Well, "thumbs up" for SC !!

i installed my own dish + DSR205 entry level reciever. activated over the phone + quickly was up + runnung !!

GREAT !!

Way back when, Star Choice had the worst, and I mean the worst Customer Service I had ever seen with its 90 minute waits and their not so informative Customer Service. I am very happy to say that all that has changed and the Customer Service is great!
That said, there are two things that I'm not pleased with.
1---My dish moved off line a little in a storm and my HD Channels were affected. I had to pay 60.00 to get my dish aligned. I said, but I can get a whole new dish with a receiver installed for less than that, but that's the way it was.
2---I moved up to the DSR500 Receiver and have had nothing but problems with it locking up, changing channels on it's own among other things. I was told after I bought it that I had to wait a week and all would be fixed.Ya Right!

$4.99 versus $20+, now...let's see!

I thought about upgrading to a higher package to waive the $4.99 fee but to me it is convoluted logic. Would I rather only pay $4.99 or upgrade and pay about $20 more per month in programming I would rarely watch? I choose option one pay $4.99.

There is nothing wrong with our math skills. ;) ;)

I love the callback feature. The technicians know what they are doing, they will not mount dishes in unsafe or unstable areas which would cause them to move off alignment in a wind storm.

The instantaneous change in programming packages over the phone is painless and easy.

Customer Service is a tough job. I do it for a living. The answers given to customers are only as good as the information received by the Customer Service Reps. Absolutely no complaints. Keep up the good work in the face of demanding clientele.

3 years ago, everything was crap! I use the french cs and the wait was over 2 hours long. I know, I chrono it twice.
After 6 months of problems with my receiver, they NEVER accepted to change it. I had 2 and paid the 4.95/month. I had to pay a local tech to repair it. I had so many problems in the past. They even refused to activate a movie on VC because of a password. I never had any password on my account. They lost a lot of customers in Quebec.

Today, the customers relations is better. But the 4.95 is still there for nothing. If I upgrade combo, They bring it down to 2.95. Big deal!!! If it wasn't for Customers relations rep named Simon, I would be with Bell now.

He helped a lot and gave me the free install of the comming DSR530 and a little rebate on the purchase. Bell is even worst and dvr receivers are crappy. Given the choice between average and bad...

Just dropping a little note abot my experience with StarChoice so far....

I was about to purchased a 315 from THE BRICK since they offer the normal 10 fre PPV's and an addtional $50.00 programming credit. On my way there Friday after work I happened to notice a small electronics dealer in the same area.

I stopped in just for the heck of it. I explained The Bricks's deal an he offered me a better deal... I recieved a 205 plus an older 405 - which has 5.1 plus dual A/V RCA outputs and caller ID. I went for it. $115 tax in.

I then asked about an install date...he said "How about tomorrow?" Great!

Installer was out with both recievers and the dish Saturday morning @ 11:00am - Was up and running by 1:00OPM

I only activated the 405 for now.... One thing I noticed was a change to the IPG Sunday morning...it had the smaller guide with picture option which it didn't have upon the orginal install Saturday - It must have been software updated overnight.

So far so good....

I watched channel 299 and saw the chezzy promo for the DSR 530...The actor stated Summer 2005....We'll see.

Oh by the way....I had zero hold times the two times I called in.

Cheers
Rob.

I only activated the 405 for now.... One thing I noticed was a change to the IPG Sunday morning...it had the smaller guide with picture option which it didn't have upon the orginal install Saturday - It must have been software updated overnight.

Unless its a REALLY REALLY old one, more than likely you just pressed "Guide" twice which brings up the mini-Guide (two lines at the bottom of the screen so you can still watch TV above it)

Satellite,

Nope I tested the "press twice" once it was installed Saturday. Didn't work...it ONLY gave me the full guide. I didn't think much of it at the time since I knew it was an older unit.

But come Sunday morning....it had a differnet look - even the full screen guide had a hint of the picture behind it.

When did *C enable this "mini" guide feature?

Cheers
Rob.

1 ana 2 ana 3 ...UNBELIEVABLE!
I call SC tonight to complain about some video dropouts on NBC HD for the past 2 shows and my call was answered on the first ring after navigating the tree. The rep went away for a moment and confirmed they were aware of the problems and thanked me for calling and asked if there was anything else he could do, ALL DURING A COMMERCIAL BREAK, Never missed a minute of my shows.

But come Sunday morning....it had a differnet look - even the full screen guide had a hint of the picture behind it.

When did *C enable this "mini" guide feature?

I'll check today, but I believe the "picture behind guide" feature was added in 2000 or 2001!
Anyway, the Mini-Guide should look like this
http://www.starchoice.com/images/learn/programming/IPG/mini-guide.jpg. And Yes, from what Star Choice's website says, its apperently a "new" feature. I'll get the date it was added tonight when I call.

http://www.starchoice.com/images/learn/programming/IPG/ipg_more_information.jpg
This is what Guide (and Info, pictured) looked like before the picture-behind-guide was added...just so we're on the same page.

I've been reading the forum for a while now, decided to register and put my two cents worth in. *C's customer service, when it comes to channel requests really sucks. I contacted them last year asking them to add the Drive In Classics channel, as it has been available on expresspuke and Rogers cable.
Of course, I received a canned response....your input is important to us, but we don't have enough satellite space to add this channel. Hmmm... 4 weeks later they loaded up the system every sunday with NFL. So much for the no satellite space theory. I contacted them again through the dialog zone not long ago, explained that they now don't run sunday NFL, and this alone should free up enough bandwidth to put Drive In Classics on. I also pointed out that they are using Telesat's brand new satellite which they leased substantial space on, and one purpose of that was so they could add more channels. So why the delay?? Add the Drive In Classics channel, and while you are at it, add the MuchMore Retro channel...both expresspuke and Rogers offer these. Their response...the usual canned reply...your input is important to us, we'll pass this along to our programming department (a.k.a. the garbage can)...they also said they have limited satellite space. Well maybe if they took have a dozen of the repetative CBC channels off of there they would have space. I know it has been mentioned here that *C has a "problem" with CHUM who operates these channels. However, *C offers other CHUM channels, I don't understand why the problem with these. If it is indeed a relationship problem between the two companies, *C should quit pouting and get the issue resolved for the sake of their customers..they are the ones who suffer. Their customer support is terrible when it comes to the "dialog zone" on their website.
End of rant. Have a great day :)

When I was speaking to one of their techs about adding more channels they explained that when they put on the NFL network they actually took down a bunch of ppv channels. So on Sunday morning they swapped the NFL network for some of the ppv channels just for that day then once the nfl ticket was done for that day they would put back on the PPV channels, I think it does have more to do with space on the satelite, but... they could really free up some space but getting rid of some channles that they have doubled up on, see they have 2 tbs stations one for the west and one for the east, they are both in the same time zone, do they really need these two channels? Same with Showcase action, diva,scream, if they just had one channel for east and west that could free up some space.

I agree. Also, the absolutely pathetic 299 and now 402 "info" channels. What a pile of garbage, it's a 24 hour commercial.

*C's customer service, when it comes to channel requests really sucks. I contacted them last year asking them to add the Drive In Classics channel, as it has been available on expresspuke and Rogers cable.


Why don't you try a different tactic and contact CHUM to tell them that that you subscribe to SC and want Drive In Classics?

Maybe CHUM would then realize the demand and put more pressure on SC to carry the channel.

Incidentally, if you don't know, the 'no space' argument is hogwash. Drive In Classics is already mapped on Channel 616 on the SC satellite. Yes, that's right, the channel is sitting there on the satellite but not turned on for SC customers. Use that ammunition next time you write or speak to SC.

Oh, by the way, Sex TV: The Channel is also sitting on AnikF1, Channel 569. Both Drive-In and Sex are on Transponder 17.

Check the link for proof:

http://www.cancombroadcast.com/affiliates/services/signal_e.asp

Click on "Transport Signal List".

NO-CRTC, what are your comments now?

I'll check today, but I believe the "picture behind guide" feature was added in 2000 or 2001!

My bad - it was early 2003 when they added both the picture-behind-guide and mini-guide. So it probably was an old version.

they could really free up some space but getting rid of some channles that they have doubled up on, see they have 2 tbs stations one for the west and one for the east, they are both in the same time zone, do they really need these two channels? Same with Showcase action, diva,scream, if they just had one channel for east and west that could free up some space.

No space would be freed up - these channels only appear once each - they are just mapped to more than channel #

Oh, by the way, Sex TV: The Channel is also sitting on AnikF1, Channel 569. Both Drive-In and Sex are on Transponder 17.

Check the link for proof:

http://www.cancombroadcast.com/affiliates/services/signal_e.asp

Click on "Transport Signal List".

NO-CRTC, what are your comments now?

I worked for Starchoice in a department at the Call Centre when it was located in New Brunswick about 5 years ago, mainly server and desktop support. The people in charge of uplinks were in Toronto.
When I was working for them, CANCOM bought Starchoice, and then months later Shaw bought (to my knowledge) both CANCOM and Starchoice, and later shut down the call centre here and moved to their cave in Calgary.
What do I think??? I think they don't really care what the customer wants, it's the bottom dollar that counts, that's the impression I had with my observations of various departments there at the time. Nothing seems to have changed since my departure in 2003, if anything, it's gotten worse :P

Nothing seems to have changed since my departure in 2003, if anything, it's gotten worse :P
You have no idea. You're obviously bitter, and aren't bringing anything constructive to this thread. Back then, hold times were routinely 20 minutes to over an hour. Today, avarage for Customer Service is 30 seconds.
Not only has the actual front-line customer service gotten better, but so has the policies. Would the Star Choice you worked for eliminate charges? Move Program used to be $50 for non-simple Satellite, now its free for everybody after 12 months of service. Dish upgrades used to be $99, the cost was recently cut after PPV channels were moved. Previously, if you disconnected before the 12 months, you had to pay the early DSO fee. Now, you can return your recievers and not have to pay anything. All these things point to Star Choice getting better, not worse.
I'm sorry you lost your job. Move out to Calgary (don't worry, the office isn't a cave) and I'm sure you could get rehired. Badmouthing Star Choice about something that arguably isn't even customer service-related doesn't get anyone anywhere. (Besides, all rumors point to the issue being with CHUM, not Star Choice...)

You have no idea. You're obviously bitter, and aren't bringing anything constructive to this thread. Back then, hold times were routinely 20 minutes to over an hour. Today, avarage for Customer Service is 30 seconds.
Not only has the actual front-line customer service gotten better, but so has the policies. Would the Star Choice you worked for eliminate charges? Move Program used to be $50 for non-simple Satellite, now its free for everybody after 12 months of service. Dish upgrades used to be $99, the cost was recently cut after PPV channels were moved. Previously, if you disconnected before the 12 months, you had to pay the early DSO fee. Now, you can return your recievers and not have to pay anything. All these things point to Star Choice getting better, not worse.
I'm sorry you lost your job. Move out to Calgary (don't worry, the office isn't a cave) and I'm sure you could get rehired. Badmouthing Star Choice about something that arguably isn't even customer service-related doesn't get anyone anywhere. (Besides, all rumors point to the issue being with CHUM, not Star Choice...)

Actually, I moved on from there before the call centre shut down, so I'm not bitter about that. Yes, I agree, response time on the phone has improved dramatically. When I worked there, there were no disconnection fees, no extra receiver fee, and you could suspend your account if you were going on vacation at no charge. So they have made some adjustments, some good, some bad in my opinion. I did contact CHUM regarding this issue, and they said it was up to *C to carry it if they wanted to, and basically told me that I should contact *C. However, I do wish they would improve their "dialog zone" on their website as stated. At least keep people informed as to what channels "might be coming", or heaven forbid, do a survey of their customers and ask them what they want, and show the results on their website. That would be a step forward. IMHO