So I know I haven't "blogged" in like 300 years, but this was far too long to be your average Facebook post...
What in God's name is the deal with Time Warner Cable? How in the world in this piece of shit, poorly run company still in business? I thought the government tried to prevent monopolies, but apparently I was very misinformed. They literally have a monopoly on my entire zip code (and I am sure others), which is my only guess as to why they are still around. Their TV service is stupid, no one uses home phones, and their Internet is slow, yet if I need the Internet at my house (which in 2013 I DO), I HAVE to use them. Let me start from the beginning (well of today's story at least):
My husband gets a call that our Internet is going to get shut off for a past due bill. Something I find very odd, considering I use auto bill-pay and my $56 was just drafted on the 8th, so I call. After talking to an ESL* employee about my concerns, I was transferred to "Customer Care", a department, in my humble opinion, should change their name to "Customer, we don't give a shit". The representative, (who I have appropriately named "Jeremy the douche"), in a very demeaning way, explains to me that the price of my monthly bill has gone up by $12 as of July 1st because my "promotion" has ended. Now, I don't know why they think paying $56 a month for slow Internet that only works in 3 of the 8 rooms of my house is a "promotion", but again seeing how half the company doesn't speak English, perhaps they were confused by what that word actually means. I then asked why I was paying for a "bundle" with basic cable attached, if I don't use their shit cable, I proudly pay for Direct TV (another company that could use some tweaking, but far more glorious to work with than these twits). He smugly replied with this (not exaggerating at all): "My guess is whenever you or your husband called in (which is a joke, my husband doesn't even schedule his own doctor's appointments, let alone handle bills) the conversation probably went something like this 'You could get just the turbo Internet for $79, or you can get the bundle with turbo Internet AND our shit basic cable for $49', at which point you or your husband probably thought 'wow, that's cheaper, I will do the bundle.' That's PROBABLY how the conversation went..." Thanks DICK, I know how it went, I am just curious how I signed up for a $49 "bundle" and somehow I have $77 bills coming my way. Oh that's right, because TWC is notorious for their incessant fees. I swear if you look at the line items on your bill (which if you sign up for online bill pay, you can't see any line items... another way to screw you), you will see a tax for everything.
Being Blonde: $2.13
Breathing Oxygen: $3.17
Born in July: $5.22
He then told me that it's customary for any and all service companies to do these "promotions" where at some arbitrary time they just raise the price on you, no notice necessary. You know why it's "customary" Time Warner? Because you bullies came into the marketplace and made it customary. That is exactly what they are, monopolizing bullies. Is it SO crazy that I want to call in, get a nice normal person on the phone, tell them I want the fastest Internet service available for $50-$60 per month, and not have to worry about the price changing every 6-12 months? Or ask for a $50-$60 service, only to find a bill that is $75 because of
unreasonably ridiculous taxes and fees? "Jeremy the douche" literally told me that I can expect my price to go up $10-$12 every July, and I just have to deal with that, seriously?!?! How and why is that fair? They aren't doing $10-$12 more work than they did last year, in fact, they are probably doing less. Meanwhile, if you are a "new customer" who joins, YOU get these amazing "promotional" prices, but loyal customers, who they should be trying to retain get screwed. But again, they aren't worried about retention, and that's for one reason and one reason only... M-O-N-O-P-O-L-Y. I am not talking about the board game, or for the fatter people reading, the fun stickers on your XXXL fries at McDonald's, no I mean they CONTROL the market. They know that people much like myself literally don't have one other option, because if we did, we sure as hell would not be with them.
I posted this Facebook status earlier today: "If there were one free day, to do ANYTHING illegal with no repercussions... I would ABSOLUTELY use it to burn ALL Time Warner Cable locations to the ground." IMMEDIATELY it was flooded with likes and comments of friends saying things like "I would help you carry the gas cans."
"Let me know if you need a driver."
"Don't even get me started on TWC."
Obviously I am not the first or last person who feels this company's lack of integrity and service is wrong and unjust, but they know we need Internet to function (for most jobs today) and they know they are the only place we can get it, so they prey on us, the lowly consumer.
Perhaps if this blog post gets shared around, more and more people will realize they aren't the only ones who have been kicked in the shin by Time Warner's steal-toed boots. It's not right, it's not fair, and something should be done. If nothing else, please Buda, TX (specifically the entire 78610 zip code), PLEASE get us another Internet provider and quick. I would LITERALLY pay $200 a month for dial up Internet speeds with a company who forces small children to run their facilities 20 hours a day, because even that company probably has more integrity than Time Warner Cable.
* ESL- The acronym for "English as a Second Language"; and undoubtedly a requirement to work in the first line of call screeners for Time Warner Cable.
