My cable company is trying to wear me down!

[paulbeers]

Warning: Cable Co Rant

So I ordered Dish Network tonight (for the HD channels) and now I am sitting on the phone waiting for a cancellation representative.....I'm at 25 minutes for what was supposed to be "a few minutes" per the recording at the beginning of the call. I swear they are just trying to get me to give up!

[Sparhawk6]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

Warning: Cable Co Rant

So I ordered Dish Network tonight (for the HD channels) and now I am sitting on the phone waiting for a cancellation representative.....I'm at 25 minutes for what was supposed to be "a few minutes" per the recording at the beginning of the call. I swear they are just trying to get me to give up!

Just stop paying your bill?

[bastafidli]

Well, at least they try to keep you. When I came back from my honeymoon couple of years ago I found my DirectTV disconnected. When I called them to ask them what has happened, they have told me they received a letter from me in which I wrote them that my spouse has passed away and I do not want their service anymore :-). They wouldn't reconnect me unless I paid them some silly fees. They wouldn't show me the letter even though it was suppose to come from me. They were not interested in talking to my still alive wife. So I went with Dish. :-)

[BobPhoenix]

My sister had the same situation trying to cancel her subscription (Dish). She was so pissed off that she will NEVER go back and warns everyone she talks to about the horrible customer service that Dish has - her words. She also had problems with the installers when she originally got it and had to call and wait forever and argue with the Dish CSR's repeatedly to get them to send someone back to fix the botched install. I don't have Satellite and was thinking about getting it but Dish was my only option (R5000 mod) but now with the HD-PVR I'm thinking about DirectTV - she likes them so far.

[SHS]

Odd I have been with Dish for years and I never had any problem with them

[othy]

Often these experiences seem to be luck (unluck?) of the draw. When you make a call, you never know if you'll get someone who knows and cares enough to be helpful or if you'll get some schlub punching a timecard with no interest in doing a good job.

I had a pretty good track record with DirecTV for a couple of years, then switched to my local cable co (Cox) when I went with Sage.

Tim

[bastafidli]

I seond that. We had problems with DirectTV installers, their customer support so when they cancelled our service we didnt protest too much. On the other hand no problems with DishTV. Their installers were always on time, dit the job rights and their price is good as well.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by bastafidli

I seond that. We had problems with DirectTV installers, their customer support so when they cancelled our service we didnt protest too much. On the other hand no problems with DishTV. Their installers were always on time, dit the job rights and their price is good as well.

Which is why I took what my sister said with a grain of salt. I've had a fairly rotten taste from dealing with the local cable company but I do know that there are some of them that actually know what they are doing. I've been looking to change from cable to satellite and I am still looking at DishTV as well as DirectTV. It's going to come down to which one has the cheapest package that has every channel I want (Premiums) plus their unique lineup in the NON-premium channels.

[jprine01]

I've had good luck with dish and wideopenwest (WOW signal quality isn't so good though). Everybody I know complains about Comcast and I've never had it until my gf just switched to comcast digital.

Before they came out she tells them she wants a additional HD receiver for 7$ a month or so. When the installer came out he only brings a HD reciever, and when we ask where our standard box is he looks at the bill and says your only paying for the HD receiver see 7$ here, you dont get a stanard receiver with the package you have. I complain saying you sell digital service without any included box to watch it?? and he confirms yes no box included.
So after he leaves we call comcast and complain about not getting the free standard box, and the tech/customer service man on the phone says nope you dont get any free receiver with that package. (the package was one of those internet/tv/phone for 33.33$ each) I tell him no freeking way, I have had every kind of digital service and they always come with a box... is he sure comcast is the only one that doesnt? He says hold on im going to look something up, he comes back 2 minutes later and says ok you do get a box, and puts it on my bill so i can pick it up myself.. No sorry or anything. Do none of their employees know their own policys or are they just trying to scam a few extra dollars.

If I hadn't pursued my gf was ready to give up and believe them.

[Zippster]

Originally Posted by bastafidli

I seond that. We had problems with DirectTV installers, their customer support so when they cancelled our service we didnt protest too much. On the other hand no problems with DishTV. Their installers were always on time, dit the job rights and their price is good as well.

Both companys have cut pay in half from what it was just a couple years ago and demand twice as much be done for free ( well at least free to them, but costs the sub installers ) so all the qualified techs are leaving the industry, I know as I have done sats for about 12 years.
They are hiring any kid who can drive and climb a ladder with no training at all, so really its unfortunate for the customer, but these companys are getting what they pay for.