Free Direct TV and Dish Network Deals - What's the Catch?

Are you interested in getting a free satellite tv system? Unless you've been living under a rock for the past five years, you've heard about the free deals that Direct TV and Dish Network are giving to their online customers. Sure these offers sound great, but what's the catch?

Dish Network and Direct TV are giving away free satellite tv systems and installation in up to 4 rooms to first-time customers. They're also offering free upgrades to their DVR and Hdtv receivers, and usually give discounts on programming or free upgrades to your programming package for the first few months. Obviously, these are great deals, but there are a few things you should know before ordering your new satellite tv system online.

Activation Fees?

Dish Network charges a one-time fee of .99, but you get it back as a credit to your first bill. Direct TV doesn't charge you any upfront fee, but you may have to pay for shipping if your deal doesn't include it. Both companies charge a small deposit if you have bad credit.

Do I have to sign a contract?

That's right! Since Dish Network or Direct TV is giving you quite a bit of free service and equipMent, they want to make sure you'll remain a paying customer until they've made their money back. This means you will have to agree to an 18 month contract (similar to a cell phone contract) with Dish Network. Direct TV's contract varies according to your system. You will sign a 1 year contract for normal or HD systems, and a 2 year contract if you opt for a DVR system.

Here's the bottom line.

Now, the authorized dealers of these two satellite tv companies don't exactly advertise the activation fees and the contracts required for these free deals. They just don't want to scare you away before you've seen the offers. Even with the contracts and activation fees, these are still great deals.

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