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.
 
 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 . 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

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.....

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!

Quote from ronsu on 05/18/08 at 5:24pm:

 
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 #&@

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!

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!!!!!

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.

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