Time Warner Internet in Queens?
November 2, 2015 6:12 PM Subscribe
Hey, there. I've been a customer of Verizon DSL for a few years now and the relationship is starting to fray a little around the edges. At this point, given the sucky state of the Internet providers market in the five boroughs, the only realistic alternative is Time Warner cable internet. I'd like to explore this option, but I'd like to hear from some actual human beings first.
There are a LOT of negative comments about Time Warner on the web right now. Much of that probably has some basis in reality but I'm trying to take this negative publicity with a grain of salt because negative opinions are over-represented on the internet.
So, what's the quality of Time Warner's cable internet? I am living in Western Queens, in New York City and would especially like to hear from people in my neck of the woods about their experiences. But anywhere in the general geographical area (i.e. NYC and its suburbs) would work as well.
If you are a Time Warner cable internet subscriber, would you recommend the service? Is it more reliable than Verizon? I don't need super-duper-blazing speeds, just reliability. I'll add here that I don't really care about the cable tv so much, but if you are using them as your phone provider, would you recommend their phone service as well?
As always, thank you very much in advance!
There are a LOT of negative comments about Time Warner on the web right now. Much of that probably has some basis in reality but I'm trying to take this negative publicity with a grain of salt because negative opinions are over-represented on the internet.
So, what's the quality of Time Warner's cable internet? I am living in Western Queens, in New York City and would especially like to hear from people in my neck of the woods about their experiences. But anywhere in the general geographical area (i.e. NYC and its suburbs) would work as well.
If you are a Time Warner cable internet subscriber, would you recommend the service? Is it more reliable than Verizon? I don't need super-duper-blazing speeds, just reliability. I'll add here that I don't really care about the cable tv so much, but if you are using them as your phone provider, would you recommend their phone service as well?
As always, thank you very much in advance!
Best answer: Prior to dealing with Time-Warner Cable here in New York, I thought that Comcast--the most hated company in the US--deserved its status. Well, after recent dealings with TWC, I'd say that TWC wins. I've never before had a big company try--and succeed; yah monopoly!--to shake me down so blatantly.
I spent six hours over two days trying to figure out why our internet connection was so poor. This took three different phone reps and one repairman. They kept passing the buck, not only not answering my questions, but trying to upsell me while they continuously mis-stated the amount I was paying per month for internet service, and claiming I needed to pay considerably more for the same service I had been paying for before, but not getting. Finally, it got so I made two of the three reps promise, on a recorded tape, that they would not (1) go up on our rate, as we'd had such poor service for months, that (2) sending a repairman would not cost extra, and (3) that that would not reneg on these promises.
Well, lo and behold once the repairman sets to work, and after spending an hour-and-a-half connecting a new modem/router to our internet cable, he announces that either we'd pay additional fees per month or he'd undo the work he'd just done and tough potatoes to me. So I agreed to the blackmail, only because I, too, had already studied other internet providers in Manhattan, and they all had equally bad ratings or worse.
So we are now paying MORE for worse internet service than before, and I am so weary of TWC, I haven't had the heart to call them again. I've vaguely wondered whether I should call my city counselor ... or write a letter of complaint to the FCC but, honestly, I don't want to make a career out of seeking *adequate* cable.
The problem is we don't even really have that, such that I'm leery that I will not be able to successfully download the programs I just bought a new computer to use. Which is why I've feebly tried to solve the problem myself, and in so doing recently read that the modem/routers TWC provides have all but been disowned by the manufacturer they are so defective. Then I read that NY's attorney general has been investigating whether cable internet speeds are those claimed by all the internet services providers, including TWC and Verizon. A study by the City Controller in Manhattan last year showed that internet service in “poorer neighborhoods” both uptown and downtown is substandard. So, in my experience with TWC, they cause ulcers. YMMV.
posted by Violet Blue at 8:02 PM on November 2, 2015
I spent six hours over two days trying to figure out why our internet connection was so poor. This took three different phone reps and one repairman. They kept passing the buck, not only not answering my questions, but trying to upsell me while they continuously mis-stated the amount I was paying per month for internet service, and claiming I needed to pay considerably more for the same service I had been paying for before, but not getting. Finally, it got so I made two of the three reps promise, on a recorded tape, that they would not (1) go up on our rate, as we'd had such poor service for months, that (2) sending a repairman would not cost extra, and (3) that that would not reneg on these promises.
Well, lo and behold once the repairman sets to work, and after spending an hour-and-a-half connecting a new modem/router to our internet cable, he announces that either we'd pay additional fees per month or he'd undo the work he'd just done and tough potatoes to me. So I agreed to the blackmail, only because I, too, had already studied other internet providers in Manhattan, and they all had equally bad ratings or worse.
So we are now paying MORE for worse internet service than before, and I am so weary of TWC, I haven't had the heart to call them again. I've vaguely wondered whether I should call my city counselor ... or write a letter of complaint to the FCC but, honestly, I don't want to make a career out of seeking *adequate* cable.
The problem is we don't even really have that, such that I'm leery that I will not be able to successfully download the programs I just bought a new computer to use. Which is why I've feebly tried to solve the problem myself, and in so doing recently read that the modem/routers TWC provides have all but been disowned by the manufacturer they are so defective. Then I read that NY's attorney general has been investigating whether cable internet speeds are those claimed by all the internet services providers, including TWC and Verizon. A study by the City Controller in Manhattan last year showed that internet service in “poorer neighborhoods” both uptown and downtown is substandard. So, in my experience with TWC, they cause ulcers. YMMV.
posted by Violet Blue at 8:02 PM on November 2, 2015
Time Warner is my sworn enemy. Some of the worst customer service I've ever experienced in my life. It took them a month to come out to my apartment in Brooklyn just to get internet set up (there were no other options)—they claimed my address didn't exist, even after I sent them photographic evidence—and things just got worse from there. If anything goes wrong, it will be a giant pain in the ass to deal with them.
posted by three_red_balloons at 9:01 PM on November 2, 2015
posted by three_red_balloons at 9:01 PM on November 2, 2015
Best answer: I'm in Astoria, and I have TWC. I'm probably one of the few people who doesn't have a horror story. I'm even using my own modem with the 50 down/5 up plan, and haven't had any issues worth mentioning. I used to have Verizon DSL in another part of Queens years ago - I seem to recall very little downtime with that, but I haven't exactly had trouble with TWC either. I haven't had to deal with customer service, other than returning modems, and that went OK except for the long wait.
posted by Calloused_Foot at 10:30 PM on November 2, 2015
posted by Calloused_Foot at 10:30 PM on November 2, 2015
I had Time Warner Internet for years and just switched to FIOS. I'm in Williamsburg. It was - ok. It was never out for days in fact it was usually worked well. Right when FIOS came knocking on my door the (rented) router had started this annoying habit of rebooting daily in the middle of my morning catch up on last night's shows. It had just been replaced about a year ago with new equipment. And for the usual well-known reasons I dreaded having to call them to try to figure out how to get it to stop doing that. Easier to switch to a new service for less money. But - it was "fine" for the most part. I paid for a bit more than the basic internet - it was $80??
One other thing to note - you may well know that they're in the process of being acquired by Comcast. So - even if they keep the TWC brand around - eventually you'll be dealing with Comcast.
posted by rdnnyc at 6:16 AM on November 3, 2015
One other thing to note - you may well know that they're in the process of being acquired by Comcast. So - even if they keep the TWC brand around - eventually you'll be dealing with Comcast.
posted by rdnnyc at 6:16 AM on November 3, 2015
We just got TWC. All the individual reps and installers were really nice and efficient, but their system suuuucks. There were a lot of errors and redundancies (installation happened twice largely due to stuff they didn't tell us when they should have, or internal communication difficulties) plus they signed us up for a much higher rate than they initially should have before we caught it.) It's not any worse than Comcast, maybe a little better since the actual people were nice, but struggling with a broken corporate system. No outages so far, but it's only been a week. Internet is fast and consistent, and we get a good number of channels (and a landline?) plus DVR for something like $120/month.
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:19 AM on November 3, 2015
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:19 AM on November 3, 2015
Best answer: Any cable company has negative complaints. I will say, I had Time Warner and never had any problems but I also never had to make any changes to my service. With Comcast, I have had lots of problems, mostly related to starting and stopping service. Either they charge me fees I don't deserve in the beginning or make it hard to start service, or they are claiming I never returned a cable box to end service when I absolutely did. Once you get Time Warner set up, I think it's fine. Just like with Comcast, you may need to threaten to leave TWC every now and then to get a better rate or they will charge you as much as they possibly can.
posted by AppleTurnover at 10:10 AM on November 3, 2015
posted by AppleTurnover at 10:10 AM on November 3, 2015
I thought the TWC-Comcast merger was called off - has it been revived?
posted by Calloused_Foot at 12:48 PM on November 3, 2015
posted by Calloused_Foot at 12:48 PM on November 3, 2015
Yup got it wrong - they're going for a merger with Charter now.
posted by rdnnyc at 2:08 PM on November 3, 2015
posted by rdnnyc at 2:08 PM on November 3, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Automocar at 6:58 PM on November 2, 2015 [2 favorites]