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Clearly forged satellite contract signature! (Consumer Law & Fraud)

Sat, 12 Jun 2004 18:41:00 GMT
Tags: approximately, bri, clearly, consumer, contract, dish, echostar, fair, forged, fraud, idaho, law, satellite, service, signature, state, surprised

Idaho
I signed up for Echostar/Dish Satellite TV service at the state fair last September 2003 (approximately 9 months ago). We were surprised at the excellent deal we got with all free equipment and installations and free DVR and 2 rooms and 4 months of free service; and best of all there was hardly any paperwork to schedule it and get it going.
We recently moved residences and decided to cancel the Dish service. We were told we were in a 2 year contract, and there would be a huge fine with them and with our local installer if we cancelled. We have both worked several jobs involving intricate contracs, so we were surprised we didn't know we were in a contract. I did not believe I had signed into any agreement, and asked for a copy of the contract I signed to be sent to me.
I received it today and my information is obviously not in my handwriting! The salesman's name is also on the contract, and it is obvious the salesman wrote my information in the fields. My signature is an intricate scribble, and there is a signature that somewhat resembles mine, but is not mine. Everyone thinks my signature is a random scribble, but it I intricately designed it, and can even explain the construction of the 'scribble'. Therefore, I am 100% positive (and have already had several people inspect both signatures and agree it is not mine) the salesman forged my signature.
I contacted Dish's corporate headquarters, and they said they would check into it and get back to me next week. They tried saying I might have resigned the contract at my home when the installer visited, but my wife and I both were there and clearly recall no such thing happening.
This is painfully obviously fraud and forgery and an illegal contract, and I wonder if I can sue the national service provider, the local dealer, the salesman, and possibly all three?
I obviously have a case, but how much can I get?

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  • Sun, 13 Jun 2004 21:17:00 GMT(1)
  • Sweet justice would be even them giving me a free transfer and install at my new house and free maximum service until that two-year contract I didn't sign expires, at which time I am free to continue or cancel my service like every other customer at the end of a contract.
    Advice?
  • Mon, 14 Jun 2004 22:29:00 GMT(2)
  • What?!? I see the first guy is also the second guy? I guess it's a Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde thing, nice and polite one day and bitter suicidal suggestive sarcasm the next.
    I guess all I can say is goodbye to this forum, lick my wounds, and I wish you peace and fortune.
  • Sat, 12 Jun 2004 20:29:00 GMT(3)
  • "I obviously have a case, but how much can I get?"
    * If you can prove that the signature is not yours, then you get to force them to waive the contract and release you from the obligation.
  • Sun, 13 Jun 2004 00:37:00 GMT(4)
  • All I can get is for them to release me from the contract? That seems too light, they've perpetrated a fraudulent crime here, and perhaps many others who signed up at the state fair also had their signatures forged onto contracts.
    Does anyone know if I might get harsher penalties against this company? Do I have grounds to sue the salesman/installer? Can I advertise in the paper for others who purchased at the fair, and see if we can get together for a class-action?
    (I admit I've read every John Grisham.)
    Your advice is very helpful, thank you in advance for any and all you can share.
  • Sun, 13 Jun 2004 22:19:00 GMT(5)
  • "Advice?"
    * Yep. Hold your breath. Then we will all benefit.
  • Tue, 15 Jun 2004 08:29:00 GMT(6)
  • Typical of undereducated spoiled brats, always trying to make everyone believe that they are innocent when clearly they aren't.
    So, let me try to explain the situation to you.... very slowly so that you can follow.
    1) You signed up for satellite service with free equipment, free installation, four months for free and even got a free DVR. Yet you claim you signed NO contract. Bullcrap! Anyone with half-a-brain, (and most with only a quarter of one), know that you have to SIGN a contract to allow the vendor/supplier to make up the cost of the equipment.
    2) You enjoyed the use of the equipment and service for about nine months. Only when you decided to cancel (in less than the contracted TWO YEARS), you now claim that you didn't sign anything after all. Somehow claiming that the salesman forged your signature! Yeah, right! I had a client one time who made the same claim. Seems that everytime he entered into a 'deal' like this (free merchandise for a contractual committment), he used a different signature (more slant, backwards slant, etc.) then tried to claim it wasn't his. Guess what.... he got caught the same way that you did/will. Of course he had to give his correct address, credit card information, SSN, etc. (for the credit check). He even tried to claim that he had filled in a contract with that information and then changed his mind..... and the salesman must have taken it out of the trash! Yep, didn't work for him either.
    And my supposition that the above describes your 'situation' is bolstered by your insistence that you have some kind of 'special, distinctive' signature ("Everyone thinks my signature is a random scribble, but it I intricately designed it, and can even explain the construction of the 'scribble'."). Obviously, that statement shows to me that you make a habit of making sure that you can 'show' someone that the signature you used to sign the contract is different than your 'special' (normal) one.
    Rather than voice my opinion given above, my first post was a simple, if you can prove its not yours, do it. Then, when you came back whining about how you might somehow PROFIT from your scheme, my response was to 'hold your breath'.
    Simply, your little scam didn't fool me (or lots of others on this forum) and hopefully it won't fool the satellite company.
  • Mon, 14 Jun 2004 22:26:00 GMT(7)
  • So I surmise by your caustic remark that I am whining?
    Or are you one of those jerks who can only make themselves feel better when they put down others?
    I don't know anything about legal matters, and I see now I am getting what I paid for here. Thanks for reaffirming the broad public opinion of lawyers, jerk.
    *Actual sincere thanks to the first person who simply stated I could at least get out of the contract, that is probably all I will shoot for. I feel violated that the salesguy would blatantly forge me into a financial contract. Maybe I will visit their booth this year and harrass them, especially if it's the same guy*
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