Episode 1840
BONUS EPISODE! Cable Chaos: Navigating Spectrum Customer Service Nightmares
Customer service frustrations with Spectrum and Charter Cable take center stage as Eric shares his challenging experiences navigating their support system. He highlights how seemingly simple account changes have turned into a month-long ordeal, shedding light on the broader issues many customers face with these utility providers. Additionally, Eric addresses the current toilet paper panic, reassuring listeners that there’s no need for a run on supplies and encouraging calm amidst the chaos. The episode also touches on FEMA's funding concerns, particularly in the wake of recent hurricane damage, emphasizing the need for proper allocation of resources to assist affected homeowners. Join Eric as he dives into these pressing topics, offering insights and encouraging listeners to share their own stories.
Takeaways:
- The current toilet paper shortage is largely a panic-driven reaction, not a supply issue.
- Customer service issues with Spectrum and Charter Cable can lead to frustrating delays and complications.
- FEMA funding seems to be misallocated, potentially affecting disaster relief for homeowners.
- It's advisable to regularly check with cable companies to ensure you're on the best plan.
- Avoid panic buying toilet paper; there is no current shortage affecting supply chains.
- The host emphasizes the importance of addressing customer service problems with utility companies promptly.
To get your questions answered by Eric G give us a call in the studio at 833-239-4144 24/7 and Eric G will get back to you and answer your question and you might end up in a future episode of Around the House.
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Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.
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Transcript
It's around the house.
Host:When it comes to remodeling and renovating your home, there is a lot to know.
Host:But we've got you covered.
Host:This is around the house.
Eric G.:Welcome to the Round the house show, the next generation of home improvement.
Eric G.:Thanks for joining me today.
Eric G.:I'm Eric G.
Eric G.:And we, we got a bonus episode this week.
Eric G.:Usually we've got our midweek special and then sometimes things happen out there that I go, we got enough to send another one out.
Eric G.:And this is one of those rare instances.
Eric G.:Hope you're enjoying.
Eric G.:I hope we helped you yesterday with the other episode that came out in our midweek special.
Eric G.:But today I want to talk.
Eric G.:I had a bunch of stuff pile up that doesn't have room into this weekend show.
Eric G.:So I thought let's have some fun and get you some more information today.
Eric G.:First off, let's talk about the toilet paper run that's going on right now across the country.
Eric G.:And guys, let's just put it this way.
Eric G.:The port things that are happening on the east coast and across the south with the dock workers on strike totally get that.
Eric G.:That's their battle.
Eric G.:But it's not going to affect toilet paper.
Eric G.:Now it could, you know, deal with a bunch of stuff coming from Europe, but toilet paper is not one of them.
Eric G.:So don't worry about running out to Costco or Sam's club or down to your home improvement place and buying those big things toilet paper.
Eric G.:I don't think it's going to run out unless everybody panics like they did last time and we ended up having shortages.
Eric G.:So make sure out there that you're well stocked on everything.
Eric G.:But there's not a reason right now to go for a run of stuff unless you're trying to complete a project and you're trying to get materials to get a house done or something like that.
Eric G.:That's a different story.
Eric G.:But no reason to go for the toilet paper run.
Eric G.:And if you're like a lot of us, we got a bidet anyway and the toilet paper just isn't as big of deal.
Eric G.:So that's a whole other discussion that we're not going to have today.
Eric G.:But let's dial it off eleven folks and see if we can leave toilet paper for everyone that needs it.
Eric G.:There's zero reason to go on a run of that.
Eric G.:What I wanted to talk about here today, another one that's coming up, that was one of the big ones.
Eric G.:I wanted to see if we could dispel that myth real quick.
Eric G.:The next one is I wanted to see if you guys have ever run into this, and I haven't run into this with a more utility company than, than anybody else.
Eric G.:And this is pretty wild.
Eric G.:This is, I'm just going to be blunt.
Eric G.:This is charter slash spectrum cable out there, there.
Eric G.:And I'm starting to see why people are really cutting the cable out there with some of these companies.
Eric G.:And I use another company.
Eric G.:I personally, in my area, I have Xfinity, Comcast.
Eric G.:I'm still a customer of theirs, and that's just what that is.
Eric G.:But I'm trying to help a older family member navigate this.
Eric G.:They are probably the most impossible company that provides utility type services.
Eric G.:Internet, cable, gas, whatever.
Eric G.:It's just the most difficult to deal with.
Eric G.:And are you having the same problem with this company?
Eric G.:And I'm not here to bash them, but I have tried to.
Eric G.:I've spent almost a month now working with them to get something very simple changed on an account.
Eric G.:And they have to call you.
Eric G.:So then you call them or you jump on their chat.
Eric G.:Customer service says, hey, it'll take five business days to call.
Eric G.:They call and they go, oh, we might need to need more information.
Eric G.:We'll get back with you.
Eric G.:They never do.
Eric G.:You call again, you need five days.
Eric G.:And what should take somebody five to ten minutes on a phone call?
Eric G.:We're now at about 30 days, and I'm about ready to go nuclear here with these guys and really start posting up the interactions because I've never seen such poor customer service out of a company.
Eric G.:And if you're running on this, I'm going to post this up on social media as well.
Eric G.:Should be something so simple to fix.
Eric G.:And they say it's so simple to fix.
Eric G.:I just can't get these people to call me.
Eric G.:And it's not like they'll transfer me over to them.
Eric G.:They're like, this department has to call you to make this happen, and they don't call.
Eric G.:Or if they call, once they go, hey, we'll have to call you back, and then you get lost in the mix again.
Eric G.:So is this something that you're seeing out there with charter spectrum?
Eric G.:Is this something that is typical for these guys?
Eric G.:Because the issues I have is that we can't fix this until we fix the other problems.
Eric G.:We have to fix this error on the account first.
Eric G.:Everything's paid.
Eric G.:It's not one of those things.
Eric G.:We gotta fix this error on the account that they haven't been able to fix.
Eric G.:And then we're probably two months into not having service here as well.
Eric G.:And it's pretty crazy.
Eric G.:You'd think that this could be something that would be so easily done.
Eric G.:And other companies I've worked with, Cox charters, Cox has been great, great cable company.
Eric G.:No problems there.
Eric G.:Xfinity, no problems there.
Eric G.:They take care of things.
Eric G.:But what's going on with charter and Spectrum got my head scratching there.
Eric G.:I see why they're losing so many people because it's almost easier for us to close the account and then go open it back up again, which is ridiculous because then there's going to be days without service and that might be the only way to fix this with these guys.
Eric G.:And I don't know how a company can stay in business doing that because it's, if you guys are having that, send me a message.
Eric G.:I'm curious to see what your guys experiences are.
Eric G.:You can message me over to roundthehouseonline.com dot.
Eric G.:That's just one of those wild ones where I'm scratching my head going, I'm not even sure how to navigate these guys with it being so difficult to work with.
Eric G.:Usually I get involved with people and I've got people like you that will message me and go, hey, I'm having a problem here.
Eric G.:Can you help navigate this?
Eric G.:And I've done that with many different companies out there and we've come to some really good, successful resolutions.
Eric G.:This is just something on their end that they haven't, they failed to update.
Eric G.:We're trying to get it updated and they're just completely dropping the ball.
Eric G.:So love to hear your experiences and maybe share those up on an upcoming episode.
Eric G.:And if I get this fixed, I'll let you know what it takes to get there.
Eric G.:So that way, if you're trying to deal with some things like this, you'll get it taken care of because unfortunately, as well, this family member has been overpaying for years because they're on an old program.
Eric G.:Of course, these guys have, you know, offered more to try to keep people from cutting the cord and losing Internet and tv and all that stuff.
Eric G.:But when you're paying, you know, an extra $150 a month over what's on their website, that's an issue as well.
Eric G.:So that's a great reminder for you guys out there that are working with your cable companies that haven't cut the cord yet.
Eric G.:Make sure every year you call up and say, hey, what can I do to lower my bill?
Eric G.:And they have programs, many of them do, to lower that bill for you to help save you a little bit of money.
Eric G.:And I would do that, but of course, sheesh.
Eric G.:Charter spectrum I can't even get them to change something simple.
Eric G.:So that might not be the ones to do that with, but we'll see what happens with that.
Eric G.:That's a more interesting one.
Eric G.:And then there's a bunch of breaking news today.
Eric G.:I'm going to do some research on.
Eric G.:We'll cover it in a maybe next week's midweek special.
Eric G.:But I saw out that FEMA, who is trying to, of course, help all the people down on the, down on the southeast from the hurricane damage, seems like they're running out of money.
Eric G.:And if we have another hurricane, they don't have money.
Eric G.:And it looks, and I don't know if this is coming out and this is where I got to do the research.
Eric G.:I got to find out.
Eric G.:But it looks like our current administration might have been spending FEMA dollars to house immigrants coming in from, of course, the southern border.
Eric G.:And that money, from what I'm seeing being reported, I'm going to see if I can dive in and see what's going on with FEMA here.
Eric G.:But it looks like they might be spending that money on our illegal immigration crisis and housing of these 25 million people that are coming into the US.
Eric G.:And it looks like those dollars might be being spent on that instead of taking us american citizens that are paying in these taxes.
Eric G.:And that could be a huge issue.
Eric G.:And so I'm going to do some research on it.
Eric G.:I did a little bit of research to find out that, yes, on an AP story that Mayorkas did come out and say that, hey, they have a problem, that they're underfunded.
Eric G.:And then I went over to Homeland Security and on the government website, they did say that, yes, FEMA is funding all their housing initiatives.
Eric G.:So there's people that are basically staying in the, in the hotels in New York City for $500 a night.
Eric G.:That's coming out of FEMA dollars.
Eric G.:So I'm going to dive in and find out a little bit more information to see if I can let you know what's going on there because, dang, we got a mess in the south and those folks down there need as much help as we can.
Eric G.:And I hope we're not spending that those dollars incorrectly because, boy, we got to get these guys made whole down there, get those roads back open.
Eric G.:Some of those roads they're saying aren't going to be open for another year because of the damage.
Eric G.:And these are major state highways and stuff that go through the area because they are that decimated.
Eric G.:So prayers go out to them.
Eric G.:And if you live in that area, if there's anything I can do to help with making phone calls, trying to get stuff out there, please reach out to me at around the house online.com and I'll see what I can do from out here way out on the west coast.
Eric G.:All right, everybody, have a great rest of the week.
Eric G.:We'll be talking about later today, the show coming up tomorrow, which is a great one.
Eric G.:That's exciting.
Eric G.:We're going to be talking about some storm damage and how to take care of that.
Eric G.:For all you dealing with that, tune into Saturday's show cause we're gonna have a big single hour episode about that.
Eric G.:I'm Eric G.
Eric G.:Thanks for tuning in to around the house.
Eric G.:When things happen, I'll update you.
Guest:Somewhere unseen and undiscovered anywhere beyond the me love is a love song let's be lovers we're all over the radio take my hand I know where to go all over the radio with.
