The Hell I Paid for Reporting a Cable Pirate
Written: Dec 17 '99 (Updated Apr 17 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: are there any? well, maybe a few.
Cons: See laundry list and details!
The Bottom Line: Call to report fraud, get your service shut off.
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| mjfrombuffalo's Full Review: Cablevision |
The problems with Cablevision can be broken into three main categories: cost, inconvenience, and service.
Cost: it's expensive and it's the only game in town. 'nuff said.
Inconvenience: "Hi, we'll be there sometime between 8am and 8pm. Stay home and wait for us."
Service: I recently moved (March 2002) and had to have cable turned off in one place, on in another. Of course the cable only worked on one TV in the new apartment, requiring a service call. Amazingly, they set up an appointment for me at 9am on a Sunday (!!!) morning, which was fine by me - and the repairman was there at 9:02. Wow!
However, one positive experience does not totally negate the past. I have had two problems with them in the past few years, one of which has a life of its own and continues to haunt me - even in my new apartment.
The first problem was when I, being a wonderful, ethical person, decided to report my downstairs neighbors were stealing my cable. (Actually it interfered with my reception, so it wasn't all that altruistic of me. But I digress...) The cable guy came, saw where they were splicing the wire, cut that wire, and installed a new one in a way they could not access it. But then the downstairs neighbors came home, called the cable company (while I was out buying a tv, ironically), told them they paid for their cable and had my new line turned off and a new line run to their apartment. Now wouldn't you think Cablevision would have said, "Gee, these are the people who were stealing cable, so they're probably lying now when they say they've paid their bill?" They didn't. Long story short, _I_ had to have _my_ cable re-installed, then wound up with two bills one month, one for the "old account" and one for the "new account." So much for being nice!
Problem #2 was I was crazy enough to get married in 1998. My cable bill was under my maiden name. I called to have it changed and was sent a form in the mail to submit with copy of marriage license, etc. The form stated "You will be charged $1.50 service charge for changing your name on this account." $1.50 for a guy to sign on the computer, erase the old name and type in mine? I filled out the form and proceeded to fill the margins with my thoughts about their $1.50 fee, then mailed them the form and required copy of my marriage certificate. They never changed the name. Every time I had to call Cablevision about something, I told them they had the wrong name. Every month, the bill still came to MJ Maidenname.
Well, when we closed the old account, we had a credit balance. We called Cablevision three times about this. "Can the credit be applied to the new account? No? OK - can you send us a check? Yes? Good. Can you make sure the check is addressed to 'MJ Marriedname?' Yes? Great! Here's our new address..."
Needless to say, the check arrived made out to MJ Maidenname. I'll try depositing it in my bank, at which (luckily) I've had the same account both pre- and post-wedding. Of course if it doesn't clear, you'll see an update of my FleetBank review...
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
mjfrombuffalo
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 67
Trusted by: 32 members
About Me:
Not dead, just lurking
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