GRRRRR, COMCAST, GRRRRR

         I had already a post for today, but that was before our wonderful internet and cable provider, Comcast, took up my entire Wednesday. I have never ever disliked a company as wholeheartedly as I dislike this company. It might be different if there was a choice to be made, but Comcast has a monopoly in my little city. Yes, I’ve seen Century Link and Frontier trucks out and about, and I even think there are some people who have one or the other, but they aren’t any happier than I am.

          When I got up Tuesday morning, I let the dogs out, made my latte and sat down to watch the crawl on Good Morning America. There was no service. I got a message saying the company had a problem and they were working hard to rectify. Thanks for your patience. Fine, I went on with my day.

Late last evening, I turned on the TV again, only to receive the same message. I texted my neighbor and she responded saying their cable had been out earlier in the day, but came back on about 2:00 pm. So, I tried all the usual things, unplugging, plugging back in, and finally called Comcast. When the computer operator learned my zip code, she informed me there was an outage, assured me they were working hard, thanked me for my patience and hung up.

I went to my computer. Additional frustration because I could not get a real live person. All I got was a computerized assistant who told me the same thing I’d heard on the phone only in print. No matter how I tried to word my question, I got the same message over and over. Fine, pissed, I went to bed and read for a while. I usually set the TV on mute and to turn itself off in an hour. I had a bit of difficulty going to sleep because without outside interference, my brain likes to dance about from one topic to another, keeping me awake.

This morning, I got up, let the dogs out, made my latte and turned the TV on. Same thing, same message. I went on my walk and when I came home, I called Comcast again. Got the same operator who gave me the same information and hung up on me.

Moved to the computer and said to text me when an operator was available. I also said I wanted to wait for an agent on line…figured I’d get some help one way or another. Well, I got a phone call and when I got off, I had five text messages…three said I could chat now, one said my service had been restored, one said my time was up.

Back to the computer and this time I got to chat live with William who was very helpful. He did everything he could to get me back on line. Nothing he did worked, so he had to talk to his support division. I then got a text telling me a technician would be here today between 2:00 and 4:00 pm. I got the message before William did.

Now the technician (Will) has been here for more than an hour and it still isn’t working. He’s now outside checking various connections. He found more than one connection that is apparently still on line…the connection to the living room and the one to the bedroom should be the only live ones. He’s in the process of shutting down all the other connections…apparently the one that used to go to John’s room and the one that went to my sewing room. He’s even on the side of the house where I didn’t think there was anything.

I wish there was some way I could bill Comcast for my time. I figure if I was still working, I’d be making $50-60/hour, so that company could end up owing me an entire month’s payment (or more), or one month of free service. That, of course, won’t happen. Actually, it should be more because of the other things I had planned to do today. None of those happened except for cleaning and dusting my desk…did that while I was waiting on William’s multiple responses. At least I’m now surrounded by dust-free and shiny surfaces in which I can throw my hissy fit.

Will left a bit after 6:00 pm, so he was here a good three plus hours. I certainly cannot fault him for his service…he was GREAT. Besides checking everything in the house, he climbed up the telephone pole and checked everything there. He gave me a new box, he ran a line from outside to the box, but no matter what he did, including talking to other folks elsewhere, he kept getting the very same message I did. Eventually, he talked to someone who said it might be a node…whatever that is. Another technician was going out to check on that.

Will asked if he could hang around for a while to make sure it worked whenever the node was fixed. I gave him a diet Coke and we swapped stories about caves and travel and families. After being home alone f o r e v e r, it was nice having someone at the other end of the room on the couch participating in a conversation with me.

Then, just before KOMO TV news came to an end, voila, the TV came on. Will disconnected his line to outside and the TV froze, but as soon as he connected my cable, it came right back on. He finished gathering his materials and went home for dinner. Will said in his 20 years of service, he’s never had a problem like mine…how about that, once again I’m an original. 

Now, while I may HATE Comcast, the technicians I’ve dealt with today as well as those from a year ago were first rate. They were kind, knowledgeable, eager to fix my problem(s), and didn’t quit until the TV was on and working again. In a survey this morning, I gave William gold stars and if they ask about Will, he’ll get the same…nothing but positive comments.

I still think I should get a month free though…don’t you agree???