Phyllis Spiegel, Plainsboro
Why are we captives of Comcast and Verizon, the two giants who control our lives? Both companies have the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. And we are prisoners, forced to pay what they decide we should pay.
I am a senior, living on Social Security and savings and do not have an income that rises regularly in the percentages that these companies expect us to pay.
I am not a TV watcher and have had Comcast’s lowest TV plan which they call Basic Limited. This includes network TV, public TV, CSPAN and a few other stations. No CNN, Turner, sports channels or the other popular cable channels. I do not want them and I do not miss them. I use the Internet and like having a telephone in the house, a necessity. I do not have an iPhone and my cell phone is on a family member’s plan and therefore not included in monthly bill.
I was on a promotional plan of $87 a month with Comcast and suddenly in one month the bill went up by 30 percent to $114. No warning, no additional services, no improved customer communication — in fact, these companies which deal basically in communication, are the worst communicators I have ever encountered.
Since my home is already wired for FiOS and Verizon is on the hunt for new customers — they seem to have the most aggressive, greedy, commission-earning sales force I’ve ever encountered — they are sending almost daily fliers about the low, low prices they are willing to give me. Of course these mailings seemed appealing — $69.99 a month for two years for Internet, phone and TV. I’ve been getting these pleas to switch for months. When one came in for $59.99 a month for all three services, with far more TV than I’d ever care to even explore, I called.
It was worse than dealing with the aggressive sales people for time shares, land deals or penny stocks. But we came to an agreement — and within minutes the $59.99 became $111 — with no extra services. But you need to pay for the boxes for your TV, taxes and assorted fees — none of which are itemized under that appealing $59.99 a month. First they get you to sign up — at that stage the estimated monthly cost including “everything“ was $91. Then they had me sign, “agree“ to pages of copy which no one has the time or energy to read, and the deal was made. Only then, for the first time, did I see what my monthly cost would be: $111.
It took far longer to cancel this yet uninstalled service than to sign up for it..
I’d call this dishonest marketing — a new form of bait and switch — but certainly deceiving the customer.
In addition, when you do sign up and change from Comcast to Verizon, they tell you you must have a new telephone number and pay for a listing. I’ve had my telephone number for decades and that would be a great inconvenience. I believe you must also pay for not having a listing, but am not certain about this.
I hear mumblings about government making the Internet free to all.
How can we eliminate being under the power of these “marketers“ for a necessary requirement of our lives?
Phyllis Spiegel
Plainsboro
