noam's blog.a.lish

spanish french italian german 1/31/2009 2:24:08 PM

Do NOT get Comcast

If you have a choice, or if you're even considering Comcast allow me to save you some time, money, and a lot of frustration. Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT get Comcast. Allow me to elaborate (this is the abridged version of what happened, it was way longer, and much more painful than this post can ever represent).

Roughly a month ago I started a journey with this awful company to replace my current DVR which has been a pain (noisy, unreliable, you name it). I was mailed a new DVR only to find out it didn't work. The only reason I ordered it was to get a new one, that worked, and that I didn't have to treck out to Comcast's HQ to pick it up, I thought that would save me some time. When the box didn't work I had to call a technician over, which meant taking 1/2 a day off. The technician came, with the wrong equipment, and ended up leaving me the same way he found me... with a 2 defective boxes.

I got my bill last week. Only to find out that Comcast had the nerve to charge me for renting 2 boxes, and service on 2 boxes!!!! I immediately called 1-800-Comcastsucks only to wait for 45 minutes!!! until someone picked up. Comcastic service?? really?? The "kind" lady on the phone explained that if I returned the DVR I would get credited for whatever they charged me for, the only problem was that they charged me for service and rental but she kept saying (literally repeated 3-4 times) that they would refund the rental charges.

So I ended up returning the 2 DVR's today and getting a new one, the line was long, the service was horrible but I was able to get a brand new working DVR, and according to the lady who helped me she refunded my account. When I got home I rushed to check if she had actually refunded me, now that I know what to expect from Comcrap, it wasn't a surprise to find out she credited the wrong amount. No, she didn't credit too much... that's not how these guy's operate! Have you not learned anything?

The best way to get a straight answer, and a relatively fast one, from Comcast is to go online and chat to a representative. Here is an excerpt of my conversation, please notice how much this company sucks.

Me: I was told today at the Comcast location that my account had been credited but I do not see the credit online or when I call 1800Comcast.

analyst J: Mr. Wolf, as I can see on your account the credit adjustment has been applied and this will be reflected on your next statement.

Me: May I ask how my current balance is over 10$ more than my previous balance? and also, when I went online to comcast.com my next bill shows a balance of 170$ how come? analyst J: Your current balance on your online account is $175.89. Since the adjustment has been posted in the account your balance will be $154.24.

Me: i understand that part but I still don't understand how my bill is over 10$ more expensive than last months bill which was 142.70.

analyst J: Mr. Wolf, as I checked the bill the reason why the rate increase is because of the Pay Per View order which is added on the account for $4.99 dated December 21, 2008.

Me: so there's a tax on PPV movies now? of about 5$? 142.70 + 4.99 = 147.69 not 154.24. so there are still about 8$ unaccounted for. That's what i have trouble understanding.

analyst J: You have a Pay Per View order also last January 22, 2009 for the amount of $4.99.

Me: so even more to worry, you're saying that my last bill *included* a ppv movie and so does the current one so how is there over 10$ difference?

analyst J: I understand that you are confused with the bill statement. Let me help you clarify the issue. Our statement is in a month advance, Mr. Wolf. And you billing cycle starts every 2nd day of the month to the 1st day of the following month. So as of the order last December 21, 2008 pay per view will be included on the January statement. What you are seeing today in the online statement is for the bill cycle of February 2 to March 1, 2009.

Me: i have my january and feb bills infront of me the only difference is the extra charges that i was supposedly credited for today so if I understand my bills correctly the charges should be identical or in other words 142.70 moreover, when I look at next months charges, online, I see a balance of 170.90$ which makes absolutely no sense.

analyst J: What I can do for that since, I believed that this has been an error on the system. Please give me a minute to adjust your bill for the amount of $4.99. Your balance now is $149.25.

Me: I would like to argue that 149.25 does NOT equal 142.70 but I am a little tired by all of this... i'm sure you are too.

analyst J: I can process you the difference of $6.55 which will total the blance on your account to $142.70. Is there anything else that I can help you today?