Mediacom

While I wouldn't characterize myself as a disgruntled customer of Comcast (cable TV, phone, internet) I have been significantly less than gruntled for a long time. One of my only good experiences with them was the phone call (and their return call to me -- yes it does actually happen sometimes) to have the service discontinued in a few days.

Now I will have to use Mediacom, which is the provider for Columbia City. My early experiences with them have been about the same as Comcast -- generally not very good. There are things they presumably have no control over, like the fact that I can't keep my old phone number, even though I'm moving just a few miles up the road. But then there are the other things:

Of course the install window was from 8:00 to 12:00 AM. And they were supposed to call before coming so I could make sure I was there. At 11:30 I decided to call them. A guy arrived shortly before noon.

They couldn't tell me the model of DVR they were going to install, so my A/V integrator had to do all of the programing for it on-site after they brought it. I am paying him by the hour -- on site programming is always harder and takes longer.

The first DVR they brought didn't have HDMI outputs (only component video). The guy had to leave to go back and get a different one. All the while I am waiting there to sign off on the work, instead of being at work where I belong.

They didn't bring the two cable cards I ordered, so no way to get the TiVo up and running. After asking about my schedule the guy made an appointment for them to come back Wednesday between 8:00 and 12:00 for that. Another day of me missing some work and having to drive all the way out there.

On Wednesday morning (10:30) I called to check the status. The lady saw the order in the system, but could not confirm when the tech would be coming out.

At 3:30 PM I called again. The lady who took this call told me the appointment was for Thursday. "So they changed it without calling me?" "No, it looks like it was always set up for Thursday?" "But as I explained to the tech who made the appointment, I am not available on Thursday. He told me he made it for Wednesday..."

Sigh...


Update Thursday 5/12 -- Got the cards installed in the TiVo. It appeared to work. I had to rush over there from work so I didn't have time to get all the new A/V stuff on line, which made it hard to check everything quickly. Turns out lots of channels don't work, on both the TiVo and their DVR box...and it's not all the same channels. Called them, went through a horrendous automated troubleshooting genie over the phone, finally got to a CSR. Have an appointment for them to come back Monday.

Sigh...