Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain - Consumerist Comments

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

KirbyJenkins — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:22:56 EDT

I literally went throught this just this morning. I got home last night, and found that I was missing about a dozen channels. When I called cablevision this morning, I was told that in addition to the cable box I already have, I would have to shell out an additional $6.50 per set to per month to view the channels I was getting yesterday. To be fair, the CSR did not tell me it was an FCC mandate, but part of the bandwith migration intiative (or whatever). I then had her transfer me to her supervisor. After about a 10 minute wait, I got the supervisor on the phone, who told me the same thing. I really didn't expect any sort of satisfactory resolution, but I figured it was worth some time to give these people a piece of my mind. And I am sorry to say I "killed the messenger". After frustrating the supervisor to the point where he couldn't utter anything but "I'm Sorry", I told him his answers were unacceptable, and asked for his supervisor. He put me on hold, and I just hung up and wrote them a nasty note. Meanwhile, I have copons for my digital to analog converters, but is it even worth it? I realize the older tvs will need them eventually, but it isn't going to solve this problem, right???

KirbyJenkins

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

knitsafghans — Mon, 26 May 2008 22:59:05 EDT

I called to complain on the cutoff day (this week in Piscataway). They told me that I was entitled to the free cable box. This did not thrill me because we have 8 TV's, 5 of them heavily watched (2 kids' rooms, our room, kitchen, and the HDTV with Tivo Series 3 - and 2 cable cards - in the den). When I called back to schedule the cable box appointment they told me that I wasn't really eligible, then, after I went to a supervisor, told me I was, but only if I TURNED IN A CABLE CARD !!!!! This was because of the HD channels I had just lost for my Tivo. I asked the supervisor whether he could with a straightface advise me to trade the capability to record two programs at once for the ability to get the Kung Fu channel/Monster channel etc.? He couldn't. In the end I got a credit for the cost of a cable box for a year. Oh my I can't wait for FIOS!!!!

knitsafghans

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

GastonMacross — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:20:12 EDT

How's this one? After feeling forced into ordering 2 digital converter boxes from Cablevision in order to continue to receive some of the channels we currently receive, I arranged to have them mailed and they were to arrive in time for the 5/13 cutoff. When they hadn't arrived by yesterday, I called Cablevision and now they're telling me there's a problem with filling all the orders. I may get them by Friday! In the meantime, I can't watch those channels that are now being blocked through no fault of my own! I've contacted Cablevision numerous times and get no satisfaction. I filed a complaint with the FCC. On another point, isn't it interesting that you're not reading anything about this "scam" in Newday? Could it be that the Dolans' are buying Newsday??? Think about it. Newsday jumps on any other perceived "scandal". Why not this one? Thanks for your time.

GastonMacross

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

professorjonathan — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:08:14 EDT

I've just filed a complaint with the NY Public Service Commission ([www.dps.state.ny.us]) in connection with this situation. We'll see what develops. {ProfJonathan}

professorjonathan

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

camman68 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:13:26 EDT

According to the FTC website, "cable operators must make local broadcasters' primary video and program-related material viewable by all of their subscribers." The FCC's ruling today allows cable operators to comply with the viewability requirement by choosing to either: (1) carry the digital signal in analog format, or (2) carry the signal only in digital format, provided that all subscribers have the necessary equipment to view the broadcast content." Here is the PDF version.

[hraunfoss.fcc.gov]

camman68

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

coopjust — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:50:40 EDT

@DrBologna

From what I understand, TWC is rolling out the 8300HDC, rather than the 8300HD (non c) that I have. I hear a LOT of complaints about the former, virtually none about the latter.

coopjust

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

Totorototoro — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:08:08 EDT

Get ready for some serious wrist slapping and finger wagging by the FCC over this.

Totorototoro

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

borregopass — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:12:21 EDT

Actually in NY, Time Warner uses Mystro software. I think it may be Time Warner's own, I can't be sure from my reading. They did have a Mystro project announced a couple of years ago which fuels my assumnption.

From everything I can tell personally and from reading others complaints Mystro is very user unfriendly, and vastly unstable. IOW, both other software choices would be better for the consumer - hence TW chooses Mystro.

borregopass

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

DrBologna — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:11:22 EDT

@unravel: "and if the folks at your local TW office are decent"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Okay, okay, I'm good now HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

Wait, okay, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

etc.

DrBologna

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

dieselman8 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:57:24 EDT

RCN in chicago is also pulling the same BS. They're cutting off analog cable and forcing its subscribers to rent digital cable boxes for $5 a TV.

dieselman8

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

cablevisionmustdie.com — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:53:58 EDT

@sleze69:lol right is right wrong is wrong and for disgruntled employees for you go to www.jobvent.com

cablevisionmustdie.com

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

mbd — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:23:00 EDT

Cablevision and TimeWarner use different software on their boxes. Cablevision uses SARA software, TW uses either Passport or Navigator, depending upon location. From what I have read online, SARA seems to be the most stable of the software (gee, a scary thought!).

mbd

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

mbd — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:12:15 EDT

Time-Warner uses different software on there boxes than Cablevision. Cablevision uses SARA software, TW uses either Passport or Navigator, depending upon location. All 3 softwares have issues, but from what I read online SARA seems to be the most stable (gee, that's scary).

mbd

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

unravel — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:13:17 EDT

@DrBologna: Your DVR may suck, but honestly, that model doesn't seem to be too bad. I'm not experiencing any of the issues that you are, and this is definitely a step up from the previous model that we had. If you can find the time, and if the folks at your local TW office are decent, just swing by with the box, explain the issue and ask for an exchange

unravel

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

KogeLiz — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:42:57 EDT

@cablevisionmustdie.com: what

KogeLiz

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

KogeLiz — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:41:48 EDT

@Pylon83:
Good point. I could definitely see that.

KogeLiz

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

Imafish — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:00:04 EDT

Headline should have been: "Cablevision lies about not lying."

Imafish

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

sleze69 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:54:24 EDT

@cablevisionmustdie.com: Calling all disgruntled Cablevision call center employees. Send us your FCC is to blame script!

sleze69

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

freejazz38 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:38:21 EDT

It's very simple. Whenever a cable company rep tells you something, ANYTHING, just believe the opposite. Incidently, this goes for ANY corporation. If they told you the sky was blue, it's probably for their profit, and it's probably red

freejazz38

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

cablevisionmustdie.com — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:20:33 EDT

@packetscan:
Well 3 years ago you didnt really need box yuo can just take the cable the hook it up to your tv and get family and basic channels even now most of the channels you can still get with just tht wire if you live on long island NJ is assed out they need a box Brooklyn they need a box or they will only get 2-22 bronx I forgot but it should fall into play with Brooklyn

cablevisionmustdie.com

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

DrBologna — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:19:04 EDT

@coopjust: Ummm... for the record, that HD-DVR is the same one I have with Time Warner, and it's a piece of shit. First, it's slow as hell. You change the channel, and 5 seconds later, it shows up. I know, I know, "5 seconds is nothing." Yeah right. You try going to the guide, selecting a channel, then count out five mississippis every time before you change it. See how fast it gets old. Also, and much more annoyingly, almost twice per month, the box starts doing something crazy. This includes:

1. When switching to a channel from the guide, keeping the guide picture (you know, the tiny one in the upper right corner) and just filling the rest of the screen with black
2. Cutting off the sound
3. Refusing to do ANYTHING, including just changing channels normally
4. Getting stuck on the DVR list

The only way to fix this is to reset the box; and, that doesn't mean just turning it off. It means unplugging it and waiting a few seconds before plugging it back in. Sadly, then comes the waiting. Just like everything else this box does, a reset takes FOREVER. Seriously, it takes about 20 minutes for this stupid box to boot up.

That's not a big deal, except when you are trying to watch a show-which I obviously am, or else the box wouldn't be fucking up, and I wouldn't be trying to reset it. Or, imagine it happens when you're watching one show and recording another. Now you're screwed out of two show. Joy!

Oh, and fuck cablevision too.

DrBologna

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

doctor_cos — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:22:57 EDT

@packetscan: Thanks for the enlightening post. What happened to the ! button !!!

If you don't like this kind of story, go elsewhere. I found the story interesting and in the flavor of other posts here. Is the problem that there is no 'consumer' for you to blame in this one?

doctor_cos

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

cablevisionmustdie.com — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:43:24 EDT

@huadpe: Well they all have raised rates : fios cable dish Trust that cable does its homework to see who has raised what and still have their increase to be lower than everyone else

cablevisionmustdie.com

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

cablevisionmustdie.com — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:38:24 EDT

@jfischer: just a side note [cablevisionmustdie.blogspot.com]

cablevisionmustdie.com

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

packetscan — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:12:30 EDT

ok consumerist is going down hill FAST.
Cablevision started that over 3 years ago to force an upgrade that was needed on lots of set-top boxes.

packetscan

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

azntg — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:33:00 EDT

@jfischer: Oh yes, absolutely annoying! Grrr...

On a further off-topic note, that ad was definitely written for an English speaking audience. I saw the exact same ad aired at a Spanish language channel and it doesn't have the same ring to it. Boo! (Stereotypical thing... I thought it might've had a chance to sound good in Spanish too)

azntg

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

jfischer — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:12:26 EDT

Cablevision's "reggaeton" ads for their "Optimunm Online" service bundle are a bigger crime than their lies about why they moved several channels from analog to digital.
[www.youtube.com]

jfischer

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

azntg — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:05:31 EDT

@huadpe: Well said.

As much as I want to say: "Well, it's not predatory when you can get a digital OTA for free (or relatively cheap)," I realize that not everybody can enjoy the variety of channels available OTA by many New Yorkers or are even able to get a decent reception (I hear those living in Manhattan between high rises can't even get a decent signal with an antenna nor will their building assoc. let them install an antenna)

azntg

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

TechnoDestructo — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:59:05 EDT

@huadpe:

What's doubly-genius about that, blaming it on non-existent regulation, is that it poisons their ignorant customers against the idea of regulation...the only thing that could prevent (or at least render transparent) the price increase that they are blaming on regulation.

TechnoDestructo

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

huadpe — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:42:09 EDT

@RumorsDaily: They're saying that the FCC is making you pay them more money to keep getting your cable channels. In fact, they're just increasing your price. They're raising prices and blaming it on a nonexistent regulation instead of them trying to get more money, which would cause people to object/negotiate.

huadpe

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

cablevisionmustdie.com — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:16:48 EDT

Would it be funny to see the scripting that they ( cablevision ) uses for this issue hmmm??

cablevisionmustdie.com

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

cablevisionmustdie.com — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:54:49 EDT

ask an international or nhl customer how does switch video work for them ...not

cablevisionmustdie.com

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

TheUncleBob — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:49:26 EDT

So... Wal*Mart, Best Buy and others get fined by the FCC for not telling customers anything and customers not doing their homework, but Cablevision is directly lying to customers and it's okay?

TheUncleBob

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

Trai_Dep — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:48:50 EDT

Well, it's the crime too. But you know what I mean.

Trai_Dep

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

Trai_Dep — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:48:05 EDT

When will they learn? It's not the crime, it's the cover-up.

Trai_Dep

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

BuddyGuyMontag — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:47:28 EDT

@Pylon83: I agree. I've worked in a call center before and some of the supervisors I worked for had some serious Little Big Man know-it-all complexes. So they probably asked someone who they THOUGHT knew better and said "FCC".

BuddyGuyMontag

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

RumorsDaily — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:43:23 EDT

Wait, how is this predatory?

RumorsDaily

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

coopjust — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:21:25 EDT

Cablevision is being really sketchy about it. There online media admits the truth, but the commercials try to be deceptive.

I'm a current customer, and I feel insulted by Cablevision. They are the best game in town (15mbps/2mbps down/up is unbeatable, and the HD DVR depicted above works excellently with superb picture quality) and I don't want to put up a dish.

FiOS is coming soon though, so Cablevision should cut the antics.

They are switching to Switched Digital Video, which allows them to fit a lot more (especially HD) content. Also, from what I've read, you can fit a couple HD feeds in the space of one HD feed. It makes sense to get everyone to go to digital cable.

This will be less of an issue when they're mandated to take cablecard STBs in June, but until then, you must rent for $6 a month if you want digital. And I am opposed to that for my 15" TV.

coopjust

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

cablevisionmustdie.com — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:56:23 EDT

@Pylon83: You have a team meeting a hard copy and then a link on the KDB with the same info on what to say to customers They also have a Q&A part just in case t customer need more info 9 times out of 10 its shit Ask to speak to a call center mamager not a sup And Yes they are trained like that if they follow the steps they should all sound like robots

cablevisionmustdie.com

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

generalhousewifery — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:52:32 EDT

Regardless of whether it is in the training or no, clearly there is a relatively widespread issue, since the same thing happened more than once. We've all called up a customer service line and received the wrong story--sometimes many wrong stories--but I, for one, rarely receive the same wrong story from several different people at the same company. A decent company would recognize that and take steps to fix it, even if the problem had not originated with training materials or similar.

generalhousewifery

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

Pylon83 — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:39:52 EDT

I severely doubt that they actually "trained" the CSR's to say that stuff, at least not as a company wide directive. Usually this stuff comes about because some bozo CSR supervisor thinks they know everything and start telling people the FCC this and the FCC that. I'd bet that the "official" training material, official communication say nothing of the sort. These kinds of things are usually due to poor communication between the supervisors and the peons they communicate this stuff to. We had the same problem at a cable company I worked at. The dipshit supervisors made up what ever they could to fill in any blanks in their knowledge. It's easy to blame the government, so that was usually their answer.

Pylon83

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

Okaasan — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:39:39 EDT

The FCC will probably handle Cablevision just like they are handling Comcast.

Okaasan

Cablevision Claims They Are Not Lying Liars, But Mysteries Remain

elislider — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:08:47 EDT

ha! caught red handed. or something...

elislider