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Cable Company Contracts

Probably wrong section to post this, just wanted to share something.
I learned a valuable lesson yesterday dealing with cable companies and their contracts. How many of you have called up and was quoted a price for a bundle only to find when the installer showed up his work order was totally different than what you had agreed to?
Second time this has happened to me. I finally found out why and thought I'd share.

That 800 number you call for service is most likely going to be answered by someone contracted out. They are there to make a sales. I spent 45 minutes this last time going over everything and thought I was walking away with a decent price and no contract, just a 2 year price guarantee. The installer showed up the next day with a work order totally different than what I had agreed to with sales.

Short of the story, never deal with that 800 number on the web page.. Call one of the local stores up and converse with them over prices and bundles, straight up advice from the installer.
mental
jrpnde
80 posts
 
gregdude has a good point. However, carefully check the conditions of a contract if you're dealing with a satellite provider. Most will provide free equipment and installation if you agree to keep their service for a specific amount of time. Shopping for all of these types of services can be challenging. Always carefully read what is in the written contract rather than what someone says over the phone.

AHH.....consumers must always do careful research.


moofoo
100 posts
 
Dumped cable TV about 3 years ago. Just kept the internet service and have no land line. Got 2 Smart LG 4k TVs for Netflix and Prime, hard-wired to my router. You can run a long ethernet cable through walls and under floors without degradation to the signal. Got one of those HD antennas for each TV picks up about 25 over air channels for local news, etc. and PBS, ETV.  Got no cable boxes, own my modem and router. Use Sling during college football season only for my Tigers, then cancel it (Sling even encourages such with a question on their site, something like “ Favorite team season over? No problem”. In the past when I had TV I had one experienced installer do something incorrect and next installer came out to correct it and pointed it out. Company sent me wrong box for services I was getting, bill kept going up over time for TV, it was all a real mess. I will never go back to cable TV programming. 
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Over the air TV is fine for my needs. I get 24 channels I LIKE, (let alone the dozen I don't keep in the rotation)           
I personally do not understand why cable TV is not PAYING ME to take it. Why aren't the commercials paying for all users? Who in their right mind would pay to watch more commercials? All i think of is the Bruce Springsteen song of '57 channels and nothin' on"  
As for a landline. Who need the constant ringing for idiots trying to sell me something? The #1 reason to get rid of the landline was the constant barrage of garbage calls. 
With the mobile phone, I get at most a few a week, since I never answer any number I do not know...That seemed to slow them down.My favorites are the messages I am wanted in Texas in a warrant, and I better call immediately or I will get arrested. right sure thing.
musicpod
150 posts
 
March 2010.  Cut the cord with Direct TV and have never looked back.
ebm
5,165 posts
 
Wow thats really amazing.
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