Comcast is Evil
I come more and more to the opinion that large corporate entities are not just bad to people, but as organizations might actually approach evil. This was confirmed by a recent interaction with Comcast.
Just to emphasize before the rest of the story, every person I spoke to on the phone (with one noted exception) were very helpful, nice, and respectful. I have zero problems with the employees, just with the over eager profit margin managers who have set up the system and hoops for jumping.
I was originally going to lease a modem and router from Comcast and have them do their regular install. Verison had a self install package, but unfortunately they only really low bandwidth service for a rather high price. But over time it became clear that i could probably just get the install done myself by talking to my buddy Ty. So this past Sunday we went over to BestBuy and go equipment that would work for the job. This was especially nice since I got a much better modem/router for less than the cost that Comcast would have squeezed me for.
So we went back to my apartment and got everything hooked up. The modem was receiving a signal and my computer recognized it with no problems. So we called Comcast with the intent to cancel the whole install and give them the MAC Address of the modem to get things working. After first being told that was not a possibility I put ty on the phone.
He managed to get transfered to the tech department. This was the one person we talked to who didn’t even try to be helpful. Ty was promptly transfered back to customer service. There was really zero discussion with the tech guy, thanks…
Back to customer service, we were excited to learn that somewhere between canceling the original installation and attempting to figure out a self install the whole package deal had gotten cancelled at some point. After a couple more transfers things got sorted out. Then we finally got a customer service rep that was getting ready to try to push the MAC address through and simply get things activated.
Awesome!
Well unfortunately that was not possible. After trying to get to an area to put the address in then talking to her supervisor or last, and probably most helpful, CS gal said she couldn’t set it up over the phone. Comcast has made it a rule that for any new service a tech must physically go to the property, then they call the MAC Address in.
That’s right. A professional you have to pay a good deal of money has to come and stand in your room and call in exactly the same number you could give the company free over the phone. The great thing was, the CS Gal realized that it was also pretty much a profit scam and apologized for it.
Oh well.
Next Sunday I will actually get internet for my home.
So pissed off.
Though I do count it as a partial win since they admitted that it was a very stupid policy.
Indeed, I would agree to the partial win.
Mayhap we will be forced to engage them in a later battle to attempt a total victory with demands for unconditional surrender!
Or you know… Switch to a different provider someday down the line.