HughesNet

Date of experience: 11/14/2024 *** I ordered Hughesnet Home Internet service by calling their sales number. The sales person walked through my requirements for internet service and suggested a specific plan. They explained the promotion they were running at the time. They explained the lease agreement requirements and costs. They requested my approval for a soft credit check. I agreed. The result was that I was approved to lease the equipment. *** They sent me an FCC document which explained the cost of the service and equipment. I noticed that the cost to purchase the equipment was $299, an amount I was willing to pay in lieu of leasing the equipment. I inquired about purchasing rather than leasing. They explained that the promotional waive of the installation fee only applied to lease contracts, so the total cost would be $399.98 ($299+$199.99), but this amount would be recovered in 25-26 months of service. *** I thought this was a good deal, so agreed to purchase the equipment. We closed the deal. *** Later, I began to have doubts. I had read some bad reviews of Hughesnet service. I thought it might be better to go ahead and lease the equipment for a month or so and then purchase it. I thought I would be able to take advantage of the promotion and save myself $199.99. *** I called the pre-installation customer service number and explained that I had changed my mind and wanted to change my purchase contract to a lease contract. The customer service representative told me that I could not do that. The only way they could accommodate my request was to cancel my existing order and add a new lease order. They also said that there was no way to lease the equipment and then buy it after having leased it. *** I was then transferred to an Account Manager. After I explained my dilemma, I was told that Hughesnet only offered Lease Contracts or Purchase Contract with no switching between the two. The next thing I was told was that I was not qualified to lease a $300 piece of equipment so I HAD to purchase it. So why did I get a soft credit inquiry? Why did the sales person say that I was qualified? Also, when does a person with a credit score over 800 not qualify to lease a $300 piece of equipment? I said that I did not want to deal with a company who deceives and insults their customers and just cancel the order. *** I then asked to speak to a supervisor. The supervisor kept trying to explain to me that customers could not buy the equipment and then choose to lease it - something that no reasonable person would suggest or consider and not something that I had requested. I was asking to lease the equipment and then after leasing for a month or two, to purchase the equipment. *** I would not deal with this company.