Cablevision

This review is for Cablevision’s phone-​based customer service.
I recently purchased a new DVR, and needed to activate and install a CableCard. I called Cablevision, and they said they could send a technician to do this, BUT they would charge $ 39 (!!). The other option they offered was for me to go to one of their walk-​in locations, pick up the card, and install it myself, which is what I ended up doing.
In order to activate the card, I had to call Cablevision and read them some code numbers. This is a very, very simple operation, but for some reason they won’t allow this to be done over their website (DUMB!). They also can’t give the card to you pre-​activated, or activate it when you pick it up at the store (WHY??) So I called, and after about 10 mins of waiting a customer service rep answered, and told me he’d have to transfer me to someone else. I then waited, and waited, and waited, and after 30 mins or so finally gave up. God knows how long it would’ve taken to get someone (45 minutes? an hour?!?), but I wasn’t about to sit around and find out. This was at 2:00 pm on a Sunday, which I consider to be a normal time to call. I had to call from home, because to activate the card you need to have your TV and DVR on, so it’s not something I could have done 9 — 5 on a weekday.
I consider a 30 min wait to be unacceptable, and to be poor customer service. Their automated voice said that call volume was high — well, you know what? If wait times get that long, that means you need to hire more staff. Cablevision charges about $ 100 a month for their cable+online service. For $ 1200 /​year, which I’ve paid year after year, I expect MUCH BETTER service than what I’ve received. The vast majority of companies I’ve dealt with provide much better phone-​based support than this. Bigtime fail, Cablevision, bigtime fail.

FYI This location was damaged by Sandy and remains closed until further notice. In case anyone was planning to walk ½ way across town on a hot day to return their old cable box on their day off…

I had to go here to drop off the old cable boxes that we had before we upgraded to Fios. Notice how I said upgrade. I think Cablevision has gone down the tube. Their service has gone down hill and the quality of the TV is awful. After we stitched over, the difference in the quality of the picture was significantly better and we had so many more features. I gave this place two stars because the people at the front desk were very helpful when I returned the boxes. But that is about it.