Comcast Nightmare

[daligirrl]

I signed up for Comcast Broadband internet access a few months ago. There was an ad that came in the mail offering six months at a greatly reduced price plus free installation and modem. I called, cited the special offer, and made an appointment for them to come hook it up.

To make a long story short, a month later I received a bill from Comcast for over $300.00. It appears that I was supposed to ask the guy who installed it to make sure I got the special deal. They absolutely refuse to budge on this one. Wouldn't one assume that asking for the special offer when you signed up would be enough? When I asked how I could get them to adjust my bill they said that I needed "proof" that I was offered the special deal. The proof that they want? A copy of the work order showing that I asked for the special offer. I've been writing nasty letters to their corporate offices all afternoon. And thus my head is about to explode. Is that pure evil or what?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. Don't budge...

If they didn't inform you of this at the time the offer was made, there's no way you could have known! Keep writing your letters, and if necessary visit the corporate offices in person.

[tridim]

2. Have fun with corporate..

They're clueless. Almost as bad a Qwest service.

Threaten to cancel your service (and mention Tom Martino) and they'll give you the deal.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

3. I hate Comcast sooooooooo much

And I have had serious problems with them in the past. Send them snail mail and tell them you'll be contacting Better Business Bureau and whatever city/state agency in your area that regulates communications. That's the only thing that's worked for me.

You can probably contact your area's BBB online, and find contact info for the regulatory agency on your city's website. Good luck.

[daligirrl]

5. The whole thing is so obviously a set up. . .

They know that people are not going to ask the installer guy to make sure they get the special offer. It's Ye Auld Bait and Switch.

[spooky3]

11. I agree with this strategy. BBB may be able to help.

If it is any consolation, the quality of their broadband service is really high--I'm happy to have it. Of course, you should have it at the right price!!!!

[LisaM]

4. A friend of mine had a similar experience with them...

not quite the same as your trauma, but they wouldn't honor the offer, either, and then tried to pin the blame on her. She was quite persistent and eventually got something out of them.

I would contact your local television station and get them involved - maybe they can shame them into honoring their deals.

Do you still have the ad that came in the mail?

[daligirrl]

7. No. . .

But I wish to God that I had saved it. What infuriates me is that they know they mailed it out to hundreds of thousands of people during a certain time period. The period during which signed up. They were so freaking smug about it, too.

[Kahuna]

6. I also switched to their broadband internet because of an offer..

I received in the mail. I held on to the offer. I know how crooked Comcast is. Do you still have the offer?

[daligirrl]

8. I didn't think they would do anything

so blatantly dishonest. But, yes, I should have known better and hung on to the ad.

[Nomad559]

9. BroadBand Reports

Some Comcast employees post here, I'm sure they can help you.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/comcast

[daligirrl]

10. Thank you

[2Design]

12. Do you have a local tv station that investigates consumers

being taken by companies? If you go to them, or threaten to go to them, you might get action. Also, threaten to go to better business bureau...

At least two of the cities I have lived in have media that will be on the consumers side and go investigate.......companies hate the bad press and back down with all kinds of ...it was a misunderstanding....

they sound like Bush after a deep spin cycle....

[Deja Q]

13. I'll stick with Qwest... Oh, MCI pulled a similar stunt on me too...

I'm waiting to hear back about ditching the land line, they said they were trying to waive the $100 setup fee ( :eyes: )... I was going to consider COmcast for real, but now I won't.

Can you cancel and say "forget it all"? What they're doing is bullshit.

I can say, and I've learned the hard way, is to keep records of EVERYTHING you do and make. This country is by, for, and of the corporation so we, the people, need to cover ourselves.

As for MCI, they charged me $80 for a COLLECT CALL that was over an HOUR LONG -- a call that I never accepted nor heard of before because I don't take them - E V E R. (the call originated from a pay phone in California... yes, my friends in California always prefer to call me collect from a pay phone so they can stand in the booth for an hour... :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: ) I even said "Where's the recording of me saying yes to accepting this call?" They wouldn't budge. Fuckers...

And while I'm happy they're bankrupt, the bastards who used to own the company can retire at age 40 and live a VERY cozy life until they die at age 120. x( Fucking thieves.

Corporate america SUCKS mule... x(

[Kat45]

14. Also, send a letter to the editor about it to local paper

It might bring out more folks having problems with the company. It is the locality that hires/contracts with the cable company; it's not good when they piss off the town. (It may not do any substantive good, but it can at least give the company major headaches.)

[daligirrl]

15. That's an excellent idea. . ..

I tried contacting the local TV stations but no one seemed interested, which doesn't surprise me since I live in what DU'ers like to refer to as "Freeperville".

[Kat45]

16. Also, the TV stations work with the cable co, in a sense

But the newspapers have no such connection. And, I think newspapers tend to be more local than TV stations, even local TV stations.