TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: "Authorized Contractor" For Big Carriers?

"Authorized Contractor" For Big Carriers?

hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com
21 Mar 2007 12:35:08 -0700

My area is served by Verizon and Comcast Cable.

I've noticed plain white trucks bearing a stick-on sign saying
"Verizon Authorized Contractor" or "Comcast Authorized Contractor".

I am not very impressed with the people in such trucks. Compared to
regular crews they seem, quite frankly, to be rather scuzzy. They
don't seem to be as proficient in their work habits or job skills;
that is, when I see them working on lines they seem confused in
tracking down junction boxes or knowing what to do. In the case of
fixing broken cableTV dome junctions, they never seem to do it right,
or do it extremely sloppy (letting coax lay across the lawn or even
sidewalks).

My own experience with a Verizon Contractor was very negative and I
complained to the company. They waived the charges for his services.

My guess is that the carriers are trying to save money by outsourcing.
They regular employees (particulary Verizon) get a salary and benefits
and may be union, while contractors get zilch.

I think we the public are the ones hurt by this practice; an example
of cheap outsourcing results in cheap services.

For Comcast Cable, whose predecessor local cable companies were rather
threadbare already*, subcontracting is scary. If I lose my TV picture
my life isn't over, but nowadays many people have the 'net hookup via
cable and even their telephone service. That's "mission critical"
service.

I had them out on a service call once and their man blamed me for a
problem in the wiring that _they_ installed, although I was not
charged for the call.

*Their intitial wire stringing was extremely low budget, done very
fast on the cheap. It eventually had to be redone.

Comments anyone?
[R#2]

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