MADISON, Wis. -- Consumer protection officials are surprised and alarmed by what some consumers are telling news three about Dish Network.

CONSUMER PROTECTION File Your Complaint If Sweeney's complaints sound familiar, the state wants to hear from you. Report your problems by calling the hotline at (800) 422-7128 or going online for a complaint form at http://datcp.state.wi.us/cp/ consumerinfo/cp/ complaint-form/ file_complaint.html. Officials tell News 3 that if they get reports that Dish Network is violating its agreement, consumer protection will launch another investigation.

Some customers complained to us about the process of adding local channels. They told News 3 the terms of getting local channels weren't made clear up front, and that concerns state officials who are considering other recent consumer complaints against Dish Network.

Todd Sweeney made the switch to satellite because he heard all the positive hype -- now he's sorry he did.

"I worked with Dish and contacted them, and they told me local channels were right around the corner and I'd be able to have them," he said. "They said just pay $4.99 a month for the additional channels, and that I had all the equipment necessary for the local channels to be received. Did they imply that there might be any other conditions? No, not at all."

When local channels became available and he called to order them, there were problems.

"The first thing they told me was my equipment was out of date and wouldn't accept the local channels -- I would have to sign another 12-month contract in order to waive the installation fee of $200 and give them my credit card for automatic billing," he said.

State consumer protection officials told News 3 they are very concerned because Echostar, Dish Network's parent company, recently got in trouble for confusing consumers.

"Dish Network just settled a $5 million case. They were prosecuted for misleading consumers," said Glen Loyd of Wisconsin Consumer Protection.

Thirteen states, including Wisconsin, pressed consumer protection charges after customers complained they weren't told up front about termination fees and that Echostar charged their bank accounts for undisclosed fees.

Under the settlement, Echostar was ordered to clearly disclose terms of its contract.

"If they're saying one thing and having you sign a contract and then you learn about them later on, well that would be a violation of the agreement that they just signed," Loyd said.

Dish Network officials declined an interview with News 3 but sent a this statement saying, "Dish is free with a one-year subscription to our at $50 package and local channels. We provide information about the free satellite dish to our independent retailers and in our advertising."

Sweeney said the retailer never passed on the information to him.

"At first, I called up and canceled it, and said I didn't want anything to do with it but then I realized they had me over a barrel because I couldn't cancel my whole service," he said. "I wanted local channels so I had no choice but to order the service."

"We don't understand why it would happen after they had just signed an agreement saying they would take care of all this," Loyd said.

Sweeney said he feels trapped into extending his contract to avoid the cost of a new dish.

"They're coming in here trying to be competitive with Charter cable and now I'm wishing I had my cable back," Sweeny said.

File Your Complaint

If Sweeney's complaints sound familiar, the state wants to hear from you. Report your problems by calling the hot line at (800) 422-7128 or going online for a complaint form at http://datcp.state.wi.us/cp/consumerinfo/cp/complaint-form/file_complaint.html.

Officials told News 3 that if they get reports that Dish Network is violating its agreement, consumer protection will launch another investigation