Hi,
INterested to know whether anybody has had trouble unsubscribing from CableTV. I relate my experiences below. I personally find it quite amusing that any company can behave like this.
I have been a CableTV subscriber for years, mostly due to English Football. I switched to nowTV earlier this year, and realised there wasnt much point in continuing with CableTV. Called them up and requested that I wanted to cancel subscription. They said that I have a contract for 18 months. As far as I recollected, my original contract ( years ago) had been for an initial period, and I had never signed anything which commits me to a minimum contract period after that.
So I asked them whether they can fax me a copy of the contract where I have signed up for a minimum period.
Comes the answer " This is an oral contract where we told you on the phone". I flatly denied this and asked for evidence.
They said that this may take a few days, as they have to retrieve the taped conversation - this was perfectly fine by me, and I insisted that I had to listen to this evidence.
Two weeks later ( today), they called me up , and advised me that they have listened to the taped conversation , and that very definitely I have an oral contract.
Quite amused, I requested to listen to the conversation.
After a prolonged silence, ( I Think the agent was consulting with supervisor),they said they can cal me back a few hours later and play back the conversation.
I requested that I needed a copy of the conversation to be sent to me. They refused, and said that they can play ot back, I was at liberty to copy the conversation over the phone!
I Reminded them that te Data Privacy Act required them to provide me this conversation. THe agent contested this, ( it seemed as though they had indeed researched the legal points of this! ) and as good as told me I could do anythng that I wished, thank you very much, but I need not be provided a copy of the conversation.
I am curious to know from forum users whether
(a) any similar experience with CableTV unsubscription
(b) any legal mind has an opinion on whether I can force them to hand over the taped conversation under Data Privacy act
I intend to send them a letter and will post the results here
Also find it really amusng that a firm can go to such lengths to "keep" its customers. WHat are they going to do after 18 months? they have lost the customer for ever.
BY the way, it is not just CableTV, now and pccw are quite similar in their attitudes too. Is this the case in other cities as well, or is this a HOng Kong corporate characteristic?