Cable company drama

[swbsam]

I just moved to a new house (new build) and have been trying to get cablevision installed (cable and internet) for the past month and a half. Here's a run down of the events:

1. June 20th: installer tells me that they need to do some external wiring, a supervisor will survey the situation immediately (the 21st) and get back to me with an internal installation date
2. June 26th - haven't heard anything so I call cablevision back - they say they were waiting for my "management company" to approve the install.. I tell them that there is no management company, and that I own my building and give them approval . They say they'd call me within 48 hours with an install date
3. July 6th - I don't hear back from them so I call them. Now they tell me they need approval from NINE different home owners so that they can run the wiring.

Since 3 of these homes are vacant and most are rental units, I'm thinking this will take months, if not longer.

Any suggestions to speed this up? Verizon said that they're not sure if I'll be able to be serviced until they actually send someone to do an install, which sounds insane to me.. ARGH!

Update

I'm convinced cablevision's run by fucking idiots - today I get an email bill for $700. Not only did they charge me for a month that I didn't have service, they charged me an equipment fee for not returning hardware (which I was told the technicians would either swap or use for my new place)... They also closed my account, so I can't pay or view my bill online.

FUCKING IDIOTS

I think they're just pushing me toward Verizon at this point, honestly

 

[mugs]

You're off to a good start. When I tried to get cable last year it took me a month just to get Comcast to admit I live in their territory. They kept trying to send me to Cablevision.

 

[Nik]

Keep calling them every day?

 

[isekii]

go Satellite and Verizon DSL ?

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: isekii
go Satellite and Verizon DSL ?

ha- already have dishnetwork. Verizon thinks that I'm non-serviceable but they set up an install anyways, for the tech to survey the location.

i don't get it - I'm in Brooklyn, NYC, yet it's turning out to be insanely difficult to get anything done here

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

It sounds like they don't need your business. I would tell them that if they can't take care of this you will find something else and be willing to tell them to screw off.

 

[GiggleGirl]

you could ask some of the ppl renting who their landlords are and just give them a call or ask them to fax a letter saying they approve. the vacancies should be obvious.... but you seem to be on the right track. hound their asses until something is done. id say go to a higher-up but i dont know who that might be.....

 

[Modelworks]

Go to their office in person. People will give you the run around on the phone, but talk to them in person and they are more likely to help.
When you go there bring pen and paper. If they tell you someone will call you, ask for that persons name. If they tell you that they need permission from other homeowners, get specifics on which homes.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: GiggleGirl
you could ask some of the ppl renting who their landlords are and just give them a call or ask them to fax a letter saying they approve. the vacancies should be obvious.... but you seem to be on the right track. hound their asses until something is done. id say go to a higher-up but i dont know who that might be.....

Here's what's irksome - I've asked for a direct contact so that I can be proactive and be a little pushy with my neighbors ("have you heard from cablevision? Have you had a chance to send that in?") , But cablevision told me that their construction department has their own guidelines as to what constitutes approval (a simple letter wouldn't work) and then they refused to give me contact information for the construction department...

I'm about to give up and have a DSL installation scheduled for Friday, even though DSL's kinda crummy. it's simply hilarious that the people across the street from me have cable but my stretch of the block can't be service because all of the buildings are new. 12 new houses with 2 apartments each equals $2,400 PER MONTH that cablevisions willing to walk away from

 

[GiggleGirl]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: GiggleGirl
you could ask some of the ppl renting who their landlords are and just give them a call or ask them to fax a letter saying they approve. the vacancies should be obvious.... but you seem to be on the right track. hound their asses until something is done. id say go to a higher-up but i dont know who that might be.....

Here's what's irksome - I've asked for a direct contact so that I can be proactive and be a little pushy with my neighbors ("have you heard from cablevision? Have you had a chance to send that in?") , But cablevision told me that their construction department has their own guidelines as to what constitutes approval (a simple letter wouldn't work) and then they refused to give me contact information for the construction department...

I'm about to give up and have a DSL installation scheduled for Friday, even though DSL's kinda crummy. it's simply hilarious that the people across the street from me have cable but my stretch of the block can't be service because all of the buildings are new. 12 new houses with 2 apartments each equals $2,400 PER MONTH that cablevisions willing to walk away from

thats pretty fucked up. they are probably trying to avoid the work because its possible its a hassle to have to install new shit. i wish i had better advice for you but i dont.

i hope it works out!

 

[swbsam]

Update

I'm convinced cablevision's run by fucking idiots - today I get an email bill for $700. Not only did they charge me for a month that I didn't have service, they charged me an equipment fee for not returning hardware (which I was told the technicians would either swap or use for my new place)... They also closed my account, so I can't pay or view my bill online.

FUCKING IDIOTS

I think they're just pushing me toward Verizon at this point, honestly

 

[Genx87]

Uh yeah, I wouldnt even need to think about it. Verizon would get my business after this.

But are all the homes where you live new? Are you in a building? I am trying to figure out what wiring they need to perform.

 

[olds]

Wire it yourself and just have them hook up to you.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Uh yeah, I wouldnt even need to think about it. Verizon would get my business after this.

But are all the homes where you live new? Are you in a building? I am trying to figure out what wiring they need to perform.

My block used to be commercially zoned, but now features about a dozen new row houses (2 or 3 families), similar to the browstones bk's known for. They're private homes and not part of a co-op or development. My building's in the middle of the row, so they're telling me that they need to run the wiring on the roof of my neighbors, to my place.

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Wire it yourself and just have them hook up to you.

I think the whole issue is the external wiring in the first place. ie, their tap to the house.

 

[Aharami]

FIOS is not an option yet in BK?

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Update

I'm convinced cablevision's run by fucking idiots - today I get an email bill for $700. Not only did they charge me for a month that I didn't have service, they charged me an equipment fee for not returning hardware (which I was told the technicians would either swap or use for my new place)... They also closed my account, so I can't pay or view my bill online.

FUCKING IDIOTS

I think they're just pushing me toward Verizon at this point, honestly

call customer service, immediately demand tier 2, and tell them that if they dont sort your account out *RIGHT NOW* that youre going to call the BBB on them immediately.

dont deal with tier 1, they arent going to be able to help

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: sswingle

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Wire it yourself and just have them hook up to you.

I think the whole issue is the external wiring in the first place. ie, their tap to the house.

installer tells me that they need to do some external wiring,

I assumed he meant to the exterior of his house.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: Genx87
Uh yeah, I wouldnt even need to think about it. Verizon would get my business after this.

But are all the homes where you live new? Are you in a building? I am trying to figure out what wiring they need to perform.

My block used to be commercially zoned, but now features about a dozen new row houses (2 or 3 families), similar to the browstones bk's known for. They're private homes and not part of a co-op or development. My building's in the middle of the row, so they're telling me that they need to run the wiring on the roof of my neighbors, to my place.

Why wouldnt they bury the cable? You should contact your city and find out why the cable company didnt bury the cable when the block was rezoned and rebuilt residential. The power, water, telco, and gas had to be dropped. Why not cable?

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: xSauronx

Originally posted by: swbsam

Update

I'm convinced cablevision's run by fucking idiots - today I get an email bill for $700. Not only did they charge me for a month that I didn't have service, they charged me an equipment fee for not returning hardware (which I was told the technicians would either swap or use for my new place)... They also closed my account, so I can't pay or view my bill online.

FUCKING IDIOTS

I think they're just pushing me toward Verizon at this point, honestly

call customer service, immediately demand tier 2, and tell them that if they dont sort your account out *RIGHT NOW* that youre going to call the BBB on them immediately.

dont deal with tier 1, they arent going to be able to help

Will do - i'll definitely ask for tier II support, maybe during lunch because my co-workers already heard my curse out customer service once today.

I have a DSL appointment scheduled for Friday and hope that goes smoothly - I'm willing to pay more for less speed as long as I don't have to deal with cablevision idiots anymore. I'm only going to pursue this for the sake of my neighbors/tenants, because Verizon's 2 year contract doesn't seem fair for yearly lease holders

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: xSauronx

Originally posted by: swbsam

Update

I'm convinced cablevision's run by fucking idiots - today I get an email bill for $700. Not only did they charge me for a month that I didn't have service, they charged me an equipment fee for not returning hardware (which I was told the technicians would either swap or use for my new place)... They also closed my account, so I can't pay or view my bill online.

FUCKING IDIOTS

I think they're just pushing me toward Verizon at this point, honestly

call customer service, immediately demand tier 2, and tell them that if they dont sort your account out *RIGHT NOW* that youre going to call the BBB on them immediately.

dont deal with tier 1, they arent going to be able to help

Will do - i'll definitely ask for tier II support, maybe during lunch because my co-workers already heard my curse out customer service once today.

I have a DSL appointment scheduled for Friday and hope that goes smoothly - I'm willing to pay more for less speed as long as I don't have to deal with cablevision idiots anymore. I'm only going to pursue this for the sake of my neighbors/tenants, because Verizon's 2 year contract doesn't seem fair for yearly lease holders

you can do month to month with verizon, its not that much more per month. i pay $45 for 3mbps month to month. (in pittsburgh).

 

[FelixDeCat]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Update

I'm convinced cablevision's run by fucking idiots - today I get an email bill for $700. Not only did they charge me for a month that I didn't have service, they charged me an equipment fee for not returning hardware (which I was told the technicians would either swap or use for my new place)... They also closed my account, so I can't pay or view my bill online.

FUCKING IDIOTS

I think they're just pushing me toward Verizon at this point, honestly

$700? :shocked:

Did you order every channel known to mankind and get 100 cable boxes?

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat

Originally posted by: swbsam

Update

I'm convinced cablevision's run by fucking idiots - today I get an email bill for $700. Not only did they charge me for a month that I didn't have service, they charged me an equipment fee for not returning hardware (which I was told the technicians would either swap or use for my new place)... They also closed my account, so I can't pay or view my bill online.

FUCKING IDIOTS

I think they're just pushing me toward Verizon at this point, honestly

$700? :shocked:

Did you order every channel known to mankind and get 100 cable boxes?

Ha - $550 of it was equipment fees