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MediaCom Stinks worse than smelly fish!

Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
17,078 views
For the record, let it be known that I really dislike the crappy service which MediaCom gives (or is it, "doesn't give?").

I called earlier in the month to have my tv service removed at the end of the current billing cycle (june 2). First lady who arranged it was fine. Done deal. Today, I receive my bill and see that I am still being billed in next month's billing. No problem. I bet it is what they do to everyone to milk more money out of people. I call and wait 10 minutes to speak with someone. This someone is not overly friendly, but not necessarily polite. (I try to keep a good attitude because I know they are just pee-ons.) She explains to me that my new monthly bill will not be what the other MediaCom representative told me. It will be higher. She confusingly tells me that a service guy cannot come out to disconnect until June 2. No problem because that is when they were scheduled to do so orginally. She puts me on hold to check for price. I am on hold for five more minutes and my cordless phone battery is getting weak (I would love to buy a plane old phone that isn't digital or cordless :bang:). Suddenly, my phone is disconnected and my internet cable goes out. TV still works. I crank up the cell phone (shotty service on cloudy days) and cross my fingers, knowing that I am about to be put on hold for a while. Ten minutes later, another operator answers and I give her my story. She doesn't really listen to me and keeps telling me that I will have to call back on June 2 to schedule the disconnect. I acknowledge what she says but inform her that the other two reps didn't say that, and that both had said I was scheduled for disconnect on June 2. She keeps repeating herself. I told her that I would call back, but still don't have phone or internet service since I was disconnected earlier when talking to their rep. This lady says that she cannot help me with that, but she can reinstate my tv which has been disconnected. (I still have tv service and am supposed to until June 2 :bang:)
She patches me through to internet support, and I wait on hold another ten minutes. Finally, a stoner with athsma answers the phone, and sounds very out of it. He is dropping the phone, and doesn't say anything to me, other than, "this is ...," but I hear him talking to other people in the background. I ask, "are you there?" and he replies back, "yeah, hang on." A minute or two goes by and he begins to speak. "Tell me your number again." (I never told him my number the first time). He types in the vital info on who I am and where I live (scary). I tell him about being disconnected on the phone and losing the internet while talking to a MediaCom rep about disconnecting my phone service. He said that he couldn't handle billing and wanted to transfer me. NOPE. Don't do that. I need my phone and internet. :bang: blah, blah, blah. He tells me that the tv service was disconnected and that he will have to reset the entire system. He did, and it works now. He was confused, too. He said that they are supposed to come out on June 2 for disconnect, according the notes in the file. (duh! that is what I've been saying.)

When I hang up the phone, I get a call with an automated voice from MediaCom reminding me that they are coming out for an "installation" on June 1st. :bang::bang::bang: Who knows what will happen? I sure as heck wouldn't make a wager on it.

...and I thought it was difficult to fire AOL. MediaComm STINKS!

Replies

102
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#2
You're lucky that you were only on hold a couple minutes and that your cable service wasn't bundled w/ your phone. Whenever we have an issue it takes AT LEAST 30-45 minutes to get a person (though they always claim the max/average wait that day is 5-10 minutes) and when your phone is down too you have to call them on a cell or someone else's phone. They also like to change the phone number that they "answer" on any given day.

Your experience sounds about normal for them - I am constantly frightened that they are working w/ electricity and wires!
Beach Fanatic
#3
We too have had some poor customer service from them but then they have a monompoly on this market so you're at thier mercy in the long run. It took over a year just to get thier cables buried. :yikes:
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#4
You're lucky that you were only on hold a couple minutes and that your cable service wasn't bundled w/ your phone. Whenever we have an issue it takes AT LEAST 30-45 minutes to get a person (though they always claim the max/average wait that day is 5-10 minutes) and when your phone is down too you have to call them on a cell or someone else's phone. They also like to change the phone number that they "answer" on any given day.

Your experience sounds about normal for them - I am constantly frightened that they are working w/ electricity and wires!
Today's experience took about 45 minutes total, but it shouldn't have even happened if they would have gotten it right the first time. Maybe I wasn't clear in my vent above, but I do have the bundled package, and they cut off my phone and internet instead of the tv which they are not supposed to do until June 2.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#5
We too have had some poor customer service from them but then they have a monompoly on this market so you're at thier mercy in the long run. It took over a year just to get thier cables buried. :yikes:
You mean that they actually buried yours? :yikes:
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#6
When they buried the cable did they do it on YOUR property or in the neighbor's yard? And did they do it w/out destroying landscaping and cutting something else?

Their crappy service is legendary!

Sorry SJ, I misread and thought the phone cut out because your battery was dying!

For some reason customer service goes out the window when they have no competition and they're a big company...............must be some explanation for it :idontno:
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#7
Guess who just cut off my cable tv three days early? You guessed it -- MediaCom (crap for brains.)
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#8
Of course they cut it off, they're coming out to install it friday!
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#9
They really are crappy. They just turned the Cable tv back on. Are they really that high over there?
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#10
Of course they cut it off, they're coming out to install it friday!
Well that makes more sense than anything they told me. :funn:
Curtis avatar
Beach Lover
#11
SJ,

We went through "all the above" with both our residence and the art gallery. They were unable to even ever provide service to the gallery while both individuals to the east and west of the gallery have MediaCON. It was just a big mystery to them and a huge headache for me. Anyway, I simply cancelled their services and went through what you are experiencing. All I can say is that it will end after 3 billing cycles. Persistance and patience is the key. They will certainly test both. I have no complaints to date about Embarq. Service w/ them has been consistent and call wait times are non-existent.

Serenity now, serenity now....just keep repeating.
danhall avatar
Beach Lover
#12
I am also in MediaCON hell. Internet service goes in and out at random. I have had the tech out on three different occasion, and always get the same story about a "weak" signal coming from the main box.

Please tell me that Embarq is doing better and I will switch immediately.
:bang:
Beach Fanatic
#13
I switched to Dish Network....everything works well and it's cheaper!
Curtis avatar
Beach Lover
#14
" Just Do It " They gave me the weak signal, signal leak from the node, and that it was my computer excuses for months. They tried it all. Even their computers wouldn't work when they troubleshot different issues. Finally the MediaCON techs themselves told me to go w/ Embarq.
Here4Good avatar
Beach Fanatic
#15
Please, everyone, remember to call and ask for the credit for Monday, when their internet service was out all afternoon. I have been trying to call for three days, and the number has been busy, but I will get it done. Everytime there is an outage, no matter how short, call and get a credit. It is the only thing that will get their attention.

I keep meaning to write them a long letter about all of the issues we have here in South Walton, and cannot seem to do it without just repeating "You &#^%" about 600 times.

The name of the Regional VP for MediaCom is David Servies (I wrestled that out of a CSR, finally), and I imagine his email is dservies@mediacomcc.com.


The cable contract here is not due for review for a few more years, but we need to be paying attention when it does, to make sure the county commission knows how bad MediaCom is - after all, they're the ones who hired them.

AND: Has anyone gone with Embarq, and can they report on how it is?

Edited

Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#16
We have Embarq- and have never had any problems. After reading this thread, I am really glad that Mediacom couldn't figure out how to run a little cable down the street to our house.:roll: Sounds like we would have been completely aggravated like everyone else!
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#17
I hear that Embarq's internet is slower than MediaCom's. Any truth to that?

Also, I don't trust Embarq too much. Word on the street is that they changed their name from Sprint because so many people hated Sprint.

If I had decent cell phone reception at my house, I would be using Alltel for my high speed internet, via smart phone modem. ;-) It will only improve in the future, and I can take it with me wherever I go.

By the way, I was without cable all day on Saturday. Last month I called MediaCom to receive a credit for my two days without cable. They said that they would credit me, but never did. I don't think they are really that smart.

Edited

Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#18
The Embarq is not as fast as cable- but it is fast enough. I got used to it (we had cable in KY). When the choices are spotty service with crappy customer service OR slightly slower DSL internet but hardly any problems and CSRs that answer the phone, well :idontno: ? Our computer has had one problem since October- and it was fixed with one call to Embarq.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#19
I don't have too many problems with MediaCON's ( I like that word - thanks!) internet performance, but when it does go out, forget about speaking to someone on the phone. There message on hold for internet support tells you to go to their website for the troubleshooting page. :rolling: -- idiots! Don't they know that you wouldn't be calling internet support if you had internet service? :idontno:
Curtis avatar
Beach Lover
#20
I am also in MediaCON hell. Internet service goes in and out at random. I have had the tech out on three different occasion, and always get the same story about a "weak" signal coming from the main box.

Please tell me that Embarq is doing better and I will switch immediately.
:bang:

Dan,

If I recall correctly, you are just a couple of blocks North of me. I would imagine your weak signal issue is the same one I encountered. They were never able to resolve it. I would only have internet access for about 2 hrs. a day and then it would just die. Embarq is a bit slower but it is relative. You can't notice the difference unless you are running download/upload tests, etc. I was concerned about speed issues at first, but have no problems with Embarq speed. Reliable(it has never been down), fast, and so far satisfactory customer support.
Reliford avatar
Beach Lover
#21
:angry: :bang: :pissed: (my experience with Mediacom)
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#22
Ha! MediaCon just called with their automated message saying that I have an installation appointment scheduled for Saturday, which is the correct original date of disconnection. Yesterday, they called and said the installation was for Sat. I like that the message says I need to be here. :floor: (right!:rolling:) Yesterday, they cut off my phone and internet, then later cut off my cable tv, all without leaving the freaking building. They are getting mighty brave, telling me when to schedule my rotten tomato throwing. Anyone want to donate some rotten tomatoes?
Beach Fanatic
#23
Please tell me that Embarq is doing better and I will switch immediately.
:bang:

Please let me tell you my tale with Embarq. On May 25th they were experiencing a slow down with their DSL service. On May 28th they installed a corrupted back up data base.

That is when the trouble began. My first call was from my home at 7:30 am. Quick response time, then the usual trouble shooting, turn modem off, reset modem... bla bla bla.. after an hour, I told them I needed to get into the shower and get to the office. As we left it, they were going to turn in a trouble ticket.

Arrived at the office, same problem. In and out DSL, etc. Thus, my second call began around 10am. Same thing trouble shooting, etc, to no avail. The rep said they were turning in a trouble ticket. A few hours later, the service began to get worse. I called a consumer affairs number on file in my roledex for a lady who had helped me in the past.

This is where the real trouble began. She just couldn't understand why the two reps I spoke with didn't realize I was in an "outage area". So, she three way'd a call to the support tech department. The rep did this, then that, then told us he was putting us on hold and calling the engineering department because he had no idea what to do. (All the while the consumer affairs lady was still on the line). After about 15 minutes, he came back on the line and told us he was going to turn in a trouble ticket. So, I ask him what engineering had told him. He replied, "I don't know, I hung up". Wait, now, I am on hold 10 minutes and he didn't speak with engineering, he hung up.:angry: We both informed him there was alreay a trouble ticket and the consumer affairs person walked him through looking on some board to check status on the outage. He then hung up on us!:idontno:

Anyway, hours later, consumer affairs calls back to inform me the target date to fix the outage was May 30th, but the problem would probably be fixed by the next morning. Note, both my home and business are creaping along.

May 29th. Got up, not fixed. All day, I am stealing internet from an unsecure line from another tenent in the building. Afternoon of May 29th. I call for the status. "We're so sorry about the wait, your call will be answered in approximately 29 minutes":angry: Consumer affairs has someone call me telling me I am in an outage area...... On and on.

May 30th, problem not fixed at either the house or the business... am call, "your call will be answered in approximagely 21 minutes"... rep finally comes on the phone, I ask for status, he wants to trouble shoot. :bang: No, I tell him I am in an outage area.... takes him another 20 minutes to look up the outage and couldn't figure out how.

Here is where I grab the pen and paper. Your name, your employee ID number, last name, location. Get me a supervisor. I am now in "que" for about 30 minutes waiting for a supervisor. All the while my business phone is ringing through on call waiting, but you don't dare hang up because you will have to start this entire thing all over again..... By the time the supervisor FINALLY comes on the line, not only is the service off more than creapingly on, but any e-mail that doesn't time out is being refused by Earthlink.:bang: :bang: :bang:

I have to start telling my problem all over again and informing him the problem was getting worse and wanted to know status.... He can't tell me a thing. So I call consumer affairs again.

Consumer affairs has a supervisor call me back who decided to send a "PC" tech to my office. I TRIED to explain to him 1. I am in an outage area asking if their problem had been fixed, and 2. I don't have a PC. He is astounded and surprised there was something called a Mac.... After a LONG talk, I finally agree to let them send someone out between 1:30 and 4pm.

PC rep showes up and immediately states, "I don't know why they sent me, you are in an outage area". :bang: Tell me something I don't know. So to try to do something, he got his PC laptop and plugged into my modem and you guessed it, he confirms I am in an outage area. BUT, he does try to find out information by calling his intercompany numbers, etc. And to be nice, he plugs in the newest biggest, baddest modem.

Neither of us thought of testing the modem since the service was up and down. He left my office about 4:15pm. A few minutes later, I noticed that I no longer had ANY DSL light. I called the rep and he was already on the other side of Ft. Walton, but would return at 8:30am.

NOTE - Day 3, Business COMPLETELY DOWN, residence, able to steal off neighbors unsecure line for e-mail. Tech returning in the morning.

I arrived at my home around 6 pm and there was an automated message from Embarq telling me my trouble ticket had been closed, problem fixed and my service was working properly. hummmmmm. Business NO DSL light (ran back to office), residence less than dial up speed and stalls.

Called Embarq, "Sorry about the wait, your call will be anwered in approx 28 minutes"... Long story short, and hour and a half later, a supervisor was informing me I was in an outage area. What about the recording on both the business and residence voice mail.. a mistake.

Target time for problem to be fixed, now June 1 by 5pm. Over 5 hours spent on the phone this day.

May 31, rep at office, no DSL and I am told because he plugged me into the new big bad modem, it had dumped my business completely and because of the still corrupted data, they could not re-ad the business until the problem is fixed.

Consumer affairs had at least a dozen people calling me on my cell phone informing me I was in an outage area. At the post office, at lunch, in home depot, at the bank. FINALLY, I ask them to please quit having people call me to tell me I was in an outage area.....

June 1, not fixed, 5pm rolls around, I call CA for status. At 5:01 they change the target time to 8pm.

8:30pm called "wait time approximately 17 minutes" I am ready to snip men's body parts that will make them sit up and take note.

End of story??? An hour later I am told the new target date to have the problem fixed is June 4th. Currently Business - Not even a DSL light. Home, stealing off neighbor.

THE ENTIRE CRYSTAL BEACH GRID IS DOWN. EVERYTHING EAST OF HUTCHESON ST TO THE COUNTY LINE. NO BACK UP PLAN, NO PLAN OF ACTION......

If anyone is interested, I have now obtained the telephone number of the CEO of Embarq which will be my first phone call Monday morning. I WILL SHARE THE NUMBER WITH ANYONE WHO ASK.

Thank God for unsecured lines in my neighborhood...

Edited

Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#24
Yikes, Yippie! Don't you have other options over there?

If you don't, you are screwed. If it is fixed now, I would stay where you are, since the competition seems even worse.

I don't think I have ever heard anyone say "My local cable/internet/phone company is THE BEST!" Is there anybody on this earth that has had a totally problem-free life with cable, internet, phone, or satellite dish? I doubt it.
Beach Fanatic
#25
Yikes, Yippie! Don't you have other options over there?

If you don't, you are screwed. If it is fixed now, I would stay where you are, since the competition seems even worse.

I don't think I have ever heard anyone say "My local cable/internet/phone company is THE BEST!" Is there anybody on this earth that has had a totally problem-free life with cable, internet, phone, or satellite dish? I doubt it.

I dropped Cox almost 2 years ago because I was not getting a huge precent of my e-mails . And they still have a horrible e-mail problem because many of my clients on Cox, I have to send them the same mail many times for them to receive it.

This is the worse problem I have ever experienced with Embarq. Target date to be fixed. June 7th. I guess everyone went home for the weekend.

Edited

Beach Fanatic
#26
Yippie, you might want to also think about a call or email/letter to the Public Service Commission in Tallahassee. It might help.

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