Time warner sucks....

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by Banditman

And why is that? The only things you need to live is food, shelter water and power. The rest are things that you want but don't need.

What I an trying to say is that the people have the power to change things they don't like. Don't LET them control you. Don't settle for their services if they don't treat you like a customer.

Monopoly companies are bad news for consumers! And don't ever sign a contract.

Definately there is a difference between nice to have and need. Frequently as mentioned, a nice to have can become a need to have. Now discounting that for a moment, the point I was trying to make is the matter of choice in a provider of a service.

In most areas, if a person would like to have broadband cable service they are limited to the company who has the awarded franchise rights to their location. Most towns and cities have a single provider and that is who you get. Now if you have a problem with the service, you can call and complain, however, there is nothing binding the company to do much about it. This is where they should face a penalty based upon the franchise agreement they have with the community they serve.

I haven't had a contract with a cell phone company in years. There is no need for one. Though I have had the same carrier since day one. Well the name has changed a few times but still where I started basically.

Ron

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by Banditman

Do you need broadband? NO.

Depends on who you ask. Pose that question to my girlfriend or myself, and the answer is a resounding YES. We both work in the Medical Transcription field from home, and the company we go through (like the overwhelming majority of them) requires a broadband connection.

Sure we could break down the needs even further to simply food, water, and warmth, putting us back in the caveman era in an effort to stick to all the mans. But that's just a little too idealistic for me...

[Banditman]

Originally Posted by MantaBase

Just curious, how do you connect to the internet?

I'm in a large metropolitan area. Still, I have few choices. And i promise you that I sign a contract (or enter into one) for any of the services.

Further, anyone I do work for enters into a contract. Without them, people won't pay.

Customer service is big with me - but so are contracts.

Manta

I use dial up for the time being and have for years. But I also considering getting broadband from local cable co. There have been a few issues with them already and I told them so. If I don't like them, I go back to dial up. I have had NO issues with my dial up provider.

A contract for WORK to be done is a diff story from a contract for service! If someone don't like your service, they should be able to go to someone else and not be charged for leaving a service that they dislike.
Any company that makes you sign a contract is not customer or consumer oriented in my book.

Originally Posted by Reloadron

Definately there is a difference between nice to have and need. Frequently as mentioned, a nice to have can become a need to have. Now discounting that for a moment, the point I was trying to make is the matter of choice in a provider of a service.

In most areas, if a person would like to have broadband cable service they are limited to the company who has the awarded franchise rights to their location. Most towns and cities have a single provider and that is who you get. Now if you have a problem with the service, you can call and complain, however, there is nothing binding the company to do much about it. This is where they should face a penalty based upon the franchise agreement they have with the community they serve.

I haven't had a contract with a cell phone company in years. There is no need for one. Though I have had the same carrier since day one. Well the name has changed a few times but still where I started basically.

Ron

So if there are no other providers to switch to then are you going to continue to give your hard earned money to a company that treats you like crap and/or has crap service? I wouldn't. I would do without untill someone else moves in with that service or that company straightens up.

"This is where they should face a penalty based upon the franchise agreement they have with the community they serve." --- That will never happen!

Originally Posted by One4yu2c

Depends on who you ask. Pose that question to my girlfriend or myself, and the answer is a resounding YES. We both work in the Medical Transcription field from home, and the company we go through (like the overwhelming majority of them) requires a broadband connection.

Sure we could break down the needs even further to simply food, water, and warmth, putting us back in the caveman era in an effort to stick to all the mans. But that's just a little too idealistic for me...

That is the only exception, business. They have you buy the **** and can treat you however they want. I was not talking about going back to caveman era. I was talking about simply doing without or changing providers untill they change the way they treat customers, an option that non business users have.

I will stop now because this will become an endless discussion.

[Reloadron]

So if there are no other providers to switch to then are you going to continue to give your hard earned money to a company that treats you like crap and/or has crap service? I wouldn't. I would do without untill someone else moves in with that service or that company straightens up.

"This is where they should face a penalty based upon the franchise agreement they have with the community they serve." --- That will never happen!

No some of the above does happen. What needs to be understood is how franchise agreements with towns and cities are reached. Things like waiting times a customer faces for service even figure into things. Case in point and as an example Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Their franchise agreement states when a customer calls, following the recorded bull, they have 30 seconds to have a live person on the line. They can put you on hold but, they have 30 seconds to get you a live person to deal with. Failure results in a $5,000 fine per occurance. Time Warner has written countless checks to Cleveland Heights. Cleveland Heights has no problem turning their attorneys on Time Warner.

Most people are unaware who their representative is with their city. That is a damn shame too. Most (not all) cities and towns deal with a single company who offers the best all around deal for their population.

Myself and the wife much like One4yu2c rely on a good broadband connection. Frequently moving large files to and from other locations. Dial Up is far from a practicle solution. DSL in our area sucks.

Additionally the FCC has regulations the cable & DSL suppliers need to abide by. This is where a good working knowledge of how things work and what an individuals rights are helps.

Ron