Antonlm
join:2004-09-15
Birmingham, AL
1 edit | Now this...
Is funny! 
I wonder how people got the idea that everytime it rains, they lose Sat service. Does this suit have any merit? |
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Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
 ·Comcast
 ·Embarq
1 edit |  From Crappy to Horrible.
 Charter subscribers may see their service quality decline to horrible. I was a victim of Adelphia's plunge. The Adelphia service department would not fix problems and used substandard parts to make repairs. In one case, a technician walked out of a neighbors home, late in the afternoon, in the middle of an installation, because they said they would not receive overtime pay. |
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tstolze
Premium
join:2003-08-08
O Fallon, MO
·CenturyLink
| Funny Adds
The funniest DirecTV add about Charter is a guy that failed his final test for anger management. For the final exam he has to call Charter customer service!
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Ofallon, Mo Weather
St. Peters, Mo Weather |
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| reply to Antonlm
Re: Now this...
said by Antonlm  :Is funny! I wonder how people got the idea that everytime it rains, they lose Sat service. Does this suit have any merit? They got the idea becuase when Directv first came out it was in fact and issue. People remember that and they tell their friends. What does that have to do with Charter? |
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footballdude
Premium
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO | desperate
Charter is acting desperate. The ads I've seen and heard very specifically DON'T say that Charter is going out of business, the say things like "avoid Charter's mess and switch to us".
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It's a trick. Get an axe. - Ash |
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AMDUSER
Premium
join:2003-05-28
Earth
clubs: | reply to Antonlm
Re: Now this...
I can hear it now, Direct TV (and Dish Network) file suit claiming their service does not go out every time it rains out.
It would not surprise me if at least one of Charters Customer Service Reps indicated as much. |
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NeoandGeo
join:2003-05-10
Harrison, TN | reply to Mr Matt
Re: From Crappy to Horrible.
That's a technician that doesn't like to be dicked around. |
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11 | reply to footballdude
Re: desperate
This is no different than the cable companies using the OTA digital transition to up-sell their analog customers to more expensive digital plans even though the OTA conversion has nothing to do with cable. Glass houses... |
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Antonlm
join:2004-09-15
Birmingham, AL | reply to BF69
Re: Now this...
The fact that losing service when it rains has been alluded to in some cable ads and more recent than when sat service first came out. So I find this suit from a cable company pretty funny. |
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nunya
SEE ROCK CITY 475 MILES
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
clubs:
 ·AT&T CallVantage
| Hilarious
The ads are hilarious. "Uhhh Ohhh"
Unfortunately for Charter, there is nothing untrue in the ads.
IMO, Charter is a terrible company. Poor service, poor offerings, poor plant, and high prices. Charters only hope: Comcast, Cox, or Time Warner.
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Looks like Reverend Wright got his wish - God Damn America. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
1 edit | reply to Antonlm
Re: Now this...
Um,... no one said "every time" it rains, for one, and two, it's a fact that heavy storms DO interfere with low powered satellite services. So, now you're sitting here trying to make a fact a non-fact.
Rain fade happens and is proven. Even satellite acknowledges that it happens but states it happens only in heavy storms and is rare which is becoming more and more true. Bankruptcy is always based on individual facts and each case is different.
Unless DirecTV has a crystal ball and knows the outcome of Charter's bankruptcy, even before the judges do, then in this case, I stand by Charter on this one. DirecTV should be getting their check books out for this one and should be ashamed of their downright dirty tactics.
This is about the same a saying that you have skin cancer and are going to die. You might, you might not, but should the estate auction begin now? ... many people survive cancer and don't always die. Many companies make it through bankruptcy protection and do survive. However, rain-fade DOES happen.
Oh, and the amount of times cable has "eluded" that storms affect satellite reception hasn't recently gotten stronger.. it was, however, pushed VERY hard by cable a decade ago. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20 | reply to AMDUSER
Where was an ad placed that said "every time"... ? |
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goillini
join:2006-04-26
Madison, WI
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T DSL Service
·Charter Pipeline
2 edits | pot, meet kettle.
For Charter to complain about deceptive advertising is truly hypocritical. For one thing, there's nothing untrue in DirecTV's ads. I am a Charter customer and find the DirecTV ads annoying, but I don't think it's a 'lie' to point out that Charter's bankrupt and could implode.
And Charter's certainly no stranger to deceptive advertising. Consider Charter's:
* ads that try to mislead customers by listing "HD choices" instead of HD channels to make it look like they're not wofeully behind on HD (which they are).
* ads and marketing that try to mislead customers by touting their "fiber optic" network. Good for you and your fiber-to-the-node network, Charter. It's not the same as FTTH and you know it. Well, should know it. Technical competence isn't exactly this company's strong suit, so I could be giving Charter too much credit.
* ads that try to mislead customers by touting cable modem speed advantages by comparing the fastest cable modem speed to the slowest DSL speed. (1 bajillion times faster!!!). A fairer comparison would be the top DSL speed vs the top cable modem speed. Then again, Charter rarely hits their advertised speeds and their network sucks, so it's moot anyway. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to RadioDoc
Re: desperate
Who is doing that? I can only speak for what I see in my own market, lately, but here they're saying "the analog to digital conversion is coming in June.. as a Comcast customer, if your television is already hooked to cable, you're already covered"... at least here they are not doing up-selling. They ARE saying that if your TV is not already hooked to cable, you'll either need to connect it to cable, or get a digital receiver (displays the digital TV website) to continue receiving programming. (and then the usual "contact us" message.. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to nunya
Re: Hilarious
While they may be funny, I don't think DirecTV needs to be worried about what's going on with Charter's Bankruptcy proceedings.
This is no different than when a network, like the ones owned by SINclair Broadcasting were going to be pulled from MediaCom, and then the network would make a deal with DirecTV to PAY customers to move off of MediaCom and sign on with DirecTV.
These kinds of tactics are dirty pool, and if you ask me, borderline violate laws in place to protect consumers.
ALL of this kind of advertising needs to come to an end - period. If you have a product to advertise, advertise it.. If you have to result to attacking your competition IN ANY FORM, then what does that say about the strength of your own product? To me, it says, "Hey! look at me!! I'm the lesser of two evils!!" |
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woody7
Premium
join:2000-10-13
Torrance, CA
·EarthLink
·DSL EXTREME
| reply to goillini
Re: pot, meet kettle.
I live in southern california, when I took my cable box back a couple years ago the guy asked why I was returning it, and I said because I signed up for sat tv, he said that when it snows I will get really bad service, it hasn't snowed where I live since 1949 |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA | reply to fiberguy
Re: Now this...
Agreed. Besides customers won't lose their TV/Internet/Phone service. Someone will always take over. Rain fade is a fact. Satellite service goes out during storms. Anyone saying this is not true is full of shit. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to goillini
Re: pot, meet kettle.
I'll be honest.. not a single thing you posted here is a valid argument.. it's all borderline BS compared to what the topic at hand is.
DirecTV is yelling FIRE in a crowded theater right now, and they know it.
My prediction is strong that DirecTV will loose, and they will pay Charter for lost subscribers.
No matter if Charter winds up being dismantled and sold off or not, DirecTV is still damaging the assets of Charter and the value to the next buyer.
Do you REALLY think that Charter, the holding company, going BR means that the cables are going to be pulled from the poles and service will go dark? Someone else is going to buy the properties and operate the franchise.
DirecTV is vandalizing the assets at Charter which can result in making a bad situation worse, OR, devaluing the ability for the next operator coming in to operate it...
... and all for what.. FUD marketing?
You guys all need to, if you're going to participate in a conversation like this, 1) Put your personal horror stories to the side when trying to make a point.. it doesn't work or change the scope of things. No one could care less if a tech showed up late, or you sat on hold for hours. 2) Apply the laws, not your own "feelings" towards the arguments. 3) And the biggest one, tit for tat doesn't work. PERIOD - EVER! .. when it comes to applying the law. EACH AND EVERY complaint is handled as a separate issue in the eyes of the law.
NOTHING you sated above in your alleged "deceptive advertising" claim above matters in what DirecTV is being accused of doing to Charter. NOTHING. If DirecTV has an issue with what Charter, or in this case, The CABLE INDUSTRY is saying about their OWN service, then DirecTV needs to address them separately.. but the two points you're trying to mold together in your "yea, but!!" argument makes not a SINGLE bit of difference. Honestly, it sounds like you're trying to apply "mom-justice" to this situation and it don't work. It's not like you and your brother just got in a fight and MOM is going to weigh in on the things you and your bro did to make her decision.. if you really think the law works that way.. all I can say is .. WOW!
But, to address your points made becuase honestly, it's old and tired..
1) HD Choices is valid.. read the word CHOICES. If you're too un-educated to figure it out for yourself, then you're the one with the problem. You OBVIOUSLY demonstrate that you understand what they're saying.. so guess what, a judge, if ruling on a complaint, hears an argument, goes by definition and intent. If you can state your intent meaning "content" and not "channels" which "channels" are not said, rather "choices".. well, you have no base for your argument against cable. Just because you don't know how to understand the English language doesn't a law suite make.
2) Misleading customer by touting their "fiber optic" network? Um, they have a fiber optic network. Where does "to the node" need to be stated? Are you that dense? Cable has has a fiber network for a long time.. FTTH wasn't an issue until just about a year ago in any meaning.. and the "fiber network" has been marketed for a decade or more. You're really reaching on this one, as are the rest of the cheer leaders on this BS argument..
3) Cable speeds vs. DSL speeds. Do you have ANY idea what the difference between cable and DSL is? .. distance perhaps? For those that even QUALIFY for DSL, the "average" speed for DSL still remains 1.5 meg to the bulk of customers served. But, to make YOUR point better, you're going to go with the least of the examples and go for those 6 meg speeds, right? .. the ones available to those living close to that node or central office, right? They state that their speeds are based on 1.5 meg speeds which MOST people qualify for. Guess what.. some people still only qualify for 256kbps in many areas still. Cable, however, can serve their base speeds to their entire foot print. Further, you try to enhance your argument, or shall I say, exaggerate your argument by saying "1 bajillion times faster!" ... again, if you're going to make an argument, YOU, yourself, have to be honest as well. Show me or anyone ONE ad that says "1 bajillion times".. I CAN, however, show you plenty of ads that say "10 times faster" which would be accurate.
Sorry to tell you, you're wrong.. NO! A "fairer" comparison would NOT be comparing the top DSL speed vs the top cable speed. But, let's look at that one and let me tear that one apart for you.
The top traditional DSL speed right now is 7meg from Qwest DSL. In that same market, Comcast (Their biggest competitor) offers speeds of 50/5 meg. That 7meg speed is available to a few select customers, while where 50 meg speeds are available, all customers qualify for it. The speed comparison gets even better there.
Further, the distance qualified DSL speeds, in some areas, could be available to just 10% of the population base, or less in some areas. If you REALLY want to push that argument, be VERY careful!! If you want to take and push this issues, then, it's only fair that the DSL provider be able to go to the government and say "We provide 7mg DSL to X area.. we're advanced internet now!" Or, if you're trying to use the least common denominator in your argument, so long as ONE SINGLE HOME in any given zip code can even GET DSL from them, then that area should be considered "serviceable" for reporting reasons too, right?
... no.. of course not.. becuase that wouldn't support your cheer-leading efforts.
The bottom line is that each argument is taken on a case by case basis and holds their OWN merits. Remember the old saying "two wrongs don't make a right?" ... that's probably one of the most non-legal sayings that holds a lot of legal water to this day. And, when you try to make an argument to support your views, you need to keep emotion out of it and stick to facts. Just becuase you want to say the sky is red doesn't make it red which is what you tried to do in your three examples. There is no "opinion" about it.. |
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Flibbetigibbet
@lmco.com
| reply to Anonymous
Re: Now this...
Satellite can go out during very HEAVY storms, unless your dish is mis-aligned. In that case it'll happen more often.
Back when I had cable TV, I lost their signal during rainstorms a lot more often than I've ever lost my satellite signal.
Plus cable companies clean out the Jerk Store every time they go hiring for customer "service" reps... |
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Flibbetigibbet
@lmco.com
| reply to fiberguy
Re: pot, meet kettle.
You're leaving out something very important here: Charter sucks.
Charter's service sucks. They're bad even for a cable company when it comes to technology, channel offerings, lack of HD, etc.
Their internet service is wildly overpriced, but they've made up for that by adding something every customer has been demanding: download caps. Yay!
Their customer "service" is widesly acknowledged as the worst of the worst; I just spent three months convincing their idiot billing department that I didn't owe them the return of a modem--since I never rented one from them in the first place. Ever. Every bill I ever got from that lousy company containted the words "Customer owned modem"--but I still got threats of lawsuits and collection agencies.
So, DirecTV: more power to you. Bury the worthless bastards. They deserve it. |
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