CTI Satellite & Sound, Inc.

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Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and find that this resolution
is satisfactory to me.
The business called me and mentioned they won't charge me the amount in dispute.Regards, Nilanjan

Our contract was signed in December for the work to be performed as early as January 24th, 2014 (moved into new house). After more than two months (this review is written March 31st, 2014), the contract has not been completed and we have not been able to confirm a time for completion of the services. The crew has been at the house sporadically and completed approximately 70% of the work thus far. CTI is too busy for new contracts currently and their transparency regarding that fact is nonexistent. I would currently not advise contracting with this company.

Horrible service. After 2 hours on the phone trying to set up a time to get our direct t.v switched over to our new apartment, same building, they are charging a $180 moving fee. The first time we moved we understood the fee, but it's still outrageous and they didn't update our account information and take care of a few other things the stated they would.

We have DIRECTV. Our apartment manager said that Midwest CTI is the only company that can hook-up DIRECTV in our apartment complex. After multiple calls and multiple visits, the cable has been going out every time someone new moves in/out. I know they wire more than one apartment to a single receiver because our neighbor across the hall had just unplugged her SWM 16 Receiver which in turn knocked our cable out. I have called CTI five times this morning and left two messages with no return call. This company (Midwest CTI) is VERY UNRELIABLE. You can count on them when it comes to being late, stopping off to have drinks with a buddy, or for not knowing what they are doing. If this site would let you rate them a "0", I would have.

Review: We ordered a bundle package with TDS (Telephone/Internet) and Dish (Cable TV). When the Dish rep. came to hook up, he was told by our apartment manager that owner of the apartments contracts with CTI. The Dish rep. was familiar and left. A CTI rep. came and installed cable Monday, July 1, 2013. Due to an error on their part, he had to come back on July 2, 2013 to complete the cable hookup. Now, part of the Bundle with TDS Metrocom and Dish was a free Apple Ipad with purchase and installation. When CTI came out, my wife, [redacted], was PROMISED by the rep. that even though CTI was doing the installation, we would still receive our Ipad. As of this date, Oct. 4, 2013, we have not. We have made each company: TDS, DISH and CTI; aware we have not received the Ipad. It came down to CTI, who was the installer. They have said we signed off not to receive the Ipad. They told us AFTER the fact; we needed a hopper. Before and during installation we were not told of any hopper device. All [redacted] and myself were told was that our cable will would be higher if we chose the Ipad. We ok'd this. During installation, the rep. was not professional, and did not appear to know what he was doing; hence a 2 day installation. CTI has firmly said I, [redacted], signed paperwork. I did not. The evidence in this is that the papers signed are: 1)Not my handwriting 2)Not my credit card number for installation 3)I was not home during installation(s) (My timesheet at work can prove this; in fact, July 1, 2013, I was out of town on business. CTI has told us just use the money saved (by not taking the hopper) to save up for an Ipad. [redacted], during the installation, repeatedly asked if CTI would give us an Ipad. The rep. reassured her. I have talked with [redacted], and the rep. said I, [redacted], had to sign the paperwork. She said this was her bundle (for her work), and she should sign. The rep. wanted my signature. [redacted] said to leave, and I would sign. The rep. would not leave without my signature; but the account was in her name. The rep. DID NOT go over what [redacted] signed. Yes, she did forge my name. The rep. stated it was just for the installation; NOTHING TO DO WITH THE Ipad. We were not made aware of a signature dealing with declining the Ipad. We were not made aware of a hopper. CTI misrepresented itself. They also reset the DISH order, which created havoc on our bill. The bill was incorrect for several months until we recently fixed it. What CTI did was cancelled our original order of what we wanted and took under THEIR assumption and cancelled our order with DISH and TDS. This has created a stressful situation. All want is an Ipad. CTI has been horrible to deal with on the telephone; hanging up, not professional, not courteous, etc. Please help us. Thank you for your time.

[redacted] and [redacted]Desired Settlement: The Ipad which was part of the promotion

Business

Response:

For customer to receive a free Ipad2 customer must be installed with a Hopper [redacted] equipment receiver system and customer pays full price for all programming, receiving no promotional discounts.

Customers landlord only allows satellite installation to be completed using the cabling that is already within the complex from distribution to each unit. Customers building has old RG59 cabling which does not support installation of the Hopper Joey equipment. Customer did not have landlord permission for us to install the required equipment for him to obtain the free Ipad2 offer.

This was explained to the customer as well as the difference in pricing between going with a Hopper Joey system, paying full price for programming and getting a free Ipad2 versus getting installed with a standard HD-DVR receiver and getting the promotional discounts and no free Ipad2.

Regular price AT200 Programming Package $64.99/mo, Hopper $12/mo, Joey $7/mo = $83.99/mo (With a Free Ipad2)

Promotional price AT200 Programming Package $39.99/mo, Standard HD-DVR $7/mo = $46.99/mo for first year(No free Ipad)

Customer is paying $37 less per month for the first year by not getting the Ipad2 offer. This totals $444 of savings over the first year of service. Customer could use that $444 in savings to purchase an Ipad2 at [redacted] for $399. Pricing was just checked online at [redacted].

Customers wife, [redacted], was home at time of installation, customers wife signed all paperwork and signed off that she was declining the Ipad2 offer. Customer also signed on page 2 of the attached paperwork that all installation work was completed to her satisfaction. Customers install was completed by our lead tech, with more than 25 years of experiance.

To recap: 1. Customer does not have qualifying equipment installed to receive a free Ipad2, and customer can not have qualifying equipment installed because they do not have landlord permission to have cabling in apartment complex completely redone to support this type of installation. 2. Customer signed off on Ipad2 waiver. 3. Customer signed off that all work was completed to their satisfaction. 4. Customer is receiving promotional discounts because they did not take the Ipad2 offer.

Consumer

Response:

Review: On April 25 in the midst of moving to transfer my current cable service DISH I had to call MIDWEST CTI Systems. This company is authorized by my property management, Goldleaf Dev. Co. for this purpose. I spoke to Melanie Thielbar-Barka, sales rep. and asked to move my DISH to the new address. She immediately informed me there is a fee of $159.99 to process my request. I told her I paid $21 monthly and to pay that for transfer is extremely exorbitant. But she did not give me a reason why. I asked several times. Then she proceeded to say she had good news for me. If I signed with Direct TV, there would be no fee for installation being a new customer. She knew I was out of contract with DISH, but, I was very satisfied with their service. And she said that Direct would be the same or better cable service. But with this I had to sign a two year contract. And yes the monthly cost was more than what I was paying now. I was hesitant but I felt I had no choice. And Melanie proceeded to tell me she could have a tech out to my new residence today. I said yes but feel I was totally coerced by Melanie to sign with Direct. The tech arrived to set the system working and his name is Tim Thielbar, Melanie's brother. After he installed the new equipment and told me Direct was a better choice. Also told me to call DISH to cancel my service. I spoke to DISH and they had no idea this was occurring to continue service, a high mover fee. I then spoke with Duane Thielbar,manager of this company. He told me the fee was for a tech coming all the way out to my residence which is 3 miles and the cost of equipment. I said I have all the equipment, all I need is hook up for my cable. Duane then became very indignant and told me to call DIRECT. Since I have looked on the MIDWEST internet ad and there is service for Charter without contract. And that was what I wanted not to sign a contract but was never offer this service with Charter. Direct service fee is $49.99. I believe this is price gouging by MIDWEST.Desired Settlement: I do not want to be a customer of Direct TV. I do not want to be in a contract for 2 years. I want to cancel all connections with MIDWEST CTI Systems.