eye on the aa.com website for availability, but we're buying with air miles, so we're not too worried about the price.

However, we check a few weeks ago, and there's only two days available in which we can use our miles. June 5th, or June 11th. As we'd originally planned to go June 25th, I say "well, June 11th is closer, so let's book it".

June 11th...June 11th, why is June 11th significant in my mind. Well, some 2 years...TO THE DAY...since the apparent moment of acceptance. Some 7 years to the day since my Dad dying.

I have few things of which I'm certain in life, but there's a couple of things which I no doubt.

There was a reason why I was brought to America, there was a reason why I was brought to Texas. God wanted me here so I would listen, and He blessed with a union that has filled my life beyond words.

I return to England with a renewed passion for God, and a eternal love for Ashley; for she is who God chose for me.

Give me some sugar, baby!

Ashley and I decided that between now and June (2008), we would not consume any refined sugars. This means no cakes, buns, cookies (see below), chocolate (see below), soda, candy etc. etc.

There are some allowances. For example, any natural sugars are allowed (fruits). Honey is ok, as is Splenda (sugar replacement). Recently added to our 'we can have it' list is Maltitol (a sugar alcohol). The Splenda allows us to make sugar-free cookies (swap out your butter for margarine too), and the Maltitol allows us to consume (small quantities of) sugar-free chocolate.

Now, the problem with sugar-free chocolate is (and I had to do some research on this), consumed in any large amount, sugar-free chocolate will act in a similar fashion to...a diarrheic.

"Why?" you ask? Well, the process is really quite simple. The sugar alcohol is not absorbed (as much as sugar) by your body, thus it makes it's way down to your intestine. When there, it begins to ferment; the fermentation process attracts water...and so, the affect is produced.

Now, you do have to consume a fair amount of sugar-free chocolate (or specifically, Maltitol; but you should be aware of this before pigging out of the (surprisingly) delicious chocolate, candy and peanut butter cups.

It should also be noted that the bars we buy are also trans-fat free, low sodium and rather tasty. The fact that they are sugar-free should not encourage you to eat any more, but as with all great things in life.....in moderation.

I'm off to enjoy the sweet life ;)

Two Choices

What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.

If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them

You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day