The Consequences of Not Paying Your Dish Network Bill

Paying your monthly Dish Network bill is important to keep your TV service running Unfortunately, failing to pay your Dish bill can lead to some pretty serious consequences In this article, we’ll walk through exactly what happens if you don’t pay your Dish Network bill.

Overview of Dish Network Billing

First a quick refresher on how Dish Network billing works

• Bills are sent out monthly and due within 23 days.

• You can pay your bill via the MyDish app, online, by phone, by mail or in person

• If not paid on time, late fees apply.

• After 2 missed payments, Dish can suspend your service.

• Escalating penalties occur for continued nonpayment.

Clearly, staying current on your Dish Network bill should be a priority to avoid interruptions.

Late Fees

If you miss paying your Dish Network bill by the due date, the first consequence is a late fee being applied. Dish will charge a standard $10 late fee if payment is not received within the 23 day grace period.

Additional $5 late fees will continue accumulating each month that the overdue balance remains unpaid. These late fees quickly add up, so make sure to pay on time to avoid them.

Account Suspension

More severe consequences start if your Dish Network bill becomes significantly delinquent.

After 2 missed monthly payments, Dish reserves the right to suspend your account for nonpayment. This means they will temporarily disconnect your TV service until the past due balance is paid in full.

No one wants the inconvenience of having their TV abruptly shut off, so be sure to pay at minimum the past due amount before suspension occurs. Dish will send notices alerting you before an impending suspension.

Additional Fees

In addition to late fees, Dish may apply other fees when an account is severely delinquent.

A $15 payment extension fee will be charged if you need extra time beyond your due date to pay the balance.

If your service gets suspended for nonpayment, Dish will hit you with a $15 reconnect fee to restart your service after you pay the past due amount.

They may also charge collection fees around $25-$50 if they need to send your account to collections.

Collections & Credit Damage

If you continue to let your Dish Network bill go unpaid, eventually your account will be closed and get sent to collections. This has major consequences:

• The full unpaid balance is demanded immediately.

• Collection agents will constantly contact you demanding payment.

• Your credit score will plummet due to the delinquency.

• Legal action can be taken to garnish wages or property.

• You may be denied service by Dish in the future.

A collections account is severely detrimental, so do everything possible to avoid this worst-case scenario.

Tips to Avoid Suspension & Collections

Follow these tips to ensure paying your Dish Network bill on time:

• Enroll in autopay or paperless billing for convenience.

• Use payment reminders and the MyDish app to stay organized.

• Contact Dish immediately if you anticipate difficulty paying.

• Take advantage of one-time payment extension if eligible.

• Pay at least the minimum due to avoid suspension.

• Notify Dish if your financial situation changes long-term.

• Set up a payment plan if you fall far behind.

Staying proactive with your Dish Network bill payments will help you dodge penalties and credit damage.

What to Do if You Get Suspended

If you do end up with a suspended account, take these steps:

• Pay at least the past due amount ASAP.

• Call Dish and pay reconnect fee to reactivate service.

• Expect up to 24 hours for service to be restored.

• Make a plan for paying future bills on time.

• Contact Dish support if you need long term payment assistance.

With some accountability, you can get back on track and avoid escalation to collections.

Options for Financial Hardship

We all go through financial struggles occasionally. If paying your Dish bill becomes difficult, remember these options:

• Request a one-time bill extension of 9 days.

• Set up a multi-month payment plan with Dish.

• Downgrade your TV package temporarily to lower cost.

• Suspend service completely for up to 6 months.

• Ask about Dish hardship programs if unemployed/disabled.

The key is communicating with Dish before your account gets too far behind. They can usually work with you on modifications to get through the hard times.

Not paying your Dish Network bill can result in late fees, service suspension, collections accounts, credit damage and more. Be sure to pay on time, utilize autopay and payment extensions when available, and contact Dish for assistance if needed. Consistent communication and proactive planning will help you maintain positive standing and enjoy ongoing TV entertainment.