Right hand, *please* meet left hand...

Friday, 9:12 am

By Kate

Jul

22

2005

During the past couple of weeks someone has tried to call the house numerous times. The Caller ID indicated that the calls were coming from ‘Unknown’, which usually means a telemarketer or other variety of spam call. When they hang up before the answering machine beep, it’s a sure bet. Except when it isn’t…

Out of annoyance I grabbed the phone yesterday and shouted, “Hello” when another ‘unknown’ called. Surprise, surprise. It wasn’t a telemarketer. It was the Comcast billing department, threatening me with dire consequences if I didn’t pay my May and June bills promptly. They had, they informed me, cut off my service and even if I didn’t want to reconnect, I still had to pay for services provided through June.

“But,” I said, “I switched over to Verizon on May 2 and I settled my account with you guys a week later. I took the cable boxes and modem back. I don’t owe you anything.”

I most certainly do, they explained. No one had notified them that my service had been terminated. Until I notify them, my service contract is still valid.

“But,” I said, “I have a signed paper, releasing me from the contract, that the office gave me when I turned in the equipment. I don’t have a contract with you anymore. Not since May 12th.”

Yes, but I was supposed to call the billing department to let them know, they said. And this most helpful person tried to give me an analogy. “When you take your car in to get it fixed, that doesn’t mean the place you bought it from knows what you’re doing.”

Huhh?

We finally agreed that I should fax them the canceled contract proving that I had settled accounts and returned the goods. I didn’t want to and didn’t see any reason why I should have to, but I did it. Upon receipt, the billing office and I spoke once more and the person on the other end of the line said, “You’re all set.”

“That’s what you told me when I turned in the equipment and settled my account on May 12th.”

“No, you’re all set now. Really.”

I was pretty sure of that two and a half months ago. Maybe it’s really official now. What happens to all the stuff they enter into their computer system? How could the billing department not know that a service contract had been terminated and final payments made? They cashed my check. Someone knew. I don’t get it. Guess we’ll see what next month brings. I don’t like Comcast.

Unrelated: This amused me. It ain’t over till the pudding crawls—a small anecdote from the London Tube.