I’m not a super tech-savvy person, but I have been streaming shows and movies for years because I don’t want to pay for expensive TV. So when I switch back to AT&T for my cell phone service and called them for some other issue, they talked me into some DirecTV Now app that I thought sounded like a good deal because it was only going to cost me $10 a month to stream on two devices. So I decided that my husband and I could stream on our phones. Well, let me tell you a little bit about our experience and why I’m canceling it ASAP.First off they told me originally on the phone that it would take a handful of billing Cycles to see the discount because it’s originally around $40 that comes out of your account for whatever subscription I have. Going into my third billing cycle it still has $40 and some change being deducted from my account. So number one I’m thinking to myself, well that’s stupid, why am I not getting these credits and promotion from day one? However, if the app was worth anything maybe this wouldn’t bother me to wait to get my credits which nobody can tell me exactly when either, they just tell me within a few billing Cycles. So that’s number one sketchy.
Second the app is horrendous to use. This is actually the biggest problem. I use Hulu and Netflix because they’re easy, I hate Hulu’s phone interface but at least it’s easy to use all together. DirecTV now OMG it never ever keeps record of where I end so when I keep watching it picks its own episode and sometimes will start it over in its entirety. If you don’t write down a remember where you were in a season and an episode, then you’ll rewatch the same stuff because the app has not one time started an episode that I paused and came back later to start again in the right spot. Also if you pause and then go out of the app and come in even within two or three minutes or up to the next day later it won’t be right either.
Third the support really sucks. There’s nowhere on the app to click for help that I can see and maybe I’m just missing something. (finally found the help on the app. It takes you to a screen that shows you a number to call). I found their Facebook page and have sent posts on there with my questions. Now least whomever that person is on Facebook does respond back rather quickly. However, they can’t tell you anything. The first time they just said I’m sorry you’re experiencing that situation. The second time they gave me some word for word copy and paste out of a book they’re probably reading because they don’t know any better how to fix any issues. When I sent a message back saying you didn’t answer my question they did answer back and say please uninstall and reinstall the app. When I told him that I had already done that three times all they did was ask me what device I was using and I told them my phone model and that was the end of that conversation.
Fourth reason. I started watching an episode Orphan Black Season 5 to be specific and even was into the first episode for like 15 minutes. I paused itand came back two or three hours later and season 5 is gone. When I went to DirecTV now Facebook and messaged why it was gone nobody can tell me. Season 1 through 4 were there but not season 5. I just looked again today and it’s been like 4 or 5 days and it still gone. Now I know that Netflix and Hulu delete shows all the time but this show is not deleted just to 5th season that was on there while I was catching up on season 4. I physically saw it on the app because I was trying to catch up so I could be on season 5. Update. Today I logged in and every season and episode are gone except for season one episode one.
Lastly for me. If I’m paying $40 a month for this TV app on my phone why are there shows that I can’t watch because I’m not subscribed? I’m not even sure what that means because if I’m giving you money shouldn’t I be subscribed? So I’m not paying the $10 a month and I’m not able to watch everything because I’m not subscribed… That in itself is just frustrating enough to cancel it. You know the $10 a month might seem cheap but when I have a $240 phone bill for two phones they’re making enough money off me to give me this app for $10 a month, and it should be an app that works.
So DirecTV now you need to watch Netflix through their app a little bit more and see how easy it is to watch shows through them and why they are so popular. There’s only been a small handful of times in the 10 plus years I’ve had Netflix that I have ever had to find where I was in a season or an episode because it keeps track very well and their interface doesn’t suck.
So time to find something else to do besides watch TV on DirecTV now. That is not a bad thing actually I got better things to do, I just really like to have these apps while I’m on the treadmill or working out because sometimes I get bored with music and it doesn’t keep me distracted enough.