Time Warner $99.99 Promotion – NOT

[Raizinman]

My DirectTV subscription ended last month and I’m seeing the Time Warner promotions everywhere I go. Here is what they advertised.

TV + Internet + Phone
$99.99 per month
FREE HD-DVR service for 12 months, includes HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cineman, The Movie Channel for 3 months.
Digital TV with 200+ digital channels and No-Fee HD.
Internet with speeds up to 15 Mbps and FREE McAfee Anti-Virus and Spyware software.
Plus, up to $150 Best Buy Gift Card.

How could I go wrong. I call Time Warner and enquire, as I had DirectTV and wanted to get in on this $99.99 a month deal. They told me, no problem, I can get in on it and get the $150 Best Buy Card too. Cancel at any time as there are no contracts. Well, I signed up.

A week later a technician came out to my house, spent about 10 minutes hooking me back up (I had Time Warner a few years ago). All was good.

PROBLEM 1 – I was expecting to receive a $150 Best Buy card in the mail. Instead, they send me this form to fill out via email. Form did not work, as we did not have a land line phone prior and I had no prior bill to send in. As per customer service, I’m mailing the form, they also told me that I might not get the full $150 Best Buy card. So far, its been a month and nothing yet. I’m becoming disillusioned.

PROBLEM 2 – I just got my bill from Time Warner for the first month. $317.93. That’s more than 3 times what it should be and more than double from what my old DirectTV bill was. Where is my savings? I’ve been on hold with Time Warner for the last 20 minutes fumbling my way through their phone menu trying to speak to a human. Not sure there are any humans working for Time Warner.

Anyone else have such a problem with the Time Warner Scam, I mean Promotion…

 

[lxskllr]

The telecom industry is full of shysters and black magic. Assume everything's a lie, or look for the disclaimer or limitation in microfont somewhere. I doubt Time Warner is significantly worse than any other. They're all the electronic version of used car salesmen.

 

[Wyndru]

Did they charge you the whole installation fee in the first bill?

Regarding the cards, yeah they can be shady sometimes. I had one with verizon, and at the last minute they lowered the amount on it and told me I missed the promotion by a day and the amount changed, even though on the phone the sales person offered me a lot better deal. They also pulled the "location" excuse where they said they got confused on the area I was in and the original deal was only for a different zip code.

I hate dealing with that crap.

 

[waggy]

Did they charge you the whole installation fee in the first bill?

Regarding the cards, yeah they can be shady sometimes. I had one with verizon, and at the last minute they lowered the amount on it and told me I missed the promotion by a day and the amount changed.

yeah make sure they didn't charge you installation or "equipment" fees.

as for the card i hear that is common. i never believe any company about gift cards.

 

[skillyho]

I usually completely skip the other folks and just call cancellations...if they cannot make it better and fix your problem, drop them and go from there.

I've had wildly varying prices on my TW bills with random taxes, increases and other charges that always get dropped and adjusted - I just have to call TW once every 2-3 months and they take care of it...still not something a customer should have to do.

Good luck with your hold time.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Did they charge you the whole installation fee in the first bill?

Regarding the cards, yeah they can be shady sometimes. I had one with verizon, and at the last minute they lowered the amount on it and told me I missed the promotion by a day and the amount changed, even though on the phone the sales person offered me a lot better deal. They also pulled the "location" excuse where they said they got confused on the area I was in and the original deal was only for a different zip code.

I hate dealing with that crap.

Even if they did charge him the installation fees, it wouldn't make it a $300+ unless they charged him like $50 installation fee for cable, internet, and phone which is completely retarded as shit.

OP, what are the charges on your bill? Can you list them out?

 

[TangoJuliet]

yup sounds about right. I signed up for Verizon Fios triple play last year for $89.99. After everything was said and done I wound up paying $141/m

I just got a letter in the mail that my bill was sent to collections. I just printed out all my payments and said I paid $1700 last year. Exactly how did I pay an average of $141 when my promotion was for $90? Now I owe them another $125? I'm going to sue for false advertising!

 

[KeithP]

How could I go wrong. I call Time Warner and enquire...

That is how, you call. You need to look at the fine print which you don't get when you talk to someone on the phone.

For instance, I just did a quick search and found a similar offer from Time Warner where the fine print said to get the BB GC, in addition to sending them a copy of your bill, the account had to be in good standing for 90 days. Apparently, you have 60 days to go.

There was also a mention of a $20 activation fee and that charges for any required hardware weren't included in the price.

-KeithP

 

[Pardus]

..

 

[waggy]

The real cost is:
Standard Price: $99.99
Installation Fee: $19.95
Hardware Fee: $3.95 Monthly per box/modem
Taxes and Fees: $15 or so

If you have more than one cable box/dvr/modem, that will be extra. Second phone line, that will be extra. International calling is extra too. Good luck fighting with customer dis-service.

yeah i think most understand you have taxes and fees anyone that thinks its just going to be $99 are fucking idiots.

even then it should be far cheaper then he is claiming.

 

[Wyndru]

The install fee is based on location though. I think I paid 3 installments of 9.99 when I got it installed with FIOS, I don't remember TWC's fee though.

Like everyone else has stated, $300 is still way too much.

Maybe in 3 days when he is done talking to customer support he will update the thread :awe:

 

[bigrash]

I have Timewarner and they suck real bad. Their service is terrible, and they charge an arm and a leg.

Unfortunately, I don't have the option of a different cable/internet service in my area.

 

[tboo]

Pretty sure you have to have 90 days of service in before they will send out the Best Buy Card. I signed up with TWC in August when they had a $100 Target card offer. I didnt get my Target card till a week before Christmas

 

[Lyfer]

That sucks. I've worked as a team manager for those kind of companies for many years and all I can say is that the industry is sales driven on locking people to long contracts. If you don't get that bill lowered just cancel if you can and walk away.


GG

 

[Paulson]

This is why I've dropped TV. I have hulu plus and netflix and can get whatever tv shows I want if I want to watch them.

I have an 8TB Nas and every room in my house is networked (5 rooms plus 2 living rooms) so it works out nicely.

I just put networked blu ray players where I want them and boom. TV where I want it without paying over $100 a month for it.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Telecoms in general seem to be pretty poor in regards to customer service. I got Comcast installed when I moved into my new apartment, and for the last few months they have been steadfast in their resolve that my address does not actually exist. You stood in my apartment, you drilled a hole in my wall (which you didn't actually end up using for cable or patching up), obviously this location exists. Nope, sorry, we're going to keep sending the bill to your landlord and hope things work out from there....

So, yeah, good luck with all that.

 

[Dari]

For the first bill TWC charges you for two months, I believe, or they charge you a deposit. You get that back when you cancel. Also, unless they told you installation was free, it may be charged as well. So, yeah, the first month is always going to be higher.

 

[sixone]

I usually completely skip the other folks and just call cancellations...if they cannot make it better and fix your problem, drop them and go from there.

This. Customer Retention people have a lot more latitude to give you a better deal, to keep you from cancelling your service.

My internet service bill will be going up in March, so I'll call to cancel a week or two before. They'll give me a much better price than the regular customer service people can.

 

[Acanthus]

Time warner sent me an "Ultimate Internet + Free digital for a year" package for $99 a month.

I called to upgrade immediately upon getting the ad in the mail.

"That deal is not available in your area."

"but, you sent the ad to my house, which is most likely in my area."

"I'm sorry sir but that deal isn't available in your.."

*hung up*

 

[dud]

PROBLEM 2 – I just got my bill from Time Warner for the first month. $317.93. That’s more than 3 times what it should be and more than double from what my old DirectTV bill was. Where is my savings?/QUOTE]


So OP, why was your bill so high? You post that you got a bill for $318 and then disappear. You get people riled up and then go silent?

What did you do to incur such a high monthly fee?

... and be honest.

 

[mztykal]

They pro rate first month and then charge a full charge so your bill is probably a month out...

 

[boomhower]

Signed up on the 15th so I'd expect a month and half of charges so we're at $150. Add in another month and a half of taxes/fees for another $50 or so and it's still well short of $300. My only guess is additional equipment, install fees, or just getting screwed.

I left a few months ago and will never go back.

 

[Crusty]

The cable industry, the only one where signing up for more services lowers your price.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Never had issues with Cablevision triple. Heck not only do I pay the price they tell me but they also have renewed my triple play for 3 years straight.

But I have skills.