Optimum
Reviews and Complaints

I switched from Dirctv to Cablevision because I would save money. However, the joke was on me because the quality or lack of quality Cablevision delivers leaves me with no choice but to switch back to DirecTV. I find that not only is the picture not clear, but also my TV is constantly freezing. I cannot watch anything in its entirety as it is way to frustrating. If anyone out there is thinking about switching to Cablevision to save a few dollars, remember "you get what you pay for"!

Cablevision found another way of their customers paying more. Instead of increasing their already high rates, they now have removed access to approximately 20 formerly inclusive channges (such as Lifetime, BET, MTV, AMC, AMC, etc).

Now they are requiring "monthly rental fees" for digital cable boxes, HD digital cable boxes or CableCARDs on each TV. So, I am paying for Family Cable is $55/month, with almost half the channels - - will their be a price adjustment?

I find it quite funny that they cut these channels in the midst of the Didital switch so consumers think that buying the TV converter boxes would work.

I would like to find out who we need to contact for these unfair consumer practices.

I have been a customer of Cablevision for nine years (tv only). I was
having problems with my present phone and internet service. They
both had been not working. I would not be able to make outgoing calls
and the internet went completely off. I decided to change my whole
package to Optimum. We worked a package for $123.00 plus tax,
by the way the rep made an appointment for us without us asking
him to. We were checking prices. At the end we kept the appointment,
the installers came to hook us up. They told there would be a $20.00
for installation which the rep never told us. We were willing to do
that since it was for the first month only. Then the installer told us we
were getting a new phone number, which was never discussed. I said I
wanted to keep mine so I call cust service and told them I wanted to
keep my phone she said no problem it will cost me $40.00. I told
her I didn't want the service anymore. If they had told me at the
start all the fees I would'nt have ordered it. Wasted my time and a
a days pay. They tell you nothing and expect you to agree with their terms. You think after nine years they would give me a break. I am
now looking for another provider.

I paid my bill of 45.98 to cablevision for the month of Feb. 2009. In error I sent a payment of 125.81 to cablevision two days later that was supposed to go towards my con ed bill. I contacted cablevison regarding obtaining a refund. The customer service rep. gave me a confirmation number stating that they would either mail a refund check or wire the money back into my account. The stated someone in the refund department will be in contact with me within 24 hours to verify the account information. 24 hours passed and I didn't not receive a call back from anyone at cablevison.

I called again the next morning and the rep. confirmed all the information in the computer. She then put me on hold and after 5 minutes another lady picked up who stated she was the supervisor. She stated how unfortunate the situation was blah blah. I cut her off and asked when is the refund going to be done?. She said it takes a couple of days, then said oh you have to fax proof of payment to a place called Connecticut support who does there refunds. I stated why do I need to show proof when you stated receiving the amount in the system and that you have it as a credit? She stated it was just policy. I am still waiting for the refund.

Unfortunately my bank JP morgan chase can't do anything. I still wonder why I bank with them. I can't wait for verizon Fios to get to my neighborhood.

Hi,

I was living in the same apt as another person during 12/14/05-9/28/06. the person living in same apt with me moved out and her
service was disconnected. I resumed service under my name 11/22/08
before service was connected, I had to pay a bill under my name from
10/2/02-6/2003 which was $249.46
I've since transfered to another apt also transferred my cable service.
now I receive a bill in the mail from
Cablevision
200 Jericho Quadrangle 2nd fl
Jericho NY 11753.

letter is stating that I am now responsible for the bill left by the person
who lived in the other apt with me from 12/14/05-9/28/06.
balance $209.63

I called the number listed and was told by Michael, I am responsible
for bill in other person's name because I also lived in that apt at time
service was rendered. although this person used her name and social security number. I wanted to make a complaint and Michael told me
I had to call [protected] cablevision to make complaint.
when I called I spoke to Harriette 1/29/09, gave acct#. Harriette then
informed me that acct# given belongs to me. I informed her this is not
my acct# with a balance owed. when she looked up person's name who
used to live in same apt as me, she found that her acct info had transpired over to my acct listed under my name.
I wanted to know how can this be legal?

this person opened her acct using her name, social security # and date of birth, how can Cablevision put her balance on my acct. at a different apt in which I now reside.

I also had a problem with Cablevison previously.
before they restablished service with me where I paid the balance that
was left under my name from 10/2/02-6/2003 $249.46,
Cablevision had me listed as living in the Bronx in 2003.
I live in Brooklyn all my life and have only been to the Bronx a couple
of times. just because Cablevision saw someone else with the same name as me, Cablevision stated that I had to prove I never lived in the
Bronx. I sent so much information to prove I never resided in the Bronx.. when I asked what information Cablevision is basing this on.
exp. did the person sign up with social security number. I was told
no. the fact that my name matches a person who resided in the Bronx
who owed a balance is what info is based on. until I could prove I wasn't
this person in the Bronx, Cablevision placed this person bill on me as well. this cannot be legal is what I'm thinking.

I had such a hard time with clearing this Bronx location issue up,
that I then signed up for legal services when they came to my job.

this current issue with the bill left by another person is being billed to me, I am letting my legal people handle this. I want to get the media
involved in this. I was told while trying to recfify issue in the Bronx,
Cablevisionn deleted all there records some way in 2003, and info
isn't matching in there systems. therefore, Cablevision is making the
customers clean up there records for them by having to send in info to
prove your not someone else. this is unaceptable and ridiculous.

As hard as times are with this recession going on and all, I can't
believe the nerve of these people.

I also think Cablevision customer service reps treat customers
as if this is welfare or something. they're so disrepectful it is truly
unbelieveable. I had Direct Tv which was cheaper and had no problems until my management wouldn't allow anymore antenna
s outiside of windows or on the roof which upset me, but i kinda understood. antenna's can look ugly depending on how many in one area. This is probably why Cablevision treats their customers with so
much disrespect. does anyone at Cablevision ever look on their sight and see the amount of complaints against their company especially
the customer services reps. I hope they all lose their jobs in the recession. Cablevision has no compassion for people and is a really
bad company to sign up with. I tell everyone I come in contact with
about how lousy this company is.

will give update of issue.
have a good day all.
Yolanda

As an investor and customer in Cablevision I was thoroughly disappointed with the service I have received from Cable Vision. Today I contacted cablevision in regards to a letter I received in the mail stating my monthly service premiums were going to increase. When I contacted your customer service department I was first greeted by a representative that was uninterested in my concerns and immediately shuffled me off to your cancellation department, which was unprompted by me. After waiting a few minutes I was horrified by both the lack of respect and rudeness that was exhibited to me by your representative in the cancellation department (akmid?). Among other insults, it was implied by your associate that I was "stupid" for complaining about the price increase and was an idiot to leave cablevision. I did not devote 10 years of my life to higher eduation to be called an idiot. To say he was unprofessional would be a complement. I enjoyed the services cablevision offered me but was given no other choice but to cancel my services with cablevision.

Recently after speaking with a neighbor I decided to check my Cablevision bill. All of my neighbors who had the Cablevision internet service and the Cablevision TV cable service had started adding their "phone service". Cablevision had been advertising their triple play for over a year - 3 services, phone, internet and cable service for $100 a month. I have had all 3 since April of 2007 but I was never offered the "triple play deal" when I signed up. I called Cablevision to inquire if I signed up before this deal was in effect and if that was the case why I wasn't offered it when it went into effect. The representative wouldn't tell me the start date for triple play but said I didn't qualify for it because I already had two Cablevision services. I know this is not true because all of the neighbors I knew had both Cablevision TV cable service and Cablevision internet service. I told the representative that I felt this was a very unfair practice for existing customers. I asked why Cablevision had never revieiwed my account. She then said account review was a random intermittant practice because Cablevision has too many customers. I agreed with that statement as they have a monopoly in my area in NJ. Fios is not available where I live as this representative was quick to tell me. She then decided to review my account and discovered I was paying $20 a month too much for family cable services (TV). My complaint is that I was not offered this triple play deal - I am still not sure when it was first offered as the representative wouldn't tell me. But I know it was falsely advertised on the TV and that is illegal. The TV ads never said the "deal" was not available to existing customers who had 2 services and I know many people who has 2 services and got this deal. In my mind Cablevision owes me $540 for overcharging me for 18 months and still owes me $10 a month as they refused to give me this triple play deal and credit me retroactively for their mistake. I could not even talk to a supervisor or manager. I have to wait 48 hours for one to call me back. This just shows because Cablevision has a monoply and does not care about taking care of their existing customers or about fair billing practices.

I have been having broadcast t.v. problems with Cablevision since 12/11/07. They have not fixed the problem, they have totally lied to me as a consumer and have not compensated me for the loss of service. They are having technical problems with their t.v. broadcast signal on many channels, but when I call their customer service department, they claim no one else is having the problem. This is totally false, since I have verified it with other Cablevision customers that they are having the problem.They sent a technician to my home, and he had the audacity to put in a report that the problem was fixed. Meanwhile he wrote on the receipt I got for the service that there are sound problems and to quote exactly in his hand-written notes, "there is nothing-can do about it." These people are not only incompetent when it comes to fixing their broadcast problems, they lie to their customers and continually to bill me for bad service!I would like to see consumers in the area band together and make some kind of class-action lawsuit against them, but I don't know who to contact for help in fighting them.

Several channels were recently removed from regular programming and placed on "available via cable box rental". Cablevision explains that the channels in question were no longer being transmitted analog and only digital transmission was available. My response: " I purchased Digital TVs with digital receivers". Cablevision comes back with: "we do not support digital TVs!" What was that? The country is going digital and a major cable company does not support Digital TV.
Is the possible explanation that Cablevision wants to rent "cable boxes' and not offer digital transmission to customers that own Digital TV receivers. Does anyone have a logical explanation for this?

Tonight was the second time this week that I had to contact the customer service department of the Long Island cable company, Cablevision. I am so very tired of having to wait for the next representative...tonight it was 19 minutes. The other evening it was 29 minutes. Both times, I was helped by one department, but then had to wait again to speak with someone else in another department to solve my second problem. After waiting some time, I finally gave up and hung up; which is probably what they want you to do! I do not understand why they cannot hire more people. Certainly, they charge enough for their service. Last month I paid $205. for the month. I am so disgusted with their customer service procedures that I am very tempted to leave and go to Verizon! Doesn't the customer have any importance anymore? I would never deal with people the way this big conglomerate does. It's disgraceful!

When the salesman came to sign us up for their service, we made he tell us specifically the cost we would incur. We had it written down on our service order. This also included 3 free boxes. We had the impression this service order would be binding. After getting the initial bill which was incorrect and took several months to correct, the very next month the bill went from $132 to $151 - when I called they told me we had to pay for the 3 boxes. The CSR told me that they would never give the boxes for free. I then asked to speak with a supervisor who told me the same. I said you aren't going to honor your contract - which she says to me that there is no contract so I rephrased it by saying honoring the agreement we had with their sales rep. She said he was wrong. I tried to call him to get the corrected but he never called back. As was their probably intention, I stopped pursuing it thinking $19 was not that much more. Well, I've had the service for a year and the sales rep told us after the first year our fees would go up $23 dollars. We went from $152 to $224! Now I have to start all over! We have the choice of Cablevision or Verizon which I switched from because they gave me a price but every month I had to call and get the bill changed to the corrected price - we can we do?!

I have had so many problems from day one with Cablevision, whether it be with the service or the customer service. For months I have had problems with the picture on my screen looking digitalized, sometimes it lasted 2 days and I would not be able to watch any tv. They supposedly ran diagnostics, sent someone out(after 4days from my initial phone call) and said everything looked fine. Thanx!

Then I wanted to lower my cable bill so I got rid of my voip phone and lowered my cable from the silver package to the family. I saved myself a whole $15 but it was a win for me not to have to give them an extra penny of my money. Sooo, I get my cable bill and it seems a little higher than it should be. I ask the first of 4 customer serv reps to run down my bill, and nothing seemed different. It was finally the 4th rep I spoke to that says, you are paying an extra $10 a month for a box I didn't have, that had to be added when I dropped my package cause it was never there and then says you have IO Navigation. So I say whats that? He says I don't know please hold. He comes back and says its for digital music stations and a channel lineup channel. This is free when you have the Silver package but not free when you have the Family package. Sooo... when I lowered my bill 3 people supposedly didn't see this charge for the last few months. So I asked to take it off, I called back a few days later it was still on there... Now I let them turn my cable off cause I will never give them another penny... I am going with Verizon...