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"One competitor, Dish Network, also raised rates in 2009." Really?? From the information I have gathered, the other "competitors" are still less expensive than cable. Add that fact to the crappy "Navigator" system just implemented, I've got every reason to switch to a competitor, and plan to do so shortly. Regarding the "Navigator" --- how many of you just simply want to change a channel and now find it difficult at best? The picture goes out completely black for several seconds before coming back on ....in addition to just trying to get the TV to turn on... I cannot tell you how many times my husband has yelled for me to come fix the %*#@ TV because of the "Navigator". We are SIMPLE people with SIMPLE needs. See ya, TWC.

Did you ever drive by the Spring Garden Time Warner? Do so sometime. It will save you at least $20 per month in media charges, and, as a bonus, all of your channels will come in digital and direct, without the middleman. Why? Well, look behind the building to the left. See all those Directv satellites? Why pay TWC as a middleman, who pipes the signal through a bunch of aged cables to your home. It is currently impossible to get true High Definition in 99% of TWC's network due to the Scientific Atlanta box technology and the infrastructer of the cabling itself. Stick that dish on your roof, and forget about the BS over losing satellite signals. Those days went away years and years ago when Directv launched an additional 18 satellites for a total of 24 sattelites. Coverage overlaps in NC. Nope, not a salesman for Directv, Dish, or any other company for that matter. I am just an experienced technology analyst with 27 years experience. Plus I worked for TWC for years. I don't hate them, just trying to make ends meet and thought y'all might want to look into some savings. P.S. Don't quote me on Dish network, but I think the reason the rates are even lower than Direct is due to less satellites in the sky. I heard they currently are using 8.

I always thought TWC was overpriced for what you got. I get more channels with DirectTV than I used to with TWC.

The Scientific Atlanta box I had with TWC was constantly on the fritz. Everytime TWC would upload a software update, I'd lose channels (favorites of course), and the picture quality wasn't that great.

I've only lost satellite signal once in the year I've had DirectTV, and that was during a terrible thunderstorm early this past summer. The dvr is easier to use and program, and my picture quality is excellent.

Customer service is more responsive which is actually the thing I like best.

Your milage may vary. I have a friend who swears she got terrible signal from DirectTV, and went to TWC.

TWC raised my bill nearly $20 this past summer. I called and immediately escalated my issue to the retention department. I simply told the CSR that I wouldn't pay more than I had been, as TWC still has fewer HD channels than satellite and the promised RoadRunner upload/download speeds were never reached. After about 10 minutes of the CSR trying to convince me to drop services to keep my bill at the old rate (haha! I said), she finally agreed to let me keep my existing services for $5 LESS per month than my old rate. I've done this little dance with TWC many times over the years, and they've always backed down. Always call and negotiate.

And by the way, if you're looking to save money on phone service and internet, go back to at&t (formerly BellSouth) and check out their unlimited calling and internet plans. The phone never goes out, and internet service is consistent (not like cable) and very competitive in terms of speed. Plus they have cash-back offers and reasonable rates and offer even better bundle discounts when you bundle with DirecTV through them. Drop Warner like a bad habit! I did and am very happy.

Rate hikes were coming long before now. Remember their plan this past summer to implement rate hikes for downloads? This "kinder gentler" rate hike paves the way for new ones down the road, when everyone's "price lock guarantee" (ummmm ....) runs out of guaranteed price lock time, especially if they don't get bombarded with customer complaints like they did last a few months ago. I should have switched to AT&T in August but got comfortable with cable inertia.

We switched to Dish and have NEVER regretted it. Dish is cheaper and you get more for your money, more than cable or Direct offer. We had cable and high speed road runner for years, the stinking bill just kept getting bigger and bigger and nothing more. This ideal just because others are raising rates "we should to" is crap. The ONLY reason we haven't switched from Duke Power is they have no competition. I can't for the life of me understand in a bad economy time, why they raise their rates is beyond me. As I said we have never regretted switching. And we will go to the one that gives us the cheapest price and the most for the buck. Listen people, TV is a luxury you don't have to have, then why pay so much for these cable companys. They have sold us on the ideal we can't do without TV's this is junk. Don't let'em run over us by tapping into our wallet we don't need them and they need to understand it.

I did NOT get a 30 day notice on my rate increase. My bill says, "Effective with your current bill, the monthly price for your internet service will increase $5.00 per month." And it is due in TWO WEEKS.
Nowhere does the article mention the percent increase in internet rates. Mine went from $49.95 to $54.95. That is a 10% increase and way out of line. And yes, they are just paving the way to backdoor those increases they were forced to scuttle last year. I think I'll be switching to AT&T.

We're in a recession and prices are down everywhere. Guilford County is getting it's new jail at a discount because of the recession. Last time I looked, milk prices were dropping. Only Time Warner goes up. And they do this regardless of economic conditions.
Greensboro needs to follow the lead of a much smaller city to our east: Wilson. The city installed it's own fiber optic network running to every home and business in town. Time Warner was arrogant there until the city's Greenlight network went live, then suddenly TW became all friendly.

Financial data in U.S. Dollars

Values in Millions (Except for per share items)

2009 Q3 2009 Q2 2009 Q1 2008 Q4 2008 Q3
Period End Date 09/30/2009 06/30/2009 03/31/2009 12/31/2008 09/30/2008
Period Length 3 Months 3 Months 3 Months 3 Months 3 Months
Stmt Source 10-Q 10-Q 10-Q 10-K 10-Q
Stmt Source Date 11/04/2009 07/29/2009 04/29/2009 02/20/2009 11/04/2009
Stmt Update Type Updated Updated Updated Updated Restated

Revenue 6,948.0 6,609.0 6,735.0 11,958.0 7,346.0
Other Revenue, Total 187.0 200.0 210.0 348.0 233.0
Total Revenue 7,135.0 6,809.0 6,945.0 12,306.0 7,579.0

Cost of Revenue, Total 3,924.0 3,841.0 3,880.0 7,092.0 4,103.0
Gross Profit 3,024.0 2,768.0 2,855.0 4,866.0 3,243

Time Warner Cable Gross Profits for 2009 are healthy, on target, actually better than normal already. Seems they are getting greedy and lying to the public once more.

I just opened my TWC bill and received the notice.. read these comments and we are cking out the dish, AT&T, and direct T...we have been customers for TWC for years and no problems..time to ck out other prices!!
thanks for all the comments!!

This is what happens when you have government backed monopolies.

In the free markets, the advance of technology means more capable goods and services at lower costs

In controlled markets, technology stagnates and the goods and services cost more.

I tossed out my cable services for that very reason. Why pay $120 a month for idiotic dreck that barely changes from year to year.

Then there is that whole "internet" thing. It's good! AND it's good FOR you!

I recommend that everyone follow my example and just say "NO" to cable TV.

The only ones that benefit from controlled markets are the monopolistic businesses that use their government connections to create captive markets. This is why large businesses (like Time Warner) often support socialism. It pays at the window.

(yes, I still have my roadrunner service however)

Ken
http://www.LaserGuidedLoogie.com

Check out Earthlink....they do broadband over cable also. They have specials for current TWC customers. I ONLY have internet and need it broadband because of work....I'm switching because $55/month is ridiculous. They have the right to raise the rates...but I have the right to switch. :)

We dumped TWC and got Northstate's PLEX. It's cheaper and faster and more reliable. If you can get PLEX in your area, give it a try.

I think the spokeswoman for TWC needs to pull her claws in and realize that many companies who provide services to Greensboro citizens do not increase their rates every year. I will give you a good example --Republic Waste Services, kept their monthly residential pickup $16.00 for over ten years and when they did raise it, the increase was $.50 per month making a total of $16.50. I know that they were affected by fuel increases and many other costs of doing business expenses. Why does TWC think their customers must pay increases every year? Poor management, greed, or both?

I left cable many years ago and within the last year left Direct Tv. I came to the conclusion of this. Why pay for a bunch of channels that you can't choose the ones you want vs the ones you don't number 1. Number 2 why pay for a bunch of channels you never watch and on rare occasions you do decide to watch or the regular channels you watch have commercials?

Should anyone have to pay for channels with commercials attached and then still not be allowed to choose what channels they want to watch? Not me, which is why I hooked up my television to my pc and watch all my shows/movies on various online video sites with many of them in High Quality. In my opinion HDTV is ok at most, I can watch in HDMI, HD or on Componet and there's not even a huge difference to me. As long as the picture is clear and my eyes can see what's going on it's fine with me, but then again I'm not picky.

I will find another service at the end of my contract. I hope you all do the same or at least take the time to see what your options are.

A year ago when my one year bundle package ended, they jumped my bill by 40-bucks. When I called to find out why so much, they told me my year was up and I basically got the "we could care less" attitude when I told them I wanted to renegotiate for another year. It took a full week to get a retention specialist from TWC to work with me...the bill went up 5-bucks instead of 40. The year is about to end again and I'm scared to open the bill. The problem is, TWC has no competition other than Dish Network and DirecTV, and even those are worthless with Internet. They know they have us by the family jewels and they're laughing all the way to the bank. I like TWC because I pay one bill for three services, but I'm not too lazy to split it all up again and save some money.

Oh, and TWC customers in Rockingham County pay higher rates than the rest of the customers in the Triad area -- and get less channels on cable. Where is the fairness there? And when you complain to the county officials, who grants the license to TWC, they just shrug their shoulders...

The price for cable tv is already too high. With another price increase, I will have to consider an alternative. Just recently, I was forced to give up the car insurance I've had for a long time and shop for something more affordable. The money just isn't available. Something has to give.

We canceled our service in September. When I returned the modem, I had to stand in line for 45 minutes. They made ONE worker stay alone in the office while others went to lunch. Even though we've canceled our service, they continue to send us a bill for service. I encourage all readers to find a better service provider. You all deserve better.

I made a mistake, I put my rent payment by accident into the envelope for Time Warner, and my Time Warner payment into my rent envelope. The Apartment Management notified me of the mistake, I called Time Warner to let them know of the mistake. Time Warner disposited the money order in to their account. They informed me they could either credit the extra $99.49 to my account or they could return the balance to me. I told them this was not acceptable, I want the full amount refunded to me. And I would send them the Time Warner , money order.
I am still waiting. I also contacted the Federal Trades Commission about this. Then Time Warner told me it could take five business days to return it . As it had to be okayed first. I guess the next step will be a law suit. This is how Time Warner treats their customers. I've been with them for almost 6 years. When a relationship goes sour it time to say your good byes. Talk about a bad company they are. Okay Time Warner, Monday, Nov. 16th will be SIX bussiness days. The ball is in your court now, I DON'T PLAY, when it comes to MONEY.

Folks you are missing one small point. TWC has a liscense to operate in Greensboro,issued by the City Council. As I recall, the city must approve any rate increases. Correct me if this has changed.

I don't recall any notification by the city of a request for, or approval of, a rate increase. If they have approved one why weren't we informed about it???

In other words, whats the city doing for us???