Comcast From India

Monday, 3 January 2011

Since Comcast has switched over from analog to digital signal i have stopped getting my "discount" cable service. In an effort to get the free digital converter boxes i went online and somehow got connected to a live customer service person. I'm 99.9% sure that he was from India. Here's how the conversation went:

SYSTEM:

Attempting to connect you with an operator...

SYSTEM:

Peter lawson has entered the conversation.

Peter lawson:

Hello, Bundle and Save with the Comcast Triple Play! It includes Digital Cable, High Speed Internet and Digital Phone.

Peter lawson:

Pleased to have you on chat. How are you doing today?

david:

hello, how can i receive the free cable box and 2 DTA boxes, i have a message saying "switching over to digital cable"

david:

do i pick them up or can they be shipped

Peter lawson:

Sure, I can assist you with that David.

Peter lawson:

May I know what are the services currently you have with Comcast ?

david:

the basic 100 channel analog service for TV, that's it

Peter lawson:

Thank you very much for that information David.

Peter lawson:

Do you have box with your cable in Comcast Services.

david:

no my tv is connected directly to the coaxial cable from the wall

Peter lawson:

Thank you very much for that information.

Peter lawson:

In order to locate the best promotions in your area, may I please have the address (including apartment or unit number if applicable) with zip code?

david:

no. i already have service and am a comcast customer, i just need the free digital converter boxes

Peter lawson:

Thank you very much for that information.

david:

you're welcome

Peter lawson:

Unfortunately you have reached the sales department, for further assistance in this matter please contact comcast customer service at 1-800-892-2253.

Peter lawson:

we are running great promotions for Internet & Phone

david:

Thank you very much for that information.

david:

is there someway i could speak to customer service online? i do not own a telephone

Peter lawson:

I apologize David , This is the only information I can provide you.

Peter lawson:

It's been a pleasure being able to assist you today. Thank you very much for visiting. Have a nice day.

david:

Good by Peter.i will miss you.

david:

Peter, are you still there?

Peter lawson:

It's been a pleasure being able to assist you today. Thank you very much for visiting. Have a nice day

david:

Peter is there some way that we can meet to discuss "great promotions for Internet & Phone"

Peter lawson:

I apologize David This is the only Information provide you.

Peter lawson:

It's been a pleasure being able to assist you today. Thank you very much for visiting. Have a nice day.

SYSTEM:

Peter lawson has left the conversation.

SYSTEM:

All operators have left the conversation. Conversation has ended!

So as you can see that was the "only Information provide you."
I tried again but same result. Larry was no help at all.


SYSTEM:

Attempting to connect you with an operator...

SYSTEM:

Larry Watson has entered the conversation.

Larry Watson:

Hello, Bundle and Save with the Comcast Triple Play! It includes Digital Cable, High Speed Internet and Digital Phone.

Larry Watson:

Pleased to have you on chat. How are you doing today?

david:

Hi. I am fine today. How are you Larry?

Larry Watson:

I am doing wonderful thank you for asking David.

Larry Watson:

How can I assist you today?

david:

Larry my cable signal is telling me that i need a "digital converter box" to be able to continue watching channels. Will you send a couple of those boxes to my house for me?

Larry Watson:

Sure, I can assist you with that David.

Larry Watson:

May I know what are the services currently you have with Comcast ?

david:

i have the basic 100 channel TV service

Larry Watson:

Do you have Box with your Cable David.

Larry Watson:

David are you there?

david:

yes Larry i'm still here. I do not have a cable box, my tv is hooked directly to the coaxial cable in the wall

Larry Watson:

Thank you very much for that information David.

Larry Watson:

We have wonderful promotions on basic digital cable packages that do not include premium channels.

Larry Watson:

In order to locate the best promotions in your area, may I please have the address (including apartment or unit number if applicable) with zip code?

david:

Larry i will give you my address and zip code ONLY if you ship me a couple of those free digital converter boxes. Deal?

Larry Watson:

David,In order to locate the best promotions in your area, may I please have the address (including apartment or unit number if applicable) with zip code?

david:

Larry i am already a "customer" i don't need any additional promotions. Even if you get me to sign up i will still need a digital converter box to see the channels. So how about you send me the boxes then i will call you back and sign up for all the promotions you got.

david:

Larry are you there?

Larry Watson:

Yes David but I need the address .

david:

Oh OK great. So after i give you my address you will ship the boxes?

Larry Watson:

Regardin new digital converter box 1-800-266-2278.

david:

Larry why can't you box up a couple and send them over to me?

Larry Watson:

In apologize for the inconvenience this is the only information that can be provided by our side for further assistance please contact 1-800-266-2278.

david:

Come on Larry, i know you got a couple laying around there in the office. Just throw a couple in a box, put 15 international stamps on them and ship them out to me.

Larry Watson:

Thanks for the Visiting have a nice day David.

Larry Watson:

It's been a pleasure being able to assist you today. Thank you very much for visiting. Have a nice day.

SYSTEM:

Larry Watson has left the conversation.

SYSTEM:

All operators have left the conversation. Conversation has ended!

Needless to say, i still don't have a Digital Converter Box.

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Drain Pipe #2

Monday, 9 August 2010

A few months ago i routed my roof downspout to drain underground. It was a little difficult digging the trench but it turned out ok. It was fairly easy, just a lot of digging and trenching under the concrete walk.

Right after i finished that i started working on the other roof drain in my back yard. That was a long time ago.

This time i had to chop and saw my way through vines and tree roots, dig along side a fence, hammer and chisel and eventually move concrete slabs.
The problem was that my concrete patio was in the way. So i thought i'd just take a chisel and a big hammer and make a hole in the concrete and run the pipe under it. But first i had to move a big slab of concrete out of the way. I used 2x4's and rocks and levered it over a few feet.
Then i discovered that under the concrete slab is another slab of concrete. So instead of making a hole i just knocked out the corner. This all took a long time over many days and many smashed knuckles, to bash away enough concrete to fit the drain pipe.
Once again the clay soil doesn't drain well in the backyard either. But i was eventually able to place the PVC pipe on sand in the trench.

I still have to pour concrete to fill in around the pipe. It's a lot of work for something most people will walk by and never notice.

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