Recently active topics in Comcast tagged with tivo

The amount of effort I've expended (in vain) to get a CableCard for my TiVo is ridiculous. I've gone for years with just over-the-air TV because I hated dealing with Comcast so much, but I finally caved and figured I'd give them a shot. If I didn't love the TiVo, I'd have given up already.

I called the 800 number last Monday to see what it would take to get a CableCard. The guy told me all I had to do was pick it up at my local office. Drove across town, and of course the people at the office said that they couldn't give it to me, and an installer had to put it in. Set up an appointment for that Friday, the only time available: from 6am to 9am.

I take off from work, get up at 5:30 to wait for the cable guy. He calls while I'm away from the phone (for a second!) at 8:55 or so. Leaves an incomprehensible message saying something like, "I'm sorry I missed your call, please call 1-800-Comcast and reschedule." That, of course, makes no sense. I use the caller ID to call him back within two or three minutes, and he seems annoyed. Tells me the warehouse is all out of CableCards and there's nothing he can do.

So I call the 800 number later that morning and talk to a rep. She apologizes and puts me on hold. Picks up again and says she just got off the phone with the warehouse, and they do indeed have CableCards! Says the guy must just have not looked hard enough. No appointments left that day, so she makes me an appointment for Monday evening. I contact Comcast to verify the appointment on Sunday, and they say it's all ready to go.

Monday comes, and again I adjust my work schedule so I can wait for the cable guy. Surprise, surprise, he calls to tell me there are no CableCards. I ask him how this is possible, since the previous rep had called to verify, and he says that installers can just waltz in and grab one. No priority system, so it's just luck of the draw, and he doesn't know of any way to deal with it other than to keep making appointments.

There's no way I'm going to keep doing this. To make things worse, the 800 number won't let me through anymore, and the people who work on the live chat are clearly trained seals who click responses from a (really bad) script. Just look at this transcript: http://gettingacablecard.jottit.com/2.... "I understand how inconvenience this has caused you"? Seriously?

I can't wait until FiOS is available in my area.

I have missed several days of work (working from home or taking days off) only to have Comcast show up late or not at all. As I type this, I am waiting for my 5th service call about the same issue. I am at the end of my rope with this company. Here's a list of my problems with Comcast:

1. They never once have arrived on time for a service call. Once they didn't arrive until the following morning, but kept telling me to wait 30 more minutes, which resulted in me missing a dinner with my mother. No apology from anyone, the techs blame dispatch, dispatch blames the techs.
2. When they do arrive, they never have the tools, or Cablecards needed to complete the job. This has happened 3 times.
3. My HD picture gets worse and worse as the weeks go on. As I type this, History HD is unwatchable due to freezing and tiling.
4. Spoke with Joe/Comcast at extension 34330 who tells me I will not receive any credit or compensation until the issue is resolved (5 months and counting). This is after I have received several credits for my cable being unusable over the last few months (read: a lie). This means there is no incentive for Comcast to actually fix the problem, as they dont have to credit me until they do. Seems the opposite of a logical customer service policy. I'd expect to not pay when it's broken, and DO pay when it's fixed.
5. The botched the original installation. The cable enters my home through a hole drilled directly through the wall, with no faceplate, junction box, etc. Basically, it looks horrible, and will probably cost my money on my deposit (renting).
6. Once I had to ask the technician to leave, and his tone became very accusatory and rude, IN MY OWN HOME.
7. As I type this, my appointment time has expired. ANOTHER NO SHOW. Of the 6 appointments or so I have had, Comcast has arrived on time for none of them. Not one.

Why do I pay 130 bucks a month for this? Well, mostly because I LOVE my TiVo. As good as my TiVO is, I dont think I can justify giving this company money for a service I can't use. Its just not worth it to be this upset with a service ALL THE TIME. I have to say, unless this gets fixed, I'm going to begin a campaign of my discontent to consumerist.com, the executive customer service, yelp.com, dslreports.com, and anyone else who will listen. I'm tired of being treated to second class service, high prices, and disrespectful employees. Last chance, Comcast. Fix it, credit me, and let's move on. Otherwise, DirecTV, here I come.

More info on this issue: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showth...

Dissatisfied in Oakland, CA.

Matt