Cable update

So we have been enjoying our 19 channels for about 3 months now. Each month I check my bill to see that they are really only going to charge me the $11.25 they said it would cost. I'm also curious as to when and how much they will charge for setup since they had to come three times before they got it right.

Anyway, each month I look there is nothing there. The only charges are for my Internet connection. Being the good - and "never trust the cable company" - person I am, I decided to call and ask them about it.

I dial the number on the bill and get the machine that tells me to enter my phone number, then press 2, then press 1, then press 1, then press 2, then I listen to information I already know about when I paid my last bill, then press 1, then confirm again who you are by entering your phone number, then press 4, then press 1, then if you want to talk to a customer service rep press 0. With tired fingers I press 0 and listen to the message explaining that "all customer service reps are helping other customers". I think to myself, who can they helping? Everyone else should still be going through the press this, press that maze. Well, after that bit if information I am informed by the machine that my call is "important to them" and I will have approximately a one hour wait! ONE HOUR!

But they give me another option, press 1 and leave a call message. So I opt for that one. They will return my call to the number I gave them "in more than one hour"? What? What does that mean? Will they even talk to me today? I don't know but I hang up.

Three hours later my cell phone rings, I pick it up and get a message telling me that I tried to call the cable company. REALLY!? I didn't know that, they are sooooo helpful. Then I hear my voice saying my name and am told to press 1. I press 1 and get a message that says "we're sorry but that key is not recognized". YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

I hang up and call the original number. I don't listen to any recordings or messages. I just keep pressing 0 until I get hold music indicating I might actually be waiting for a live person. Magically someone answers the phone to help me. I explain I want to check on why I'm not getting billed for cable service. The prompter in front of the customer service rep doesn't have a pat answer for what to say when someone wants to pay their bill but are not getting charged. Stupefied, I'm transferred to someone else who can help me.

I go down this path three more times before I get a customer service rep that I think might actually be located in the United States and not at a call center in India. This person explains that my cable is included in my rent at the apartment complex I live in. I know this is NOT accurate and gently explain that back to her. We volley this complex idea back and forth a number of times until I say, "I don't want to take up your whole day. I don't want to beg you to bill me. I would be more than happy to accept free cable for the next few years." She says, "hee hee, its not free, its included in your rent." I thank her and hang up.

Not satisfied that I've done all I can I call my landlord. She remembers my request for lifeline basic cable and giving me permission to work directly with the cable company. She explains that she can not charge me through the office because she'd have to charge me $45 which hardly seems fair. I agree and we both agree to drop it.

So now I wait, enjoying free cable and expect to see a $600 bill some day for back pay.