Wis. cable customer whose home was destroyed by tornado billed for damages

The Associated Press ^ | Feb 1, 2008

[george76]

Having a tornado demolish her home was bad enough.

But weeks later when Ann Beam received a $2,000 cable bill for destroyed equipment, she was floored.

"I just couldn't believe it," Beam said. "I was like: 'What are they thinking?"' Time Warner Cable billed a number of Wheatland residents for equipment damaged in the Jan. 7 twister...

She immediately called the cable company but a man who identified himself as a manager said there was nothing the company could do.

"They said I would have to take the bill and turn it in to my insurance company," ...

But her cable equipment was nine years old and the insurance company would pay only a depreciated value...

[VeniVidiVici]

The transmission in my Trailblazer SS blew-up at 13K miles (great truck, lousy tranny). When rebuilding the transmission they broke an O2 sensor. I know this because it delayed my car being done by yet one more day till one could be obtained (they called to tell me).

When I picked the car up the tranny rebuild was listed on the invoice and then a customer complaint for a “Check Engine” light, which I never complained of having. The fix for the bogus “Check Engine” light? Why a defective O2 sensor! Cheerfully covered by General Motors warranty.

[endthematrix]

Re: “Customer complaint”
Yep. Same w/ me. Funny because when the rep called he said that we’ll replace the tie rods -

“TIE RODS?! You never mentioned that!”

The rep replied that I never let him finish. Then he goes on to say that the fuel pressure regulator is replaced as well -

“FUEL REGULATOR?! You never mentioned that, either!”

(shaking head over phone) But cheerfully covered under warranty.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Got to look at the contact, not covered by the Sassafras Tree damage. Sarcasm

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Opps, typo.. I meant, ( Got to look at the contract, not covered by the Sassafras Tree damage. Sarcasm )

[TChris]

I left cable television about 12 years ago, and I have never regretted it.

Dish Network is mostly awesome.

[LRS]

"Zoinks! The cable guy!"

[metmom]

Tell your girls you’re not. My kids say the same thing. :)

[SunkenCiv]

Sounds like something Comcast would do.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Pretty sad that they even attempted this. Glad it got resolved because that’s just ridiculous. You can’t tell me that those cable boxes aren’t already insured in the first place for theft or damage or tampering. Yeesh!

We can’t get cable; we’re out in the boonies. Of course, the medium-security prison on the other side of the hill has high-speed everything. It belongs to the State, meaning we taxpayers are footing the bill. :(

[goldstategop]

People rent the equipment from their cable company. You are expected to pay for any damaged equipment, regardless of whether or not its your fault. If you owned it, you wouldn't get billed for the replacement costs.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Politicalmom]

I believe you are thinking of a similar story that came out of the California wildfires.

[Eroteme]

This is old news. Time Warner has already taken the charge off her bill.

But only after they first tried to soak her for it.

Why is it that these consumer "misunderstandings" are always so easily recognized and swiftly resolved only after media inquiries?

[Thumper1960]

We can’t get cable; we’re out in the boonies. Of course, the medium-security prison on the other side of the hill has high-speed everything. It belongs to the State, meaning we taxpayers are footing the bill. :(

The Government has decided that to do less would be cruel and unusual punishment for the poor wayward souls under the care of the State.

How dare you deny those incarcerated any trappings of civilization.

You must be a cruel and un-compassionate, evil Conservative!

/ sarc

[mvpel]

Time to change cable provider, I guess.

Thanks to the government, you can't do that.

[mvpel]

What cost $2k in cable equipment? That's what I'd like to know.

Maybe she had a couple of those high-end Hi-Def On-Demand DVR systems.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“You must be a cruel and un-compassionate, evil Conservative!”

And proud of it! :)

[MediaMole]

I don’t work for Time Warner. The story hit locally earlier in the week. This version of the story was bylined on Feb 1 because it was picked up by AP and republished later.

Even in the story that was posted, Time Warner has reversed itself and will take the equipment off the bill. They set up a special number for tornado victims to call if they were billed for equipment.