Comcast CEO Thinks Its Customer Service Problem Is Mostly A Matter Of Scale
from the lack-of-competition-makes-bad-companies-even-worse dept
Comcast, which frequently makes yearly Worst Company in America lists, is trying to address its public image -- that being one of a corporate monstrosity borne from a lack of competition that extracts as much money from its customers as possible while offering the minimum it can, service-wise, in return.
In a recent interview, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts asserts the problem isn't so much that Comcast is an awful company, but that the size of its customer base makes even a small percentage of complaints seem like a never ending cascade of screwed customers.
"What unfortunately happens is we have about … 350 million interactions with consumers a year, between phone calls and truck calls. It may be over 400 million and that doesn't count any online interactions which I think is over a billion. You get one-tenth of one-percent bad experience, that's a lot of people – unacceptable. We have to be the best service provider or in the end, this company won't be what I want it to be."Roberts is right. Even small pockets of discontent in a large customer base both exaggerate the size of the problem and are, as he puts it, "unacceptable." But this isn't simply a problem with scale. (A problem that will only exponentially increase if Comcast decides to purchase Time Warner Cable.) Comcast has made several moves over the years that have been fairly antagonistic towards its customer base.
And while the CEO is doing a bit of a goodwill tour, his company continues to makes moves that make Comcast seem even more evil.
First off, Comcast is looking to alter Nielson ratings in order to charge a premium for ads inserted into repeated episodes of TV shows -- a move aimed at capturing the "binge" viewer market.
"Comcast, the nation’s biggest cable provider, wants to count viewers who devour multiple episodes of shows, while giving the most current episode a ratings lift. The Philadelphia-based company is working with Nielsen to roll out on-demand commercial ratings, or C3, for participating networks."All well and good, except that the same article quotes Matt Strauss, the senior vice president of video services, as saying Comcast customers can kiss their DVR fast-forward button goodbye.
Basically, Comcast wants to flip the current advertising system upsides-down and have older episodes of primetime shows carrying the same commercial load as the most recent episode. Right now, Nielsen gives ratings credit only if the commercial ad load remains identical to the original episode.
While digital video recorders and services such as Dish’s AutoHopper infuriate programmers because they allow for fast forwarding of ads, Comcast’s video on-demand services disable fast forwarding.We can argue the semantics of using the word "lost" to describe something advertisers failed to capture all day long, but the bottom line is this: most customers hate commercials and they don't like them any better when they're made unskippable by cable companies. People pay a premium for DVR services. Telling them they can't do the one thing they'd most like to do is only going to increase the percentage of complaints.
“The money being lost by people fast-forwarding commercials is in the billions,” said Strauss.
DSLreports also points out that Comcast is still continuing its stealthy push towards capped broadband.
Comcast has slowly but surely been expanding their usage cap trials, predominately in less competitive Southern markets. Portions of Maine and Augusta, Georgia appear to be the latest market to face caps and overages. Augusta locals tell the local media they were surprised to suddenly see they had a 300 GB cap and had to pay $10 for every 50 GB they travel.As usual, this is accompanied by spokespeople "informing" reporters that "most people" don't use that much data and that sneaking in usage caps is the "fairest" way to make sure data hogs don't use up all the internet (paraphrased). Of course, these caps have nothing to do with managing bandwidth. It's just a way to make users pay more for their services. Comcast may find that many people don't hit 300GB/month in usage now, but that's likely to change in the future as streaming services like Netflix increase in popularity, as well as console manufacturers making active pushes for digital delivery.
In the short run, this activity hurts Comcast's reputation while increasing its income only slightly. But if the foot's in the door, it can rake in huge amounts of cash once these users switch towards data-heavy streaming services. It's a long game, but one Comcast feels is well worth playing. Customers? Not so much. There's a dearth of competition in the broadband market, and providers will very likely adopt usage caps even in competitive markets if any provider has already proven they can be instituted with minimal effect to its customer base.
Comcast's CEO may be stinging a little from his company's poor reputation, but expressing a little concern in an interview doesn't do much towards mitigating the damage done by years of customer-unfriendly tactics. And, if these recent stories are any indication, there will be much more damage done in the future.
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Filed Under: customer service, scale
Companies: comcast
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As much as...
I really hope that Google Fiber starts rolling out everywhere soon, put these jackwagons out of business.
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At least he recognizes that it's unacceptable regardless of how tiny of a percentage the complaints are. Now easier said than done eh?
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Re: As much as...
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Weirdly targeted. Was Microsoft even considered?
Then only possible conclusion is that Microsoft wasn't under consideration: Comcast is minor in comparison.
Civilization isn't just to have a few highly "efficient" corporations concentrating wealth: it's to provide FAIRNESS FOR ALL.
01:58:28[b-365-1] [ This suppresses the kids from fraud of using my screen name. ]
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Obama parties with this Brian Roberts
http://pagesix.com/2013/08/16/power-packed-vineyard-party-for-obama/
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Re:
Microsoft isn't even in the top 10.
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Yes, this is certainly the best use of funds - you know, as opposed to actually improving your service.
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Re: As much as...
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Re:
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I fear for the day when Verizon gets the same idiotic idea with FIOS.
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Re: Weirdly targeted. Was Microsoft even considered?
You are the only person who knows what it means? Anybody can impersonate you!
03:21:00[b-365-2] [ This is some gay ass timestamp that only I understand, it wards off evil spirits I think ]
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Re: As much as...
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Re: Weirdly targeted. Was Microsoft even considered?
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They are horrible
Every day my connection drops at least a couple times. And it isn't my router. Comcast's own gateway device shows that the connection is lost, often for multiple minutes at a time. Comcast's techs reassure me that everything is fine and that there is nothing they can do.
Even when the connection is up, speeds are pretty inconsistent.
It isn't like I live in the middle of nowhere, either. Suburban area, population of 300,000... with our neighboring sister city even having fiber available to most of its residents, and my city having fiber available to about half.
Comcast needs to go to bat for their customers. We need to feel like Comcast is there to help and represent us, not be adversarial. Right now everything they do feels very anti-consumer. That's what needs to be fixed. A small percentage of their customers may be unhappy enough to be vocal, but I can't imagine that the rest are actually happy with the service they are receiving. It may very well be that none of their customers like them.
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Comcast is one of the top
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Not Bad Service....
Or, when a truck shows up at my neighbors house, then I have to call them out again because my service stops working.
Nope, no problem there.....
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Re: Re:
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Comcast's networking support is beyond awful
Even when it's possible to get to higher tiers of support, this continues. It's blindingly obvious that Comcast has filled its support centers with completely untrained people and then has directed them to "solve" issues as rapidly as possible, for a value of "solve" meaning "get the customer off the phone".
I would rather have dialup access than have to deal with Comcast.
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Re: Re:
http://consumerist.com/2013/04/08/worst-company-in-america-consolation-round-comcast-vs -ticketmaster/
I think though that that is the benchmark for truly bad customer service. It really says something (I mean it actually takes EFFORT) to be rated worse than TicketMaster in customer service. And Comcast has done this consistently for the last several years.
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Re: Comcast is one of the top
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Re: Comcast's networking support is beyond awful
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The problem with the sucky customer service
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Re:
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Re: Re: Re:
I would not willingly do business with BofA ever again, under any circumstances, even if they were the last bank on earth. My mattress is far superior to those ass clowns.
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Comcast blows
-
Comcast sucks because comcast sucks... not because it appears so because they have so many customers.
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Re:
BUT... it always seems Comcast is the one that comes up with the really asshole-ish screw-the-customer-over-cuz-we-can-and-for-lulz schemes (data caps, throttling, bit torrent reset packet injection, not providing advertised speeds, etc.). And of course, the other operators fall in line right behind them because hey, why should Comcast have all the fun?
If Comcast really does buy Time Warner I am cancelling my service the day the sale is final. As bad as AT&T is, Comcast is worse.
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As soon as I could switch I did. The joy of not being treated like a child every time I have to call for something technical is paramount.
Traffic shaping, outages, bandwith caps and crappy speed/price ratios (in addition to the clueless support people) really will make me never ever think of comcast again.
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Re: Comcast blows
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That's the problem, Mr. Roberts, we can't be entirely certain that you think anymore.
Maybe you should actually research the common causes of these complaints and how they are resolved. Then you can start 'thinking' what is 'right' to you again.
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Googs and friends
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just out of curiosity...
But is there anyone reading this who (a) currently uses Comcast for Internet services, and (b) finds Comcast's Internet service adequate?
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Re: just out of curiosity...
My main beef with Comcast is that they insist on doing things that are harmful to the internet, to freedom, and to the business of providing internet service in general.
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Re: Re: just out of curiosity...
John, just wondering if you could clarify. Everything that I've seen them do is more BS than damaging. (Caps, DVR, etc...) I've talked a few times with John Brzozowski, one of the head engineers for Comcast. I've never really known them to be anything but pretty straight forward on the networking side of things.
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Re: Re: Comcast blows
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Lies, damned lies, and... Comcast press releases and FAQs
From: http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/internet/data-usage-average-network-usage
Top 5 Data Usage FAQs
What is the average usage of people on your network today?
XFINITY Internet customers’ median monthly data usage is 17 GB per month.
(emphasis added)
Now, class, let's review "measures of centrality" - mean (average), mode, and median. Mode is just the most frequently occurring value. Median is the value above and below which exactly half of the values fall. Mean is the numerical average. A small median can be entirely consistent with a very large mean. For instance, consider the set O = {0, 0, 1, 1000, 1000}. The median is 1 - half the values (the 0's) are below 1, and half (the 1000's) are above it. The mean on the other hand is about 400, quite a bit bigger than 1.
So, what does it mean when Comcast cites the median in response to questions about the average monthly use? Other than Comcast is lying, there's no way to be sure.
For related fun and games, check out...
http://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromTheCustomer/comments/1rcct8/comcast_service_an_oxymoron/
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Re: Re: Re: Comcast blows
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Re: Re: Re: Comcast blows
This is what I do. Why would I want to use their router??
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Re: Re: Re: just out of curiosity...
They are a pretty nasty company.
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Re: Comcast blows
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Network Fees
One reason that our cable bills have increased in recent years is that websites like this one, Facebook, the Times, the Post, and everything else are attracting ad dollars that used to go to TV. In reaction, programmers demand more in cable fees, which inevitably gets passed on to consumers.
Second, fast forward disable is annoying to consumers, but by promising that feature to programmers, the cable company has leverage to pay lower fees, thus preventing consumer prices from increasing as much.
Frankly, most of us want great programming, lots of it, low fees, and no ads. Common sense suggests these are not simultaneously achievable.
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Re: just out of curiosity...
We have had our horror stories in the past, primarily in recurring periods of ridiculous network latency which repeated rounds of techs couldn't figure out (partly because it often wasn't occurring while they were present), but they did eventually track it down and get it fixed - although it took a few months.
What we actually have is "Comcast Business Class" service. It's somewhat more expensive per month than what we had before (especially given that we have to get our cable TV as a separate package), but it lets us get a static external IP, it exempts us from BitTorrent restrictions AFAIK, and I think it also exempts us from monthly usage caps.
So their attempt to upsell people to higher price tiers is working in our case - but we get service that's at least mostly satisfactory, at a price we can still live with.
I still despise many of their larger policies, but I'm willing to believe that they do honestly care in most cases.
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Comcast is an awful company!!!
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Comcast had very bad customer service!!!
I would rather that they raise the price! But they try to sneak in these extra charge! The modem was given free to me and it's pretty old, and now they want to charge customers for the rental fee. It's simply cooked up by some people in Comcast to steal some money from its customers.
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Comcrap.....um, comcast
I remember when TV was free and then advertising came along to defray costs. Why is it that now, we pay moron filled companies like comcast ridiculous amounts of money for TV, yet still are bombarded with commercials? Change the channel, commercial, change it again, commercial, over and over. It's more commercials than programming. You charge us for TV...NO COMMERCIALS!
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Re: As much as...
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Comcast Truth
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HOW COMCAST SCREWED ME
After $400 of rewiring my house with cat 6 cable and high speed LAN and being promised a new out side drop line. I had to argue with a contractor to call his supervisor because the contractor that added an additional box split off the amplifier which caused our service to cut out even more than what it had before they started. The tech told us that the signal coming in to the house was -8 db when their spec was suppose to be -10 to+10 db. Even after i told the supervisor that the outside line had been damaged when tree branches fell on it multiple times and i had to rehang it and that our service had been cutting out before we upgraded and the original tech had told us that the line coming into the house would be replaced, I had to threaten to throw their equipment out into the street and cut down their wire from the pole to get him to agree to install the new outside line. After 3 days of waiting at home 8 am - 8 pm missing work and school the new line was installed and i still was loosing service.I tried using the better business bureau next. THIS IS COMPLETELY USELESS!!!!! TO GET A BBB RATING OF A+ COMPANIES ONLY NEED TO RESPOND EVEN IF THEIR RESPONSE IS TO TELL YOU SORRY YOUR S.O.L OR F.U. This got me a response that gave me my 7th work order number. They sent out a tech. I made him measure/test every out let after they cleaned up a rats nest of wire the first tech left hidden in our attic. ( Tech even took pictures to back bill the contractor that originally short-cutted our install. Dimetrea from Executive level care was responsible for this BBB complaint twice now she has tried to close the complaint with out verifying my issue was resolved. I was only issued 1 $25 credit for a missed visit when they had missed 3 days worth of appointments. and They claim I was issued a $45 credit toward my 1st months bill but that was part of the original promotional deal, Our first bill was $345 after their credits for phone internet and high def TV. This is no where near the advertised rate of $120 our next bill was $160 with taxes. Apparently no matter how much time they waste of yours its only worth $25. Their guarantee is completely worthless and is false advertising. Just like their ad claiming they our better than U verse and it old wires. They our using old wires just the same and even if you are at the bottom of their specification its good enough. If you want your equipment installed right ask the tech for their tech number if they give you a phone number kick them out of you house!!!! If you get a 4 digit number you can relax a little your equipment will be installed half ass right. And be prepared for them to try to talk over your head like your an idiot. This is the mistake 3 of the tech made. I am electronics tech my self! I had -8 db signal coming in to an amplifier and then split off on a 3 way slitter. This Crappy installation is acceptable to them!!!!!!
If you are having similar issues file complaint with the BBB 1st, the attorney general of your state 2nd and the FCC 3rd. There are many people out there trying to fight the monopoly of Comcast. If your like most people like me your choices are CRIME CAST OR SCREW VERSE. THIS IS CALLED A MONOPOLY AND IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE RESTRICTED AND REGULATED. SO WHY ARE WE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN LACK OF SERVICE AND NO SERVICE OR PAY OUT A$$ FOR SERVICE WE DON'T GET?
WE NEED TO JOIN TOGETHER TO FIGHT BACK!!! BEFORE COMCAST CONSUMES ALL AND WE ARE FORCED TO ABIDE!!!
if YOUR ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE IS WORTH A D@M# send THEM COMCAST'S GUARANTEE
http://www.comcast.com/Corporate/Customers/CustomerGuarantee.html?SCRedirect=true
AND EXPLAIN HOW YOUR EXPERIENCE HAS FAILED TO LIVE UP TO THEIR ADVERTISING
i AM SICK AND TIRED OF THESE CORPORATE OLIGARCHY'S RULING OR WAY OF LIFE.
MOVETOAMEND.COM JOIN NOW AND SIGN THE PETITIONS TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST CORPORTOCARCY !!!!
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Poor service
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Comcast
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Bad about customer service
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Comcast blows
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Comcast blows
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Customer Service is not Priority for the CEO
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Comcast Service
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Re: Obama parties with this Brian Roberts
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no 2 ways around it - Comcast service SUCKS
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Service
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COMCAST is literally the worst company ever
http://notfornothingyall.com/2014/03/07/an-open-letter-to-comcast/
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Customer Service
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comcast sucks!
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you really need to focus on customer needs
We canceled Comcast and returned all of the boxes plus cables and remotes. Come to find out our bill was like a grand cuz we did not return stuff. We did we have the reciept. So a guy from Comcast showed up at my door today. I was pissed and told him we were honest people and did the right thing and told him to get the F off my property. I am very upset that no one listened to us from the get go when we moved. Now a 1000.00 bill. F you comcast CEO you need a better way.
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Mr CEO is misinformed
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so true
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phone service cut off
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What fucking planet is this CEO on?
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comcast service
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Comcast
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shifty comppany
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Comcast
We missed all but 3 minutes of the Alabama football game.
JAN 1 --- down 4 hours
Jan. 2, -- 31 minutes
Jan. 3 ---it went off at 7:21 PM --- it is now 8 PM and all channels are out.
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comcast service
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Customer Service
have tried to resolve a problem with my TV service, i have called three time i was to get some help and each time i was transferred to technical support only to be hung up on
This is very poor service.
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TV out on a nikce Saturday night
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poor cable service by comcast
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Pissed off!
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Re: Pissed off!
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Comcast Service
Their management think they don't have any problem. All problem are we are stupid enough to choose them.
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Comcast
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Comcast blows
In Maine, That's what would happen!
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comcast Bad customer service
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When I have time visit to play here < a href="http://goo.gl/ZZzZwp">Koloklin Capsule
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customer service
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Comcast Is Criminal
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Comcast Service
They would be regulated and required to live to standards of service and reliability that the Telco's were heldnto.
Nothing short of this will get a highly profitable company to committ the resources needed to fix the Roberts quagmire.
Have a friend who had all 3 services go out in VA today.
The handy dandy techie could not Ping her modem. Determined the modem needed to be replaced. She had already spoken with 4 neighbors who all had the same problem. Must have been an entire shipment of defective modems in the area.
Offered to send a tech out 68 hours later to check. Then to RUB SALT IN THE WOUND, they added insult in the very inexpensuve for tyem offer of a credit for the SIXTY EIGHT HOURS OF NON SERVICE!!
REGULATE THE INDUSTRY!!!
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streaming
GET RID OF THEIR CEO!!
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Comcast is not an internet provider
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service
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Cancelled with Xfinity / Comcast after 25 years
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poor service
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Done
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This has got to be the worst company in the US for Customer Service. All I need is a new clicker for my TV. Do you think I can get anyone at the company. They say the have folks working from home/ Poor employees to have to work for a company that does not care at all for the customer, not only the employees. Your offices are closed and I;m sure that you are saving money not having to pay good people. I bet all the corporate people didn't have to lose pay, but they could be on the phone lies helping people. Then they would know how sorry the customer service of Comcast really is.
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