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Rant On: The Suspected Evil Cable Company
May. 12th, 2011 07:16 amSo I get home yesterday after work and just crash into a nap. Softball the night before was late and wore me out. So I wake up a couple of hours later and turn on the TV to ... nothing. The little message on the TV said that the service was receiving no signal. I tried a couple of other TV's, and got the same message.
I've had issues with Insight before. They call every so many weeks and want to "come out and check things," but when I press them on what that means, they're vague. This involves setting up an appointment, which is usually inconvenient for me. I set up one and missed it because I couldn't leave work. When I tried to contact them to tell them I'd miss the appointment, I was told that was "another department," which I figured was the "sales department." I suspect that the "check on things" visit is just a chance to see who I use for telephone and internet service, which is something they push constantly.
So back to yesterday, I called the cable company to report it. When I told him none of my TV's were receiving a signal, he made it sound like it was something outside the house. He set up an appointment. I told him if he wanted me there, that I have to have a lot of notice as I'll be at work (and I said this in an annoyed tone). He asked if I knew if my neighbors still had signal (like I would know).
As I was about to hang up, he remarked that he noticed that I don't use their internet service or phone service. Ah hah, I thought, that's what this is I bet. If I wont set up an appointment when there is no problem, you'll create one so I will. Paranoid I know, but the timing seems perfect. The conversation went something like this:
Insight: "We can set you up for unlimited long-distance and local calls for only $25 a month. How does that sound?"
Me (irritated): "Well, there are two things you should remember. 1) I'm calling you because the one service I have with you isn't working, and 2) I'm already irritated that I have to miss work tomorrow to come home for the appointment for you to fix it. So, now probably isn't a good time to try to sell me something."
Insight: "Okay, then thank you for calling Insight and you have a good evening..."
And just to add a little more salt to the wound, I checked with my neighbors. Their cable is working fine. She did tell me that Insight has been calling them for a "check" appointment too. Who wants to take bets that their cable will be out soon as well?
I've had issues with Insight before. They call every so many weeks and want to "come out and check things," but when I press them on what that means, they're vague. This involves setting up an appointment, which is usually inconvenient for me. I set up one and missed it because I couldn't leave work. When I tried to contact them to tell them I'd miss the appointment, I was told that was "another department," which I figured was the "sales department." I suspect that the "check on things" visit is just a chance to see who I use for telephone and internet service, which is something they push constantly.
So back to yesterday, I called the cable company to report it. When I told him none of my TV's were receiving a signal, he made it sound like it was something outside the house. He set up an appointment. I told him if he wanted me there, that I have to have a lot of notice as I'll be at work (and I said this in an annoyed tone). He asked if I knew if my neighbors still had signal (like I would know).
As I was about to hang up, he remarked that he noticed that I don't use their internet service or phone service. Ah hah, I thought, that's what this is I bet. If I wont set up an appointment when there is no problem, you'll create one so I will. Paranoid I know, but the timing seems perfect. The conversation went something like this:
Insight: "We can set you up for unlimited long-distance and local calls for only $25 a month. How does that sound?"
Me (irritated): "Well, there are two things you should remember. 1) I'm calling you because the one service I have with you isn't working, and 2) I'm already irritated that I have to miss work tomorrow to come home for the appointment for you to fix it. So, now probably isn't a good time to try to sell me something."
Insight: "Okay, then thank you for calling Insight and you have a good evening..."
And just to add a little more salt to the wound, I checked with my neighbors. Their cable is working fine. She did tell me that Insight has been calling them for a "check" appointment too. Who wants to take bets that their cable will be out soon as well?
