Time Warner Cable sucks

Saturday, May 26: Called TWC and ask they transfer services from old house to new house with no changes to current service (basic cable and internet). Installation at new house is scheduled for Monday, May 28- tech to arrive between 1-3pm. Informed rep that previous owners had TWC and cable line remains, so it should be an easy hook-up.

Monday, May 28: Tech arrives and says cable line needs to be buried underground. He leaves and says a burial will be scheduled in the next 7-10 days. "Then will I have service?" No, after the burial is completed, then a tech will come back out to install service.
Called a rep later that day to have a tech come back out talk to me so that I could personally show him that the cable does not need to be buried, and that it already runs underneath the house. Rep is confused and says someone who can answer my predicament will call me in the next few minutes. 5 hours later: no call. Called TWC back to check on status of our.. "predicament"..Rep schedules a tech to return to the house Wednesday so that I could talk with him, and that they will arrive between 9am - 8pm. As a "courtesy," they will call me 20 minutes before his arrival.

Wednesday, May 30: No call from any tech. At 6pm, I arrive home to find existing cable line has been cut in half and is dangling from the side of the house.  Called rep to remind them the purpose of this visit was specifically to show a tech that the cable runs underneath the house and does not need to be buried. She insists a burial is needed, and that they will come in the next 7-10 days, no more specific than that, it could be 7 days, it could be 10. "OK- so there's going to be an exposed cable dangling from the side of my house for the next 7-10 days?" "No (silly), they won't just leave it like that, they'll come out to remove it."

Monday, June 4: Exposed cable is still dangling from side of house and has weathered numerous lightning storms in the past 5 days. Called TWC to discuss with a rep when the cable can be removed. She says there is no scheduled appointment to cut the line, only to come talk to you.
"So he came out and cut the line unauthorized?"
"It's the tech's call what needs to be done. If he cut it, it was his call."
(I fume) "Give me the name of the tech who came on the 30th to vandalize my property"
"We can't provide that information. Our jobs are contracted out, and it doesn't show us a name of a specific tech."
"So how are the tech's held accountable if something goes wrong?"
*silence* "Someone can come out tomorrow to remove it, and also, it looks like the burial will happen tomorrow as well between 9am - 8pm."
"Will I receive a call? Because I was told last week I'd receive a call before the tech came, but that never happened."
"No- generally for these 'all day' appointments, they don't call ahead of time."
"Fine."

Tuesday, June 5: No call, no show.

Wednesday, June 6: Called TWC to remind them an exposed cable has now been dangling from the side of my house for a week, and that yesterday's appointment was a no call, no show. She says there is no record of an appointment scheduled for yesterday (I fume), but that there is an appointment for tomorrow to do the burial. Rep says a tech will come by between 1pm-3pm today to remove the exposed cable, and that I would receive a call before he came. 

Tech calls at 12:30pm- "Hi, I'm on my way to remove the cable."

"Wonderful, it's right at the front left window of the house. Dangling. You can't miss it."

(I'm at work so I miss his next call at 1:45) "Hi, me again. I'm ringing the doorbell at your house. No one is answering the door so please call to reschedule this appointment."

(5 minutes after message was left, I call him back to return to the house and just remove the cable. There's no need for me to be there, the cable is on the outside of the house and he has full access to it)

I call TWC again to explain what has just happened.

"Let me speak with a supervisor please." 

Denise- TWC supervisor: I explain that last week, I asked a tech be sent to my house so that I could talk with him and show him that a burial didn't need to happen, that it was already running through the basement of the house. Instead of receiving a call before he came, I received no call, and they took it upon themselves to cut the existing cable from the house. And that now, a burial really did need to happen. Now that someone has come out to remove said cable, he came and because I was not home (I'm at work), he left without removing the cable.

"Well, when a tech is requested to come out, someone has to be at the house to answer the service call."

*moment of puzzled thought* "But last week, I requested someone to come out, and I wasn't home, and they cut my cable in half UNAUTHORIZED." again I probe for the name of the tech who came out last week. She repeats this information can not be provided, and that the techs themselves don't even get assigned jobs until that morning.
"So the techs show up to work in the morning and don't know where they're going til they get there?!"
....

"It looks like the burial occurred on May 30th."

*even more moments of puzzled thought* "The same day the cable was cut in half?"

*exasperated supervisor* "Yes"

"Really? Because I've spoke to a number of reps since then, and you're the first person who's told me the burial has already happened. 2 reps have told me it was happening on Tuesday, and then tomorrow..."

"It's right here. May 30th- burial completed. It looks like you've called several times and spoke to several reps and you must have gotten them confused cus it says it right here."

sounds like I'm being accused and she's trying to elicit an apology out of me, "Ok....well the rep I just spoke to says there's an appointment to do the burial tomorrow."

"Ma'am, it looks like you didn't believe a burial had been done, so the rep must not have seen that it was already done, and scheduled it again for tomorrow." 

"Well...yea..cus, no one told me it was completed. And it doesn't really look like anyone's been in the yard to d.." 

*raised voice*"Ma'am, someone will be out between 5-7pm tonight to remove the exposed cable AND they'll come out tomorrow to double check and make sure the burial was completed on the 30th."
"Ok, wha.."
"And someone will come back out to get it hooked up on Saturday between 1pm-3pm. OK?"

"Umm, Ok..thank you?" *click* ..don't suppose I'll get a call before they come then.

Thursday, June 7: No call, no show ? But who really knows, they were coming by to simply "double check" my paranoia that the burial had not occurred. At least someone came to remove the exposed cable yesterday. They came before the appointment so I was not home when they got there...how come the first guy who came yesterday couldn't do it when I wasn't home? Whatever. It's sitting in my trash can.

Saturday, June 9: Tech arrives on time to install cable. After a few minutes in the backyard, he knocks on the door to inform me that it doesn't look like the burial had been done.

thinks, "Of course not." says, "OK, let me call TWC. Don't go anywhere."

"I need to speak with a supervisor."

Richard- TWC supervisor answers. I explained the entire situation..again..and gave the name of the supervisor (Denise) who stated the burial had been done, and that someone was supposed to come by Thurs. to double check it but, "I don't even know if they came. I never get a phone call."

"I see that the appointment Thursday was scheduled to check and make sure burial had been done... But it doesn't look like anyone came by to do that."

*no shit* 

"...and I also do not see that a tech signed off on that burial on the 30th."

*very long pause, as I take the time to control my anger and steadily rising blood pressure* I will not yell. I will not yell. I will not yell.

yells, "So the supervisor...Denise..lied to me?"

"I can't tell you what she said."-sounding truly apologetic

Tech pops in to say he could do the burial AND hook up the cable today

"I can have the burial scheduled for the 13th a.." 

"No, forget it. The tech here says he can bury the cable and hook it up today."

"Well, perfect!"

..as if the problem has been solved, and all wrong-doings are absolved

"Wait"

Richard reads my mind and promises that installation fees and next month's bill will be waived. 

Tech finishes installing internet and we're signing the last few papers when I ask Stephen to check and make sure the TV works too. Tech says, "TV? The order was to just install internet."

*recalls conversation from exactly 2 weeks ago* "No, there should have been no changes to our previous service...cable and internet."

"OK, I'll climb back up and get that hooked up for you."

Minutes later, tech says should be good to go. I click the TV back on and scroll up, only to find we have only 13 channels. 

"Uhh"

"No?"

"No. Previous services were 78 channels. Basic cable. ..And internet."

"Ok....*sweat pouring down his face* I'll climb back up and fix that for you. But they might charge you for that extra installation."

murmurs, "They're not gonna be charging me a damn thing."

At this point, I feel bad for the poor tech. He's gone above and beyond his call of duty. Anybody else would've left after saying the cable had not been buried.
He'd buried the cable himself, and climbed up in the heat twice already. I go out to give him a glass of water but still feel indebted to him. This man deserves food.

He finishes up, we have working cable, and working internet. Good man. I ask if he likes brownies. He looks up, grins, and shakes his head eagerly. I give him some brownies to take on the road.

I call Richard, the supervisor back, and let him know we have internet and basic cable, and we come to an agreement that all fees will be waived. I will receive a credit, and the bill will arrive June 30th with my credits applied.

Let's see if TWC can fuck something else up. 

...to be continued

Big update!

I can't believe it's been two months since my last post! Minutes after I posted that last one, you could say sh*t hit the fan!  So here's my 2 month update in as short a post as I can make it:

I started sending out emails that night to chefs in Charleston letting them know I had an idea to put together a fundraising cookbook.  It has been so hard doing everything myself. Between driving down to Charleston to meet with chefs, keeping in touch with chefs each week, designing and editing the book, marketing it, getting the pictures together, and hardest of all...keeping up after the chefs during Charleston's 2 busiest months, I am glad hard part's over! One chef in particular was super nice, and prepared 3 dishes for me to photograph..and much to my surprise, eat! DELICIOUS!! Thank you Chef Frank at Hank's seafood!!!

Now 2 months later, I am sitting with the final product in my hands! And boy does it feel good! To purchase yours: click here!!


On top of cookbook publishing, I'm training for my triathlon, seeing a chiropractor 3 days a week (I have xrays of my very crooked spine to show you if you're truly interested), and finishing up my 3rd semester of grad school. BUSY BUSY BUSY!

I participated in a practice tri to get my feet wet a few weeks ago and it was so much fun. I learned the hardest part of the whole race would be transitioning from bike to run...luckily I have 2 more months til my race.  Confidence booster was completing the swim in good time, and finishing the race first of the novice group. Can't wait to do an open water practice tri next month!

I also participated in the cooper river bridge run with Stephen again, and I beat my time last year by 18 minutes! Stephen beat his time by 40 minutes! It's crazy how much quicker you get to the finish line when you run ;-)

Let's see, what else?  I'm giving up soda this year for lent...not as difficult as giving up fast food last year, that's for sure.  I'm also giving up alcohol for 30 days since it's still on my list of "incomplete goals"--I'm on day 11. Ugh.


So there you have it folks. That's all the important stuff I've neglected to post! Hopefully I won't be so busy this month and will be able to update again soon!

TRIATHLON!

I've FINALLY mustered enough motivation to sign up for an endurance event that's been collecting dust on my 99 list! #6. Complete a sprint triathlon

The Tri Latta Sprint Triathlon is June 12th, which gives me about 4 and a half months to train myself not to die. Luckily, I've joined the Columbia chapter of Team in Training, which gives me access to local coaches who will help me train for this event. I also get gym membership, and they will pay for my race and my travel expenses since it is in Charlotte, NC! Great deal huh? In return, I'm raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) through my website:
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sc/planttri11/mvause

Also in the works, is a "Restaurants of Charleston- Donated Recipes" cookbook. My plan is to visit many of Charleston's favorite restaurants (including 82 Queen, Bocci's, The Library at Vendue Inn, Oscar's in Summervile, La Fourchette, 39 Rue de Jean, High Cotton, Magnolia's, SNOB, and the Dining room at Woodlands Inn) and ask the chef if he could donate a recipe to my cookbook. Thinking about it makes my mouth water!! I can't wait to get started putting it together.  The cookbooks will sell for $30 and each purchase will add your name into a drawing to win THIS snazzy cookbook stand from Crate & Barrel.

I'm doin big things. BIG things!!

First post of the new year!

Pic we used in the Christmas cards!

I've been a busy girl since my last post! I found a church I'd like to start attending regularly, read 4 books during the Christmas break, sent out Christmas cards for the first time, added a few beers to my Flying Saucer list, inspired a few more people to create their own 99 lists, and had my first mini mid-life crisis! That's alot to take in, I know...let me back up.

First things first, for whoever is reading my blog for the first time..Welcome! I created this blog 1 year ago, and have been slowly crossing 99 goals off of a "bucket list" of sorts. On the lower right hand side of this page, you'll find links to 10 other 99 lists from other people I've both directly and indirectly inspired. I feel humbled each time I get a message from someone telling me they saw my blog and have decided to make a "99 in 999" list of their own. I hope anyone who is seeing this for the first time will feel that "aha!" moment when you read my list and create one for yourself!



Columbia had a 3 day snow/ice storm last week. The city practically shut down for 2 days, and I took the first of those days to attempt snowboarding (and to cross that off my list) but once I was at the top of the hill and mentally picture my descend and imminent death, I decided to sit on the snowboard and slide down. There were a few other people at the park doing the same, and they invited us to a chili dinner at their friends house. Stephen and I decided to take them up on that tasty offer (thanks Sarah!!) and we were introduced to a ton of new people who all attended Midtown (a church a block away from my house.) My neighbors also go to this church so I walked with them this past Sunday and wow am I happy I did that! Midtown is the first church I have ever been to since I moved to Columbia, and is the first church I've ever willingly attended. Strike THAT off the 99 list! So after all was said and down, there WAS some good that came from an entire city shutting down due to 5 inches of snow!!



After realizing I had read only 5 books last year, I decided to kick it into high gear and read a few Sedaris books. They're short, and funny...I do recommend reading Holidays on Ice (Squirrel seeks Chipmunk? Not so much)! I also read Ishmael, one of the books Stephen got me for Christmas. It has quickly become one of my favorite books and I've begged my brother to read it. Ishmael was truly an eye-opening book and made me think about things in a different way. I loved it, and do highly recommend that book to anyone wanting a short philosophical read.


As far as the mini mid-life crisis goes: back in November, I decided it was time to let my belly button ring finally close up. Sure it's cute when you're 21, but I was, afterall, about to turn a quarter century old and practically retired. December 19th came and went, and a week after my birthday, I tried to turn back the hands of time thinking "No! You're not takin' me yet crypt keeper" and tried to force my belly button rod back in. For 15 minutes I poked and prodded my aging belly button, but to no avail. It was too late. I gave up eventually, admitting my midriff-showing belly-bedazzling days were over.

1 year down!

I started my 99 list countdown on January 1st of this year, and I've nearly finished the first 365 days. My stats? Not lookin good!

-I've had to decrease my book number from 40 to 30. I only read 5 books this year, but I have a very good excuse...I'm working 4 days a week and go to school full time. gimme a break! Even at the pace I'm going, it's going to be hard to complete 30, but I will make a better effort next year to read more often.

-I've completed 21 of my 99 goals, and started on 15 more. Not too shabby, I'm relatively "on time" and checking off goals at a good pace that I could potentially finish them all in the time I've allotted.

-Just in the past two weeks, I've crossed off more goals...I finished reading Broken (sorry, but I do not recommend this book although the beginning and end somewhat redeemed the drawn out middle), Stephen and I decorated the house for Christmas (will eventually post those pictures here..til then, see Facebook), and I got all A's again this semester!




I'm about to reach a "milestone" birthday in 10 days: big 25...a quarter century old! I am feeling, as a whole, much better right now than i did this time last year. I feel..eh, kind of..healthier, i'm definitely happier, i'm smarter, and wiser.

This time last year I didn't think I had very much to show for my 24 years....my friends had finished school, some were finishing grad school, some already had great jobs, some were starting families, and many were getting married. I carried alot of envy around; I was coming to terms with a failing relationship, and just beginning graduate school as some friends were finishing. I felt like I was being left in the dust! Today, I am feeling much more positive about where my life is leading me. Yes, I've got a few more semesters of grad school left, but this time next year, I hope to be finished with the "classes" and completing my internship and practicum.


Last year, I couldn't wait to finish school, find a job, get on with it and start "livin' life." But now I see, it's already begun. 2011, bring it on!