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This month, Comcast consumers in Maryland had a little pamphlet called "Arbitration Notice" quietly slipped into their cable bill.

Unless customers opt out by July 15, 2007 - this SUNDAY - they will forfeit their right to settle any dispute with Comcast in court.

This unfair and stealthy move by Comcast strips consumers of their rights. Access to justice in the courts is a longstanding cornerstone of corporate accountability. Arbitration, on the other hand, is a private system stacked in favor of corporations - and an arbitrator's decision, even if it's wrong or absurd, cannot be appealed on the merits.

Comcast is not just anti-consumer in Maryland. They are forcing consumers elsewhere into giving up their rights.

Here's how to stand up to Comcast and its corporate bullying:

Opt Out: Go to Comcast's online opt-out form and preserve your rights. (Don't forget to check the opt-out box!)
Make Noise: Call up Comcast [1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278)] and complain that they are automatically enrolling costumers into their arbitration clause. Demand to be allowed to opt out of the binding mandatory arbitration clause!
Tell a friend or three: forward this email to friends and family or send them here.

Be sure to share your experiences with Comcast in the comments section of our post in the Watchdog Blog.


Thanks,

Angela Canterbury

Field & Outreach Director
Public Citizen's Congress Watch
action@citizen.org



P.S. Help us fight Comcast! Opt Out: https://www.comcast.com/arbitrationoptout/default.ashx

Watchdog Blog: www.theWatchdogBlog.org or http://citizen.typepad.com/watchdog_blog/2007/07/protect-your-ri.html
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Actually, I sued Charter and won. They semi-buried a satellite cable in my yard with a loop poking up in grass alongside my driveway. I stepped off the sidewalk, caught my foot, fell and fractured the C-6 and C-7 vertebrae (in my neck). I asked them to cover just my medical bills (for MRI's and the physical therapy). They refused to return phone calls. I found out they had done the same thing when another woman in this area had been hurt by equipment they'd left in her house. So I got p.o.'d and sued. and won. Part of the agreement was that they weren't allowed to park anywhere near my property and they had to remove their satellite dish from my yard. The dish is still there - I'm using it as a stake for my Carolina jessamine and they can't use our driveway to cut off the cable to the poor old people in the assisted living behind us.
quote:
Originally posted by jimbo35660:
Or, just cancel your Comcast cable and get a dish.


That's just what we did today! We got the Dish. We went with the Bell South bundle with DirectTV. I'm loving the DVR too. I've recorded a Beatrice Arthur Biography on it just to be doing it. Though, I do lurve me some Golden Girls. I'm not ashamed.

Our DSL isn't ready, so we're stuck with the cable internet right now. I can't wait to turn those dang boxes and modem in to Comcast.
I'd love to do anything that would allow me to tell Comcast to "take this cable and shove it" but have been, in the past, unable to get "the dish" due to all of the trees on my property. I'm for **** sure willing to try again if y'all are saying the dish is a good thing. Now, let me please ask another question, I have my internet through Comcast as well so...before I go down in a blaze of glory and piss them off to no end, what would be my best internet option if I decide to go completely Comcast free?
quote:
Originally posted by Tw0PenniesToYa:
Yep excelman...Channel 33 is gone! MSN tells me it's on channel 100 but my TV doesn't go to that channel because I only pay for basic cable...


Unless you have limited basic rather than basic you can get the digital starter package at Comcast free. This will get you channel 100 along with some free movies. That is, if you choose to stick to Comcast.
incase you didn't know all stations with comericals are free you can get them with a satilite box [cost 1 or2 hundred depends on the brand] there legal but you need a little computer savy not much.many more channels than comcast offers an no bill ever an old dish network dish an the box that you order from the net.
Well, this time the "doggie" is eating his words. I have been a "hater" of Comcast for years and moved to B'ham and hooked up on Charter. BUT: Comcast now has a deal running where you get digital cable, high speed internet and no limit telephone service (local and long distance) for $99.00 a month! That wouldn't even pay for cable and premium channels in "The Shoals!" As I have said many times, Comcast has enough sense and can pay off enough elected officials to keep the rates high there because other than satellite there is no competition. And if you read this, I apologize "Nashbama" LOL MOONDOGGIE
quote:
Originally posted by vick13:
Actually, I sued Charter and won. They semi-buried a satellite cable in my yard with a loop poking up in grass alongside my driveway. I stepped off the sidewalk, caught my foot, fell and fractured the C-6 and C-7 vertebrae (in my neck). I asked them to cover just my medical bills (for MRI's and the physical therapy). They refused to return phone calls. I found out they had done the same thing when another woman in this area had been hurt by equipment they'd left in her house. So I got p.o.'d and sued. and won. Part of the agreement was that they weren't allowed to park anywhere near my property and they had to remove their satellite dish from my yard. The dish is still there - I'm using it as a stake for my Carolina jessamine and they can't use our driveway to cut off the cable to the poor old people in the assisted living behind us.



Sorry you were injured, Vick, and had to go through all that hassel... but it appears that KARMA works, YET again, thanks to you!!! Smiler
quote:
Originally posted by Tw0PenniesToYa:
I'd love to do anything that would allow me to tell Comcast to "take this cable and shove it" but have been, in the past, unable to get "the dish" due to all of the trees on my property. I'm for **** sure willing to try again if y'all are saying the dish is a good thing. Now, let me please ask another question, I have my internet through Comcast as well so...before I go down in a blaze of glory and piss them off to no end, what would be my best internet option if I decide to go completely Comcast free?


I called the Dish and Direct TV and was asking them about it... we went through entire packages and such... it got down to asking how I would pay the bill, told them directly from checking every month, without me having to worry about it...

EVERYTHING seemed cool until they asked for my Social Security number, which I told them I refused to give them that information... they could check records at the court house to see that I own the house/land... they would have my checking so they could get paid, but they were NOT getting my SS number because I didn't know them... lol. She said there was NO WAY they could hook me up without it... so I asked her for HER social, she stammered and stuttered and told me she didn't know me and wouldn't give it to me... I said, SEE???????

Point being, since that date, I have gotten about 30 calls from them telling me that I didn't have to give my social, and at least 15 pieces of mail giving me extra special offers good until Sept. ... I shall decide by then , lol..

My employer, although they have known my ss number for 28 years, quit using them a few years ago, privacy act DOES apply to SS numbers, so we have employee ID numbers... so if I only have to give my employee ID number out to prove employment, why do they insist they have to have the SS number, which is just TOO dangerous to give out these days.
quote:
Originally posted by Heub:
I travel quite a bit and if I am going to be gone, I can cut off DirecTV very easily to avoid running up bills that I am not using. I wish I could do the same with the phone. I am happy with Directv.


Heub, but is there a reconnection fee when you come home? I can see that while you are gone you don't want nor need to accrue any extra bills, but I did that once with Comcast when I was gone for 9 weeks on business, ... but the reconnection fee was almost my bill back at that time. It wouldn't be now, since I use comcast as internet and digital though...

Just wondering... ?
I am traveling again with work and will be gone more than I am home. I just got Verizon broadband and I'm anxious to find out how well it does from Florence. I'll be home after next week to find out. Hopefully it will be sufficient enough to drop Comcast Highspeed internet but I will have to get a new email account. I'm not real sure verizon has one linked to it. Any suggestions?

As for the telly I guess I will just switch to limited basic with Comcast to cut costs but still have something to watch when I get home every 5th week. I don't think any dish will work for me because of the trees but after being gone for a month at a time the local channels I get from limited will be plenty for me not to mention catching up on movies from Movie Gallery since, believe it or not, there is no Movie Gallery in Baton Rouge.
quote:
My employer, although they have known my ss number for 28 years, quit using them a few years ago, privacy act DOES apply to SS numbers, so we have employee ID numbers... so if I only have to give my employee ID number out to prove employment, why do they insist they have to have the SS number, which is just TOO dangerous to give out these days.


It's for a credit check, many companies require a credit check before they start service or accept any kind of payment. It's how they make sure you'll pay the bill. It's good to guard your SS#, but if you're too paranoid, you're going to find that no one will do business with you.
quote:
Originally posted by NashBama:
quote:
My employer, although they have known my ss number for 28 years, quit using them a few years ago, privacy act DOES apply to SS numbers, so we have employee ID numbers... so if I only have to give my employee ID number out to prove employment, why do they insist they have to have the SS number, which is just TOO dangerous to give out these days.


It's for a credit check, many companies require a credit check before they start service or accept any kind of payment. It's how they make sure you'll pay the bill. It's good to guard your SS#, but if you're too paranoid, you're going to find that no one will do business with you.


Not paranoid at all... I offered them many other means to check my credit without giving some company or some girl I did NOT know my SS number... but now, since then they have assured me that I don't have to give a SS number, and that I can get service ... I put it all in the other reply... I have received so many calls from them, and so many offers through the mail with huge discounts... and guess what? I still won't have to tell them my SS number.

If you watch the news, there has been many lives ruined by so called "GOOD" employees who gets ALL the private info from people and then either uses it themselves, or sells it so someone can do identity theft, and the kicker is the SS number... so no one gets mine... even Comcast never asked for it.

I get literature and emails at work all the time about NOT giving out SS numbers... the laws pertaining to it, and the whole nine yards... so if I am paranoid, my employer and home office is too, they are the one giving all the information out, plus the laws and websites to protect oneself...
My neighbor has Dish Network and also has high-speed internet through Dish Network. When it was installed, there was a tiny auxiliary dish installed for the internet. He reports that it works fantastically, and of course, he is highly pleased with all of the choices in television viewing that Dish Network offers.

As an aside, I have ComCast. A few months ago,
my cable-modem went bad, which I rent from Comcast. I called their customer service number, and was connected to a representative who could barely speak English, and one that I could not understand anything he said. In frustration, I terminated the call. I asked him where he was located, and replied that he was in India. I am incensed that Comcast, having a monopoly in most towns, chooses to outsource their technical support operations.

Later, I called again, and was connected to somebody in Nashville. She gave me a service date for 5 days later. When I asked if I could take the modem to the local office and exchange it for one that worked, she told me that a service tech from Comcast would have to make the visit to my home.

Maybe I am the only person who has had only negative experiences with Comcast, but I definitely would not recommend it to anyone who has other options. In the past several months, the deletions of channels and substitutions has been totally ridiculous. Removal of such channels as C-Span and Weather has done it for me.
quote:
Originally posted by Moon Over Homewood:
Well, this time the "doggie" is eating his words. I have been a "hater" of Comcast for years and moved to B'ham and hooked up on Charter. BUT: Comcast now has a deal running where you get digital cable, high speed internet and no limit telephone service (local and long distance) for $99.00 a month! That wouldn't even pay for cable and premium channels in "The Shoals!" As I have said many times, Comcast has enough sense and can pay off enough elected officials to keep the rates high there because other than satellite there is no competition. And if you read this, I apologize "Nashbama" LOL MOONDOGGIE


There are two bad things about the $99 deal. #1 it is only for the first year. Not sure what it goes up to after that. #2 It isn't available in Florence.
quote:
Originally posted by Verbatim:
My neighbor has Dish Network and also has high-speed internet through Dish Network. When it was installed, there was a tiny auxiliary dish installed for the internet. He reports that it works fantastically, and of course, he is highly pleased with all of the choices in television viewing that Dish Network offers.

As an aside, I have ComCast. A few months ago,
my cable-modem went bad, which I rent from Comcast. I called their customer service number, and was connected to a representative who could barely speak English, and one that I could not understand anything he said. In frustration, I terminated the call. I asked him where he was located, and replied that he was in India. I am incensed that Comcast, having a monopoly in most towns, chooses to outsource their technical support operations.

Later, I called again, and was connected to somebody in Nashville. She gave me a service date for 5 days later. When I asked if I could take the modem to the local office and exchange it for one that worked, she told me that a service tech from Comcast would have to make the visit to my home.

Maybe I am the only person who has had only negative experiences with Comcast, but I definitely would not recommend it to anyone who has other options. In the past several months, the deletions of channels and substitutions has been totally ridiculous. Removal of such channels as C-Span and Weather has done it for me.



India???? That is a first... I have talked to the ones out of their office in Mexico and in Canada, but not India that I am aware of...

THAT should speak volumes... guess I will have to go over the offers I have from the Satellite company and boot Comcast... Bet if more people did that, then Comcast would stop their arrogant behavior??? Not to mention their lousy business practices.
quote:
Originally posted by Jumunji the JoJo:
quote:
Originally posted by Moon Over Homewood:
Well, this time the "doggie" is eating his words. I have been a "hater" of Comcast for years and moved to B'ham and hooked up on Charter. BUT: Comcast now has a deal running where you get digital cable, high speed internet and no limit telephone service (local and long distance) for $99.00 a month! That wouldn't even pay for cable and premium channels in "The Shoals!" As I have said many times, Comcast has enough sense and can pay off enough elected officials to keep the rates high there because other than satellite there is no competition. And if you read this, I apologize "Nashbama" LOL MOONDOGGIE


There are two bad things about the $99 deal. #1 it is only for the first year. Not sure what it goes up to after that. #2 It isn't available in Florence.



I have always wondered why Charter didn't come here to be a competitor for Comcast... they are a lot cheaper. My brother lived in Troy Al, and had the SAME service with Charter that I have with Comcast, his was FORTY dollars cheaper... and there was NO difference in our options we had.
quote:
Originally posted by Verbatim:
My neighbor has Dish Network and also has high-speed internet through Dish Network. When it was installed, there was a tiny auxiliary dish installed for the internet. He reports that it works fantastically, and of course, he is highly pleased with all of the choices in television viewing that Dish Network offers.

As an aside, I have ComCast. A few months ago,
my cable-modem went bad, which I rent from Comcast. I called their customer service number, and was connected to a representative who could barely speak English, and one that I could not understand anything he said. In frustration, I terminated the call. I asked him where he was located, and replied that he was in India. I am incensed that Comcast, having a monopoly in most towns, chooses to outsource their technical support operations.

Later, I called again, and was connected to somebody in Nashville. She gave me a service date for 5 days later. When I asked if I could take the modem to the local office and exchange it for one that worked, she told me that a service tech from Comcast would have to make the visit to my home.

Maybe I am the only person who has had only negative experiences with Comcast, but I definitely would not recommend it to anyone who has other options. In the past several months, the deletions of channels and substitutions has been totally ridiculous. Removal of such channels as C-Span and Weather has done it for me.


Talk to Barbara Jackson in Huntsville, she is the only one I have EVER been able to 'deal' with, plus she is very nice and extremely helpful.
quote:
Originally posted by Verbatim:
My neighbor has Dish Network and also has high-speed internet through Dish Network. When it was installed, there was a tiny auxiliary dish installed for the internet. He reports that it works fantastically, and of course, he is highly pleased with all of the choices in television viewing that Dish Network offers.

As an aside, I have ComCast. A few months ago,
my cable-modem went bad, which I rent from Comcast. I called their customer service number, and was connected to a representative who could barely speak English, and one that I could not understand anything he said. In frustration, I terminated the call. I asked him where he was located, and replied that he was in India. I am incensed that Comcast, having a monopoly in most towns, chooses to outsource their technical support operations.

Later, I called again, and was connected to somebody in Nashville. She gave me a service date for 5 days later. When I asked if I could take the modem to the local office and exchange it for one that worked, she told me that a service tech from Comcast would have to make the visit to my home.

Maybe I am the only person who has had only negative experiences with Comcast, but I definitely would not recommend it to anyone who has other options. In the past several months, the deletions of channels and substitutions has been totally ridiculous. Removal of such channels as C-Span and Weather has done it for me.


To get Huntsville, call 767-3200. Overflow goes to Nashville, but at least it's not India eh?

Service calls should never be 5 days out...I would ask to speak to a supervisor next time. Typical service call time is 24-48 hours.

If the modem is defintely the problem, no lights at all on modem, bring it to the office to swap it.

You can get those channels that were removed through the free digital starter package. You can pick up a free digital box at the office.

Hope this helps. Comcast defintely isn't the best company in the world, but the employees in Florence do try to take care of the customers the best we can.
quote:
Originally posted by Jumunji the JoJo:
quote:
Originally posted by Verbatim:
My neighbor has Dish Network and also has high-speed internet through Dish Network. When it was installed, there was a tiny auxiliary dish installed for the internet. He reports that it works fantastically, and of course, he is highly pleased with all of the choices in television viewing that Dish Network offers.

As an aside, I have ComCast. A few months ago,
my cable-modem went bad, which I rent from Comcast. I called their customer service number, and was connected to a representative who could barely speak English, and one that I could not understand anything he said. In frustration, I terminated the call. I asked him where he was located, and replied that he was in India. I am incensed that Comcast, having a monopoly in most towns, chooses to outsource their technical support operations.

Later, I called again, and was connected to somebody in Nashville. She gave me a service date for 5 days later. When I asked if I could take the modem to the local office and exchange it for one that worked, she told me that a service tech from Comcast would have to make the visit to my home.

Maybe I am the only person who has had only negative experiences with Comcast, but I definitely would not recommend it to anyone who has other options. In the past several months, the deletions of channels and substitutions has been totally ridiculous. Removal of such channels as C-Span and Weather has done it for me.


To get Huntsville, call 767-3200. Overflow goes to Nashville, but at least it's not India eh?

Service calls should never be 5 days out...I would ask to speak to a supervisor next time. Typical service call time is 24-48 hours.

If the modem is defintely the problem, no lights at all on modem, bring it to the office to swap it.

You can get those channels that were removed through the free digital starter package. You can pick up a free digital box at the office.

Hope this helps. Comcast defintely isn't the best company in the world, but the employees in Florence do try to take care of the customers the best we can.


I think I am going to step on some toes here because I will NEVER step foot in the Florence Store again... I will ALWAYS go through Huntsville.... and I CAN get someone to help me on the phone 24/7 if you press the right buttons....

Last few times I HAD to go to Florence, the people there were not only RUDE, they acted as if they were paying us out of their own pockets to do anything!!! And they would take FOREVER between customers even though one could SEE they weren't doing anything.

Sorry, but I would go with DISH or DIRECT before ever driving to Florence office.

When someone is paying nearly 150 bucks a month for digital and internet, then the LEAST one would expect was common courtesy... the Florence Office has NEVER shown me that side of them.
quote:
Originally posted by Kindred_Spirit:
quote:
Originally posted by Jumunji the JoJo:
quote:
Originally posted by Verbatim:
My neighbor has Dish Network and also has high-speed internet through Dish Network. When it was installed, there was a tiny auxiliary dish installed for the internet. He reports that it works fantastically, and of course, he is highly pleased with all of the choices in television viewing that Dish Network offers.

As an aside, I have ComCast. A few months ago,
my cable-modem went bad, which I rent from Comcast. I called their customer service number, and was connected to a representative who could barely speak English, and one that I could not understand anything he said. In frustration, I terminated the call. I asked him where he was located, and replied that he was in India. I am incensed that Comcast, having a monopoly in most towns, chooses to outsource their technical support operations.

Later, I called again, and was connected to somebody in Nashville. She gave me a service date for 5 days later. When I asked if I could take the modem to the local office and exchange it for one that worked, she told me that a service tech from Comcast would have to make the visit to my home.

Maybe I am the only person who has had only negative experiences with Comcast, but I definitely would not recommend it to anyone who has other options. In the past several months, the deletions of channels and substitutions has been totally ridiculous. Removal of such channels as C-Span and Weather has done it for me.


To get Huntsville, call 767-3200. Overflow goes to Nashville, but at least it's not India eh?

Service calls should never be 5 days out...I would ask to speak to a supervisor next time. Typical service call time is 24-48 hours.

If the modem is defintely the problem, no lights at all on modem, bring it to the office to swap it.

You can get those channels that were removed through the free digital starter package. You can pick up a free digital box at the office.

Hope this helps. Comcast defintely isn't the best company in the world, but the employees in Florence do try to take care of the customers the best we can.


I think I am going to step on some toes here because I will NEVER step foot in the Florence Store again... I will ALWAYS go through Huntsville.... and I CAN get someone to help me on the phone 24/7 if you press the right buttons....

Last few times I HAD to go to Florence, the people there were not only RUDE, they acted as if they were paying us out of their own pockets to do anything!!! And they would take FOREVER between customers even though one could SEE they weren't doing anything.

Sorry, but I would go with DISH or DIRECT before ever driving to Florence office.

When someone is paying nearly 150 bucks a month for digital and internet, then the LEAST one would expect was common courtesy... the Florence Office has NEVER shown me that side of them.


Not stepping on toes.. I'm sorry that you had the experiences you described. We have been operating without a customer service manager/supervisor for awhile. Susan Cottrell is now onboard and doing a great job.

If you'll PM me, I will be glad to give you both her number and mine for any issues you might have in the future.

I checked around and I can't find anyone that knows of any call centers outside of the US and Canada..
OK -- so which Dish should I go with -- Dish Network or Direct TV? I'm like KS -- I'm done with Comcast. The local office is awful to deal with and when you call -- you get osmeone in TimbukTo to talk to and they don't have a clue what is going on locally unless they read it on a screen. At one point I had a Comcast tech's cell # and would call him to see why my cable/internet wasn't working...

So any opinions or suggestions on the Dish?
quote:
Originally posted by DixieChik:
OK -- so which Dish should I go with -- Dish Network or Direct TV? I'm like KS -- I'm done with Comcast. The local office is awful to deal with and when you call -- you get osmeone in TimbukTo to talk to and they don't have a clue what is going on locally unless they read it on a screen. At one point I had a Comcast tech's cell # and would call him to see why my cable/internet wasn't working...

So any opinions or suggestions on the Dish?



A friend of mine called me yesterday while waiting on Direct to get to her house. She and her hubby and son all 3 have Cingular (AT&T) cells, and she had Comcast, and NetZero for Internet. When she started checking, she found out she could save almost a hunred a month to "BUNDLE" her services which are now:

4 Television hook ups w/digital boxes
Phone line
DSL fast access
3 cell phones

ALL of them add to a savings of that much!!! She said she just called AT&T and asked them about the services, and they offered her the Bundle... in which the prices DO NOT go up after a year of paying unless it is an FCC raise.

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