(UPDATED 8/18/15) I’ve gotten NFL Sunday Ticket for free – FOUR years in a row! That’s a nice little run.
Here are a few ways you can get it free (Tweet it):
A) You could steal it. But, it’s probably best to not spend the 7th day resting while simultaneously shattering one of The Commandments.
B) You can get it free if you are a new customer to DirecTV, and sign a two-year contract with the “Choice” package or higher. If you apply via this link, I get a taste from them. It’s the same deal for you, but I get a li’l sumthin’, and isn’t that what life’s all about?
Or… if you are going to be a new customer to DirecTV, you can also get $100 off if you are referred by someone who has it. The referrer also gets $100 in statement credits. Order online at directv.com/refer or by calling 1-800-507-4045. Please give them my account number 15929124 when asked who referred you – so we can both get rich. Rich, I tell you. RICH!
C) If you are already a DirecTV subscriber and eschew thievery, here’s the first step I took to getting it free. I called DirecTV. I told the robot that I wanted to “disconnect service”. This got me a human in “Customer Retention”. If you aren’t going to utter the words…
“Disconnect Service” – just hang up the phone. You are wasting your time.
Here’s how I got it free the past few years.
In 2012…
I got it free when I finally upgraded from standard def to HDTV. No word as to when I will upgrade from candelabras to lamps.
In 2013…
I politely asked MJ in Customer Retention if there was any way I could get NFL Sunday Ticket for free. MJ looked at my account, which is already maxed out with discounts, and said she could give me NFL Sunday Ticket for free if I agreed to keep DirecTV for a year. This did not extend my contract a year. I just can’t cancel DirecTV for 12 months or I’d have to pay a cancellation fee of $10/month. Your results may vary, but it’s worth a call. Done and done. I saved $224.95.
In 2014…
I had a different experience. On my first call, they only offered to drop the price $48. No bueno. FYI: 2014 price for NFL Sunday Ticket is now $239.94. NFL Sunday Ticket MAX is $329.94.
I called back a few days later. I simply asked Tiffany in Customer Retention, “Is there any way I can get NFL Sunday Ticket for free?” She could not offer me anything off the regular package, but said she could get me NFL Sunday Ticket MAX for half-price or $164.97. This is the package that allows one to play it on multiple devices, among other things.
I thanked her but said that was more than I wanted to spend. She asked me if I had seen other offers from competitors. I said I knew they existed, but had not pursued them.
She said that they valued my long-time loyalty, so she was able to drop another $100 off the price. Now we are at $64.97. That’s only $4/game. I would have accepted that, but figured I had one more move. I thanked her, but asked if there was any way I could work out some kind of discount for the less expensive regular package, so I would have less out of pocket.
Tiffany said because of my long time loyalty and perfect payment record, she could give me a one time courtesy credit of $64.97. TOUCHDOWN! What surprised me the most is that I didn’t have to try very hard. Give it a shot!
In 2015…
There are two packages. NFL SUNDAY TICKET 2015 is $251.94 and NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX is $353.94. With NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX, you’ll have access to all the regular NFL SUNDAY TICKET features, plus additional enhanced features such as RED ZONE CHANNEL, FANTASY ZONE CHANNEL, Short Cuts, plus mobile and online access.
After three years of getting it free, I’m running into some difficulty in Year Four. I called three days in a row. Each time, their offer got better.
1st call: Best they could do was give me MAX for half off. That came to $176.97.
2nd call: Nicole offered me MAX for half off ($176.97) + free Showtime for 4 months. They also took $3 off my Regional Sports package for 12 months. I accepted the $3/month discount, but declined MAX and Showtime.
3rd call: Vicky offered me MAX for less than half off ($167.96). I said that I liked the football but wasn’t sure it was worth it to watch my Bengals. Then she said she could offer me a one-time statement credit of $85. That brought it down to a total of $83.98. That’s about $5/game which is reasonable, but I politely declined. She said she will keep that offer in my file and I can let them know later. I figure I will call again next week. Stay tuned!
(UPDATED 8/18/15 — TOUCHDOWN + 2 Point Conversion!)
4th call: It’s been two weeks since my last call. This time my approach was slightly different. I did not mention NFL Sunday Ticket at the beginning (in case they were on to me; how could they NOT be?). I simply asked if there were any promotions available. Christina thanked me for calling. She mentioned that someone had spoken to me two weeks ago. Then she asked how much I wanted to spend every month. That would have veered off into the wrong discussion. I redirected by saying that when I spoke to them a couple weeks ago, I was told to call back to ask if any promotions were available on my account.
Christina blew me away! “I see there is a $40 off per month for 12 months, with a 1 year agreement,” she said. Then I asked if she had any NFL Sunday Ticket promotions. She said that I qualified for the NFL Sunday Ticket MAX (the more expensive $330 version). She said that would actually give me $5 more off per month. I was concerned that there was a miscommunication. I feared that I was going to get $45 off per month but have to pay for NFL Sunday Ticket. NOPE. $45 off/month PLUS NFL Sunday Ticket Max for free!
Just like how you don’t want to leave a fishing spot when they are jumping on your hook, I asked if there were any HBO or Showtime promotions. I had just cancelled those a few weeks ago because the shows I watched ended, as did my discounts. I also thought it might be easier to get something for free if I didn’t have it on my account. I guess I was right. Christina said she could give me HBO, Showtime and Cinemax for 3 months free. She also said I could get a free upgrade to their wireless genie system but I held off.
Get in there. The fish are jumpin’! See my account update below. No foolin’ ’round.
NOTE
If you had NFL Sunday Ticket last year, you will automatically get billed for it. You have until the season starts to cancel that. I cancelled the auto-billing of NFL Sunday Ticket on my account before making the calls to Customer Retention.
Another NFL Deal — Get $100 and your NFL team’s Visa card
Here’s another football related deal. Get your NFL team’s Visa card. Earn 10,000 bonus points after $500 in purchases, redeemable for $100 cash back Visa statement credit.
If you’d like to get one of these cards, click on “Chip’s Favorite Credit Card Offers” at the top right side of this website and then “NFL Team Card”. If you apply and get approved by using my links, you get the same deal but I get a taste from the bank for referring you. Email me if you have any questions.
This content is not provided or commissioned by the company whose products are featured on this site. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or evaluations provided here are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the Advertiser. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser’s affiliate programs.
I tried for the third time today without success. I don’t know what I am doing wrong!!!!!!!!!! I keep mentioning that they offer it for free to existing customers, but the most I got it 15 dollars off my bill. I guess I will try again tomorrow. Aghhhh
Do you ask the representative if they are in “customer retention”?
I just got off the phone with DTV……first asked for customer service about a Sunday ticket deal, the guy said there were no offers, so I then asked for customer retention. Very nice lady came on the line and I was telling her that I was no longer interested in the Sunday ticket, so she said they would take it off the bill. Without saying anything else, she then proceeded to tell me that since I have been a DTV customer for 15 years they have some loyalty discounts. The Sunday ticket is $240 and this what they gave me….
$15 off for the next 15 months= $225
$5 off for the next 24 months= $120
$10 off for the next 12 months =$120
That $465 in credit off my bill which nets at $225 after Sunday ticket billing.
Oh, and then I am getting a $200 Visa gift Card just for agreeing to stay with DTV for 12 more months.
A 40 minute phone call got me Sunday ticket free, $225 in extra credits and a $200 gift card! I usually all every year and get a heavy discount, but this was my most successful one yet! Just be polite, patient, and persistent and that will go a long way!
Make sure you are speaking to “Customer Retention”, otherwise you are not talking to the department that is authorized to give you the best deals. Then ask them, “Is there any way that I can get NFL Sunday Ticket for free?” There is no guarantee that you will get it offered to you for free. Try some of the approaches mentioned in my post. Good luck!
Nicely done, Roger!
YOUR THE BEST!
I tried again and GOT IT FOR FREE! Plus a free Genie upgrade 🙂
Thanks for all your help.
Nice work, Shannon!
Congrats!! Way to stick with it! Now I’m working on my brother, he’s been with DirecTV even longer than me!
Wow! I took your advice and called. Got Sunday ticket, hd, $100 visa gift card, an additional $10 a month credit, and 3 months free hbo starz all for free! Had to give them another 2 year agreement, but Kendra told me I could call back in a year for additional discounts.
Nice!! When I glance at my statement every month, I look to see if any discounts have come off. Some are for 3,6 or 12 months. If one falls off, I call Customer Retention and ask if there are any discounts available. There aren’t always, but it is worth a call every few months.
Didn’t get it for free, but I used your technique and saved $120.
Thanks!
Called DTV, as an existing 6 year customer, went with option ‘C’. Spoke w/ a very nice woman named Jennifer in Customer Retention. Simply asked “Since I’ve been a customer for over 5 years, is there anyway I can get NFL Sunday Ticket for free?” She takes literally about 10 seconds to “look” at my account and replies “Yes, we can do that!” I had to “verbally” agree to remain a DTV customer for another 12 months (of course!) and be advised that it will auto-bill next year if I don’t cancel (understood), but simple as that! Thanks Chip!!!
Victory!
I was able to get Sunday ticket free yesterday. Simply called and said I wojld like to receive NFL Sunday ticket for free and asked if there was anyway this could be accomplished. I was initially told by rhe csr it would be full price but was offered to be transferred to a contracts person. I agreed and a couple minutes later the contracts person said if I agreed to stay with them for 12 more months then no charge for the ticket.
Man that was easy. DirecTV customer coming up on 2 years (end of Nov). Told them I was considering red zone on Comcast because of the $4.99 offer they had and being able to use online/with a tablet. Also told them about my genie box glitching on recordings. The customer retention rep I spoke with, Jamal in Alabama, offered me Sunday ticket max for free since I’ve never missed a payment and only catch was to do a 12 month extension. What’s great is I had two months left on my contract with a $20/month early termination fee (so $40). The 12 month extension only has a $10/month early termination fee and starts immediately, overwriting my last two months of my original contract. In addition they’re overnighting a new genie to me free of charge and with no additional contracts or terms. I decided to try for just a bit more and asked if there were any discounts available to my account as I’m trying to get my bill down a little. Took him 15 sec to look and came back with $25 off per month for a year. I know some people here got a prepaid visa card but I didn’t press for that. I thought what they were offering me was completely reasonable:
NFL Sunday Ticket MAX – Free ($329.94 savings)
New Genie box – Free
$25 off per month for 12 months ($300 savings)
So now I have NFL ST MAX and the XTRA package for around $67/month pre tax. Very happy with the result and wasn’t hard, just be polite.
Just called customer retention. I asked if I could get sunday ticket for reduced or no cost. Pat said that since I was a loyal customer she could take care of me. She then says that she is giving me sunday ticket max free for 12 months but remember to cancel next year or it will be billed automatically. She also says she’s giving me an additional $5 credit for 12 months (and I already am maxed out with credits) I didn’t have to do anything other than say thank you and goodbye. I,m still amazed.
That is a great deal even if you canceled after 4 months of football.
That was a profitable phone call!
I just got off of the phone with a super sweet girl named Lacey in the retention dept at DTV who hooked me up with $10 off my bill for 12 months, $5 off HBO and Showtime packages and FREE NFL Sunday Ticket MAX!!! It did take A 40 minute phone call but I’m very happy with the results….and I’m positive my husband will be too! 🙂
That’s great!
Good work, you guys!
I’ve had DirecTV Sunday Ticket for free since moving to Texas from Michigan in 2009. However, having moved to a different apartment complex, my patio is *just* off from facing due south to receive a satellite signal :(. I am eligible to buy it as a non-satellite subscriber for $199.99/$239.99, but having it free for the last 5 years just leaves a sour taste in my mouth at that price-point.
I’ve shared my DTV account the last 3 years to neighbors for watching via tablet/PC/phone, etc, without issue. If you have MAX, multiple devices can connect, anywhere, simultaneously, without knocking anyone off. I’ve had 4 going at once myself (PC,IPad,GS4,TV)…
I’d be willing to pay $60 to anyone who could let me borrow the login info, just to stream on my tablet. Absolutely no hindrance whatsoever – you’d never even know I was streaming on Sunday afternoons. The only ‘trust’ part is the login info, which you can change instantaneously for any reason.
If someone wants a quick $60 (i can do paypal/whatever), reply and we can work out via email. This is only for current MAX subscribers – the regular package can kick people off if it detects multiple simultaneous usage. Thanks in advance!
Jeremy, just a thought…you could find 3 other people you know from your apartment complex or others you know that are in a similar situation have just split the max package 4 ways which would come out to $60 a piece anyways. That way it is with people you know. The “trust” issue goes both ways as the person you pay could also just change the password at anytime and then you’d be out $60. On the other hand, you could change the password as well which would get messy quick. I’m not saying that you would, I’m sure you’d just use the Sunday ticket app and that’s it. I’m just suggesting maybe there is a safer alternative for you and others with the same outcome of $60 being spent. I hope you can figure something out!
I just got free NFL Sunday ticket by going through customer retention as you had said. I also get free movie channels plus the extra NFL perks (Red Zone, NFL on the go, etc,). Ibju st have to cancel the premium channels in 3 months. Thanks for the tip!!
You cleaned them out! Nicely done.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wNOMORESUNDAYTICKET
Is the best deal I’ve found to watch online games so far.
i was just offered the ticket for free and also a 1 time bill credit of 50$. I told customer retention that I have to think about it due to other competitions offers and I’m hopefull I will get the max package for free next call. Thanks chip
OK, first of all, don’t make the mistake I made. I incorrectly read Chip’s advice to cancel the auto-billing on my account and I cancelled the entire existing NFL MAX package on my account. As a result, when I spoke to customer retention they said there was nothing they could do since I already cancelled. So I hung up and called right back to get the NFL Sunday Ticket MAX added back to my account. During that same call (after they read the disclaimer) I cancelled the auto-billing. I made one last call to the customer retention department and spoke with Joanna. Sticking to the script I asked Joanna if I could get the NFL Sunday Ticket MAX package for free. Joanna reviewed my account (I’ve been a DirecTV customer for < 3 years) and Joanna came back to inform me she can accommodate my request. TOUCHDOWN! NFL Sunday Ticket MAX for free. Woohoo! Glad I found this site. Big props to you Chip!
Well done, Brett! I mark my calendar to cancel the automatic billing of NFL Sunday Ticket in January.
Another great tip. I’ll do the same. Thanks again Chip.
NFL SUNDAY TICKET MAX, FREE, SCORE!!!!! TOOK ME LITERALLY 3 YEARS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ADVICE!!!!
I’m glad it worked, Keith. Now go easy on my Bengals! That goes for everyone.
Called 1-800-directv and said “Cancel”. Took me to Customer Retention (I do this about every 6 mos or so anyway). Really got more than expected this time though. Mentioned we’ve had DirecTV and ATT Internet + Home Phone since 1999. I said Comcast is offering us 60Mbps + Cable TV, but we’d like to stay DirecTV and ATT customers if we had some great offers available on our account. This is what she offered, one by one:
No reduction in programming, but total savings of $38.50/month for 12 months = $462
Showtime FREE for 4 months
FREE Genie upgrade for our main DVR (24-month commitment, but we’ve been with them 16 yrs so no biggie)
REDZONE channel for FREE this season
NFL Sunday Ticket MAX for FREE next season
What’s interesting is I have specifically ASKED for just the Redzone channel multiple times in the past, only to be told “you can only get that with NFL Sunday Ticket MAX”. Honestly, we only watch Redzone because that’s where all the action is anyway. She told me that since I got Sunday Ticket MAX for FREE last year, I can’t get it FREE for 2 years in a row, but I would be eligible to get it FREE again in 2016….So we’re already set for next year (YAY!!) Then she offered Redzone for FREE this season and of course I said, “Uh….OK” (ha-ha)
DirecTV is smart. They know how much it costs to get new customers and it’s much cheaper to just keep the current ones happy. It hasn’t always been like that. This CS Rep was pleasant and it was like talking to a family member. Getting the right person on the other end makes this so much easier. Of course being a DirecTV & ATT customer for 16 years doesn’t hurt either. Thanks Chip!
Very well done! With the advent of Hulu/Netflix/Amazon etc., DirecTV’s model is going away. They know that and are hanging on to customers. I think you are right that they are smart.
I just called because my receiver isn’t working correctly and after getting setup for a service call I figured I would take a shot at it. I asked about promotions and I finally got to customer retention and after a short talk I got the NFL Sunday Ticket for free with 12 month agreement to stay with Directv. I also got HBO free for 3 months. She took an additional $15/month off my bill and I also upgraded my package adding 24 more channels while lower my bill another $17/month. It took a little over an hour but getting over $800 in value is a good hour spent.
$800… SWEET!
I’m not having the best luck getting NFL Sunday Ticket for free. I have called twice, speaking with the Retention department both times, and the best offer I have received is 50% off NFL Sunday Ticket Max which would be $166. They also offered me free HBO, Cinemax, and Showtime for 3 months.
What am I doing wrong? We still have a year left on our contract, so maybe that’s why they’re not willing to do anything beyond what they have already offered.
i’d hold off a few days. DirecTV says they can only offer you discounts that come up on your account. They stonewalled me with a similar offer. Two weeks later, I got a great deal! Read above.
Thanks so much for this! We got FREE Sunday ticket AND $25 off of our regular bill for the next 12 months!
Nice!
Chip,
I had DTV last year and cancelled after the football season was over because I didn’t want to start getting the billing after the 12 months that they would jack up the monthly price… I’m currently on the phone with them to try and get back with DTV… Any tips?
you can see my experiences each of the past 4 years above. i got it free each time. good luck!
My year 2 story: My bill got out of control recently as I forgot to cancel Sunday Ticket MAX before the autobill kicked in (my bad). Called “Customer Retention” yesterday, spoke with Aaliyah (sp?) to cancel and asked if I was able to get it again for free? She told me that best she could do was knock $9 off per month off the autobill of STMAX but could also give me $5 off for 12 months on my overall bill & $7 per month off my HBO subscription for 6 months. I accepted the $5 off & $7 off HBO offers only and ended the convo knowing I’d try again today for STMAX…
Did a little research today and found that Dish Network is offering a 2 year price lock for new subscribers (the comparable plan I would choose would be $15 cheaper than currently DTV plan) which includes choice of Netflix or NFL RedZone for 1 year free with no auto renew and HBO for free for 3 months.
With that knowledge in hand, I called again today, asked for “Customer Retention” and when prompt asked if I wanted to change service or cancel, I said “cancel”. After a short hold, was connected with gentleman named Tarin (sp?) who was in Boise, ID. After BS-ing with him for a bit about college football and such as he went to Boise State, I explained that I was calling to give DTV an opportunity to come close to matching the offer from Dish Network that I had researched. I explained that as a fan of the Cardinals, my local NFL team here in Phoenix, AZ, I didn’t NEED STMAX to watch my team but really enjoyed the RedZone channel and was disappointed I couldn’t order it alone without purchasing STMAX. Tarin saw my call from yesterday and I explained to him of my disappointment with the call which resulted in me looking at Dish Network offers.
Tarin said his department was different from department I spoke with yesterday (maybe “cancel” account got me a more powerful Customer Retention rep??) and he should have other offers that may include giving my RedZone channel for free. After sifting thru my offers, Tarin offered me two additional $10 per moth for 12 month discounts (in addition to the $5 per month & $7 off HBO I was given yesterday) and was able to give me the RedZone channel completely free.
Bottom line: Saving $25 per month off my bill for 12 months, additional $7 off for 6 months (HBO offer) and RedZone channel for free. I know its not a ST or STMAX for free story, but I really just wanted to push for RedZone channel specifically anyway I could and accomplished my goal and then some! Go Cardinals!!
!ST CALL – Spoke with LSU “Geaux Tigers” Gidget in Customer Retention.
Storyline – My job is slowing; My wife and daughter are taking over the TV with Pretty Little Liars and Twilght-like shows.; No football recording allowed, not enough space. (Goodbye m y two Seahawks SB games!)
She was willing to give $20 off, Free HBO, SHOW, Equip. upgrade AND FREE standard ST.
I have to check with said Pretty Little Liar/Boss/Wife/TV Taker-over at lunchtime.
Stay tuned. Gidget is calling me back at noon.
C’monnnnnnnnnn Gidget!
Td + 2 pt. conversion + recovered onside kick! Free ST Max, HBO, genies, plus cheaper bill than before. Chip, you are d’ man! Gidget. is the woman!
nice! tell your peeps.
Hi everyone!!! This worked for me last year, but what number are you calling??? I called 800-531-5000. Normally I can put in my account number, and then it walks me through the robot steps where I can mention Customer Retention, and then cancel my account.
This time as soon as I put my number in they transfer me directly to the basic customer service rep. What has changed??????? Please help.
Thanks!
Shannon
I just called 1-888-DIRECTV
Took 5 calls but we got it! I take notes, as they do, each time I call. I talked to the same guy twice, which had never happened before. He helped me the first time with discounts but couldn’t offer Sun. Tic Max. He got me $23 off for 12 mon. and Max for $105. Took $23 but held off on Max. The next time he wasn’t as much help. My receiver has been freezing up and all he offered was tech to come out and swap.
Receiver froze again and called back few min. later and “Southern Belle” (her words) Donna, was able to help. As Chip says,” I think they’re on to me”, she was able to give me ST free and Max for half off and one time credit for $167 to ST max free. She couldn’t offer any more but didn’t push too hard as this was what we were looking for anyway. Good luck to all. Thanks Chip.
Good move. I’ve had a lot of “one-time” credits. I think that is a way for them to save face in the negotiation. I doubt anyone says, “Hey, you already gave me my one-time credit!”