The reason why I gave DirecTV 3 stars is because I was sitting on the fence and they convinced me that I should cancel the service because their customer service is terrible and the service is iffy at best. After about an hour of on-hold and berating time, I needed to take a shower after getting off the phone with them. Once you state that you are leaving the fold, they try to appeal to you in a warm and fluffy way. Once that doesn't work, here come the threats and intimidation. You need to return the equipment in good condition, or they'll charge you. You're breaking a "contract" and you have to pay. Comparing customer service experiences, I longed for the comparative joys of a timeshare presentation, buying a used car, visiting the DMV, or getting a root canal. The customer service also prompted me to sell any AT&T stock I had and purchase a TIVO. I cut the cord, installed an antenna and got better programming for about $100 less per month.