I am furious with Spectrum (previously Time Warner Cable). I can't believe the misinformation I have received from them since taking over TWC. I have to wonder whether this is either a deliberate marketing ploy to garner more profits or just gross incompetence. Some misinformation is listed below.
1) My promos expired, set up new plan; was promised Channels 1-99. Actual plan: Spectrum Select (70 channels). However, not that important to me.
2) Advised that TWC adapter on 2nd TV could no longer be used; needed to get Spectrum adapter. Truth: Not an adapter at all. Set Top Box--free first year; then will be charged. Don't like the mistruths but I guess fair enough.
3) Confirmed 3 times on Oct 26 that my monthly charge for the new plan (TV, Internet, Phone Bundle) would be $102.96 all inclusive. Actual: First bill was shocking $172.96. VERY IMPORTANT!
4) Called Spectrum to try to resolve billing. Was passed from Customer Service to Marketing and back again. The last rep who claimed to be the final authority maintained my future bills would be $122.67 and that could creep up higher with fees & charges. He did not resolve this first bill of $172.96 to my satisfaction but arranged some weird complex repayment plan that I couldn't even begin to understand. VERY IMPORTANT!
Spectrum reps gave me misinformation (or could they be lies?) on which I based my decision to go with the $102.96 bundle and then they refused to honor the agreement. I would have never agreed to pay $122.76+ a month but now after all the trouble of getting the Set-Top box set up and activated, I feel trapped.
I will add that Set-Top Box I originally picked up and planned to set up myself appeared to be missing the power cord. I later found that I was just given the wrong set-up guide. After this was set up, the Set-Top Box began overheating. For both of this incidents, the Customer Rep I contacted suggested sending out a Technician, the first time to set the box up so I wouldn't have to inconvenience myself by going back to the store for the correct book/power cord and the second time to swap out the overheating box. Both of these visits were confirmed as No Charge at the time.
When I complained about this first bill on 11/8, the so-called final authority at Spectrum maintained he couldn't override the computer system and the lowest price he could offer for the bundle was $122.76+ in spite of a previous rep confirming 3 times that my monthly bill would be $102.96. They should honor what they tell customers! They supposedly record calls and since I was so insistent in confirming the monthly charge, it should have also been put in the call notes.
In looking at my bill, I feel I was gouged by Spectrum 1) charging me a higher monthly charge than was agreed upon and in addition 2) charging me $59.98 in One-Time Charges for Charter WiFi Activation Fee and Home Shipment Rescue. I called Spectrum again on 11/8 and the Customer Rep in Billing found these charges were not valid and removed them. Go figure!
Many people might be inclined to believe this is "Bait and Switch". Has anyone else encountered a similar experience with Spectrum?
I will close by saying that every technician I have ever had from TWC/Spectrum has been outstanding in their expertise, knowledge, and good will. But Spectrum's Customer Service sucks with a capital "S" excluding Glen 2519046 (above). read more