TWC is offering customers little in return for its latest rate hikes

[unhappycamper]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20140318,0,2408535.column



Time Warner Cable has just sent out notices of its latest rate hikes, which take effect with the next bill. As usual, the company says higher prices were unavoidable. Above, a TWC field technician in Manhattan Beach last year.

TWC is offering customers little in return for its latest rate hikes
By David Lazarus
March 17, 2014, 5:01 p.m.

Time Warner Cable has assured customers that the company's $45-billion acquisition by Comcast will improve service and innovation.

Customers might wonder how the pairing of two profit-hungry cable giants will remedy the biggest problem: ever-increasing monthly bills.

Time Warner Cable has just sent out notices of its latest rate hikes, which take effect with the next bill. As usual, the company says higher prices were unavoidable.

On the one hand, it says, "the rates that TV networks and programming providers are charging us to deliver your favorite channels have risen to new highs."

[Anansi1171]

1. Can we even get the Lakers fixed? Sheesh!; nt

[BadgerKid]

2. A virtual monopoly with little customer recourse?

[LiberalEsto]

3. Same with Comcrap and Verizon

Once they get their monopoly in a given community or state, they can thumb their noses at elected officials and do whatever they want.

The way to fix this is to take away their exclusive charters and allow real competition to take place in each local jurisdiction. But that isn't going to happen.

[Sherman A1]

4. basic business decision

TWC makes a business decision to increase revenue through a rate increase, customers then make a business decision to keep, modify or terminate their service.

As the technology evolves in content delivery customers have more options out there beyond TWC, such as streaming, satellite, renting/buying Dvd's or choosing to do without.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. I'd blame football first...

Cable companies look at deals "offered" by major sports franchises and see it's 6 bucks a month or so more per customer. But, it's 35 bucks per actual sports watcher.

Easy choice-- piss of some of us a lot or all of us a little.

Same with channel packages-- I've got a hundred channels I never watch. Some of them I don't think anyone does, but they are in a package with the popular ones, and the cable company has to pay for the so we have to pay for them.

Cable companies do, of course, suck in their own ways, but they are not the root of the problem.

[MisterP]

6. this wouldn't be happening if people didn't choose to go without it

let's feed the sparrows through the horse again and tell each other how great it is!

[snappyturtle]

7. In the last 27 months my internet only service from TWC has gone up 38%!

The service is not reliable. We have too frequent glitches in service....one lasted four days last month...their faulty equipment. In my case, it was a corroded connector on the utility pole...whatever. I talked with my laptop guy whose business went down for that same four day period and he was told it was a faulty line in a neighboring town..???? Of course, we received a reduced bill in the next billing cycle after the incident...

Not many choices here....but I'm looking. Unfortunately most are only lockingin intro rates for six months with a 1-2 yr. committment. I'm renting and don't see myself staying here that long so I guess I'm stuck. Ugh!