Re: Time Warner Cable

Lipstickdiva · ‎03-10-2010

@KYToby wrote:
I love how so many peo;le speak with authority about cable companies and are quick to point out how things should be without having any knowledge about the industry.

First, I worked in the cable industry for 11 years. I started doing tech support for internet service and eventually worked up to call center operations as part of the corporate customer care team. I have a bit of insight into the industry (to say the least).

First, rates re not always changing. While this may be perception, that is not true, and if people actually reviewed their cable bills for the last several years, they would see this. Cable companies strive to maintain rates even though their costs increse annually (programming, overhead, operations, labor, etc.). I have had TWC for the past 6 years since they bought out my cable company, and my rates have changed a grand total of two times.

As far as the boxes go, while everyone would like a new box, the cost would be prohibitive and would raise the cable costs sky high. These boxes cost several hundred dollars each, and even with the box rental fees that you pay, it takes several years for cable companies to break even. Do you seriously want the company to pay for new boxes? Would you be willing to pay hundreds -- or thousands -- more per year to underwrite the costs becuse yu want a "sny, new, gift-wrapped" box?

When boxes are recycled, they do not sit on trucks waiting to be reused. The cable company's warehouse must reset all of them and check them out (otherwise, they would not work). While you may want to think otherwise -- even if you know a friend who is a relative of a supervisor -- that would be incorrect.

There are a lot of issues with the cable industry. I am the first to admit it. But it is unfair to criticize it for things that you do not understand.

No, that is not incorrect. Not only did the supervisor (who started off as an installer/tech and moved her way up so she knows the biz and I know her) tell me that but so did a tech who came to my house. He was changing out our box and the one he brought in didn't work either. I asked him how that could be and he said some techs take boxes out of houses, throw them in their truck and they never get sent back to be refurbished. If they were ALL being refurbished, they would ALL work and that is definitely not the case. I went directly to the cable company myself to return a broken box only to go home with this "refurbished" box that also didn't work and had to be returned.

Not all techs are employed by TWC. Some are and those are the ones driving around in the TWC trucks. Others are subcontractors. It's been my experience that it's hit or miss as to who comes out to do a service call but we've always had much better luck with TWC techs than the third party techs. My friend also told me anytime I have an issue, to call her, don't waste my time calling CS because they don't know what they are talking about and they are horrible. They are continually voted as some of the worst CS reps. out there.

My cable rates have gone up every single year with the exception of the first 2 years and that is because we were under a 2 year contract. As soon as that contract expired, rates went up and adjust up every year. I know that for a fact. I pay my cable bill.

2blonde · ‎03-10-2010

@KYToby wrote:
I love how so many peo;le speak with authority about cable companies and are quick to point out how things should be without having any knowledge about the industry.

First, I worked in the cable industry for 11 years. I started doing tech support for internet service and eventually worked up to call center operations as part of the corporate customer care team. I have a bit of insight into the industry (to say the least).

First, rates re not always changing. While this may be perception, that is not true, and if people actually reviewed their cable bills for the last several years, they would see this. Cable companies strive to maintain rates even though their costs increse annually (programming, overhead, operations, labor, etc.). I have had TWC for the past 6 years since they bought out my cable company, and my rates have changed a grand total of two times.

As far as the boxes go, while everyone would like a new box, the cost would be prohibitive and would raise the cable costs sky high. These boxes cost several hundred dollars each, and even with the box rental fees that you pay, it takes several years for cable companies to break even. Do you seriously want the company to pay for new boxes? Would you be willing to pay hundreds -- or thousands -- more per year to underwrite the costs becuse yu want a "sny, new, gift-wrapped" box?

When boxes are recycled, they do not sit on trucks waiting to be reused. The cable company's warehouse must reset all of them and check them out (otherwise, they would not work). While you may want to think otherwise -- even if you know a friend who is a relative of a supervisor -- that would be incorrect.

There are a lot of issues with the cable industry. I am the first to admit it. But it is unfair to criticize it for things that you do not understand.

@KYToby You may know a lot about TWC, but I have U-Verse, and I can assure you......my rates go up every February. You can set your calendar by it.

Laura loves cats!

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

@SharkE wrote:
I think QVC should be on local cable free channels not just for folks paying cable bills. It's a sales channel wonder why they're not another informercial channel?

I'd like my sister to be able to watch Q , also.

Shopping channels have to negotiate with cable companies for a channel position.

There are a limited number of basic cable channels (there is only so much bandwidth).

So each channel (shopping or otherwise) has to jockey for those positions.

Broadcast channels are also limited - regulated by the federal government.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

@avid shopper wrote:
Woke up this morning and turned on the TV in the bedroom and no QVC. ????? So I rebooted, did a channel search (or whatever they call it) and nothing. OK...out to the living room TV - yes have QVC on that TV. ?????? Looked at the latest bunch of mail I got from TWC and sure enough they have switched 4 channels to HD and one of them is QVC and unless I get yet another set top box for the bedroom TV I am loosing 4 channels. So....my bill went up in September and in November I loose 4 channels. I was thinking about going to "standard" cable but when I do that I loose the one set top box I have and then I would not have QVC at all! I know there are more important things in life but it is one thing after the other with TWC and I don't like getting ripped off!

I worked for them for 16 years and 5 with another cable company.

When Charter bought TWC, they paid a fortune. All the TWC executives received huge bonuses for the sale - the CEO got over 80 million dollars - and he had the job for only 2 years or so. My boss got 13 million.

Someone has to pay for all that...the consumer!

Rates will go up...services down...they have a huge debt load to cover.

Re: boxes - the industry is heading towards NO boxes - everything will be within your TV.

Charter bought TWC for their internet business NOT for the cable subscribers - that's a dying business as more and more people "cut the cord."

You can get rid of cable TV and use alternate services - but all those services are dependent on some kind of an internet connection...so they see that end of the business as an opportunity for growth.

corita · ‎08-20-2012

@Lipstickdiva wrote:
@KYToby wrote:
I love how so many peo;le speak with authority about cable companies and are quick to point out how things should be without having any knowledge about the industry.

First, I worked in the cable industry for 11 years. I started doing tech support for internet service and eventually worked up to call center operations as part of the corporate customer care team. I have a bit of insight into the industry (to say the least).

First, rates re not always changing. While this may be perception, that is not true, and if people actually reviewed their cable bills for the last several years, they would see this. Cable companies strive to maintain rates even though their costs increse annually (programming, overhead, operations, labor, etc.). I have had TWC for the past 6 years since they bought out my cable company, and my rates have changed a grand total of two times.

As far as the boxes go, while everyone would like a new box, the cost would be prohibitive and would raise the cable costs sky high. These boxes cost several hundred dollars each, and even with the box rental fees that you pay, it takes several years for cable companies to break even. Do you seriously want the company to pay for new boxes? Would you be willing to pay hundreds -- or thousands -- more per year to underwrite the costs becuse yu want a "sny, new, gift-wrapped" box?

When boxes are recycled, they do not sit on trucks waiting to be reused. The cable company's warehouse must reset all of them and check them out (otherwise, they would not work). While you may want to think otherwise -- even if you know a friend who is a relative of a supervisor -- that would be incorrect.

There are a lot of issues with the cable industry. I am the first to admit it. But it is unfair to criticize it for things that you do not understand.
No, that is not incorrect.  Not only did the supervisor (who started off as an installer/tech and moved her way up so she knows the biz and I know her) tell me that but so did a tech who came to my house. He was changing out our box and the one he brought in didn't work either. I asked him how that could be and he said some techs take boxes out of houses, throw them in their truck and they never get sent back to be refurbished.   If they were ALL being refurbished, they would ALL work and that is definitely not the case. I went directly to the cable company myself to return a broken box only to go home with this "refurbished" box that also didn't work and had to be returned.

Not all techs are employed by TWC. Some are and those are the ones driving around in the TWC trucks. Others are subcontractors. It's been my experience that it's hit or miss as to who comes out to do a service call but we've always had much better luck with TWC techs than the third party techs. My friend also told me anytime I have an issue, to call her, don't waste my time calling CS because they don't know what they are talking about and they are horrible. They are continually voted as some of the worst CS reps. out there.
------------------------------
           Interesting...cable guy came out to "fix" my box...third tech visit. I was tellling him how I had to upgrade cost just to get basic cable. He said that as he went to homes to fix the Spectrum boxes, he was getting many complaints People were comnplaining that they were not getting the same channels they were seeing under TWC. He told me to be sure to check my next bill because the CS will tell you anything just to keep you with the company. He also told me that the CS staff rarely know what they are talking about -- they are just spewing out what they are told to say!!

ALRATIBA · ‎07-15-2016

When I first moved here, we were captive to Time Warner ... only cable provider available. I really didin't like their "attitude" or servicce.

When RCN moved into the area about 15 years ago .. I switched.

Now there's a choice between TW, Verizon or RCN ... RCN is a bit more expensive - but absolutely excellent service.

avid shopper · ‎04-18-2010

Although most of us commenting here don't work for the cable company it sounds like we know what we are talking about pertaining to our particular circumstance. We are being ripped off by the cable/satellite companies and we know it. I watch 10 channels and pay for hundreds and there is no way around that (yet) to keep the channels I want.

BalletBabe · ‎03-05-2011

Same thing happened to me with the QVC channel. I went out and bought a Roku and can get it on that. Plus it is great because I hooked it to a dumb TV and now it is smart :0).

Our Cable was bought out by Spectrum also. BUT I actually called and complained and I got another box and I am paying less the last year. The box is free for a year and after that---They can have it back.

avid shopper · ‎04-18-2010

@BalletBabe wrote:
Same thing happened to me with the QVC channel. I went out and bought a Roku and can get it on that. Plus it is great because I hooked it to a dumb TV and now it is smart :0).

Our Cable was bought out by Spectrum also. BUT I actually called and complained and I got another box and I am paying less the last year. The box is free for a year and after that---They can have it back.

Yep...I did find it on Roku, thanks! I also found out I can get a free box for 1 year to have with the bedroom TV so I will do that. I have a 30 year old TV in the living room and I just love that it has lasted that long and don't want to get rid of it until it quits. I really resent having to buy a new TV to get programming I have gotten all these years. It's a game they play.