When you call your cable company for a service call, do you know who they're sending to your house?
Yes, the cable guy will be coming to your house, but maybe not the one you think.
Cable companies, like so many others, are outsourcing work that they need to complete as a organization. Which means that when you call Cox to come install your cable, it may not be a Cox employee that comes to do the work. The truck that rolls in front of your home may have a sign that says something like, "UNIStar Telecom - Service Partner with Cox Communications."
Here's the potential problem. The technician from UNIStar wasn't trained at Cox. More than likely, Cox trained a service supervisor at UNIStar who is then responsible for training the UNIStar field technicians. Given the fact that these field technicians are not Cox employees, there may be gaps or inaccuracies in their training. From what I've heard, their Cox counterparts are going to be more knowledgeable, more resourceful, and better equipped.
Recently I dropped off a closing gift for client at her new home. A cable technician was at her home and the generic truck out front did not belong to the local cable service provider. Unfortunately this is what her Facebook status shared the next day:
It only took me 12 blankety blank hours to get cox to setup phone, cable and Internet! I feel like a whole day was wasted. Took another 3 to get the wireless router to work with the new modem and to get all computers hooked up right. Ugh! At least this part is over!
I had similar experience with DIRECTV when they used to outsource all their installations. This contributed to a "nightmare" installation we had our house in 2006. It was done by the nicest guy in the world, but unfortunately I knew more about running cable than he did. He showed up at 5pm and didn't leave until about 11pm.
When you call your cable company for service or repair, you might want to insist on having a cable company employee make the service call. When the technician shows up at your home, verify their employment with an ID badge. If they're not from your cable company you can either politely ask them to leave...or prepare for having them around for the next few meals.
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