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Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues

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Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues

#331

Post by farmdawgnation »

meritt wrote: post #124
farmdawgnation wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just don't get caught lying on a recording about being a military member. That's a felony. ;)

No, it's not. I assume you're incorrectly referring to the Stolen Valor Act (of 2013, as the earlier one was struck down for violating the First Amendment). That law specifically handles cases in which someone claims they are a recipient of an award related to combat AND does so with the intent to receive money, property or a tangible benefit. Simply lying about military service to a Comcast Support Technician is not…

That is the act that I was referring to, and I wasn't aware it was struck down. To the best of my recollection it was specifically targeted at people who lied about service for some personal gain. (However negligible that gain may be.)

Seems I was wrong, though it is kind of hilarious that got 4 downvotes. It was an honest mistake.

Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues

#332

Post by [deleted] »

chris_wot wrote: post #145
duiker101 wrote: post #87

Earlier 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…

Get. A. Better. Job.

[deleted]

Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues

#333

Post by lunchtyme »

Schwolop wrote: post #327
duiker101 wrote: post #87

Earlier 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…

I think I'd try negotiating directly with the operator: "How much commission do you get if I don't cancel? Oh, $50? Well, tell me your paypal or bitcoin address and I'll send you that much if you disconnect this right now..."

Probably less...

http://www.glassdoor.com/Hourly-Pay/Comcast-Retention-Specia...

Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues

#335

Post by rasz_pl »

Nursie wrote: post #107

I've had lots of trouble with ISPs before. About a decade ago Bulldog Broadband were the first to offer 8Mb service in London, and at a reasonable price, and they oversold so massively their staff couldn't cope. After a month of no service I called to cancel, and after 45 minutes on hold I gave up. I tried again. And again. Eventually I got through to someone who processed the cancellation. I got an email saying "To…

Iv got a similar story.

I had internet from our national monopoly for couple of years. Cancelled it in one of their brick and mortar rep centers no problem.

One month passes and new bill shows up, its like they didnt notice me cancelling. Called them, rep confirmed bug in system, said he resolved it and gave me confirmation number. Next month same thing. This time my first words were 'im recording this, state your name again' followed by 'I am holding you personally responsible if your company tries to extort money from me ever again, your name will be on court papers'. Worked like magic, no more phantom bills.

I dont care its just some some poor sob working for the man in call center. Company tried to steal my money and they were part of that system.

Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues

#336

Post by ShabbyDoo »

thatthatis wrote: post #319
pseudonym wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I typically have the best results by being rude. "I'd like to cancel my service." "But why w-" "I'd like to cancel my service." "Buy we co-" "I'd like to cancel my service." It's not something I particularly like to trot out, but if I have to spend more than 5 minutes on the phone for something like this, it's what I tend to trot out, and I don't have to repeat myself (and interrupt them) more than two or three times…

"Cancel my service" "Can you cancel my service?" "I won't be answering any of your questions, just cancel my service". "Cancel my service or transfer me to someone who can" The use of worlds like "Please" and "I'd like to" just tells them that you'll indulge their scripts and tactics. It's not rude to steamroll a system intentionally designed to make it hard to cancel.

I learned that panhandlers, at least in Chicago, interpret polite negative responses as opportunity and will continue to bother me. So, I have taken to saying flatly, "Not happening." It's not so rude or demeaning that I inadvertently pick a fight, but it's blunt enough to let them know that they're just wasting their time with me.

Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues

#337

Post by rasz_pl »

kabdib wrote: post #143
clockwerx wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I begin to suspect going nuclear is the only option. "Hi, I'd like to cancel my service" "But what about X?" "Ombudsman and or Lawyers. Cancel. You have been instructed, the next time I say this will be in court/writing/etc".

They'll just transfer you to legal. Worst case, they tag your account and do this every time you call, and you're in limbo for months. Ugh.

What limbo? I dont care who am I speaking with. "I am cancelling thank you" + recording is all it takes.

Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues

#338

Post by rdl »

Can you just send a certified or registered letter demanding that service be terminated, with correct authentication information, and then skip this process?

Maybe on a law firm's letterhead?

(OTOH, I love fucking with these people on the phone. "Why are you canceling service?" "Because God told me the Internet is evil; Because I decided meth|guns|tinfoil|etc. would be better use of my money; Because a court demands I not have contact with the Internet for the next 3 years as a term of my release.")

Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues

#339

Post by lstamour »

eliteraspberrie wrote: post #158

This is common in Canada too. I've learned to cancel services in writing, by fax and registered mail. You save yourself a big headache.

Some companies now have online chat services. I've learned the hard way to prefer those and send myself a copy of the chat by email. You can even escalate to a manager using chat now. Specifically referring to Rogers, there's also an Office of the President (which can be hit or miss but will at least answer your question, with a vague or otherwise reply), an ombudsman for Rogers (sometimes helps, sometimes not).

Ultimately the organization that seems to help the most, if you know it exists, is the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services Inc. (CCTS), "an independent organization dedicated to working with consumers and service providers to resolve complaints about telephone and internet services."

"The CCTS handles complaints about most telecommunications services provided to individuals and small businesses, including home phone, wireless, Internet, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services."

More at: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/t1049.htm

Interestingly enough, the CCTS as an industry group is paid based on the # of complaints. So carriers both have an incentive to create better support mechanisms and to never hint that the organization exists. But once you know ... it's a fourth option after the first three tries at contacting a telco.

And this is why we can still survive in Canada with a company that provides what seems like a third of Canada with cable TV, internet, wireless service and home phone ... but hey, at least we don't have to buy all that from Ma Bell like we used to! (If you want to see what AT&T would look like if it weren't split up, just look at the molasses that is Bell Canada... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Canada )

Re: Tech Blogger Tries To Cancel Comcast Service, Hilarity Ensues

#340

Post by netnichols »

akgerber wrote: post #199
vonmoltke wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is a gym allowed to demand such documentation in the first place?

Sounds like s/he signed a contract with the gym which s/he only break if leaving town.

It wasn't quite that bad... I could cancel for any reason, but only up to something like a month before the next billing cycle.

I of course realized this around 2 weeks before the next billing cycle, so I would have been forced to pay for the whole year if I didn't show that I was leaving the city.

So I certainly have some blame to my name for not having read the contract more carefully... it just all seemed a bit crazy at the time for a gym membership.

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