Topic 'Re: no biggy' in forum '' - dslreports.com

Re: no biggy

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 00:42:04 EDT

spdickey posted : Perhaps you've never encountered the "Price Lock Guarantee" they were offering a few years ago. Get a great rate, but get yourself locked into into a "contract" with them.

" If qualifying services are terminated prior to the end of the 24 month commitment period, a prorated early termination fee of up to $150 will apply. "

Still advertised at »www.timewarnercable.com/Corporat···one.html

Re: no biggy

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 00:40:48 EDT

spdickey posted : deleted

Re: no biggy

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:17:12 EDT

bn1221 posted : Inside wiring fees *may* me money grabs. Frontier used to charge my mom 1.95 per month for wiring. Since she have no internal wiring to speak of (the NID was on the outside and the phone was 8 inches inside from the NID).

My sister, with 8 or 9 phone jacks and DSL, had the interior wiring service. It was worth it when Frontier pretty much rewired her house for her. I mean, I could do it, but the drive and snow deterred me.

Re: no biggy

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:05:17 EDT

rradina posted : Help me understand where I've deviated from claiming all these schemes are the same?

The history of how wire maintenance came into existence doesn't change the fact that it's just a bunch of cheats trying to game the system. I'm OK if the RBOCs don't own the wiring in my house and they expect me to maintain it but to offer me a protection plan -- even for a few bucks a month -- is absolutely taking advantage of fear generated from technological ignorance. Plumbing in homes is far and away more likely to fail and just as expensive (if not more) as a service call to repair telephone wiring. I suppose someone sells a plumbing protection plan too but I've never heard of one and folks don't seem to bat an eye paying $200 for the Roto Rooter guy to fix their drains.

Just the simple fact that someone thought of such a plan for an infinitely more reliable product demonstrates the quality of their character and the folks at TW who are tinkering with the idea of this new, optional fee are of the same ilk.

Re: no biggy

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:27:31 EDT

NormanS posted :

said by rradina:

The original post was about equipment maintenance. I compared it to the value of a wire maintenance plan which is nothing more than a bunch of cheats trying to separate folks from their money.

Wire maintenance was a result of the breakup of Ma Bell. Part of the consent decree. The next time you see Judge Green, you should thank him profusely for that. As a result of his decision, the demarc was the end of RBOC responsibility for the wiring.

Regarding grapes and gravel, I have always maintained all of this is a scheme from people who like to cheat.

I don't disagree on the equipment fee; if the company owns the equipment, they should take care of it. If the customer owns the equipment, the customer should take care of it.

Unless geography prevents it, hopefully you told your dad that you would take care of any wiring problems since it's unlikely he'd ever call.

How quickly could you drop everything and traverse 156 miles for a service call? Geography was definitely a factor.

And, yes, there was a discontinuity in your statement.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum

Re: no biggy

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:59:16 EDT

rradina posted : Didn't you claim that "house wiring was included and it paid off the first day" -- or something along those lines.

New wiring is a phrase I used to cover any wire maintenance on the house. A new patch cord, a new run to a particular outlet, a new F connector, a new splitter, who knows. I could have been more clear. Regardless of what they did, how do you know you actually needed the "new wiring" and what it would have cost if it wasn't included? Since you seem certain it paid off, from your perspective they must have done something that you consider major or at least expensive.

Why do you think I'm trying to control what you do? In my first post in this topic I said I didn't think this was bad enough to make illegal but I'm arguing that these types of schemes are an insidious practice with the intent of making dishonest money. Why? They are designed to take advantage of those who are technologically ignorant and manifest fear about what they don't know. I believe it's another form of the well-documented tactics practiced by some auto mechanics and repair shops.

Regarding the rest, my intent is not to make this personal. I apologize if something I have said has made you feel this is personal.

Re: no biggy

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:24:06 EDT

rradina posted : The original post was about equipment maintenance. I compared it to the value of a wire maintenance plan which is nothing more than a bunch of cheats trying to separate folks from their money.

Regarding grapes and gravel, I have always maintained all of this is a scheme from people who like to cheat. An honest person would take care of minor problems as customer service and when there are major problems, give the customer a very reasonable price to get them back in service -- regardless of whether that's wiring or equipment. When people get charged $300 for a converter box after a fire, they smell a rat. There's absolutely no discontinuity in anything I've said.

Unless geography prevents it, hopefully you told your dad that you would take care of any wiring problems since it's unlikely he'd ever call.

Re:  

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 07:31:46 EDT

AVD posted :

said by Dude111:

quote:
This better not become mandatory.. like the modem fee [unless you own your modem]

THIS IS NOT NEW!!!!

THEY HAVE ALWAYS CHARGED PER MODEM!!!!!!!!

not true
--
* seek help if having trouble coping
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Re: no biggy

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:50:45 EDT

cork1958 posted :

said by rradina:

Not so fast. This reminds me of the optional fee the phone company sometimes accidentally added to consumer bills. I haven't used incumbent phone service for the past decade but the last time I did, they offered "insurance" to cover the wires in your home. IMO, that was nothing but a sleezy money grab.

The problem with crap like this is it's just flat-out taking advantage of folks who regard technology as black magic and live in fear that it will break. The same can be said of the extended warranties offered on practically everything. Even though they seem pro-customer, all of them are just money grabs. Perhaps they aren't bad enough to be called unethical or warrant laws denying the behavior but it's just not right to take advantage of folks this way.

If the equipment becomes dated and the experience suffers, consumers should have the choice to get switch providers or have an expectation that their current service will keep them happy with a periodic equipment refresh.

Exactly!! ;)
--
The Firefox alternative.
»www.mozilla.org/projects/seamonkey/

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:08:53 EDT

Dude111 posted :

quote:
This better not become mandatory.. like the modem fee [unless you own your modem]

THIS IS NOT NEW!!!!

THEY HAVE ALWAYS CHARGED PER MODEM!!!!!!!!

Re: no biggy

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 01:27:14 EDT

Mele20 posted :

said by ITALIAN926:

People have choices of TV providers. Nobody has fewer than 2 choices of providers. If youre not happy with TW, then LEAVE them. Nobody is forcing anyone to pay this extra fee.

This isnt complicated at all.

I wish folks would stop saying this. It is not true. I don't have two choices for TV. No over the air here and no satellite either. TWC is the only game in town.
--
When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:52:13 EDT

NormanS posted :

said by rradina:

Why would anyone defend designer fees with the sole purpose to simply yank more money from consumer wallets?

In response to your comments about:

quote:
Regarding your home's cable wiring ...

If you don't know coax from copper from monofilament nylon, how can you know you won't fix a problem by tying the loose CAT3 end to the loose RG-59 end with a fisherman's knot?

And if you don't want to pay the fee, be prepared to pay the telco, MSO, or electrician of your choice to play with the premises wiring to find the problem.

Rather than offer what appears to be defended as a choice, periodic equipment upgrades that are necessary to maintain customer satisfaction should be part of the service.

OIC. Either you weren't addressing ignorance of wiring, despite your words, or you were comparing grapes (premises wiring) to gravel (equipment maintenance).

When Ma Bell was broken apart in 1984, I told PacBell, "No!" in response to their offering of a wire maintenance fee, but I was an electronic technician with HP. My parents said, "Yes", because Dad was just a grocery head clerk; I don't think he ever went under the house for anything.

I've never paid an equipment maintenance fee, either; but that isn't really comparable to a wiring maintenance fee.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:22:29 EDT

anon posted :

said by axus:

Cancelling service and going to a competitor seems like a good way to get an upgrade. Oh wait, ETFs and monopolies.

What ETFs? You know we're talking about a Cable company here, right? They have never required a contract for service. You can always do month to month.

They do offer contracts and they do have ETFs. But they don't require it just to get service as other companies do.

Even on some of their deals where you get a $150 gift card, you only have to be a customer for 90 days.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:54:04 EDT

WarMachine98 posted : That also assumes that there is a competitor that you can switch to.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:31:46 EDT

Dampier posted : Tell your mom to tell TWC the $25 doesn't cut it and they need to cough up some free stuff or some serious service credits. A supervisor will deal.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:25:26 EDT

Kearnstd posted :

said by rradina:

Taking advantage of customers who fear technology doesn't have anything to do with who owns it. Whether it's inside wiring "insurance", extended car warranties, extended appliance warranties or trying to get customer to pay to pay extra for cable company equipment upgrades, it's just a money grab and all are a sleazy way to do business.

You are right about one thing... this isn't complicated.

Having worked at a Staples in the late 90s, I learned first hand about those extended electronics warranties. And how big of a scam they are. We where required to offer them on any qualified device... on some Inkjet printers the plan was worth more than the printer.
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:17:23 EDT

armed posted : Apparently you suffer not only from unearned visions of grandeur but an inability to read as well. Find me the phrase that said 1. they replaced all my wiring and 2. that I paid for the in house wire repair.

Come on now try reading instead of trying to control what others should and shouldn't do.

I find those who suspect all others of being dishonest usually suffer from the disorder themselves.

BTW you inability to reason and read is the definition of "fool".

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:15:54 EDT

rradina posted : Why would anyone defend designer fees with the sole purpose to simply yank more money from consumer wallets? Rather than offer what appears to be defended as a choice, periodic equipment upgrades that are necessary to maintain customer satisfaction should be part of the service. The choice is a sleazy tactic almost worthy of a fat, cigar-smoking, used car salesman claiming every car he sells was owned by a grandma who only drove it to church on Sunday.

If this were truly a competitive environment rather than a bunch of monopolist cheats, they would have to own the upkeep on the equipment or consumers would jump to someone else that works harder to keep them happy. Who would keep paying for a service that uses outdated equipment that freezes all the time or it just doesn't work all the time?

Regarding a wire maintenance plan, that's just an an accountant's scheme supported by devious management. I'm lost as to why everyone doesn't recognize it as such and dismayed that anyone would even defend it as a positive. It's almost like selling air insurance that seeks to guarantee that you never run out of enough air to breath.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:01:47 EDT

axus posted : Cancelling service and going to a competitor seems like a good way to get an upgrade. Oh wait, ETFs and monopolies.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:25:05 EDT

NormanS posted :

said by rradina:

Do you know why we have so many regulations? Because people love to cheat.

Which has what do do with ...

Regarding your home's cable wiring, how do you know it needed new wiring? If really didn't, you are still paying for something that's completely worthless. A fool and his money are soon parted.

If I didn't know coax from copper from monofilament nylon, paying a wire maintenance fee would be useful, not foolish.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:16:18 EDT

elefante72 posted : This is a true joke. The terminal fees MORE than cover the lease carry and maintenance cost. I actually think the new modem fee is fair, and not overpriced. However the margins for internet are ungodly.

If you recall when Signature Home launched for $199 one of the selling points was that the installer would actually come during the window that was setup. Almost a slap in the face of everyone else--the window is just a joke. Now they are having to dole out $500 gift cards to entice people to buy into this sham.

In the end they are entering a saturation point (cable, phone have already stopped/decreasing) and internet is within 2million of cable so within a year that market will be saturated. So how do you keep affording to dole out $20 per month/sub in dividends with a no-growth market: Introduce new fees.

A remember back in the day when Nynex used to push "wireline maintenance" for like $8/month. Even if I had the guy wiring my house up once a year, I would be good....

I don't know what the gig is or how they could spin it, but plain and simple if people are paying terminal fees they should be a supported levels, period. Like I said over at STC, they might spin this to support NON paid terminals like tablets, Tivos, Xboxes, etc. However then they would need to have a qualification matrix, upgrade schedule, and actually support these devices. I don't think they know the true costs of that....

This just happened to my mother at one of her apartments. She hung around all day, the installer never showed (she should have known better than to take an afternoon window). No call, nothing. They credited her $25, which of course is no substitution for wasting 1/2 a day.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:46:27 EDT

AVD posted :

said by ITALIAN926:

Nobody has fewer than 2 choices of providers.
This isnt complicated at all.

Say whaaaaat?
How you figure?
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--Standard disclaimers apply.--

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:28:08 EDT

CptSpaulding posted : Why do customers have to pay $7 to get the latest and the greatest? Isn't that what they advertise you get just for signing up? I guess there is some fine print somewhere in .00000000001 size font stating you get the latest and greatest only when you signup. Oh, wait, they give you old beat up barely working crap when your a new customer too.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:15:07 EDT

rradina posted : Do you know why we have so many regulations? Because people love to cheat. Regarding your home's cable wiring, how do you know it needed new wiring? If really didn't, you are still paying for something that's completely worthless. A fool and his money are soon parted.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:00:09 EDT

armed posted :

said by rradina:

You don't mind if I decide whether that kind of service is worth it for me... do you? I really think you suffer from the old "if I think it it must be true for all" syndrome. House wire insurance for homeowners is a nice option for those who either do not want or cannot fix/fool with their wiring. Assuming it optional then its not any of your fu**ing business any more than what channels I choose to get.

Get over yourself.

BTW with the Charter bundle house wiring is covered in the package price. It paid off the day I got it.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:49:40 EDT

rradina posted : They might ask but the question is twisted to get a yes answer. Then little by little, the charge grows. I recently reviewed my elderly aunt's phone plan. She keeps bills for years and years and she paid the fee for who knows how many years. Her house is nearly 60 years old and there's never been a wiring problem.

When I built my first house in 1993, it cost me $75 to have phone and coax run throughout the house. I'm sure the materials and labor have increased in the past 20 years but just the concept of wire insurance is insidious. If you have a lightening strike that fries the wires or some other electrical problem that results in damage to your home and wiring, homeowners insurance will cover it.

Of course this kind of dishonesty is rampant. However, the medical community probably takes the crown jewel in terms of perfecting it. It's a continuous train of various monthly tests for the elderly and bushel baskets of drug cocktails -- some prescribed solely to mitigate/lessen side effects of other drugs. Medicare just pays and pays and pays.

Of course this is nothing new. People have been lying, cheating and stealing throughout all of recorded history. It's just disappointing when folks sweep stuff like this under the rug with the excuse that it's all OK if folks have a choice.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:34:47 EDT

rradina posted : Taking advantage of customers who fear technology doesn't have anything to do with who owns it. Whether it's inside wiring "insurance", extended car warranties, extended appliance warranties or trying to get customer to pay to pay extra for cable company equipment upgrades, it's just a money grab and all are a sleazy way to do business.

You are right about one thing... this isn't complicated.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:21:28 EDT

NOCTech75 posted :

said by ITALIAN926:

What? The phone wiring within your home was DEREGULATED wire, the phone companys are only responsible to bring dialtone TO your house. The wiring became property and responsibility of the customer. The phone companies offer "insurance" to cover the repair of the wire that belongs to the customer ! People who pay this fee REQUEST IT.

People have choices of TV providers. Nobody has fewer than 2 choices of providers. If youre not happy with TW, then LEAVE them. Nobody is forcing anyone to pay this extra fee.

This isnt complicated at all.

Yeah, because you guys would never just tack it on there without permission... of course not.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:16:54 EDT

Dampier posted : Actually, this was part of a focus group survey. It means TWC is considering the new fee (and from the wording it is either mandatory or customers would be opted in by default) and trying to determine how customers will react to it.

I predict they will react badly.

But it is important to stress this is only under consideration and has not been imposed or implemented. Companies focus group test things all the time they later determine are not worth implementing. Hopefully, this will be one of those.
--
Phillip M. Dampier
Editor, Stop the Cap!
»stopthecap.com

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:16:01 EDT

ITALIAN926 posted : What? The phone wiring within your home was DEREGULATED wire, the phone companys are only responsible to bring dialtone TO your house. The wiring became property and responsibility of the customer. The phone companies offer "insurance" to cover the repair of the wire that belongs to the customer ! People who pay this fee REQUEST IT.

People have choices of TV providers. Nobody has fewer than 2 choices of providers. If youre not happy with TW, then LEAVE them. Nobody is forcing anyone to pay this extra fee.

This isnt complicated at all.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:57:36 EDT

rradina posted : Not so fast. This reminds me of the optional fee the phone company sometimes accidentally added to consumer bills. I haven't used incumbent phone service for the past decade but the last time I did, they offered "insurance" to cover the wires in your home. IMO, that was nothing but a sleezy money grab.

The problem with crap like this is it's just flat-out taking advantage of folks who regard technology as black magic and live in fear that it will break. The same can be said of the extended warranties offered on practically everything. Even though they seem pro-customer, all of them are just money grabs. Perhaps they aren't bad enough to be called unethical or warrant laws denying the behavior but it's just not right to take advantage of folks this way.

If the equipment becomes dated and the experience suffers, consumers should have the choice to get switch providers or have an expectation that their current service will keep them happy with a periodic equipment refresh.

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:30:38 EDT

aciddrink posted : For the small fee of just $7/month, they will fix the issues you're having in your area by upgrading outdated and decaying hardware!

(This post is sarcastic for those of you that don't understand)

Re: no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:27:28 EDT

AMDUSER posted : This better not become mandatory.. like the modem fee [unless you own your modem].

TWC services [especially cable VoIP] are not very reliable in my area.. how about they get their cable systems in order and take care of the problems... which is largely why I got rid of their phone and internet.

[The second reason was that the bill got up there [almost $160 /month ] - and they would not offer anything except $7 off.. except that the tv service price is starting to creep back up.. again.]

no biggy

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:19:24 EDT

ITALIAN926 posted : Its optional, kind of like insurance. Id be PO'd if it was another mandatory fee, but its not. Nothing to see here, move along.

Topic 'Re: no biggy' in forum '' - dslreports.com

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