Dish Settles With Colorado Attorney General Over Company's Sales Practices

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers’ office reached a $2 million settlement with Dish Network Friday, focusing on the company’s sales practices. The company will revise its sales disclosures nationwide to reflect its right to raise prices at any time, said the office in a news release. "This is going to have broader implications regarding the disclosure and consumer protection rights that we were able to establish through the agreement by the company to be a lot more forthcoming in its sales practices," said a spokeswoman for the office in an interview Monday. The AG began investigating Dish’s sales practices in 2011. Numerous consumers complained about price increases after the company promised that contract rates were “frozen” or “guaranteed” not to change. While disagreeing with the AG's allegations, Dish said it appreciates the office's "constructive feedback regarding our sales process," emailed a company spokeswoman. "We are pleased to amicably resolve this matter." The settlement was filed in Denver District Court by attorneys with the AG's Consumer Protection Section, as was a civil complaint alleging Dish's sales practices violated the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. The money will be split by the state's general fund and a special consumer protection fund in Suthers' office.