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...

[technomage]

I guess any publicity is good publicity??????

[Inyo-Mono]

Wow. Just wow!

[Hoodat]

Reason #872 why I hate cable companies.

[NonValueAdded]

There’s your cable asterisk.

[uptoolate]

Wow. Just wow!

No it wasn't WOW or Comcast. I believe they said it was Time Warner.

[george76]

Time Warner Cable

[MediaMole]

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

[PAR35]

This is old news.

How old? The story is datelined Feb 1, and the storm happened just over 3 weeks ago. So how long did it take TWC to get the bill to her after the storm? Given that they take the best part of a week to restore a local outage, I'd be shocked if they got the bill to her before the 21st. (Verify lost equipment, generate a bill, have bill mailed, have bill delivered, reject phone request for adjustment.)

Since you seem to have facts not in the story, do you perhaps work for TWC?

[metmom]

I guess any publicity is good publicity??????

Um, no.

Time to change cable provider, I guess.

I wouldn't pay; I'd tell them to bill God.

[Mygirlsmom]

Time to change cable provider, I guess.

As of now in WI, I believe we have no choice of cable providers. It's coming though.

But who am I to know? We're the only family on the PLANET without cable. At least that's what my kids tell me...

[Ol' Sparky]

It’s time for Ann to get a dish...

[the invisib1e hand]

time-warner communications has a very seedy history, actually. no staid-hahvahd-alumni type organization, this.

began with parking garages in nyc paying protection money to the mob, or some such.

no, really.

the customer's lucky that vinny didn't come out and break their freakin' arms.

[VeniVidiVici]

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

Of course that's all they really wanted - to jump on the insurance claim bandwagon

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

[Sertorius]

My choice is no cable.

[george76]

They might get better pricing on ebay :

What cost $2k in cable equipment?

[george76]

Time Warner would have been busy.

How many homes hit by the tornado ?

Plus all the po’ed neighbors.

[endthematrix]

I was at the car stealership for some warranty work. I left the car with them and a service rep called to say I didn’t have insurance. I did. When I verified that, the rep said he’s get the work done that we’d discussed earlier. When he called to update, miraculously some other work that was covered was done without my knowledge or consent. Funny that when I couldn’t pay there’s was no work, but when a third party could pay...

Common? You betcha! And we get squeezed in ins premiums. I know cuz I investigated worker’s comp fraud.

[TaMoDee]

She needs to switch to DIRECTV.

[VeniVidiVici]

What cost $2k in cable equipment?

I know I'm only responsible for the cable where it enters my house and the cable box. I KNOW both don't come to $2K.