Letter: Cable company gives customer runaround

Once again, right in the middle of a program, my AT&T cable service was interrupted. Each time I am aware that my service is interrupted, I call AT&T and they give me a huge credit, a whopping $1.26 for that day. They will only give you credit for the day if you call. This leads one to believe that AT&T is either hoping you won't be home when your service is interrupted or you won't bother to call.

Every time I call, I get the same runaround. I'm told they are upgrading the system to provide more channels, better service, etc. AT&T increased our rates prior to beginning the upgrades so does this mean once the upgrades are completed they will increase our rates again?

I asked when the upgrades would be completed. I was told they didn't know and could not even estimate! What kind of business that is supposed to be providing a service that we pay for doesn't even have a projected completion date? Is AT&T's planning process that poor? That could possibly be why they charge so much for so little.

If I didn't pay my bill, AT&T would discontinue my service. When AT&T doesn't provide service, I have to call them to get the enormous credit they give me. AT&T knows they are "the only game in town," so they can treat their customers as badly as they want to.

If AT&T were truly interested in providing a service, they would notify their customers in advance, in writing, when their service was going to be interrupted and, they would automatically give them credit for the days when the interruptions occur. This might possibly decrease the frustration for their customers and for their employees who have to listen to dissatisfied customers like me.

SHIRLEY M. DIEPEN

Carson City