DirecTV Charges Deceased Subscriber An Early Termination Fee After She Dies

Satellite service provider DirecTV was slammed by the family of a deceased 102 year-old subcriber for demanding they pay an "early termination" fee for the service after the death of their mother.

In this case, the subscriber was Isabel Albright of San Lorenzo, California who passed away in December 2018. Born on September 11, 1916 in Oakland, Albright was one of the oldest people in the United States at the time of her death.

She was also a longtime customer of DirecTV, according to her family, which related her tale to ABC-affiliate KGO.

While settling Albright's accounts, her family was shocked to discover a bill from DirecTV demanding Albright pay an extra $160 for the service. As explained by John Manrique, Albright's son-in-law, his family recently added an extra cable box for when caregivers came to stay and take care of Albright.

Manrique said DirecTV didn't tell them the new box activated a new two-year agreement.

"They told us... we're going to charge you $160 for an early termination fee. She's gone. Nobody's living (here). We're selling the house. You're going to tell us we have to keep the service at a house that's not ours?" said Manrique.

"Everything was fine until we went to disconnect and that's when all the surprises happened," added Manrique.

When Manrique asked DirecTV for proof the family had agreed to a new contract, DirecTV couldn't present any. Despite the lack of papers, DirecTV still demanded the family pay the $160 early termination fee because the account had been transferred to the name of Albright's daughter. Manrique said the family only agreed to this because Albright could no longer pay her bills due to old age.

DirecTV only relented when media contacted the company. Soon after, Albright's family received a letter of apology from AT&T, the parent company of DirecTV. AT&T agreed to waive the early termination fee.

"We have apologized to the family and resolved this," said an AT&T spokesperson in a statement.

The spokesman also noted the mistake was made because of the name on the account (Albright's daughter), and that in this type of situation where a subscriber dies, accounts are canceled and all termination fees are waived.