Is It Difficult to Cancel DIRECTV Stream?
TV Answer Man, I was thinking of signing up for DIRECTV Stream’s free trial, but I’ve heard that it’s hard to cancel when you do. A friend told me he read a story that said you had to call someone and beg for your service to be canceled. I don’t want that hassle. Do you know if that’s true? — Jennifer, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Jennifer, DIRECTV Stream, the multi-channel, live streaming service, this month began a five-day free trial for its monthly plans which start at $69.99 a month. The free trial, which is similar to what other streaming services offer, is a great way to give DIRECTV Stream a spin without risk.
However, if you decide to cancel within the five days, or at any time thereafter, is it difficult to do so, you ask?
Well, there have been stories that suggest the cancellation process is more laborious than it should be. So I can understand why your friend might think that. But it’s actually not that difficult to cancel the streaming service, although it does require an extra step than its rivals.
Here’s how it works.
If you decide to cancel, sign in to your account at the DIRECTV Stream web site. You then go to Account Overview and click Manage My Subscription. After that, click Cancel My Subscription and follow the prompts.
This is where DIRECTV Stream makes you do a little extra work.
While other streaming services will cancel your subscription as soon as you click Cancel, DIRECTV Stream requires to chat online with a company representative who will ask a few questions designed to try to keep you from canceling. However, once you make it clear that you have no interest in continuing your subscription, the representative will cancel your service immediately.
I have tried this and the process took about one minute. It actually took less time than I feared when I first noticed I would have to engage in a chat to cancel.
But that said, I’m sure most people would prefer being able to cancel with a single click or two. DIRECTV Stream used to offer the one-click cancel feature, but dropped it last year in favor of the chat. Undoubtedly, the company is hoping it can keep more people from canceling and thereby reduce its subscriber churn.
Techhive.com, which last year first noted the switch to canceling via chat, says some subscribers who signed up for DIRECTV Stream at an AT&T store may need to cancel by phone. So keep that in mind when you decide how to subscribe.
Jennifer, hope that helps. Happy viewing and stay safe!
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvpredictions.com. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
— Phillip Swann
@TVAnswerMan
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Dear Jen…WHY would you want to subject yourself to the incompetent and DESPERATE AT&T owned ANYTHING ? WHY ? With SOOOOOOO MANY OTHER BETTER OPTIONS out in the stream world WHY would you even consider what is left of the desperate DIRECTV…DON’T DO IT !!
DON’T chance it, because while the answer guy MAY be spot on TODAY, the assclowns at DITECTV can and will have NO ISSUE of changin the rules of the game in the middle of the game. what is left of the soon to die AT&T is NOT WORTH the trouble !! over and OUT 🙂
LOLOLOLOLOLOL…..Leave it to Idiot boy Dave to have a hate A T & T / DIRECTV at every opportunity Someday we will find out Dave probably worked for them and got caught with his fingers where they didn’t belong LOLOLOLOL, Have at it Dave!
I have been on the net for a long time, and I have never quite every run across somebody like Dave. So full of nonsense and hate. And so predictable to see him comment on each and every AT&T/DirecTV article on this page. I don’t read any of his BS… just a quick glance tells me everything I need to know. This person must have a sad, sad life. I addition, he makes Mr. Swann’s site a less attractive place to visit.
The same is true for Spectrum!! You also have to call and speak to a tech specialist, only he can cancel your service. The first guy spent more time trying to get me to upgrade my Spectrum phone, the second guy said no problem, you’re all set, only to be billed 2 more months after I cancelled. Regular CSR’s and online chat can’t do anything. Cancel anytime. Yeah, right!
This does not apply to California or New York, the only two states that made it illegal for them to hassle you if you try to cancel. If it senses you’re in either of those two areas you’ll have a canceled button directly on the website and no tedious chat interaction needed.
I tried to cancel and the chat button was greyed out 🙁 So I literally have to call the 800 number and wait and be subjected to questioning to cancel.
Nope. Just tried today and I’m in Cali