I spent nearly an hour on the phone with Time Fucking Warner (yes, that’s the correct name for them) trying to get them to set up an install of a CableCard for my new TiVo. They have to come out to do it, although last time the guy came out, plugged it into the TiVo, then called into the office, read them a couple of numbers, verified that it was set up on their side, and then left. Yeah, I couldn’t do that.
Anyway, getting them to set up the appointment involved 3 long times on hold, and getting transferred twice. The third guy once again asked me for my phone number, and then asked me for my full name, email address and billing address “for verification”, just like the other two people had done (evidently they can transfer a call, but can’t transfer the information they’ve collected on you). And yet, after talking to him for some time he couldn’t seem to understand that we already had a CableCard in the other TiVo, and some other details on what he was telling me about my account didn’t match up. Finally he calls me Howard, and when I said I wasn’t Howard, asks me what my phone number is. And then he says “oh, I had your number in as [number which is a simple transposition of mine]”.
Which left me scratching my head about all the other verification of name, home phone and mailing address. Had he even listened to what I’d said? What is the point of those verifications if they could end up sending out a technician to the wrong address because they got the phone number entered wrong? And they have the nerve to try to get you to dump the phone company and switch to them?