New York Attorney General Sues Charter Over Dismal Internet Speeds, Defrauding Customers
The people of New York state are taking Charter to court. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office is suing Charter-owned Spectrum (previously Time Warner Cable) for knowingly failing to live up to its promise of ‘blazing fast’ and ‘super reliable’ service. Schneiderman remarked, “The allegations in today's lawsuits confirm what many of you have long suspected: Spectrum-Time Warner has been ripping you off”.
Schneiderman conducted a statewide study in 2015 to measure broadband speeds after receiving thousands of complaints from Time Warner Cable customers. The study discovered that at least 640,000 customers who signed up for high-speed internet received much slower speeds. It was also unveiled that customers were often unable to access Facebook, Netflix, YouTube and gaming platforms that had been promised to them. The lawsuit seeks full restitution for affected customers.
The lawsuit has also revealed that Time Warner Cable employees knew that 75% of the modems used in the 20 Mbps plans were unable to provide the promised speeds. The modems were “still being deployed due to budget restraints,” and “no communications have been sent to the existing customer base”. The only Time Warner Cable customers to receive new modems were ones who participated in a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) study. Time Warner Cable salespeople also convinced New York City customers to upgrade to “faster”, more expensive tiers, without first checking the customer’s modem.
Charter has responded, “Charter made significant commitments to New York state as part of our merger with Time Warner Cable in areas of network investment, broadband deployment and offerings, customer service and jobs...Charter made significant commitments to New York state as part of our merger with Time Warner Cable in areas of network investment, broadband deployment and offerings, customer service and jobs”. The company is also disappointed that lawsuit addresses advertisements from before the merger.
Schneiderman conducted a statewide study in 2015 to measure broadband speeds after receiving thousands of complaints from Time Warner Cable customers. The study discovered that at least 640,000 customers who signed up for high-speed internet received much slower speeds. It was also unveiled that customers were often unable to access Facebook, Netflix, YouTube and gaming platforms that had been promised to them. The lawsuit seeks full restitution for affected customers.
The lawsuit has also revealed that Time Warner Cable employees knew that 75% of the modems used in the 20 Mbps plans were unable to provide the promised speeds. The modems were “still being deployed due to budget restraints,” and “no communications have been sent to the existing customer base”. The only Time Warner Cable customers to receive new modems were ones who participated in a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) study. Time Warner Cable salespeople also convinced New York City customers to upgrade to “faster”, more expensive tiers, without first checking the customer’s modem.
Charter has responded, “Charter made significant commitments to New York state as part of our merger with Time Warner Cable in areas of network investment, broadband deployment and offerings, customer service and jobs...Charter made significant commitments to New York state as part of our merger with Time Warner Cable in areas of network investment, broadband deployment and offerings, customer service and jobs”. The company is also disappointed that lawsuit addresses advertisements from before the merger.
