  spewakR.I.P DadkinsPremium
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA
kudos:1 | He got Comcastified!  | |
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 | | | Re: He got no, he went to Xfinity and beyond. | |
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Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| good luck but... not sure it will go anywhere. The loan (refinancing) could be considered an optional choice he made. Part of that process would be checking your own credit. I dunno. I trust Comcast about as far as I can throw a multibillion dollar corporation 
And I DID get a receipt when we returned their modem and went customer-owned. | |
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| | | Re: good luck but... Seems like it would have been smarter to get things cleared up then proceed with a loan. | |
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| | | | Re: good luck but... Yes, because all of our lives just stop and revolve around companies like Comcast. | |
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| | | | | Re: good luck but... Not every mistake is a winning lottery ticket either. | |
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| | | |  ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3 | Re: good luck but... How is it a "lottery ticket" if he's suing for damages that were incurred to him by Comcast? If someone hits me with their car, is it a "lotto ticket" if I seek reimbursement for medical treatment? | |
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| | | A company is lawfully responsible for messing up your credit if done so in error. He stands a good chance of winning if he kept ample documentation and took action to try and correct the problem.
Are you saying he should put his life on hold indefinitely until Comcast came to their senses? He'd be an old man or dead by then. Comcast is lucky he isn't suing for exponentially more as a result of the falsely reported debt and damage done to his credit. | |
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| | A completely reasonable suit Mr HImmelstein tried, in good faith, to resolve any billing issues with Comcast only to get completely screwed by them. I really hope he wins. | |
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| | Why is it so hard to report the facts? Where in the linked story does it say there was a $26,000 Error? It's more like Citibank charged him a higher interest rate meaning if he pays his loan out then it would cost him an extra $26,000. FTA it says it was an extra 1% on his loan.
I do hope the guy wins something for his troubles because of Comcast's mistake.
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I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company. | |
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| | | | Re: Why is it so hard to report the facts? Does no one RTFA? It was not a $138 mistake, that's the credit that Comcast owed the customer. The dispute was over the returned modem. The guy returned it and some how Comcast didn't record that correctly so they reported to the credit agencies that he owed them $220.
Comcast is in the wrong here but so is DSLR for an inaccurate report.
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I do not, have not, and will not work for AT&T/Comcast/Verizon/Charter or similar sized company. | |
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| | | | | Re: Why is it so hard to report the facts? Sorry Meant to say $220 mistake.. and that is as-is. The mistake was them saying he owed $220 and then that amount resulted in collections and a scar on his credit.
I'll agree comcast is wrong... period. DSLR somewhat... | |
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| | |  DeathKPremium
join:2002-06-16
Cincinnati, OH | said by battleop:but so is DSLR for an inaccurate report.
It's not really inaccurate. You just need to read the story to find out what the $26,000 error was. In this case the error was with his credit rating which was screwed up by Comcast's own error. If his credit rating wasn't harmed he wouldn't owe an extra $26,000 on the loan.
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Photos By Greg Strong | |
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| | | |  LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5
1 edit | Re: Why is it so hard to report the facts? said by DeathK:said by battleop:but so is DSLR for an inaccurate report.
It's not really inaccurate. You just need to read the story to find out what the $26,000 error was. In this case the error was with his credit rating which was screwed up by Comcast's own error. If his credit rating wasn't harmed he wouldn't owe an extra $26,000 on the loan. He also wouldn't be paying a rate 1% higher if he bothered to get his credit rating squared away before signing for the loan. Comcast doesn't lose this in court. They are on the hook for their error of approx $200 and maybe some lawyers fees, but not for the fact he signed the loan for a higher rate.
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A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasury.
Merry Christmas »goo.gl/Y2AEF | |
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| ThalerPremium
join:2004-02-02
Los Angeles, CA
kudos:3 | said by battleop:Where in the linked story does it say there was a $26,000 Error? quote:
"According to the claim, "because of this outstanding debt, Citibank required Himmelstein to pay an additional $26,000 (1 percent of the value of the mortgage) for the same loan)." He paid it."
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| | Sue them for...... If I was in his shoes I'd see what DC has on "defamation of character" and attempt to hit comcast with that as part of my suit. | |
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|  CheesePremium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
kudos:1 | Re: Sue them for...... Um, I don't consider this defamation of character... and you apparently don't know what it is. | |
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| | | | | | Re: Sue them for...... thinking he owed them buckets a cash as well
which was whose fault his? NO there's so they are trying to call him a dead beat , a person whom doesn't pay his bills and has bad credit.
wrecking a persons credit in todays age can have severe consequences.
i think what the above person is looking for is known as slander of title...look it up....YOU all wonder how i've learned a fair chunk of law , thank bell canada and groklaw.net for opening my eyes. | |
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| | | | | CheesePremium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
kudos:1 | Re: Sue them for...... it's not slander either.. | |
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 aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
 ·Verizon FiOS
| If he would have monitored his credit... he would not have run into these issues.
I use the monitoring service that AMEX offers. If there are any changes or inquires, it is reported to me in seconds by by text to my cell phone.
He really has no one to blame but himself for his issues. I have no idea how you go two years without checking your credit report. That is crazy. I've been monitoring mine for decades. Although now monitoring is the easiest it's ever been since you can get instant notification when anything pops up. | |
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| | | aarowt,
A company is still liable for tarnishing your credit wrongfully. If he kept good record, the burden falls upon Comcast to have properly credited his account. He isn't responsible for Comcast's negligence in marring his credit score, improperly applying credits, and failing to account for the equipment. Just because he didn't check his credit score regularly, doesn't mean he didn't take appropriate action.
From the sound of the story, he made multiple attempts to rectify the problem. Comcast failed time and time again. Simple. | |
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| bn1221
join:2009-04-29
Cortland, NY | If companies weren't dufas we wouldn't have to track our rating though | |
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| | | | Re: If he would have monitored his credit... If America was like other countries, we wouldn't need to depend so heavily on "credit". And the more and more people realize that the more it won't matter. | |
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| | | He wouldn't have run into this issue if he hadn't done business with comcast either, so what is your point??? I think the only mistake he made, was leaving out his mental anguish on the suit. I am sure if it were I, there would be at least 7 0s to the left of the decimal. Large corps are complacent because they know it increases profit. Since they choose to be complacent, their acts are intentional. The only way for corps to take notice of their actions is to make it financially crushing when they wrong someone and do nothing to correct it. For instance, if the Fed would have fined Exxon out of business for the Valdez spill, other oil companies would redouble their efforts to be sure their tankers don't create a spill because they would have a clear picture of what would happen if they allow one to occur. I see no difference in this case with comcast. | |
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| | | | Re: If he would have monitored his credit... He also wouldn't have run into this issue if he would have returned the modem on time. | |
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| | Same Problem I had same problem but with Cox Communication and me the reported it to 2 different collection companies so its under my credit report twice with two different companies... Which I thought that in itself was illegal.
Maybe I should get sue happy too | |
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 exocet_cmI am the law - Judge DreddPremium
join:2003-03-23
New Orleans, LA
kudos:2 | Similar issue With a local hospital but not to that amount. The collection agency was so vague when they called I opened up an investigation at work into the caller thinking they were an identify theft ring. Half way through I learned of the mistake by the hospital. Suddenly they are reversing charges, sending letters, and bending over backwards to "correct the computer issue."
Jerks. I hope he wins.
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"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons..." - T.S Eliot
"I have often regretted my speech, never my silence." - Publilius Syrus
Ma blog: »www.johndball.com | |
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| | exocet_cmI am the law - Judge DreddPremium
join:2003-03-23
New Orleans, LA
kudos:2 | Re: Similar issue said by buddahbless:This is the way it should be done, companies should voluntarily bend over backwards when they make a mistake. Comcast should have contacted Citi ( which we know they can do) and solved the issues for this gentleman, and if Citi does not budge comcast should eat the $26k difference.
I agree buddahbless  .
This type of "going out of the way" to correct issues should be the norm when somebody makes a mistake. The press, lawyers, courts, shouldn't have to get involved unless there is gross negligence and an unwillingness to help. Getting those parties involved should never happen though because the company should correct the issue before hand.
People don't care about people anymore. This is why we have so many "people problems" in numerous areas.
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"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons..." - T.S Eliot
"I have often regretted my speech, never my silence." - Publilius Syrus
Ma blog: »www.johndball.com | |
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| | | | | Re: Similar issue said by exocet_cm:People don't care about people anymore. This is why we have so many "people problems" in numerous areas.
And why should Comcast care? They don't and never will until the repercussions as greater than the savings they have by not providing the customer service they should.
I would love to hear Comcast's excuse for this. It would probably be along the lines of, "We understand why the customer is upset and we sympathize with him. That being said, we should not be held responsible for credit issues. We will work with the customer to clear up any misunderstanding." Translation; "We hope he forgets this happened and we will do our best not to lift a finger."
In my opinion, the $26,000 extra this customer had to pay for a bad report on his credit rating and the other fees Comcast imposed should be just the beginning. Punitive damages should also be awarded since somewhere along the line, a CSR lied about any fixes they did or should have done. If I were a judge hearing this case, I would love to hear from the CSRs involved about how their managers told them to BS the customer as a matter of policy. | |
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| | | amungusPremium
join:2004-11-26
America Reviews:
·KCH Cable
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| I think this sums it up. If anyone gave half a damn about their fellow human, instead of shirking responsibility, or only caring about their own interest, or --"insert excuse here"-- this would probably have been resolved with ease. Instead, it's probably a case of people who feel powerless against the machine that Comcast imposes ("I can't fix this, my computer says so..."). If there was even a tiny bit of effort, somebody in the system could have probably had this over with in about 5 minutes.
Not that I'm much more in favor of having this go to court, but messing with his credit is overboard for a cheap modem. Kind of insane that they can mess with your credit in the first place. It's cable service. If a person doesn't pay up, they should just cut service, and be done with it. If equipment isn't returned they should take it to small claims court if it needs to go that far. | |
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| | | | | | Re: Similar issue said by amungus:I think this sums it up. If anyone gave half a damn about their fellow human, instead of shirking responsibility, or only caring about their own interest, or --"insert excuse here"-- this would probably have been resolved with ease. Instead, it's probably a case of people who feel powerless against the machine that Comcast imposes ("I can't fix this, my computer says so..."). If there was even a tiny bit of effort, somebody in the system could have probably had this over with in about 5 minutes.
Not that I'm much more in favor of having this go to court, but messing with his credit is overboard for a cheap modem. Kind of insane that they can mess with your credit in the first place. It's cable service. If a person doesn't pay up, they should just cut service, and be done with it. If equipment isn't returned they should take it to small claims court if it needs to go that far.
These go to courts because companies are not willing to resolve matters easily. Freaking Comcast only paid about 80% of damages when they acknowledge they were at fault they didn't want to pay me cash but I didn't want to go fight for the other 20% and lose time. They wanted to give me services, credits, and all this crap. However the general people bend over providing their social security for everything. My card says not to give this out like candy, but people willingly give it out to anyone or anything and ask questions regarding the manner that it will be used. Then they wonder why there is so much identify fraud cases when the social is thrown around. People need to be more informed and stop being so lazy. If we stop bending over so much then perhaps companies will change their tune and bring back some customer service.
Also the fact that they discriminate for anyone not wanting to provide it as well as put barriers makes it a pain in the ass for people to not provide it. You don't want to provide it? Pay up more, can't place an order for service online, etc. | |
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 DavidNow accepting new patientsPremium,VIP
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL
kudos:78 | I am with the guy... Comcast should have to pay up. | |
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 IowaCowboyWant to go back to IowaPremium
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA
·Comcast
 ·Verizon Broadban..
| Always get a receipt Always return equipment to a service center and get a receipt. I once returned a modem (when the cable was in another person's name) years ago only to have Comcast loss prevention show up looking for an unreturned modem.
As for the guy, I think Comcast should settle this one.
As for debt collectors, you do have rights (and I have done this before) is you send the debt collector a certified letter return receipt requested requesting that the debt collector obtain verification of the debt from the original creditor. | |
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| Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Always get a receipt Sometimes, that doesn't even help.
I went through the same thing with Verizon Wireless many years ago, and I had my cancellation (cancelled at the Verizon Wireless store 1 day after I renewed ).
1 month later I received a bill for monthly service. I called up and complained, stated that I cancelled 1 day after renewing (had 14 days to cancel). The CS states that it mustn't have been processed in their system and to ignore it until the next one, as it was auto generated.
Next month I receive another bill... with late fees + another month of service charges!
A few days later they send me a note with a warning of cancellation of service + ETF + collections if I didn't pay.
I end up on a 3 way call with Verizon Wireless, the local corp store (where I returned the phone and received my cancellation receipt).
VZW Store - We sent our cancellation to corporate to be processed
VZW - We don't have a cancellation in our system, and never received it.
ME - I have a copy - can I bring it in ?
VZW - No - it has to be the original from the store.
ME - I'm not paying this.
VZW - We will be sending this to collections.
ME - I'll be contacting the BBB and a lawyer.
Note: This was before the no lawsuit clause.
I contacted BBB, and all was taken care of. 3 Months on PITA dealing with Verizon Wireless, and why I'll never use them again. | |
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Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
kudos:1 Reviews:
·CenturyLink
·Comcast
·Embarq Now Centu..
| Does Marc still have service with Comcast? If Marc still has service with Comcast, Comcast will probably try to require Marc to follow the binding arbitration clause in his TOS. On the other hand since Marc was no longer a Comcast customer, when Comcast negligently reported that he made a late payment, after he closed his account, Comcast's mouthpieces might have a hard time enforcing the TOS and forcing binding arbitration in this matter. | |
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| IowaCowboyWant to go back to IowaPremium
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA Reviews:
·Comcast
·Verizon Broadban..
| Re: Does Marc still have service with Comcast? There is an opt-out clause in their arbitration agreement that you can do so within so many days of receiving the agreement.
I suspect they have this mechanism to comply with the various franchise agreements of the jurisdictions they deal with. I know in Iowa, a landlord cannot enforce a waiver of jury trial in rental housing (I saw this on housing paperwork years ago). | |
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 PhoenixDown-- Wants FIOSPremium
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY
kudos:1 | Credit ratings are a sham It's not even funny | |
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| | | Re: Credit ratings are a sham I agree. | |
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 newviewEx .. Ex .. ExactlyPremium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD
kudos:1 | Typical Comcast They have always been rather cavalier about customer credits and modem returns, except when it benefits THEM.
I actually have my Comcast modem return receipt framed on my computer room wall. I've had to take it down TWICE over the years and bring it to the local Comcast office to PROVE that I've returned the old modem.
I hope Comcast eats it here. | |
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 ameniteThe Soylent - It's PeoplePremium
join:2002-11-21
Ridgewood, NJ
·Verizon FiOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| Hard copy FTW When I cancelled Cablevision/Optimum Online many years ago they turned it all off right away, I figured I'm done. Then a month or two later I received a $60 bill in the mail for the modem since I hadn't returned it. As an early adopter I had purchased my own modem and self installed. Somehow fortunately I still had the receipt from the Wiz to prove it. It was the quickest customer service call ever when they heard that.
Get it in writing whenever possible.
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Time is an abstract concept invented by carbon based life forms to monitor their constant decay.-Thunderclese | |
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| | Settle It or Fight It? If it were just this one guy, Comcast would have probably settled it for $26 K and nobody would have heard of it. I think they fear 10,000+ other people doing the same thing, whether the facts were on their side or not.
Besides, the suit's coming from Washington D.C., which makes me smell a rat all on its own. Even if he's not the rat, there's enough of them around that the smell is all over the place... | |
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| | Only way he could win.... Would be if that was the ONLY issue on his credit reports. If there are ANY other negitives, then there isn't any way to prove 100% that the comcast account was the sole cause of the increase in the loan.
Been there done that. And I would be willing to bet he would NEVER get anyone on the loan side to state the comcast account was the cause of the increase if there is anything else on his report.
Now if it was the only thing.....
What I don't get, and I didn't see in the article, was I know with anything I've done, I was always told to try and clear things up before loans were finalized. And while it said he contacted comcast a couple of times.... it doesn't sound like he went any further then that. (Using the consumer protection credit laws or anything which could have gotten this squared away in a rather short period of time) | |
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| | It should be a LOT harder.... I've had my identity stolen and multiple bills show up on my credit rating (which I monitor EVERY month). These corporations flippantly send these sorts of things to collection agencies and NO ONE bothers to even look into the situation. To be billed for TV service on the EAST coast when your address is on the West Coast should have BEEN A CLUE BUT NO THE EASE OF SENDING IT OFF TO COLLECTIONS AND TO CREDIT BUREAUS IS MUCH EASIER AND LESS EXPENSIVE FOR THE LIKES OF COMCAST. To try and resolve your credit ratings BEFORE a loan in this case would probably mean he'd still be waiting to apply for a loan. Comcast should lose on this one. If they had made an effort to reverse all the crap they laid on this guy it wouldn't have to end up like this. | |
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elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA | We've only just begun In my lifetime, I've never had a fully depreciated "free modem" properly credited. But I anticipate it, so the staredown with the quartermaster and accounting is resolved without collections. A certain copper reseller is particularly inept in this regard.
But with the newfound "modem rental fee" price hike, we're going to see a million or two modem returns this year, and a good percentage of them will not be posted properly. I'm rooting for Mr. Himmelstein to prevail; not that he needs a big payday, but the publicity might cause industry to scrutinize their record-keeping habits. | |
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 EGeezerGo CatsPremium
join:2002-08-04
Midwest
kudos:8 | Old story That's the story I submitted several days ago to BBR news.
Thanks a lot for the credit.
I'll not make that mistake again.
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Buckle Up. It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car.
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| | Had the same issue with Time Warner I had the exact same issue with Time Warner (minus the $26K loan charge). I moved and turned in all of my equipment. The equipment was listed on the receipt, but Time Warner said that they never received it and could not locate the equipment. I sent them a certified copy of the receipt three times and was told each time that it would be corrected. Then I got a letter from a collections company. I escalated to the top of the world and their response was "please take your receipt to the location in which you returned the equipment." I casually informed them that I lived in Phoenix and driving back to Southern California was a bit of a stretch especially since I sent a copy of the receipt via certified mail on three different occasion's. I asked them to pull the security footage for the day and time and their comment was "we are not allowed to do that." All of this headache for a piece of garbage netgear wifi router that broke in the first two months. Finally after threatening to sue, they dropped the charge and sent me my $53.19 refund. I truly do not understand how these companies cannot fix their systems. | |
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