Time Warner Charges Flood Victims $300 for Each Damaged Cable Box

FoxNews ^ | Wed., July 31, 2002

[Jemian]

SAN ANTONIO

[Jemian]

Thank you for courteously informing me of that fact.

As I have stated before, I don't use cable, don't live in Texas and therefore, don't really have a dog in this race.

[Area51]

Actually if you re-read the article that is exactly what they did. They are REWIRING the services for Free.

Hartley said that so far, she has received about five calls reporting damaged boxes. She said customers who suffered flood damage can have their homes rewired free of charge, but they must pay for the converters.

FREE STUFF, let's all become democritters and whine for FREE STUFF.

I WANT MY FREE STUFF!

[Area51]

Sorry, couldn't resist. :)

[goodieD]

Time Warner, always a classy outfit.....NOT.

[Dog]

What are you talking about......these boxes were damaged by a freaking flood...these people lost everything ..EVERYTHING!!!!

Time-Warner can eat the cost of these boxes.....why subject these flood victims to more agony.

[The South Texan]

It was reported a few days ago that Dish network will start broadcasting the local networks in the Corpus area on their system soon. The same is expected from Direct TV. This crap will make me drop AOL/Timewarner too as I have seen the flodding first hand in my neck of the woods. AOL/Time Warner: Typical Phony Liberals!

[Dog]

Lost or stolen is one thing .....but flood damaged is another.....

I can see it now ...according to your rules......these families should have saved their cable converters before they saved family members....

[goodieD]

People like you are the reason the liberals call conservatives "cold blooded and mean".... I suppose you also don't diss the Red Cross for charging for water and donuts, when the Salvation Army gives em away for free during a disaster. When something like this happens, it's up to everyone to help out all they can, if they want future customers.

[cake_crumb]

"We are sympathetic to them," she told the San Antonio Express-News. But we are going to charge them for their boxes."

Isn't AOL-Time Warner currently under investigation by the SEC?

"People have their boxes stolen," she said. "It would be really hard to treat one person differently than another. If someone is robbed, that's not their fault either."

Err...considering all the flooding down that way, I'm surprised so few people called...maybe the rest decided to by their own boxes for $80 bucks. Floods damage more people at one time than one robbery, usually. Sounds like the only people being "robbed" are customers of Time Warner

[Joe Driscoll]

They are REWIRING the services for Free.

I believe they do that for all "new" customers.

AOL has every right to demand that the contract be honored. Or should I have said AOL has every right to be penny wise and dollar foolish.

A good solution for AOL would have been for those subscribers with insurance to pay the contract price($300). It is in the contract, it is paid by insurance so it doesn't become an additional cost to an already devastated homeowner.

For those without insurance a reduced cost of say $75 (actual cost) will be added to future bills and can be paid over time.

Under the current plan AOL will make a tidy profit because of the floods. It may be legal, but certianly isn't good PR.

[Dog]

BTW who you calling stupid??

People don't agree with your point of view..... so you insult them???

[Area51]

That is what is called being responsible. If they have insurance then it is no big deal. IF not they should have.

And just because a fire destroys ones belongings does NOT give them the right to run from their obligations.

If they charged 20,000 dollars worth of clothes and household items a week before the fire, and it all burnt should they be allowed to not to pay the Credit Card bill it was all charged with?

I think not. This is nothing but emotional whining. Life is a B!tch. They need to Get used to it. This is a good education for a few. Expect and PLAN for the unexpected. Instead of expecting someone else, (thru higher prices for everyone) to pay for your misfortune.

[sheik yerbouty]

Satellite dish.

[Dog]

Listen to yourself.....now you want these people to have insured a cable converter......get real!

[mhking]

Perhaps it is legal, given the cable contract that AOL/TW has (not to mention Comcast/AT&T, Cox and all the others have), for them to charge for the damaged boxes, but it is definitely not good business sense.

Considering that many of their residents now live in shelters or trailers or other alternative housing, and only own the clothes on their backs, to hit them with yet another blow while they are down does not look good. I'm sure that the cost they recoup from the downtrodden will be lost from those same downtrodden, who, once they do get back on their feet, will undoubtedly get satellite dishes.

[OPS4]

Exactly, well stated, the company AOL TW should have the Boxes insured as part of their course of business, and if they do then they are double dipping. Those who do not investigate before they act pompus and name call should be ashamed.
Ops4 God Bless America!!!!

[Salgak]

Depends on the Terms of Service. As I said, if the Terms say you're responsible, then you are. But if they don't, you are. If you are, I'd check with your homeowners' or renters policy. . .

[Dog]

Whining???

There is a freeper on this site.....who lost everything....you might have seen her home floating down a river on the news....why don't you tell her the people in her area are whiners...

[Area51]

I am calling people that sign leases then whine when they are held to the terms of the lease Stupid. If the shoe fits wear it. If not, no harm no foul.

This reminds me of the Idiots that entered the National Guard then whined back in GHWB's term when they got called up, because "they didn't think they would have to risk their lives" DOH.

[discostu]

My cable converter is insured. It's on the list of "appliances" in my renters insurance. It's called being smart. I don't see what the big deal is, if the house wasn't paid for and got washed away in the flood they'd still have to payoff the loan. If the car wasn't paid for and got washed away in the flood they'd still have to pay off the loan. If they had a bunch of junk from RTO that wasn't paid for and got washed away in the flood they'd still have to payoff the purchase balance. Why shouldn't they have to pay to replace the cable box? Life's hard, get a helmet.