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

FoxNews ^ | Wed., July 31, 2002

[Jemian]

SAN ANTONIO

[ScreamingFist]

"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."

Doubt it. Most people DO NOT have flood insurance, it's extra, just the same way your house IS NOT covered by acts of war (read that as terrorism).

[ScreamingFist]

"Try reading a Homeowners policy once.

Do you have flood insurance?

[Guillermo]

Oh please, spare us your disgusting emotionalism.

That's something I expect to hear on NPR or Pacifica and read on DU.

Yeah, I'm sure you are shedding tears for the flood victims. It's really going to change your life.

Why don't you cough up some of your own cash, Mr. Compassionate, since it doesn't matter to you that someone else is getting screwed out of their assets.

[ScreamingFist]

"If you don't have insurance, is that reason to not have to be responsible"

Do you have flood insurance?

[Guillermo]

*I* don't have flood insurance, as I don't live in a flood plain.

But if some freak flood washes out my house, *I* won't be trying to welch out of my responsibilities because I didn't have it.

[Area51]

Thank you.

I bet you are big believer in SSI too. Hahahaha

[Blackdakota]

Yes it would have been a good PR move for TWC to replace the boxes or at least at a discount or something. However they aren't obligated to do so. From a legal stand point a leasing agreement is just that, you lease with the agreement of returning the merchandise in as good of shape as when you first received it, otherwise you have to pay for damages or replacement. Its as simple as that.

[Rebelbase]

Yeah, clean up the box and return it. I've seen people turning converter boxes back in at the cable office, and the boxes are just tossed into a big basket.

[ScreamingFist]

"*I* don't have flood insurance, as I don't live in a flood plain"

I don't either and practically the whole state of Texas is a flood plain. As for me, I'd tell TW to go blow their 300 bucks out their butts, or come collect their soggy box, which ever they prefer.

[muggs]

Isn't this why you have insurance?

The apartment complex I manage was hit by a flood last July 17-18. Our building insurance and my tenants insurance did not pay a dime for anything.

Time-Warner also charged all the residents here that had cable $300.00 for their lost boxes. I called them over and over, trying to get them to waive the charges for the people that lost everything they owned, to no avail.

[Area51]

Actually no I don't. And I don't need it because my house sits on a ridge that overlooks a area that hasn't had water above it for, oh, maybe a Million or two Years.

IF my place floods, there won't be anything left of most of the Midwest.

BTW-I have read mine, more than once.

[Guillermo]

Hey, if you want to welch on your obligations, go ahead.

But the law shouldn't protect you.

If you don't like the terms of service of a service you use, simply don't use the service. No one was forced to use a TW cable box. You don't even need a box to watch cable TV. No one has a right to cable TV and no one has the right to screw others because of the rain.

[ScreamingFist]

"IF my place floods, there won't be anything left of most of the Midwest."

I'm up on a ridge myself, so never thought about getting flood insurance. If my house ever did float away, my last priority would be TW's cable box.

[ScreamingFist]

Hey, if you want to welch on your obligations, go ahead.

I like to think of it as having my priorities straight, my families food and clothes are gonna come before Ted "commie" Turner's cable box. That said, I use Dish network, I wouldn't have a TW box if it was free.

[HIDEK6]

Why is it disgusting?? Why should Time Warner eat the cost?? Because they are left wing? Is that enough reason?

I can't stand Time-Warner, AOL, Ted or Jane and a lot of other stuff. However, I agree with you. It's up to the subscriber to insure property that he is borrowing that he can't afford to replace if lost, stolen, struck by lightning, eaten by the dog, etc.

[Guillermo]

That still doesn't absolve you of your obligations.

And yes, I knew all along that since it was AOL-TW, people would rush to the defense of the Welchers. I guess it's OK if some companies get screwed, since they're lefty.

(btw, Ted Turner doesn't own or run AOL-TW and hasn't for 6 years)

[discostu]

They'll still have to pay for it. The "they" in question isn't the insurance company, it's the debtor/ renter.

[Guillermo]

I despise AOL-TW as well, and I can't stand Ted Turner either (though I would like to see him buy back the Braves).

I want to see ALL of them go under. But, not through fraud and thievery.

[HIDEK6]

And no, if a flood, tornado, forest fire destroys leased property it is the owners misfortune, not the leasees.

If your leased car were washed away in a flood, I doubt the bank or leasing company would agree.

[ScreamingFist]

"That still doesn't absolve you of your obligations."

The FReeper TexArcanaRed (I think that's how to spell it) made it out with her life and a dog or two, she lost all the rest of her livestock and I don't believe they ever found her house, just a couple foundation pylons. If and when she ever returns to FR, ask her if she paid TW for their box, if not, make sure you call her a Welcher. Please ping me to the thread when you do.