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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS Charter Cable Is this blackmail or extortion? Madison, Wisconsin
You have raised my Charter bill $45 in a single month. You are now asking me to pay $189.81 for a month of service that cost me $141.46....30 days ago. Is this how you treat your customers? I am appalled. So this is how you FORCE customers to sign contracts, by using blackmail? OR is it extortion?
I am not going to forget this abuse. I think I will give my thirty days termination notice now, and encourage all the people in Grover Beach California to do the same.I am going to change to AT&T for my phone service, I am going to hook up a different internet provider. I am going to put up a TV antenna.
Your customer service policies nauseate me. Your business ethics are despicable.
My thirty days notice has been given, make a note of it.
23 Updates & Rebuttals
Ryan
United States of AmericaCharter is Ran by Dems
#24UPDATE Employee
Thu, September 20, 2012
Not that it matters to anyones experiance with the company, but the company's founder (Microsoft's co-founder) and senior mgmt are all dems. Just an FYI. You can look it up and see who they donate to.
Ken
Colorado,USA
Who is "We", and what survey did you take to get this "We?"
#24Consumer Comment
Tue, February 28, 2012
"We DO NOT WANT your "promotions!"
What we want is service from a company that is fair and honest, we simply can't get that from Charter Communications. It has been this way for YEARS.
We do not want to "negotiate" a deal, we want uniform pricing for ALL customers ALL the time.
We do not want our bills to go up and down like the price of gasoline.
We want an end to the abusive customer service policies, that take advantage of people whenever possible."
Learn to read/comprehend the terms of the contract you signed and that will save you a lot of time and the arance of stupidity when you file a Ripoff Report.
Bullthistle
Charlotte,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Screw TV campanies.
#24Consumer Comment
Mon, February 27, 2012
They are ripping people off. Go to sidereel.com or CastTV.com and sit in front of your computer are get wi-fi and transfer it to your TV.
Southern Chemical and Equipment LLC
Sarasota,Florida,
USA
Pay attention to the agreements you sign, and be skeptical of "free".
#24Consumer Suggestion
Mon, February 27, 2012
Just common sense here. Very rarely is anything really "free".
As a rule, I always ask "how much is FREE really going to cost me"??? You should adopt that rule.
The only problem here is that were not paying attention. They clearly tell you what the "free" period is, then you have to pay.
The requirement is to cancel before that period runs out.
Common sense.
naderhawk
Eau Claire,Wisconsin,
United States of America
Quit Watching So Much Alec Jones Shows
#24General Comment
Mon, February 27, 2012
The reason your cable bill with Charter rose is because your 12 or 24 month discount rate ended and it jumped up to normal rates.
If you had taken a few minutes and started up a new discount plan as anyone can after their's expires, you'd be back down to your discounted price enjoying life as best you can and not here complaining about nothing.
There is no conspiracy by Charter to get you, but they are a business and it's in their interest to make money, so if a customer doesn't respond to the notices they send in the mail that tell you way ahead of time that your discounted rates will end soon there is not much more they can or should do to inform you of this.
I just noticed my next Charter due in a few weeks is about 20 dollars higher than normal. I failed to respond to all those notices. So when I went to my account online and saw the rates had jumped up I knew what had happened and I called them. I got a new discounted rate and better service and it took me a total of about 10 minutes to talk to the Charter rep, go through the automated questionnaire and hang my phone up. A whole 10 minutes to secure a 2 year discounted plan.
Quit complaining about issues that arose because you failed to act. Charter is not your mommy, they are not going to cuddle you and tell you everything you need to know about life twice.
Sandy
Warrensburg,United States of America
I just saw your report and I think I might have a solution..
#24Consumer Comment
Thu, February 09, 2012
I also have Charter, but, I only have it for an internet connection. I pay right at $ 43.00 a month for the internet service.
I do not have my t.v. hooked up anymore because I can watch all the t.v programs on the internet.
If you are not single (i.e., have a family that lives with you) and would prefer to watch t.v. programs on your t.v., you can (with an internet connection) get hulu + that provides tons of t.v. programs and movies for only $7.99 month. You subscribe via the internet for this service, but you can have the programming that hulu + provides (and it provides A LOT) downloaded to your t.v. set and other devices. (And before you ask, no, I do not work for hulu; I am actually a college student training for a second career. My son, who is 27, and grew up with the internet, knows all the in & outs of watching t.v. programs on the internet.) As an FYI, hulu also offers a free service, but the catch is that those programs must be viewed on the computer, unlike hulu +.
I noticed that you were paying (before your huge hike in cost) about $100.00 more a month then me. I can only assume that you get all the premium channels (HBO, Showtime, etc) also. I honestly do not know if you can view all of those shows on the internet, but I do know that you can join netflix and have shows downloaded to your computer for about $11.00 a month. Netflix also will send you DVDs as part of their plan, but for an extra cost.
I realize that if you are like me, you have grown up with t.v. and cannot imagine not being able to watch it. I do know that there are other ways to get your "fix," and so I thought I would write and tell you about some of them.
Instead of trying to fight the system, already in place, try something different. You will still get to watch t.v., but pay MUCH less money.
Please write me anytime:
NoNameNoPlace15@gmail.com
Take care!
Sandy
Nicola.madscientist.tesla
Grover Beach,California,
U.S.A.
NICE PR PLUG
#24Author of original report
Sat, February 04, 2012
You took the time to write a nice PR advertizement for yourself.
It is meaningless. There are tens of thousands of highly dissatisfied customers who have complained about this company. This company is rated as THE WORST.
We DO NOT WANT your "promotions!"
What we want is service from a company that is fair and honest, we simply can't get that from Charter Communications. It has been this way for YEARS.
We do not want to "negotiate" a deal, we want uniform pricing for ALL customers ALL the time.
We do not want our bills to go up and down like the price of gasoline.
We want an end to the abusive customer service policies, that take advantage of people whenever possible.
Charter, you may be able to have your own employees write something to promote your company.
Just like ALL FAKE reviews posted on the internet, it's a LIE.
BUT your customers have the opposite view. What do your customers write???
I need to "watch out" for the expiration of my "promotion?" OR you jump on me like vultures!
This company is dishonest and deceptive. That is confirmed every day.
No matter what the people who are PAID to write fake reviews are saying...I know better, and so do one million other victims.
Diogenes
Averill Park,New York,
USA
Indeed
#24Consumer Comment
Wed, February 01, 2012
Good rebuttal, Phoenixra. Hopefully that will explain to people what promotions are, and when they end.
PhoenixRa
Vancouver,Washington,
United States of America
Ugh
#24UPDATE Employee
Wed, February 01, 2012
I have to laugh when I read some of these posts, as ALL cable companies offer promotions and they ALL increase in rate after the promotion ends. They ALL charge a month in advance. It is all part of the entertainment/cable industry. Directv, for example, will offer a contract, have low rates for the first year, and jack up the prices for the second. Then, when you wish to be out of said contract, the early termination fee is $480.00. Charter, on the other hand, has two year price guarentees that don't change in price unless the customer makes changes to the service level; and the $150.00 ETF goes down by $5.00 every month you're on the contract. The customer has to go through a verification system to CONFIRM that they have agreed to the contract before it can even be started. The terms are clearly stated. There is also a 30-day guarentee; if you're not satisfied with the package, you have a whole month to reconsider and change it/take it off. We give our customer every single tool or opportunity available/possible to ensure they are getting what they want. When you compare cable companies, Charter is actually one of the good ones. I have found, sadly (not pointing fingers at anyone), that some customers who call is screaming to complain about billing do not keep track of their bills, refuse to take responsibility, OR be proactive and read their bills properly. We offer online statements on the Charter My Account to check services and balances. I personally feel that cable companies should abolish promotions all together because customers have it in their heads that the PROMOTIONAL rates are the actual rates. Then they call in screaming that we're "screwing them over" when their PROMOTION has rolled/is rolling off...which is also clearly stated on the bill if one would read it. I honestly think it's a lack of responsibility and paying attention and the company is, in some cases, the scapegoat. I know that I have a point here. And the wining and bickering for a new promotion is part of the cable business. EVERY company will be like this as long as there is competition.
On a lighter note, I love most of the customers who call in. Most of them love me by the end of the call, and I treat them like a buddy because everyone deserves respect. I take customer service very seriously and have gone above and beyond to help people in situations beyond their control. I have extended payments WELL beyond the timeframe for people who have been in bad financial situations, I have given courtesy credits to people who were respectfully stating they did not understand something, I listen and truly care. I take my time to educate customers on their bill, their cycle date, etc and ALWAYS make it clear what will be billed if any changes are made. I will let someone know if a promotion is rolling off so we can work something else out (to avoid it rolling off)...It is very easy for people to forget that the customer service agent at the other end of the phone is also a person with a life outside of work. We can relate to most anything and are not evil human beings. We are all told to take ownership of accounts and do what is necessary within reason. The people I work with are amazing and we are there to educate and help when needed.
Charles
United States,Georgia,
USA
There people go again posting false information about me they never give up do they i don't feel bad about myself and it doesn't bother me but i will say something
#24Consumer Comment
Mon, January 30, 2012
I just like to point out to these "LIARS" i don't feel bad about my self. I will say something about the false information being said about me.
Nicola.madscientist.tesla
Grover Beach,California,
U.S.A.
I figured it out...
#24Author of original report
Mon, January 30, 2012
Charter builds "traps" into the contract, they tell you the 2 channels are "free." Then at the end of the contract, they start sticking you with $30 fee for the "free" channels.
If you don't pay for the channels (that you never agreed to pay for) they attack your credit rating, to force you to pay,
that part IS blackmail.
Then when your contract gets to the end, they jack your bill sky high, to force you to sign another contract.
That part IS extortion.
And so, it IS both blackmail AND extortion. And it's deliberate, they MUST squeeze you for some extra cash. And they get away with it all day long, every day. There is no regulation to protect these unfortunate customers.
Want to disconnect? You turn in your equipment, Charter sticks you with a bill for not turning it in.
And then you fight with them for months or years trying to get the excessive charges refunded. They ignore you every step of the way, of course.
Charles: You blame it on Republicans? You have a vote! Use it the best way you can. I for one, will not vote for Republicans, that's the most I can do. See you at the poles.
Lorenzen
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
Charlie
#24Consumer Comment
Mon, January 30, 2012
Yep, it's EXACTLY what Diogenes said. You came back on here spouting some gibberish that has absolutely NOTHING to do with either your post nor with the things that Diogenes pointed out to you. Why on Earth do you make such stupid comments about politics ? You never studied Political Science. In fact, you never studied ANYTHING, did you ?? You were thrown out of High School ( you admitted this on an earlier post ), you BOUGHT a "high school diploma" online ( you admitted this on an earlier post, as well ), and you have "less than normal intelligence" ( you admitted this on an earlier post, too ).
I would say that you really don't have a clue about ANYTHING, do you Chuckie ?? Your whining responses are always: I don't care. You hate me. You're ruining my life. I'll never post here again. Everyone is out to get me. Etc., etc., etc. Is there anything else of which you are capable of posting, Charlie ?? I sincerely doubt it. In fact, I dare say that you are nothing more than an illiterate little scumbag who spends as much time in jail as at home. Right ? Of course it's right.
Charles
United States,Georgia,
USA
If you have some type of problem with me or don't like me i don't care so get off my back because i haven't done a thing to you or anyone else
#24Consumer Comment
Sun, January 29, 2012
If you don't like me or have some type of problem with me. I, haven't done a d**n thing to you or anyone else.
Diogenes
Averill Park,New York,
USA
Geezzz
#24Consumer Comment
Sun, January 29, 2012
Charles, you have once again proven what a completely empty headed moron you are. You have NO CLUE about politics, politicians nor the effects of political decisions on this country. However, allow me to hazard a guess here - You BOUGHT a degree in Political Science from a degree mill online, just the same as you BOUGHT your high school diploma, right ??? But the fact is, you know NOTHING and your comments are not only meaningless, they are grossly incorrect, just as is the rest of your convoluted life.
First, the President of the United States, The Vice President of the United States and the Secretary of State are all Democrats. The Senate of the United States is controlled by the Democrats. The Governors of 22 of the states are Democrats. The House and Senate of many of the states are controlled by the Democrats. And you have the ignorance to say that the United States is controlled by the Republicans ???? What an absolute IDIOT you are. Along with not being able to spell or form a coherent sentence, you can't COUNT, either, can you ???????
And, by the way, just WHAT does ANY of this have to do with the service of Charter Communications ??? Absolutely NOTHING, you little idiot. Now, please stop sticking your nose into places where you have no knowledge nor experience of the subject matter ( which, of course, is EVERYWHERE ).
You may now begin your usual crying and whining diatribe about how everyone hates you and people only aspire to make your life miserable, without addressing any of the facts placed before you.
Charles
United States,Georgia,
USA
The republicans are in charge every where and we don't get treated fairly when they have power so forget about being treated fairly
#24Consumer Comment
Sat, January 28, 2012
The republicans are in charge in the states. So forget about being treated fairly.
Nicola.madscientist.tesla
Grover Beach,California,
U.S.A.
AND THIS IS HOW WE ARE TREATED!
#24Author of original report
Sat, January 28, 2012
I have been subjected to continuous lies, bait and switch fraud, intentional avoidance, overcharges, phoney collections, false advertising. The reason these "promotions" expire is to give charter the excuse to raise your bill sky high. The intention of raising the bill is to coerce customers into signing contracts. We are supposed to be grateful that charter has given us a "break" on our bill.
You are not giving anybody a break, and your business practices are reprehensible.
WHAT is the difference between the cable I was using two months ago and the cable I am using today? NOTHING! So why do you jump at the chance to raise my bill SKY HIGH?
Simple! You are greedy. You cannot resist the temptation to SCREW a customer. You bill me for channels that you told me were: "free." Now the "free" channels are costing me $30, simply because you took the opportunity. I never asked for the channels, and I NEVER agreed to pay for them.
BUT yet the $30 charge appears on my bill, without notice, and I MUST pay it, or you go running to your "collection agency" to destroy my credit rating. You FORCE me to pay for something that I never asked for in the first place.
The fraud that this company carries out on millions of customers is carefully coordinated, deliberate, and ongoing. It's Theft, plain and simple. You steal from people, that's a fact. You have stolen from me over and over again.
This company has more complaints filed against it with the BBB than any communications company in the history of cable TV.
This company has received the lowest customer satisfaction rating, for YEARS IN A ROW, from consumer reports magazine. They call Charter: "the lowest channel per dollar value of any major communications company." They rate Charters customer service as the LOWEST satisfaction rating of any major communications company in the USA. That's an understatement.
Just look it up on Wikipedia!
This company treats customers like dirt. The service has never improved, in fact it gets worse and more greedy all the time.
If there was an alternative, one million people would DUMP charter TODAY. And I mean instantly.
We are all sick and tired of the greedy dishonesty, the mistreatment which you dole out every day to your customers. I don't believe a d**n word you say, based on YEARS of experience.
PhoenixRa
Vancouver,Washington,
United States of America
This is how I feel
#24UPDATE Employee
Fri, January 27, 2012
I want to start out by saying that I'm a happy Charter employee and work in the customer service/billing department. We do not rip off customers and we're not abusive. I can speak for my whole center when I say that customer focus is our main priority. I handle calls about increases in the bill and can tell you that, without even having to look, your promotion rolled off. We offer a wide range of promotions, which are anywhere from six to 24 months. Also, the modem lease fee increased from $5.00 to $7.00 recently. A good rule of thumb: ALWAYS read your bill. The fact that your promotion is going to be rolling off will be noted on your bill; it is up to the customer to call us to either renegotiate a promotion/add or remove services or to just go with the regular rate for the services. Any changes to rates will be noted on your bill in advance. I'm sorry you had a shock. Usually when services are added/changed, note how long the promotion is so that you will not have this happen.
Nicola.madscientist.tesla
Grover Beach,California,
U.S.A.
No Matter How Complex?
#24Author of original report
Thu, December 29, 2011
Five years ago, I connected a Charter Bundle. Charter would not send the bills. For 9 months I called Charter, over 60 times, and they ignored the complaint every time. They would not send the bills. They told me to go to the post office and file a complaint that the post office was losing my mail. Of course, the post office NEVER lost my mail. It was Charter, jerking me around.
In the mean time, Charter claimed they had sent me a bill for hidden installation charges, which I never received. Then instantly with no delay, they gave my name to a collection agency. Three letters of collection came in the mail, all at once. These letters claimed that I owed a $100 "late fee" for not paying the bill that Charter had never sent me.
I tried to call charter, and they ignored me every time. There is no such thing as "resolving" an accounting problem with this company. I called the Public Utilities Commission. I filed a complaint with the BBB.Instantly, Charter told the BBB that the complaint had been resolved, when it had not been resolved at all. This is Charters standard deception, to make complaints go away. They lie to the BBB.
I filed a second BBB complaint. I called the charter corporate office, and was promised a resolution. They of course were lying again. I was contacted by a Charter agent, who claimed he would resolve the issue. Of course he was also lying to me. Many months later and dozens of phone calls later, it was discovered by one person who works for charter, that somebody had shut off my billing at the Charter office. After 9 months and 60 phone calls, I finally received my first monthly bill. AFTER NINE MONTHS!!!
My payments, apparently manipulated by Charter, to pay a $100 late fee that I never owed. Damage to my credit report, undoubtedly, for failure to pay a bill, that I never recieved, because of Chaters pathetic, scatter brained billing proceedures. Then by this time, the internet failed, because of a lose wire on top of a utility pole. Charter sent 10 technicians, over and over again, for weeks, and not one of them could make it work.
At that time I changed my service to AT&T. This is only ONE episode with Charter communications. This is what they did to only ONE typical customer. A company so determined to evade customer service, and evade resolution of complaints, that there have been more than 3000 complaints filed with the BBB by Charter customers.
More complaints filed against Charter with the BBB, than any other company in the history of cable communications. Congratulations Charter, you set a world record.
The very fact, Abby, that you would claim that you are going to resolve complaints for this company, that has intentionally evaded resolution of complaints for so many years, and so many times...is an insult to my intelligence.
Charter IS the worst, most unreliable cable communications company, that has ever existed. There is no competition, and there never will be. Greedy, unreliable, dishonest and evasive beyond anybody's wildest imagination.
DO NOT connect to this communications company. DO NOT give them your credit card numbers. DO NOT sign their contracts. There certainly IS a sucker born every minute. DO NOT become this companies next victim.
You are better off sending smoke signals.
Umatter2charter
Town and Country,Missouri,
USA
Billing Increase
#24UPDATE Employee
Wed, December 28, 2011
Hello,
I am an expert at resolving all billing concerns no matter how complex. I would love the opportunity to make things right and turn this into a more positive customer experience. Please email me at Umatter2Charter@chartercom.com with the name, address, phone#, and either the security code from the upper right hand corner of the bill, 4 digit PIN# (if applicable), or account number. I will work hard to get this resolved. Also, please put CharterAbby User532989 in the subject line so that I can keep an eye out for the e-mail.
Thanks again,
Abby Catron
Senior Social Media Specialist Charter
Umatter2Charter@chartercom.com
http://www.charter.com/Umatter2Charter
Nicola.madscientist.tesla
Grover Beach,California,
U.S.A.
Difference in Billing
#24Author of original report
Tue, December 27, 2011
Charter TV services: 58.99 last month, 80.98 this month
Charter Internet Services 33.78 last month, 51.99 this month
Charter Phone Services: 33.78 last month, 40.07 this month
Taxes and fees: 14.53 last month, 16.77 this month
Modem lease: $5 last month, $7 this month
Interesting, charter added the modem lease to the bill after I was told that the modem would be free.
It was supposed to be included in a "bundle" but then Charter raised the price of the bundle, after I "locked in" the price. In other words, after I signed for a locked price, they raised it.
I was not charged for a while, and then the modem lease was added, surprise, surprise.
Increase due to charges for STARZ and Encore, $15. These are two services that I never agreed to pay for. When I connected my cable at this address, I was told that I would receive these two channels for free.
This month Charter began charging me for the two channels. A nice Christmas surprise. Now I will be forced to pay for two services that I never agreed to pay for, by trickery.
Nice bait and switch scam, Charter. I am amazed at how you are constantly thinking of newer, more creative ways to steal from unsuspecting customers.
Of course, I am not the only customer that Charter is stealing from.
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Curious
#24Consumer Comment
Tue, December 27, 2011
Without going into their Customer Service issues. You sound like you keep track of your bills, so probably have both statements. So what is different between the two months? Unless you are saying that they just have an extra $45 added to the total there must have been some difference.
Nicola.madscientist.tesla
Grover Beach,California,
U.S.A.
Could have guessed this....
#24Author of original report
Tue, December 27, 2011
For one thing, anytime a customer attempts to "resolve" anything with Charter, they are given nothing but an endless run around. This is Charters policy, designed to stall resolution of any customer complaint. The end result is that the customer becomes so fed up, that they go away. Charter wants this.
The ONLY time a customer finds resolution is to file government level complaints, or call the police. Even if the customer files a complaint with BBB, Charter will lie to the BBB, and pretend that the complaint has been resolved. Again, to make the complaint go away.
Why was this price increased? Greed.
Charter is infamous for taking advantage of customers, and they will, at any opportunity.
Whether Charter is charging customers for equipment that was returned, (their favorite scam) or Charter is jacking up your bill, to force you to sign a contract, or Charter is hitting you with a hidden installation fee, or referring you to a collection agency to force you to pay money you don't owe...
they are thieves. And they will remain thieves.
Considering that Charter is the poorest rated customer service in the United States of America, and has been for many years...(check consumer reports magazine) (customers have filed THOUSANDS of complaints against this company with the BBB)
Any Charter customer would switch providers in a heartbeat, if they could.
BUT unfortunately, Charter has a monopoly on many communities and the poor have little choice but to submit to the extortion and theft. (Other than going without services at all).
And so I will look forward to the day when Charter is kicked out of my community, and replaced with another company that treats it's customers with the honesty and respect they deserve.
In the meantime, I have to suffer from the worst communications company in the U.S.A. (documented and verified by thousands of pissed off customers, Google it yourself)
Umatter2charter
Town and Country,Missouri,
USA
Billing Increase
#24UPDATE Employee
Tue, December 27, 2011
Good evening,
My name is Abby Catron, and I am a Senior Social Media Specialist for Charter. Costs are important these days and I can understand why you would be concerned to see an increase in your bill. I would be more than happy to find out what caused the increase, as well as work with you on a resolution that will make you a happy customer again. Please send an e-mail to Umatter2Charter@chartercom.com with the name, address, and phone number on the account, as well as the best number to reach you. Also, please put CharterAbby User532989 in the subject line so that I can keep an eye out for the e-mail.
Looking forward to resolving your concerns,
Abby Catron
Senior Social Media Specialist Charter
Umatter2Charter@chartercom.com
http://www.charter.com/Umatter2Charter