I wonder if you stalled and wasted time and waffled back and forth like a window shopper if at some point they have to drop you or take a hit to their call performance metrics?
Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues
201–210 of 356 posts
Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues
#202Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm going to be canceling Comcast around the end of the month. You're telling me I can just send a letter to my local service center and say, "Peace out!"?
Don't forget to include a few particulars: * Who you are * Where you are receiving service * Your account number * What date this cancellation is effective on
That's right. Keep it very short and sweet, and include the information they need to process your request. "Dude, cancel me" probably isn't going to work so think it through and refer to the contract. Everything you need to cancel is in there.
If you have any equipment to return add that too, and tell them you will be returning it to the store (you might even mail it if it's just a card).
A properly written letter is really effective, and makes great evidence in court if things go wrong and the company fails to honor their side of the bargain. Been there, done that, and won.
Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues
#203This reminds me of that study a few months ago about how customer satisfaction has no correlation or possibly a slight negative with profitability. I guess I see why now.
One example link to a new story covering the result: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-17/proof-that-i...
Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues
#204Im in Australia, and have been with about 12 ISP's over the years and have never had this sort of problem. Not that our Telcos are without problems, they are often horrible to deal with when requiring support. One thing we have which may be a deterrent for this behavior is the Telecommunication Ombudsman (TIO) which is basically a government watchdog for the Telcos. Every formal complaint to the TIO results in a fee charged to the Telco even if they are not at fault, and if they are proven to be at fault the cost is much greater. I would think that Comcast would think twice about this sort of behavior if it was going to result in a governmental fine in every case.
Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues
#205Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think you're missing the point all together. The only reason a company can behave this way and retain the number of customers who would have otherwise moved elsewhere is because there isn't a free-market. The companies are run as oligopolies. It is government intervention and protection that has caused this problem in the first place which is what most people don't realize.
(edited for source) There is no such thing as a free market: it is an idealistic theoretical construct. And even if it were real, it would only be efficient if P=NP[0]. 0. http://arxiv.org/abs/1002.2284
Bitcoin is a free market.
The theoretical limits on efficiency also apply to regulated markets. The question worth asking is, which one is more efficient?
Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues
#206Earlier quoted context omitted.
This guys have it rough. I used to call them a lot and I can't recall a single instance where I saw someone raising their voice had a better outcome. The only had a more stressful call. The operator pushes it a lot but consider this: he is probably paid like shit and he probably get commission on how many customers he can retain. Maybe if he loses too many he can even lose his job. Knowing this and knowing that their…
You must be a saint. I don't really care much for the commissions, or the livelihoods, of people who knowingly take jobs that make other people's lives worse. I know in some locales call-centre jobs are the best (in terms of compensation) they can get, and I'm sorry that that's the state of affairs the world is in, but if they're willing to make my life miserable to make theirs a bit better, they can put up with bein…
Except it's more like they're willing to make your life a little more irritating in order to massively improve their lives and those of their dependents.
Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues
#207I'm amazed at how calm he remains during this. I would've called the guy - regardless of whether he's "just doing his job" - every name under the sun and probably threatened to pay him a visit in person... That said, I guess if I were recording it to share on the Internet later, I might've been able to control myself slightly more than usual.
This guys have it rough. I used to call them a lot and I can't recall a single instance where I saw someone raising their voice had a better outcome. The only had a more stressful call. The operator pushes it a lot but consider this: he is probably paid like shit and he probably get commission on how many customers he can retain. Maybe if he loses too many he can even lose his job. Knowing this and knowing that their…
Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues
#208Earlier quoted context omitted.
This guys have it rough. I used to call them a lot and I can't recall a single instance where I saw someone raising their voice had a better outcome. The only had a more stressful call. The operator pushes it a lot but consider this: he is probably paid like shit and he probably get commission on how many customers he can retain. Maybe if he loses too many he can even lose his job. Knowing this and knowing that their…
Ah, the famous "Only doing its job" excuse. Yes, their job is shitty, but when your job is to bully people (by phone or otherwise), don't expect rainbows and unicorns.
I don't know how the situation for jobs in the US is but in Italy, where I had my experience, the people that do this job don't do it because it's their dream job but because they have bills to pay and finding "something better" is not always easy.
Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues
#209Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, they'll send you to collections. The collections company will take their word that the debt is valid and try to contact you. Until you pay them, they will report the debt on your credit. If you manage to convince them the debt is invalid, you will still have to separately convince all three credit agencies to remove the listing. Comcast's large bureaucratic collections department will just send you to a differen…
Is it legal for a company to send your debt to multiple collection agencies?
I think nathan meant that the three companies that track your credit score need to be contacted individually.
Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues
#210Earlier quoted context omitted.
Bank charges are also reversible.
I don't use a debit card much but I heard that you don't get as many consumer protects with debit cards as you do with credit cards. If you're going to pay bills, for many reasons, use a credit card instead of debit cards.
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