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Time Warner Cable to merge with Charter
- Thread starter mvcg66b3r
- Start date
Not this.
I still have to switch over by August 11.
I don't know how difficult it all will be but at some point I will have to pay more for an upgrade I didn't want anyway. I did see that the upgrade would be free for five years for Medicaid recipients. It turns out I'm eligible (although I don't know whether my assets affect this) but can't get it because my state won't do Medicaid. This means no Obamacare subsidies for people with my income.
And the upgrade will still be free for two years. After that there is a charge. Hopefully Charter won't be able to do this for two years and even if they do, they won't make it worse.
I still have to switch over by August 11.
I don't know how difficult it all will be but at some point I will have to pay more for an upgrade I didn't want anyway. I did see that the upgrade would be free for five years for Medicaid recipients. It turns out I'm eligible (although I don't know whether my assets affect this) but can't get it because my state won't do Medicaid. This means no Obamacare subsidies for people with my income.
And the upgrade will still be free for two years. After that there is a charge. Hopefully Charter won't be able to do this for two years and even if they do, they won't make it worse.
I'd be cautious about this deal, even if it's a good one for both companies.
It can only make service worse. I have Charter in one home and Time Warner in another. I am finally moving to a single home, and it is in a Verizon FIOS area and that was a major factor in selecting the neighborhood. The service, the skill level of technicians, the phone and billing service on both Charter and Time Warner are as bad as any provider of consumer services I have ever encountered.
The deal revives Charter's previous offer to buy out Bright House Networks for an additional $11 Billion.
The combination of Charter, Time Warner and Bright House would still be smaller than Comcast in terms of number of customers. It also be smaller than the combination of AT&T and DirecTV, assuming that deal is allowed to proceed.
Source: AP
The combination of Charter, Time Warner and Bright House would still be smaller than Comcast in terms of number of customers. It also be smaller than the combination of AT&T and DirecTV, assuming that deal is allowed to proceed.
Source: AP
Comcast was a huge threat to an open internet. Plus they already own a huge company in NBC/Universal. I don't see Charter as much of a threat to anyone. Still surprised that they still exist actually.
If this deal does happen Charter will have most of what is remaining in West TN outside of Memphis (who has Comcast) except for Cable One in Dyersburg and a few locally owned systems.
I've been satisfied with Charter for the most part, more than when I had Dish. I had seen TW in Ripley about a year ago and they were still being run like they were a cheap local system, so I think it will be a definite improvement for the TW customers in West TN if the deal goes through.
I've been satisfied with Charter for the most part, more than when I had Dish. I had seen TW in Ripley about a year ago and they were still being run like they were a cheap local system, so I think it will be a definite improvement for the TW customers in West TN if the deal goes through.
It looks like Charter is wasting no time in expanding its Los Angeles clout:
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/charter-to-offer-los-angeles-dodgers-sportsnet-la-1201504979/
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/charter-to-offer-los-angeles-dodgers-sportsnet-la-1201504979/
Well, it's a different story out here in Hawaii, where Oceanic Time Warner is as popular as KHON's Joe Moore in terms of customer service, especially with Oc16 being the only place for all things Hawaiiana and sports-centric. But its been getting competitive with Hawaiian Telcom ramping up its campaign to lure customers to their services, so I expect Charter to put their game face on when and if they come to the Aloha State.
I don't know whether this relates to the potential merger in any way, but when I tried to activate my box this morning, it didn't work. It said that 101 USA was not in the package I subscribe to. Huh? I'm trying to set up the box. I don't subscribe to that channel. When I called, the man finally asked if the light was red or green. When I said red, he said someone would have to come out. I had been told I can do all this myself and no one will need to come out but if they do, there's a charge. Because of my situation, there will be no charge. I won't be home between 3 and 4 tomorrow, but I said I could be home then on Friday. I think I was hoping the merger wouldn't happen so I wouldn't have to go through all this, but this doesn't sound like it's too bad, other than the fact everything should have worked right in the first place. Would a merger have made it more of a problem? Who knows?
mvcg66b3r,
Since you live in Covington I'm just curious. Do you get cable from Comcast, Charter, TW, or somewhere else? I'm wondering how you'll be affected by this deal, if at all. Thanks.
Since you live in Covington I'm just curious. Do you get cable from Comcast, Charter, TW, or somewhere else? I'm wondering how you'll be affected by this deal, if at all. Thanks.
I have Comcast all-digital, but north of here in Lauderdale County (Ripley) and also in Haywood County (Brownsville) it's Time Warner Cable.
You're not that far from Brighton, since my mother lives there and has Comcast too.
The man actually showed up a few minutes early. How's that for customer service? Will Charter be able to do that?
I got worried when the man just stood there like he was trying to figure out what was going on. He said it would take a few minutes for the digital box to come on. It had been doing the same thing for him that it did for me. At some point he went out to the truck. I had been told the box was bad (not Time Warner's fault, right?) but he had no way of knowing. I assumed he would get a different box but it was his laptop. I heard a rooster crow several times. At some point he realized I needed to use the remote that came with the box.
And all was well. This upgrade which I don't even have to do until August 11 was complete. It had nothing to do with any proposed or completed merger.
The nightmare (which isn't over) of upgrading my TiVo ... well, that's another story entirely. Not Time Warner's fault, really. When I asked what I would have to do, I should have been VERY specific. Yes, I need the box ...
I got worried when the man just stood there like he was trying to figure out what was going on. He said it would take a few minutes for the digital box to come on. It had been doing the same thing for him that it did for me. At some point he went out to the truck. I had been told the box was bad (not Time Warner's fault, right?) but he had no way of knowing. I assumed he would get a different box but it was his laptop. I heard a rooster crow several times. At some point he realized I needed to use the remote that came with the box.
And all was well. This upgrade which I don't even have to do until August 11 was complete. It had nothing to do with any proposed or completed merger.
The nightmare (which isn't over) of upgrading my TiVo ... well, that's another story entirely. Not Time Warner's fault, really. When I asked what I would have to do, I should have been VERY specific. Yes, I need the box ...
Forgot to mention this. The man introduced himself and told me his first name, which is also in large print on his name tag. He wears a fluorescent green shirt.
I think all this talk about poor service from Time Warner is coming from other areas.
I think all this talk about poor service from Time Warner is coming from other areas.
Finally, I have reasons to complain about Time Warner. I'm not saying any of this will get any better or any worse with a Charter merger, but ...
I returned one of my cable boxes. Easier said than done. To recap, I was told the TiVo I got in 2013 would need a tuning adapter, not a cable box. I should have asked about this before picking up two cable boxes.
I was also paying my bill so I wouldn't have to make two trips. I have never seen the parking lot that full. And before yesterday, I had only had to take a number one other time, which was last month. Usually when I pay my bill it's really early and one or two people are working and there's no one waiting, or maybe one person is waiting. This time, most of the seats were occupied and while I had number 904, number 892 or something like that was being served. And it was taking a very long time. And only one person was working. Eventually a second person came in. It started going pretty fast. And I will say that she said, "Number 94, please." Then things slowed down because while the couple that was being served as I walked in got their time-consuming situation dealt with (I saw what looked like a DVR), a second couple had a time-consuming problem. The TVs all had the local news channel. This channel has "Weather on the ones". That means weather at 10:31, 10;41, etc. I saw the weather four times. And unfortunately, the pretty girl who did it the first two times, who was a veteran that once worked on the station I watched for years, was replaced at 11:00. I shouldn't call her a girl. She's got to be at least 40 given the number of years she worked on Charlotte TV.
Finally, I got to pay my bill and turn in what I had. I had to sign something and got a receipt. I still have to upgrade by August 11 but it was recommended that I wait on the other upgrade.
The cable box I did install (or rather, had to have someone come to my house to fix after I tried) needed an IR control cable. I got that in the mail, but when I called TiVo and said there were no directions for hooking it up, I was told I'd have to go online. When I was asked what kind of cable box and I didn't know, I was told it might not even work with my TiVo which was so old. If that was true I was told I would have to replace it and I said Time Warner better pay, and he said they would.
Actually, I'm surprised he said that because I have a second one which supposedly will work. I say supposedly because who knows what problems I will have when I upgrade that one.
I returned one of my cable boxes. Easier said than done. To recap, I was told the TiVo I got in 2013 would need a tuning adapter, not a cable box. I should have asked about this before picking up two cable boxes.
I was also paying my bill so I wouldn't have to make two trips. I have never seen the parking lot that full. And before yesterday, I had only had to take a number one other time, which was last month. Usually when I pay my bill it's really early and one or two people are working and there's no one waiting, or maybe one person is waiting. This time, most of the seats were occupied and while I had number 904, number 892 or something like that was being served. And it was taking a very long time. And only one person was working. Eventually a second person came in. It started going pretty fast. And I will say that she said, "Number 94, please." Then things slowed down because while the couple that was being served as I walked in got their time-consuming situation dealt with (I saw what looked like a DVR), a second couple had a time-consuming problem. The TVs all had the local news channel. This channel has "Weather on the ones". That means weather at 10:31, 10;41, etc. I saw the weather four times. And unfortunately, the pretty girl who did it the first two times, who was a veteran that once worked on the station I watched for years, was replaced at 11:00. I shouldn't call her a girl. She's got to be at least 40 given the number of years she worked on Charlotte TV.
Finally, I got to pay my bill and turn in what I had. I had to sign something and got a receipt. I still have to upgrade by August 11 but it was recommended that I wait on the other upgrade.
The cable box I did install (or rather, had to have someone come to my house to fix after I tried) needed an IR control cable. I got that in the mail, but when I called TiVo and said there were no directions for hooking it up, I was told I'd have to go online. When I was asked what kind of cable box and I didn't know, I was told it might not even work with my TiVo which was so old. If that was true I was told I would have to replace it and I said Time Warner better pay, and he said they would.
Actually, I'm surprised he said that because I have a second one which supposedly will work. I say supposedly because who knows what problems I will have when I upgrade that one.
The FCC will be voting on this disastrous merger soon and now is the time to tell the FCC to block this merger.
Please call all three of the following people at the FCC ASAP and tell them you want them to block the Charter/Time Warner Cable merger. This merger is not in the public interest in any way whatsoever, and in fact is just the opposite.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler: (202) 418-1000
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: (202) 418-2100
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel: 202-418-2400
Leave them a message with your name, City, State, Phone Number, and a brief, polite message that you want them to block this needless merger because it will assuredly result in much higher bills for you.
The newly merged company would incur $27 billion dollars in new debt for a total debt load of $66 billion dollars.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-b...have-to-raise-prices-a-lot-to-make-its-merger
The only way they could possibly pay down that debt is to raise our bills. That means that if you are a Time Warner Cable, Charter, or Bright House Networks customer your bills are sure to go up.
Please call the above three people at the FCC (I recommend you call all three and not just one) and let your voice be heard.
-Paul.
Please call all three of the following people at the FCC ASAP and tell them you want them to block the Charter/Time Warner Cable merger. This merger is not in the public interest in any way whatsoever, and in fact is just the opposite.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler: (202) 418-1000
FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: (202) 418-2100
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel: 202-418-2400
Leave them a message with your name, City, State, Phone Number, and a brief, polite message that you want them to block this needless merger because it will assuredly result in much higher bills for you.
The newly merged company would incur $27 billion dollars in new debt for a total debt load of $66 billion dollars.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-b...have-to-raise-prices-a-lot-to-make-its-merger
The only way they could possibly pay down that debt is to raise our bills. That means that if you are a Time Warner Cable, Charter, or Bright House Networks customer your bills are sure to go up.
Please call the above three people at the FCC (I recommend you call all three and not just one) and let your voice be heard.
-Paul.
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