Quitting Cable: A Prologue

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve quit anything, so I’ve decided to embark on a new mission. In some ways, it will be far more difficult than leaving google.* On the other hand, the television I watch is a combination of great shows I can legally purchase online and wastes of time (which I can also purchase legally online). On top of that, I have Netflix streaming on AppleTV and Hulu Plus on xBox. I mean, this is a cinch.

So here’s the plan. I’m going to drop my Triple Play service (Cable, Internet and VoIP Phone) and replace it with Wideband Internet (30Mbps down, 5Mbps up). I’ll stream anything I can, and buy anything I want. On top of that, I’ll be paying $50 a month instead of $130 (for the first year, but my $130 deal climbs to something obnoxious in six months anyway).

Unlike my quest to quit Google, I know the exact service I want to purchase. Unfortunately, getting what I want is proving to be far more difficult. I called Time Warner today, to ask for information about Wideband 30.

OK, sir, in order to give you information about Wideband 30, let me just ask you a few questions to better advise you on the offerings we have. What kind of devices do you use the internet with?

Yea, I already know I want Wideband 30, I just want to find out about the process of switching to it.

Absolutely sir, I’d be glad to help you with that. I’d like to ask you a few questions to better advise you on the offerings we have. What kind of decides do you use the internet with?

Listen, I’m technically savvy, can we just skip this part because I already know that I want Wideband 30.

This went on for a while until Anthony put me on hold to speak with his manager. Finally, he informed me that because my internet was through Earthlink rather than RoadRunner, he couldn’t help me and he’d have to refer me to the retention department. Then the phone cut out. Either he hung up on me or my Time Warner VoIP phone dropped the call.

Retention was more direct, but just as helpful. After re-explaining my whole setup, she informed me that she could not even touch my service, I’d have to call Earthlink. But I’ve never dealt with Earthlink previously, I’ve only dealt with Time Warner. 

So, as it turns out, the only way to upgrade to Time Warner Wideband is to completely cancel my Time Warner Earthlink internet service.

And so it begins…

* I have an epilogue to that saga started, I’ll get it posted eventually.