"We have lost our ambition, our imagination, and our willingness to do the things that built the Golden Gate Bridge" - Barack Obama (aka President Malaise)
Pitch in with the Prince William Young Republicans and help defeat Obama in 2012!
Comcast Proves It Lied To City Council
By Greg L | 27 November 2007 | Manassas City | 13 Comments
Even after Comcast tells the media and the Manassas City Council that it will stop torturing Manassas Resident Melyssa Webb, it has come back with a new definition of what “that equipment won’t come back to your yard” actually meant and is telling her that the electrical enclosure farm is indeed coming back to her yard. Where is George Orwell when you need him to tell us all that he told us all? Here’s the latest update from Ms. Webb, and it’s absolutely stunning:
Well, I had an interesting talk with Comcast today. The representative who was at the Council meeting, Marie Schuler, spoke with me regarding our concerns with Comcast. The 4′ high utility box IS coming back to my house. When I pointed out that the Washington Post wrote on Sunday that Comcast stated that it would NOT be returning to my yard, she said, “Right. It will return to your easement.” I shook my head and told her they were playing with words. They knew what the reporter was asking and clearly stated what they knew would be misinterpreted to what we wanted to hear.
When I commented that I had not heard back at all from a Comcast representative regarding this issue, she shot back, “You heard from Moses.” (The man who came and told me I had no rights.) I couldn’t believe she would even want to go there. So since she brought it up, we told her we want a written apology. (By the way, Conteth is still working there. Guess it doesn’t matter how badly you mistreat or threaten customers.)
My husband got on the phone and told Schuler that if the utility box must return “to the easment”, then we must have a say on the size of the box. There are boxes that are less obtrusive that can hold the battery packs Comcast needs. Ms. Schuler told him she would look into it, and if the 4′ box had to return, Comcast would plant shrubs and trees around it. (Hmmm…. more yard work for me or them? I thought it these boxes couldn’t be blocked.)
Anyway… bottom line is this… we have no rights. She didn’t say we didn’t have a right to complain, but she did say we have no right regarding the box in our yard. It’s not their fault we don’t get Comcast. When I told her there are several utility boxes within houses of mine, why did it have to be my yard, she stated that “it just does” and that there is nothing I can do about it.
So! That is where we stand now. Between you, me and the Comcast post…. I HATE THIS COMPANY! I guess the rule that “the customer is always right” doesn’t apply here since I am not a customer.
Melyssa
There has to be a way to effectively punish Comcast for this outrageous behavior. Obviously a company that lies to the Manassas City Council can’t be trusted to honor a contract with the city, but the consequences here need to be bigger than that. Much bigger.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
You can follow the discussion through the Comments feed.
13 Comments
Views: 1309
Loading ...
It’s up to the council at this point. Time to pick up the phone and ring them.
You really need to see what the recorded easement says. When you take title to property, it is conveyed with all restrictions, covenants, rights of way and easements recorded with it. The savvy buyer and a good realtor should check those things out before the contract to purchase is signed. Unfortunately, she may not have any rights. Greg, email me the info (address) and let me check on it, please.
Big Picture Dept: A vote is slated today by the governing
body of the FCC on stronger rules and regulations relating
to cable television. (Local government doesn’t have
the power on this issue that some apparently think.
Through the years, Comcast and the other big boys
have insulated themselves by buying influence at the
state and national level. Often their hired guns have
even drafted legislation that was passed with only
minor modifications. My hope is the FCC will soon allow
local governments to regain stronger control over the
cable providers in their respective communities -
then improvements for the consumer would really begin.)
That may be so Big Dog, but I would wager that there is SOMETHING in the contract that the City has with Comcast which Comcast is violating, leaving them open to nulification and an invitation for other services to come in with a bid to replace them.
Read today’s Wall Street Journal online -”FCC Chairman
Hits Bump In Cable Industry Review” — too many
Republican fat cats loving monopoly pay offs and not
willing to defend the American consumer.
How very Clinton-esque of Comcast.
I wonder - when you have an easement on your property is the utility free to do whatever it pleases within that easement or are there regulations? They’re putting a 4 ft high box. Could they put one 6 ft? 10 ft? A mini cell tower-like structure? There has to be some kind of governing regulation.
In other areas of Virginia (Henrico County for example), Comcast has competition for cable services from other providers such as Cavalier Cable. People in those areas of the state are regularly offered great deals from Comcast that we do not receive. I’m betting that their customer service is better and there are not 4′ boxes in the yards as well. There is a viable solution to the problems we’re having with Comcast, and that is opening up cable service to competition from other providers. That we have none here is the main reason why Comcast treats residents like Melyssa so badly. I hope that the Manassas City Council and the City Manager can find a way to make this happen.
I’m sure Ms. Webb knew there was an easement on her property when she bought it. I have one on property also. Does that really mean they can come and do what they want to? Probably. But look at all of the negative publicity this has given Comcast.
I think it is time to call the owners of Comcast. Does anyone have that information handy? If they get enough phone calls, maybe they will do something about their non-existent customer service.
SHAME ON COMCAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should read online -
“FCC Leans Toward Approving Softened Cable Rules”
Washington Post
“FCC Chief Forced to Scale Back Cable Plan”
New York Times
Apparently most of the pressure to gut the plan to
help consumers came from the Bush White House.
Shame on Comcast AND the Republican Party.
What is the suggested resolution to this?
Obviously, enough people want the new or improved services, otherwise they would not be upgrading the equipment.
Regarding the 4′ post, it is a safety issue - if the equipment box is damaged or on fire, you do not want the meter attached to it, you want to be able to disconnect the power while standing away from the box - it is common practice now a days.
So - what is the recommendaton for a solution - lets not just bash comcast, lets propose something that will solve the issue for all,.
AnonymouS said on 28 Nov 2007 at 9:32 am:
So - what is the recommendaton for a solution - lets not just bash comcast, lets propose something that will solve the issue for all,.
Put it all under ground like they do with the gas, water and electric lines in most places. Those boxes on peoples lawns are an eyesore!
“Regarding the 4′ post, it is a safety issue - if the equipment box is damaged or on fire, you do not want the meter attached to it, you want to be able to disconnect the power while standing away from the box - it is common practice now a days.”
Manassas City Utilities routinely attaches the meter to their traffic signal control equipment boxes. I don’t think I’ve seen a single one in Manassas City which isn’t that way.
In any case, is pulling the electric meter when the box is damaged or on fire a good idea, given that it may well arc over and explode if any significant current is being drawn through it?
For those fed up with Comcast, I’d suggest a visit to http://comcastmustdie.blogspot.com/
Good reading.