Bluff Park, Alabama Forum

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General Category >> General Board >> problem with Charter Com
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Message started by BluffParkwriter on 05/16/08 at 10:54pm

Title: problem with Charter Com
Post by BluffParkwriter on 05/16/08 at 10:54pm

ok just want to see if anyone else has run into this...
We had the utility poll (and a tree) come down in the tornado that came through in April (small one but it was classified as an E-F zero) After getting the tree out Everything is fixed now the poll has been up and Alabama Power and Bellsouth have restrung their lines from the poll to the house and to the main line. ;D ;D

So we finally get Charter to come out to restring their line to the house, it was connected (we still had service) but was just on the ground, and the tech leaves a note on the door :-/ :-/ (he was there for no less than 10 min..I was in the house watching) That they can not restring the down line because of the trees (which had NOT been a problem for Bellsouth or Al power including now there are less trees becuase the big one fell and took out 2 small ones and the lines) and that it will have to be buried :o :o. They will have to have a contractor come out and survey and dig in like 2 weeks..........

So I call (mad as all get out >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(),
after telling them that the guy was here less than 10 mins and left my gate open where the dog got out but I got her.... they read me the notes that he put in the system. It is to dangerous and close to the power lines... (which was where it was before it fell, and it seems like it was not a problem for Bellsouth).
Then the supervisor tells me that this is the way they are doing down lines now (which is not true because everyone who was on the poll, all 4 of us had all the lines down and they came and put theirs back up) I explain that the septic tank, fill lines and pipe to the house and a big concrete padio are between the poll and the house where the powerlines etc run and that they can not dig there... I also said that this was Bluff Park..bedrock everywhere.... and that you cant freeken" dig 6 feet down!!! with out blasting my yard to he((

He says that they contract surveyors and crews to do it and that they really know what they are doing.........still missing my point.

We had to have the fence rebuilt (it got smashed by the tree) and they could not even use a jackhammer near the septic tank and lines on that side they had to hand dig the post holes.... we also have an underground spring running through our back yard that I forgot to mention.

So as my blood pressure goes up...
He says that they will send out another tech and supervisor to explain it all to me (steam out the ears at this point >:() and that we could get them to come out and look at the house/line/poll again.

so my though is that the guy that came out here just wanted to get home and put this all in (We were the last on the list at 4:00)

Now I get that the maintenance on buried lines is less... I get that is power lines are dangerous (we could turn the power off) instead of just hanging a down line and being done with it they want to destroy my yard (what is left of it) and bring in all this equipment and take down my new fence................. I think I may get a tree cut down that is in the way of Direct Tv's satellite and just switch to them....This is the stupidest thing I think I have ever heard!!! sorry I just had to rant

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by kitty3 on 05/16/08 at 11:21pm

We have had bunny ears for a reason similar to this. We are about to get the dish bundle w/our Bellsouth/ATT service. Might want to look into it.

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by JBH on 05/17/08 at 9:14am

Charter sucks. Monopolies do nothing but screw the consumer. One more thing to thank our city government for. They have been working on a new contract with the cable companies for years. Its not rocket science. Maybe they should talk to the folks in Pelham. They have great rates, and I think more than one company serves an area (crucial).

OK, I'm done for now.....

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by sparky on 05/17/08 at 6:31pm

Before I moved to Bluff Park I had Charter and hated it. We got Direct TV and love it so I would recommend it highly.

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by Recap on 05/17/08 at 7:55pm

I totally agree....Charter TV is awful. I do have them for my computer broadband access, but I really love having DirecTV and highly recommend them!

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by ronsu on 05/18/08 at 5:24pm

I have had problems with charter for some time. I have been paying for line maintenace and they refuse to change out the lines that were spliced and divided so many times, before we bought the house. I had Geek Squad out and they said the problem was with low signal and packets? What ever..... I have repeatedly asked Charter to fix this issue and they 'can't'. Yesterday I set up DSL with Bellsouth and bundled with Dish network. I qualify for hundreds in rebates and credits for "switching" from cable. Our appts are fairly soon and I can't wait to have reliable, consistent service. Maybe charter will get the message if enough people will switch

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by BluffParkwriter on 05/18/08 at 5:38pm

ronsu wrote:

We did a deal like that but it was just to switch to Bellsouth (AT&T now) from another provider. We switched from Charter to Bellsouth. Turned everything in for the rebate and for some reason it got disqualified.. we called about it and the dist mang. could not even figure out why it was and he put it through again and we had a check in about 2 weeks... This was like a few months ago. So it may take a while to get it back but I have to say the service is so much faster and not a pain in the #&@

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by ht2 on 05/19/08 at 11:11am

Charter is terrible, particularly their customer service, but my wife and I are stuck with them since we have too many trees in our yard to get a dish.

Title: Re: well quess what
Post by BluffParkwriter on 05/19/08 at 10:31pm

Well an update and its not a good one... it started out good...

Hubby called this AM and talked to a tech they canceled the apt for the dig and reset up an appointment to have a tech come out and restring it. We had themput on our account that under no circumstances was there going to be doing any digging on my property. Also gave us a credit on lost service...which was nice.....

Well at 8:45PM my dad calls (he had gone to let the dog out in the yard for a bit while we were at work) says a crew has been in the back yard digging and the line is buried ...right over the septic tank! >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( no call no nothing

We are still at work at 10:25pm and when we get home after inspection someone is going to be out there to explain this!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never asked for much but if you are a person of faith please say a little prayer for me that I dont have a heart attack... in all seriousness I have a heart problem.

You can guess what is going to happen next!

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by Mrs. B on 05/20/08 at 9:06am

Folks,

Here is the link to the City of Hoover's "all about cable" site.

http://www.hooveral.org/Default.asp?ID=532&pg=Cable+TV+FAQ

There is an email address and a number to call.

The City of Hoover has been terrific in helping to resolve problems with Charter. I know, from personal experience with a dropped line.
Charter WILL listen to someone from the city when they will not listen/respond to their paying customers.
Good luck all!

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by Forolemiss on 05/21/08 at 4:50pm

DirectTV is cheaper and has a better channel selection that Charter. My wife and I switched several years back after some downed trees left us without cable for a week. You may have some interference during heavy rain but since the system is not tied to a network you have a signal right after it goes out versus days later. We love DirectTV!!!!!

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by Bluff Park Guy on 05/22/08 at 2:16pm

I liked satellite too, the only problems I had was no signal during heavy rain or bad weather.....when it would be nice to be able to watch the weather on TV and you have to have a satellite box for every TV to get channels on them. The additional rental fees for the extra boxes can get expensive if you have several televisions.

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by BluffParkwriter on 05/22/08 at 2:47pm

unfortunately they can not hit the sat. We are stuck with charter or we may just drop them altogether.
They got to come fix this mess they have made first.

I have talked to the city contact that Mrs. B sent and I also have talked to Ronda Robinson with 6 on your side. We think they have it the fill lines and now have to have all of it dug up to have it checked.

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by rlfbhm on 05/22/08 at 9:26pm

Dish network. I hope Charter goes out of business. When we moved into our house, Dish Network said the trees might block the signal and my wife and I were prepared to cut down trees or go without cable before we suscribed to Charter. We were able to get the signal. I have had Dish for six years and have been on hold less time in six years combined than one call to Charter.

You should just go down to the office. It's in Shades Mountain Plaza.

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by BluffParkwriter on 05/24/08 at 2:51pm

Dish network has an office in Shades Mtn Plaza? where?
Not that it is going to help me but I did not know they were there.

We are going to cut down the tree just not right now, cost (its going to be around 1000 to do it and they will have to take the fence down to get a bucket truck in the backyard...its that big) and Charter is going to fix this first before I do anything

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by JBH on 05/25/08 at 4:53pm

Nothing to do with cable, but depending on what kind of a tree, and how big, you might be able to sell it for lumber, and they will take it down, or so others have done in the past.

Title: Re: Charter problem success
Post by BluffParkwriter on 05/30/08 at 9:36pm

Success!
After talking with a lady in the office of the City of Hoover this has been fixed, but I still dont think they know what happened.

A man from Charter's office called early today saying that he was going to look into what happened and find the contract company that came out to bury the line. He said he would have that office call me.

While I was out and a good ways from the house I got a call from the contract company saying that someone would be at the house in 1 to 2 hours....????? I was not even sure what they were going to do.. I just wanted to talk to someone first.

So I get home and they are there. Guy got a little attitude with me because they had been there for about 20min and could not get in the yard!!!!!!!!!!!!! (We got key locks by brinks and they are on the inside of the fence this time!) I asked why they were told to come... honestly I could not understand 80% of what they were saying. So we got it figured out that they would see if they could move the line in a direction where it would not go over the septic tank etc. Not having the best luck because of the ROCKS. The guys boss calls and tells them to stop what they are doing and leave! so they do and they tell me that a Charter crew has been sent to re-hang the line!

and where is it now.... in the air ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

The 2 man crew that came hung the line with no problem and also said that if the first crew/man that had come out 2 weeks ago had done it right in the first place we would not have had to go through all this.

So thank you thank you to the Charter guys who came out today, one said he lived in the area (just a few streets over)

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by PharmD on 05/31/08 at 7:21pm

Glad to hear your line is back in the air!

I've always had good experiences with charter. We have their cable, internet, and phone package and anytime I have a problem they have always been right out to take care of it. I don't think they have every sent "contractors" out to do anything- its always been someone in a charter vehicle/uniform. Maybe thats the key to get one fo their people and not let them send an outsourced contractor.

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by RockviewResident on 06/02/08 at 11:03am

Another happy DirecTV user here. I've been with them for over 5 years and never had a problem.

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by Blackhawk H60 on 06/02/08 at 10:18pm

I had been with Direct TV for over five years. I was tired of paying the "higher rates", so I went with a Charter bundle. What a mistake! Charter has terrible HD TV. I stayed with them for almost one month and now I am back with Direct TV, but I did keep the Charter for my broadband (computer).

Oh, Charter when they installed the Cable, they did bury my line. That was nice. They only go down about four inches, but it was a pretty good job.

If you decide to go to Direct TV or if you need an additional box from Direct TV, let me know. The contractor that did our installation was very friendly and they also do a professional job. :)

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by Abbey111 on 09/19/08 at 1:55pm

I am going to check and see if we can get Direct TV, not sure about the trees and if they will block satellite. I am tired of never being able to watch the ONDemand movies we pay for.

One day 2 years ago I go so mad at Charter bc of how badly their Internet Service was (I cancelled during this episode and now have Bellsouth DSL- vastly superior) I wrote Honk If You HATE Charter on my car and drove around town for a day like that. I got a few honks, but mostly crazy looks. I went home and washed it off. Just an example of how crazy Charter makes people!!! ::)

Title: Re: problem with Charter Com
Post by ronsu on 09/19/08 at 4:17pm

I have bundled with Bellsouth. Dish Network has been great. Rebates of 250.00 for switching from charter. You should look into Dish over Direct