A quick money saving idea for you Dish Network customers.
While looking at my bill, I noticed a "Programming Access Fee" charge of $5.00. Just for grins, I called them and asked what that fee was for.
The very sweet young lady (tried to) explain that fee was because I didn't have a phone line connected directly to my Dish Network DVR. I asked why I needed that since I don't use pay-per-view or any of the services that require such a connection?
I asked why I would want to string a phone line across my kitchen and half way across my livingroom in order to enable a function I don't use. She told me they have a wireless device for sale to provide that connection. I asked why I would want to buy one of those devices when I don't use the services they enable. I also asked how much such a device costs even though I have no need of one.
See where this is going? ... more over the fold.
The sweet young lady didn't know how much the wireless device cost. So I asked to talk to a supervisor and told her (equally sweetly) that this was not her fault, but the $5.00 charge still didn't make sense to me.
After 20 to 30 minutes on hold, during which time the sweet young lady checked back with me (to see that I was still on the line) three times, she finally had an answer. You simply won't believe this!
She said she had talked to her supervisor and had been authorized to waive the "Programming Access Fee"!!! No further questions, she just needed my approval to remove the fee ...
I expressed surprise that this had no further ramifications ... no, none. I asked if there was any reason I may not want to waive the fee ... no, none. So I gave my permission, DUH.
WTF! Am I missing something or is this a blatant fee with no purpose? Or, as we used to say on the radio in the service (just to drive our officers crazy) What The Fuck ... Over!