As we’ve discussed before, in areas where there’s true competition in the cable market, you can call up the cable company, threaten to leave, and watch in delight as they try to persuade you to stay with discounts and freebies.
cable
Comcast Sets 60-Day Waiting Period For Customers Snagging Discounts By Threatening to Leave
By 1.2.07
Confused Consumers: Why Isn’t My HDTV Picture Clear?
By 1.2.07
Consumer electronics retailers are doing a crappy job of explaining HDTV, so much so that people sometimes return the sets as defective.
The Super Special Verizon Store
By 12.28.06
Half a dozen big-screen TVs show high-definition movies. A row of laptops display video games for customers to play. Specialists at the Guru Zone help people customize their purchases and set up e-mail accounts. And there are cellphones, too.
Ooh, how fancy, but “Guru Zone”? Could that be any more late ’90s? How about Xtreme Guru Zone? Oh well, as long as a little competition from Verizon lowers everyone’s cable bill, we’re happy.—MEGHANN MARCO
Comcast Declares Reader’s House Nonexistent
By 12.19.06
According to Comcast, reader Peter’s house does not exist.
Powerbook Explodes After Comcast Plugs In Wrong Cable
By 12.18.06
A Comcast customer’s Powerbook exploded after a Comcast tech plugged coax, connected to her computer through her modem, to an electrical wire.
DirecTV Sued Over NFL Advertisements
By 12.11.06
The suit claims DirecTV falsely claimed in recent ads that Time Warner Cable subscribers will not be able to see their local professional football teams play unless they have DirecTV. Time Warner is one of several cable operators who no longer carry the NFL Network, due to monthly fees the league wants to charge for the channel, the Wall Street Journal said.
Time Warner Cable Customer Service Staffed By Crackheads
By 12.11.06
Jorge writes in about trying to get Time Warner Cable to not charge him for service he already canceled.
Customers Sue Time Warner
By 11.27.06
Former Comcast and Adelphia customers sued Time Warner last Wednesday over the service disruptions caused when Time Warner bought their networks.
Freaky Thursday: Comcast & TWC To Sell Cellphones, Verizon To Sell Cable TV
By 11.16.06
The crumpet dropped from our gnashing maw when we spied these portents.
Cut Monthly Bills In Half
By 11.14.06
This technique for getting companies to reduce your monthly bills is so classic and effective, it bears explicit reiteration.
Time Warner Won’t Fix Connection Broken For Years
By 10.26.06
The horror of Time Warner Cable NYC is legion, a textbook example of monopolies abusing consumers customers.
WhiteFence.com’s Tainted Ties
By 10.23.06
A few weeks ago, we posted about WhiteFence.com, a site that lets you compare and contrast service providers, which could be especially good for when you’re moving.
DirecTV Is A Bird Turd
By 10.19.06
Susan L. wrote us about her extremely unpleasant experience with DirecTV… an experience so unpleasant she’s willing to give them money just to never have to speak to them again. Reminds me of the last time my father talked to me.
