MY CABLE COMPANY SUX!

[Fox]

So yesterday the cable channels all changed on us. The stations are all assigned to totally different numbers now so after years of channel surfing memory instilled into my brain I/we have to re-learn what channel is what station.

WHY do they do that?

I get my phone, internet and TV from these guys. They even changed the look of their web page so I have to get used to that every time I check my e-mail.

[90GTVert]

I have no idea why the cable companies do a lot of things. My main problem is that it seems like the bill gets higher all the time, but the service doesn't improve. I had issues with the internet and cable tv in the past and they would come out and tell me nothing was wrong an my end and they thought it was a weak signal or some issue on their end. I had multiple techs come out and I would tell them what the others said, and they'd always agree that it was something with the service being delivered to the house not an issue in the house. So I would ask if they could do something about it and they'd say it's up to the main office. I'd call the big office and they'd wanna send a tech out. To this day some channels are weak and cut in and out. They know it's an issue of their own, but they don't really seem to care. Raise the prices, keep the service crappy. It's amazing what some businesses get away with.

[Fox]

Right!

We got a 2 year deal at a set price and when the 2 years ran out they wanted to raise the monthly fee on us so I said then we are going to go with Dish Network unless you can match the same price we have been paying. The "Customer Service Agent" (flunky) on the phone says: "Let me put you on hold" Then they come back with "Yes Mr. Fox! We can match the same price for 2 more years" like they are doing me a favor.

The other thing that sux is I saw ads for Time Warner Cable with a better price and I called them only to find out that Charter Cable has a monopoly on my neighborhood.

[90GTVert]

I have little luck with rate changes. I called a while back and said, "I'm tired of service problems. I'm tired of the bills getting bigger and bigger. I'm tired of seeing all these low rates that you advertise, and paying high rates. I get letters asking me to come back to DirectTV every other week. Should I go back, or can you help me out?" They ended up giving me an introductory offer to cut the bill way down. The problem is, they said it will only last 3 months. That's the best they can do. It ran out a little while ago, so I guess I need to be calling again soon. I hate having to haggle. Can't they make a decent profit but be fair so that I don't have to spend my time threatening to go to DirectTV? Then they could fire some operators and cut their costs more anyway. Not that I wanna see anyone lose their jobs, but damn.

[drawkward]

We are robbed everyday by these companies. They charge us hidden fees coupled with super inflated prices, and all the while we are receiving terrible service.

Dude my power company BLOOOOOWS! I mean how is this ethical? - Me and my father have a construction company that has been out of work for the last 4 months... We have been late twice with our bill in the last year, last week the electric company told us they were going to make us pay $700 for a deposit!!!

Un-frigginbelievable.

[Enviromoto]

Wanna get even?

Disconnect your cable, use less electricity, and start your own business.

[90GTVert]

I'm too fat and lazy to disconnect my cable (and besides, how can I keep my site up without internet). I try to use less electricity turning off everything I don't use and using sunlight instead of lamps when possible and all that stuff. You know as well as anyone, starting the kind of business I'd like to have you can't treat people that way. Go ahead and start giving crappy service and messing up installs and getting an attitude with everyone and see how long Enviromoto sticks around. Luckily for the consumer, most businesses aren't monopolies like utilities.

[Fox]

Jan 13, 2010 14:33:06 GMT -5 drawkward said:

We are robbed everyday by these companies. They charge us hidden fees coupled with super inflated prices, and all the while we are receiving terrible service.

Dude my power company BLOOOOOWS! I mean how is this ethical? - Me and my father have a construction company that has been out of work for the last 4 months... We have been late twice with our bill in the last year, last week the electric company told us they were going to make us pay $700 for a deposit!!!

Un-frigginbelievable.

Yeah, I was going to say that maybe you could go solar and run generator with bio diesel blah blah blah but the cost and work involved is more hassle than just putting up a deposit.

One option would be to call your local TV station and ask them to do some digging to find out if you are unique or if there's a lot of others like yourself. The news loves that kind of stuff. Every station has a "Consumer Advocate" that exposes shady mechanics, fraudulent investment schemes, rip-offs etc... . I got a reporter involved in a dispute I had with a plumbing company one time and though they never did a feature story on TV, the reporter did call them asking questions and lo and behold, I got a full refund and an apology. Nobody wants reporters sniffing around.

They can play up the fact that you are hard working struggling Americans and it's cold etc... etc...You'll look like saints and they'll look like sinners.

The Cable companies on the other hand provide TV so they are un-touchable.

FUKKERS!

[Enviromoto]

Well since the switch to digital tv over the air signal is as good if not better than cable. If you understand how a business operates and the tax code you can save THOUSANDS a year just by establishing yourself as a small business and writing your normal business expenses off. You could be a scooter consultant on the internet and charge a small fee to answer questions and have more money in your pocket even if you never got one paying customer.

I use DSL for my internet, att phone line, and rabbit ears.

Plug in, turn off, get to work.

[Fox]

Jan 13, 2010 16:29:00 GMT -5 Enviromoto said:

I use DSL for my internet, att phone line, and rabbit ears.

Plug in, turn off, get to work.

So do you get HBO and Cinimax as well as History, Discovery etc...?

[Enviromoto]

No but I dont miss it. If there is a show I want to watch I'll find it on the internet somewhere.

[Fox]

Okay so now I can no longer access my Charter e-mail using Firefox. I have to use Safari. I tried to call tech support and I get: "All circuits are busy. Try again later"

There must be 4 million people all calling to bitch.

[erictheviking666]

Drop cable go with Directv. I got pissed at cables bullshit years ago! I switched to Directv in 2000, and will NEVER go back to cable. As far as bundled packages go you can keep them as far as I'm concerned. If you get a little behind in bills and you have a bundled service you lose everything. At least without bundles I only lose TV, not everything! Oh and landlines are a distant relic of the past! I haven't had one of those since 1998. You can get a good unlimited cell plan with unlimited data, text and talk for $40 a month (like Metro PCS). There is no reason to keep a landline, it's just an extra expense you don't need anymore.

[90GTVert]

When you live in the country those things aren't always an option. Having a cell as my only phone... no thank you. Right now I have 1 of 4 bars. It ranges from 0 to 2 most of the time staying at 0 or 1. I'm on Verizon, and according to their map the northeast is covered like you wouldn't believe. If I had to stay on hold for long or something like that it would almost be a guaranteed lost call.

DirectTV was OK. I had it for a few years but it used to have trouble in bad weather (rain, wind). I've heard a lot of people say that's a myth, but many of my friends and family can tell you that's how it was here. Maybe it's different now, that was 5 or more years ago. On top of that, no internet through DirectTV. I know now they do DSL through DirectTV, but not here. I have 2 choices, Comcast Cable Internet or 56k. I do not miss that screeching sound when I want to get on line. Nor do I miss waiting 20 mins for a 5MB download and having things time out when I tried to upload them.

[erictheviking666]

Yeah I forgot that you can't get DSL unless you live within 3 miles of the nearest switch. I VERY rarely ever lose a satellite signal, in fact I have only lost my signal maybe 4 or 5 times in the last year (although it is worse with HD than regular). But we don't have too deal with snow covered dishes in the winter time ( I have seen heaters for dishes to melt the ice). Unfortunately the cable company has you over a barrel and can do whatever the hell they want. I HATE CABLE COMPANIES!