Missed cable appointment....

[buck1]

I had an appointment with my cable company for between 9am and 1pm on Saturday. 1:15 rolls around and they still have not arrived so I call to make sure that I had the correct day/time. The cable rep says the tech is running late but I am next on the schedule and they are on their way. The cable company (insight) has a policy that an appointment that is missed by even one minute pays the customer $20. The cable rep did not metion this when I called and I did not mention it either because I know sometimes installs go long and I wasn't really looking to get something free.

Next thing I know 3:45 rolls around and still no cable tech. So I call back. The cable company says that my appointment was cancelled first thing in the morning and the tech was told to not come out. I never cancelled and their schedule showed that the appointment was still scheduled. So the cable company says that they pay $20 for a late or missed appointment and that they will credit my bill for $20 and then come out on tuesday.

I have no problem taking the $20 but now feel that this is not enough. When I called at 1:15 if they would have told me the appointment was cancelled I would have been ok with it. But now it is like they missed two appointments and I wasted an entire day.

Should I be happy with $20? Ask for $20 more for the time between 1 and 3:45? Or ask for something else?

Sorry for being so long and let me know your thoughts?

[kevinw]

Sign up for satelite..not that installs for Sat is any better. You should be happy they will credit 20 bucks, not like you have a choice in cable co's to threaten them with.

[hch]

Unfortunately, such stories seem to be the norm for both cable and satellite install contractors. I had a similar experience with a cable contractor. Three days in a row no show on a cable install. They did give me free install (thanks a bunch). Then when the installer did finally show up, he did nothing but groan and complain about how busy he was. He also collected my first month deposit and "forgot" to credit it to my account. I now am a very happy DirecTV customer. I installed and maintain all my own equipment. I refuse to rely on install and service contractors. This type of self reliance is really not feasible with cable.

[MathGuy]

I had Comcast HDTV installed on Saturday (Can't beat the $42 Standard + $10 Digital + $7 box - $25 "Dump the Dish" = $34 price point). I thought the guy was coming between 11 and 1 (turns out it was actually supposed to be between 9 and 11), but he was there at 8 AM sharp. It annoyed my wife, but I didn't care. I actually loved DirecTV (picture quality and the guide were big plusses), but I was concerned about shelling out big bucks for a new box, plus $11 for four HD channels.

At least now I can watch SportsCenter in the morning while the kids are watching Brum.

[kevinw]

This type of self reliance is really not feasible with cable.
Kind of funny, when I first signed on with Adelphia(pre Hd ownership), I had to go to the Adelphia office and pick up my boxes and install them myself.

[dmlove]

Kind of funny, when I first signed on with Adelphia(pre Hd ownership), I had to go to the Adelphia office and pick up my boxes and install them myself.

And when we got Comcast HD, we WANTED to pick up the box ourselves and they wouldn't let us!

[buck1]

When insight said they were not coming, the first thing I tried to do was pickup the box myself but they would not let me.

I want my DVR.

[dmlove]

I want my DVR.

Me, too. Not available (the 6208) in my area yet. I wonder if I should wait for the 6408 (dual tuner).

[buck1]

Oh great!

I dont even have my 6208 yet and now I want the 6408 which until 10 seconds ago I did not even know existed. I guess there is always something bigger and better.

[dmlove]

I dont even have my 6208 yet and now I want the 6408 which until 10 seconds ago I did not even know existed.

Sorry! (The "good" news is....I don't think the 6408 has been rolled out anywhere yet, so get the 6208 when you can, and then trade up when the 6408 becomes available).

[buck1]

So after all of my ranting about the mess up on Saturday, last night was the make up appointment. Guess what? They did not show up again.

The insight "manager" not sure his exact title is supposed to call me back in about an hour with why they missed another appointment and when they can come out to install the 6208.

I sill want my DVR.

[mikehbkwm]

people cable co. are not monopolies... do you really think most cities in America want 2 cable co. laying plant down twice... haha thats funny no they dont.... ill give you an ex... in certain parts of Houston right now as we speak TW and i believe Comast are both trying to provide cable service to customers guess what its a total nightmare.... want to know why because your laying down plant twice which is stupid and your creating major headaches for customers and the co.'s itself... so for all who say cable is a monopoly PLEASEEEE.... most cities dont want to deal with all the burying and redesigning plant all over again...

[buck1]

4th appointment in a row was missed last night. I schedule the last to with the Insight manager himself but still missed. They called at 6:15 to let me kwow that they wont be coming appiotment was 4-6. Reason: They did not have the 6208's all day. Probably to much trouble to call before the appoint.

Manager says I will be compensated and happy with the solution they come up with. Should be interesting. I just want to DVR the superbowl in HD.

FYI - next install attept is saturday @ 8 am.

[kevinw]

Saying cable is not a monopoly because cities do not want to lay down more cable is a big misunderstanding of the word:
By all definitions of the word cable is a monopoly
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=monopoly&x=7&y=14

Main Entry: mo·nop·o·ly
Pronunciation: m&-'nä-p(&-)lE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -lies
Etymology: Latin monopolium, from
Greek monopOlion, from mon- +
pOlein to sell
1 : exclusive ownership through legal
privilege, command of supply, or
concerted action
2 : exclusive possession or control
3 : a commodity controlled by one party
4 : one that has a monopoly

Further definition:
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=monopoly


1.Exclusive control by one group of the means of
producing or selling a commodity or service: "Monopoly
frequently... arises from government support or from
collusive agreements among individuals" (Milton
Friedman).
2.Law. A right granted by a government giving exclusive
control over a specified commercial activity to a single
party.
3.
a.A company or group having exclusive control over a
commercial activity.
b.A commodity or service so controlled.
4.
a.Exclusive possession or control: arrogantly claims to
have a monopoly on the truth.
b.Something that is exclusively possessed or
controlled: showed that scientific achievement is not
a male monopoly.

[D-Rock0030]

Yeah saying cable companies arent a monopoly is wrong! Where I live, Columbia, SC, TWC pays the city a franchise fee. So they are the only cable company that the city will allow to operate within the city limits. But then TWC charges its customers a franchise fee surcharge on our cable bills. So us as customers are subsidizing TWC being a monopoly which only helps us get worse service and helps them make more money because there is no competition. So if thats not a monopoly I dont know what is. Maybe somebody can straighten out the main event (Shawn Michaels SUX anyways).

[sto22]

Fight back with your checkbook.

Satellite now has 3 choices for most locations.

Drop 'em all and go solely OTA.

I disagree with the "monopoly" complaint. You can only have a monopoly on products that people need to survive.

If you have a choice, it's not a monopoly.

sto22

[kevinw]

I disagree with the "monopoly" complaint. You can only have a monopoly on products that people need to
survive.

Monopoly does not depend upon survival.
The merger between DISH and Direct was denied by the government becuase it would have formed a monopoly. As long as you have NO choice for a service but from one source, regardless of survival, it is a monopoly. Reread the link from Websters.

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2002/October/02_at_631.htm
Now if you are describing the ability to obtain multi channel televison service there is no monopoly becuase you have a choice between cable or the 3 satelite providers. If you are talking about the ability to receive from more than one CABLE provider then you DO NOT have choice. NO CHOICE=MONOPOLY regardless of confusion/difficulty or the problems with infrastructure.

BTW there was no complaint about cable being a monopoly.. Just cable boy Mike getting defensive..

[travashe]

I use Time Warner Cable and I had a service call to have the HD box brought to the house and the guy never showed up. I called 3 times within 5 hours and they told me that he would be there. Then I called a fourth time and they told me that they could not get a hold of them and that there were others before and after me that had called about him not showing up. They rescheduled me for the next day. Time Warner was very nice, they gave the $20 discount for them not showing up and they fit me into the schedule first thing this morning. That tech that did not show up should be fired! The probelm I have is that they should have told me that in the beginning so that I would not have to wait around the house all afternoon waiting on the tech to show up. I have better things to do. I got a Best Buy Delivery story too They changed my delivery day from Tuesday to Wednesday due to snow. So I then took vacation day Wednesday and waited, and waited. I called them and they told me that I was rescheduled for Friday. I told them that no one called me about this and I demanded that the TV be brought that day and they worked it out and got it to the house late that evening. They sent a warehouse worker and a moving truck and I had to help him get it in the house. Boy what a week!!

[kevinw]

Poor service is not specific to any one industry. If it was a restaraunt you would express your dissatisfaction with a manager or never eat at the establishment again. After all you can try hundred of other options for food.
TV service is either cable or satellite or nothing. Neither really cares if you are customer.

I can not defend one over the other. People just have to choose what makes sense for them and makes you the least angry.

[KatEyes]

I realize this is kind of OT but... on the same lines of monopolies

In the past, wasn't there only one telephone company? Now there are several local service providers. How many telephone lines are there? Did that have to put up more or what?

Hubby and I both agree that cable is definitely monopoly. One company in one area.

[hawks066]

Well it sucks that alot of your have been getting screwed on your appt's. Speaking from experience from the Northeast, HD boxes are in such high demand that we can't get them fast enough. Comcast up here has done quite well, but there is no question that appt's have had to be cancelled because we have had no HD boxes. The Super Bowl has driven many more people to get HD TV's and HD service. Supply is not meeting the demand. Personally i've been doing 3-4 HD installs per day and i'm not even a video tech, I do mostly the high speed internet install and service.

[KatEyes]

Our cable company is not offering enough on basic HD package to get me to even buy an HDTV yet. Our CBS network hasn't changed to HD either. Only NBC and ABC.

My thoughts are that it will slow down after SB and then have another demand around March Madness.

The cable tech that installed our digital also installed our broadband. Of course, our company had some holiday special so they might have been short handed and assigned their techs to do both.

[mikehbkwm]

again this is just my opinion cable is not a monopoly i dont see how its the cable co's fault when the city doesnt want another cable co to come in and lay down plant.... thats my only point.... i aint trying to argue with anyone im just stating my point....
also to the person that posted that there is mutiple phones co.s out there now well that is true but notice how Bell is slowly buying back those co.s or they are merging together.....

[buck1]

On Saturday they finally showed up. I was able to DVR the SB in HD. Life was good.

My main issue was that on all 4 missed appointments someone at Insight knew that they were going to be missed but I never rec'd a phone call.

My thoughts are cable is a monopoly. Why?

There is no choice of cable companies in my area.

I am too far out to recieve the local channels ota

I have cable on nine tv's. IMO too many for sat.

Although I will say with 10 hd channels, hbo, showtime and ppv on demand and my new DVRHD box not to mention Road Runner Insights offerings are outstanding (once they show up).

[kevinw]

again this is just my opinion cable is not a monopoly i dont see how its the cable co's fault when the city doesnt want another cable co to come in and lay down plant.... thats my only point.... i aint trying to argue with anyone im just stating my point....

DUH read the definiton of MONOPOLY - No one blamed the cable companies for being a monoply. If anyone deserves blame for allowing this to happen ,it would be the original government officials who allowed a provider to operate with out competition or have contracts that run decades.

Outside of you and the owners of cable companies, who does not want a choice for wired multi channel television service?

I am not harping on cable companies. I don't care. If only we could have choice, as we do for grocery stores, gas stations, medical providers or liquor stores just to name a few.

EDIT- I am not trying to start flames or wars but lets not try to change the truth in order to feel better about it. Denial does not change the truth or the meaning of the word..

[mech]

kevinw

That is like taking a sledge hammer and hitting the nail on the head! You are 100% correct, either way they could give a crap about the customer.

[Ratman]

They (cable providers) come to town, they bid, they acquire access rights, they win, you get no choice! Wired with XYZ CableCo., satellite or OTA.

They can up their fees whenever they please and the little poops like me foot the bill (basic analog cable and internet). Why? No where to go... except to space (yeah I know... ha-ha-ha I'm already there!).

And what does the CableCo. offer?
VOD, VoIP, 40,000 'digital quality' channels, 1000 CD quality music channels (I exaggerated the figures a tad), HBO, Showtime, yada, yada...

By the time you subscribe to all of the GREAT offerings, you can send the Vienna Boys Choir to college with what your monthly sub rate will be!

They gotcha, no matter how you dice it or slice it!

If they only would lower the sub rates... satellite could go out of business on the video aspect of the market.

I could be wrong and I'm only stating this is regard to Comcast, but I believe that they jack the prices on TV subscribers to fund the growing 'data' side of the business.

My justisfiation is that I got 35 channels at $8 per month when I first subbed in 1982. I now get 70 channels at $45 per month. I still only watch about 12 of them.

If A&E, History, Discovery, HGTV, TNT, TMC, AMC (and Lifetime for the 'lovely bride'), were provided OTA, I'd drop cable in a minute!

Where's my Geritol?

[mech]

Ratman


That post cracked me up! Ok so now you and Kevin hit the nail on the head!

[Ratman]

Thanks mech!
I live for breaking 'em! (and no intention to hurt anyone) All in good fun. That's why I'm here...

BTW... Kevin and I will be going on tour soon!:smokin:

[kevinw]

ROFL :rofl2: