[ad_1]
Comcast will cancel the debts of more than 20,000 customers and repay $ 700,000 in Massachusetts under an agreement with the Attorney General of the State for misleading advertising. In 2015 and early 2016, the cable giant announced a blocking rate of $ 99 for packages not including equipment costs and providing additional fees that can be increased at any time.
How serious was Comcast's "lock-up" contract? The Attorney General's office explains that a typical monthly bill would increase by about 40% and that anyone who wished to cancel their contract early was being charged an early cancellation fee of up to 240%. $. " Even customers who demoted their services at a lower price plan with Comcast were charged early cancellation fees.
"Comcast has blocked too many Massachusetts clients with long and expensive contracts that have left many debtors and others whose credit has been damaged," said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey in a statement released online. "This regulation should encourage the entire cable and telecommunications industry to closely examine their advertising and ensure that customers get a fair offer."
But Comcast sees the situation as a whole differently, as one might expect. In a fine example of public relations, the cable giant insists that this is old news.
"The settlement reached today with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office reflects our ongoing efforts to improve the customer experience," said Jenni Moyer, Comcast Representative, by email to Gizmodo.
"While we disagree with the allegations of Insurance – which involve advertisements that are several years old and do not reflect Comcast's current policies and practices – we are committed to creating a partnership with the Attorney General. Healey and others who share our commitment to improving the experience of our customers. with all my respect."
Did you catch that? Nothing to do here because he is "years old". Which is supposed to make you think that nobody should worry about it. Who can even remember 2016? That was there is a life. And Comcast is now "in partnership with Attorney General Healey". What does it mean? Gizmodo asked a question about this and Comcast responded, "We are working with the Attorney General on this, which is a reference to our current relationship." But that does not mean anything. The GA and Comcast offices have only one "relationship" in the sense that Comcast now has to give back a lot of money because the settlement has said so.
From Massachusetts AG:
As part of this settlement, Comcast will reimburse all Massachusetts consumers who have paid an early termination fee after declining their service or who have been unintentionally disconnected from Comcast between January 2015 and March 2016. The Company will also cancel the termination charges. unpaid advance and the corresponding payment delays. The fees charged by Massachusetts consumers between January 2015 and March 2016. Comcast has fully cooperated with the Auditor General's investigation.
Comcast is now required to include any additional charges for its services in all advertisements appearing in Massachusetts and the state is asking the cable train sales representatives to disclose the "actual monthly prices of the services" to their potential customers.
Tell customers what they will actually pay? What a revolutionary idea. I wonder if we will see this spread elsewhere than in Massachusetts. Could be a real game changer.
[Motherboard and Mass.gov]Source link
