DirecTV Wants Its $400 From Wiped-Out Colorado Fire Victim

Jeremy Beach and his family lost everything when a wildfire destroyed their home near Colorado Springs this week. Everything except their DirecTV bill. According to his hometown paper, Beach was making calls about canceling various services when someone at the satcaster said he still owed $400 for a dish and two receivers that were lost in the fire. “I couldn’t believe it,” he told the Gazette. “I had lost everything, and they acted like they could care less.” Beach escaped the flames with his wife — who is expecting twins next month — their 5-year-old son, two dogs and little else. A DirecTV spokesman told Deadline: “The agent was absolutely wrong and should have known we have a clear policy that fully supports our customers during natural disasters that includes replacement of damaged equipment at no charge, long-term suspension of accounts for customers who must leave their home, and waiving cancellation fees for customers who need to disconnect service. We are contacting Mr. Beach to apologize and assure him and his family that we will do everything we can to help them through this difficult time.”But the paper said there’s precedent for DirecTV’s move. After nearly 350 houses were destroyed in last summer’s nearby Waldo Canyon fire, the satellite giant also charged subscribers. Beach told the Gazette that DirecTV said his insurance would cover the bill. “I tried to explain that a couple hundred dollars is nothing to them but a lot to me,” he said. “I need that money. I can use it to buy diapers, clothes for my family.”