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A Kennewick, Washington couple became so exasperated with Charter Cable’s unwillingness to fix a cable hanging off their roof and into their yard they finally called a local television station for help.
Over a seven month period, the Dunbar family contended with a series of broken promises from Charter to fix the problem, but the company never did. Ralph Dunbar, 82, finally climbed on the roof himself to get the cable out of the yard where someone might trip over it.
“I don’t want it on the ground where a child or dog could get hurt or my meter reader. It doesn’t belong on the ground or it would have been there in the first place so I want it fixed,” Laura Dunbar told KEPR Action News.
The Dunbar family endured this Charter Cable line hanging off their roof for seven months
Within hours of the station calling Charter, the problem was finally fixed.
Laura Dunbar remains upset it took a local television station to get Charter moving on their behalf, and KEPR reporter Chelsea Kopta called Charter looking for an explanation for the delay, to no avail.
“I called Charter headquarters in Phoenix with my questions,” Kopta reports. “By the close of business no one said they had time to answer my questions over the phone.”
John Miller, Director of Communications for Charter, later issued this statement:
We apologize for any concern this may have caused our customers or their neighbor. We are pleased the issue has been successfully resolved for the Dunbars, who are long time Charter customers.
The story apparently drew enough attention the first day it was reported, the station’s follow-up report led the newscast the following evening.
Charter Cable recently emerged from bankruptcy reorganization.
http://www.phillipdampier.com/video/KEPR Pasco Dunbar Family Endures Charter Cable's Bad Service 1-4 and 1-5-10.flvKEPR-TV in Pasco, Washington ran two reports about the Dunbar’s ongoing problems with Charter Cable. (January 4 & 5, 2010 – 3 minutes)
Other stories of interest:
- The Many Challenges of Charter Cable: Rate Increases for Seniors, Bankruptcy, Employees Attacked, Customers Hassled
- Charter Cable Wants To Emerge From Bankruptcy And Overcharge Customers: Rate Hikes & Limits Under Consideration
- Charter Cable to Bankers, Business Owners, a Former State Senator & 55 Others: Pay $1,850 Each for Internet
- Washington State Utilities and Telecom Staff Recommend Rejection of Verizon Sale to Frontier
- Action Alert For Washington State Residents: Tell The Utility Commission Frontier Must Dump 5GB Acceptable Use Limit
Charter CEO Neil Smit was paid $7.4 million in cash compensation for 2008. Customers suffer while executives prosper.