Should I charge Comcast my consulting rate?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205216)
Walnut Creek, California
October 17, 2018 4:48pm CST
My internet and phone service have been dead intermittently over the past five days. I have lost (potentially) hundreds of dollars terms of possibles sales, contracts, etc.
Comcast claims they are trying to "fix the problem." At my normal consulting rate of $100/hour, they owe me at least $500 for time spent on the phone trying to figure out what the heck is wrong.
So far, they have compensated me $12 for time they could see that my TV service was not working. For some reason, the phone and internet issues do not show up on their computers.
What would you do in this situation? They are charging me something ridiculous like $179.00/month for internet, phone and TV service that works "when it wants to."
9 people like this
11 responses
@TheHorse (205216)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Oct 18
Dag, I could estimate the total number of hours, but I didn't write down times calls began and ended. I should have. It's been about five hours in the past five days. At my (non-starving-student) consulting rate, that's $500.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457298)
• Switzerland
18 Oct 18
@TheHorse My husband spent a lot of time talking with them and explaining the problems and suggesting solutions. He finally asked if he was allowed to send them a note to be paid for the hours spent suggesting solutions. Believe it or not, the secretary of a CEO called back and they agreed to send him a new router (worth 299 $), plus 2 months free for all the time he lost due to their problems.
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
Even if they don't pay it, I would send them a bill to let them know of your extreme displeasure.
My daughter just wasted her lunch hour trying to discontinue her Internet service (she's moving).
Finally she did it all online and gave her new address as mine. That provider doesn't service our area. We'll see what happens next.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
18 Oct 18
We have comcast and it goes off if I talk to anyone over a few minutes. They have told us it's fixed but it isn't. We've called a few times to complain but the phone still goes off. I have no idea what you can do. Our TV and computer works just fine.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
18 Oct 18
I've heard about a lot of complaints when it comes to Comcast. We have it here and have zero issues. Not sure what the company is doing right here but it seems to me all of the others should be able to provide good service. Hope it gets fixed and straightened out for you.
@koopharper (7463)
• Canada
17 Oct 18
I would be none to happy. They would experience my displeasure over the phone. I doubt you'll get anywhere sending them a bill for your services depends on if you just want to make a statement or if you really want better compensation. If the problem persists I would check to see if they have the option to appeal to an ombudsman or a third-party arbitrator. You'd be surprised sometimes at what you might find in those really really really long terms of service statements.
@wolfgirl569 (94747)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Oct 18
If you cant change providers then keep track of your lost time and demand that much off your bill. Hopefully you have another service provider in the area. Just threatening to switch can get things fixed a lot of the time.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
31 Oct 18
Comcast sucks. Went out on me one night a couple hours before an Avalanche playoff game. I still haven't forgiven them.
