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Comcast Takes 2014 Prize For Worst Company In America

Posted by Soulskill on from the it's-comcastic dept.

halfEvilTech writes with news that Comcast has emerged victorious from Consumerist's annual Worst Company In America contest. Comcast narrowly edged out Monsanto in the finals with 51.5% of the vote. The reigning champion for the past two years, Electronic Arts, lost in the first round to Time Warner Cable. TWC made the quarterfinals, which is notable because Comcast has proposed a merger with TWC. In fact, Comcast submitted an FCC filing today explaining why they think the deal should be allowed. They say, 'the companies don’t overlap or compete against each other.' Other strong contenders for the Worst Company in America included Chase, SeaWorld, Wal-Mart, Bank of America, and Verizon.

23 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. What a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A video game company that makes shitty games.
    Giant banking and investment firms that literally rend the economy that results in massive layoffs.

    These two shouldn't even be in the same running.

    1. Re:What a joke by roc97007 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It could more accurately be called "the companies that geeks hate the most".

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
    2. Re:What a joke by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Informative

      No, noneeks hate them as well.
      Overcharging for Internet and Cable TV, Bad service, bad Customer service, refusal to listen to customers, refusal to fix customer problems if it costs money (Cables are under water and causing major problems...)

      Even the employees that work there hate the company.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    3. Re:What a joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You define 'worst' in the wrong way for this 'contest'.

      It's not what company does the most damage to the world. No. That list is far too tough for the consumerist to tackle.

      It's what company runs their business the worst AND pisses off the most of their customers seemingly on purpose.
      Who really fucks people over but doesn't really NEED to.
      Who is the most clueless bunch of fucktards running a big business you are forced to deal with sometimes in your normal life.

      Can you say that's not EA? Can you say that's not Comcast? Nope. Exactly.

      In terms of absolute 'worst' for the planet or america or just humans in general.. Most of these companys would not be listed.
      We won't even dare try to make that contest... It's too fucking scary.

    4. Re:What a joke by amicusNYCL · · Score: 3, Informative

      Not necessarily the worst PR so much as the worst customer relations. If a bank implemented some of the same business practices that EA was using for its customers then you would see a lot more financial problems and angry people.

      It's also highly related to recent well-publicized incidents. You can see that with SeaWorld, for example. In 2012 I think EA won because of Mass Effect 3, and in 2013 it was because of SimCity. They haven't done anything lately to piss off a lot of people even though they're probably still using a lot of the same practices. Most of the banks seem to be keeping their heads down as well. Comcast, however, has been in the news.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    5. Re:What a joke by Yunzil · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah, EA is a gaming company, that survives by taking money from people in exchange for shitty, overhyped products

      As opposed to financial companies that survive by taking money from people in exchange for ruining the global economy.

    6. Re:What a joke by MightyYar · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yeah, my hatred for them runs deep, and far beyond my geek wish for internet with no cable.

      They raised the rent on my old-ass cable modem. First from $3/month to $7/month, and then this year to $8/month. This for something that has probably been depreciated for years. Can you imagine if you brought home your new car and a year into the lease they doubled the "rent"? What a fucking ballsy move.

      Dealing with their contractors is like something out of a movie. They apparently get paid by the service and not by the service call, because they never fail to find something "wrong" - and then proceed to "fix" it in the most ghetto way possible. Sorry I'm two hours late. This brand-new carefully-routed cable line? It's "old" and needs to be replaced. Here, let me drill a hole in your hardwood floor and leave the replacement hanging along the ceiling of your basement. Oh, that line up on the pole where you can see the shielding from the street because squirrels have been chewing on it? I can't fix that - you should really call customer service.

      Thanks to Comcast, Verizon is not my most hated company. And that's impressive, because Verizon is basically dedicated to ruining your day. But they are of the bumbling, hilarious variety of evil. Like an evil Shemp from The Three Stooges.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    7. Re:What a joke by garcia · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Then why aren't you buying your own modem for less than $50 and saving yourself the money every month? I mean, I get it, I think Comcast is for the birds too but honestly bitching about something you can buy yourself and they'll absolutely allow you to take on all the risk for is not something to choose to complain about.

    8. Re:What a joke by AlphaWolf_HK · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I don't see why Monsanto is in this. GMO is a good thing; it currently plays a major role in the green revolution that is quite literally ending world hunger. There is no credible evidence of it being harmful. Monsanto isn't the only company behind it. The patent infringement lawsuit wasn't over what the majority seem to think it was over (the ONE farmer that was sued actually deliberately knew he was infringing, and they quite conclusively proved it; this wasn't a case of random cross-pollination.)

      The biggest groups against Monsanto are mainly the organic farmers, and they actually have a set of much more nefarious motives:

      - Organic farming makes much higher profit margins than GMO, so there IS money in it for them. Lots and lots of money. GMO is their biggest competitor, so it only makes sense for them to demonize it. Sadly, the hipsters have bought into it, and usually they are the least likely to buy into propaganda.
      - Reverting to Organic farming will destroy the green revolution, and countries like India will once again see famine if that came to pass.
      - Organic farming requires much more landmass than modern methods. If you're an environmentalist of any sort, you should very much be against organic farming as it necessitates e.g. deforestation.
      - There aren't enough natural resources in the world to sustain the current human population with organic farming (hence point number 2.)

      Being anti-GMO is every bit as destructive, stupid, and naive as being anti-vaccination, and it's about time that people realize this.

      --
      Careful with names containing L slashdot.org/~AiphaWolf_HK slashdot.org/~AlphaWoif_HK slashdot.org/~AiphaWoif_HK
  2. Times have changed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Quality of internet access is viewed as more important than food quality.

    1. Re:Times have changed by amiga3D · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If food quality was important McDonald's would not exist.

    2. Re:Times have changed by acariquara · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Depends on what you call "quality". I assume you are speaking from a first world point of view, regarding nutrition values, calories, fat, salt and whatnot. Sure, ol'McD [sorry] isn't as healthy as a whole-food salad and salmon plate. But compared to street food found in most 3rd world countries, a Big Mac is usually safer.

      It's junk food, and will probably kill you, just not from dysenteria.

      --
      Dear aunt, let's set so double the killer delete select all
  3. first world problems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    don't get me wrong though. slightly bad hi-speed internet and cable TV service is right up there with starvation and ethnic cleansing.

    Americans sure like to bitch about stuff.

  4. Can I vote for the Federal Government? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think that one would win hands down, were it an option.

    1. Re:Can I vote for the Federal Government? by amiga3D · · Score: 5, Funny

      They are not a corporation. They are owned by corporations.

  5. Well Deserved by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    My dealings with Comcast have been few but boy have they been terrible. From being accused of stealing their equipment, to getting billed seven times in a single month, I've had a lifetime of customer dissatisfaction in just a few short months of dealing with them. Well deserved honor Comcast.

    1. Re:Well Deserved by mmell · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Don't forget the part where they encrypted their cable offerings to force use of their (modestly priced) rental equipment. In one stroke, they rendered every digital tuner device in my possession worthless.

      Until I bought an antenna. Boy, they must hate that, eh?

    2. Re:Well Deserved by Trimaxion · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Until I bought an antenna. Boy, they must hate that, eh?

      ^^ This a million times. If you don't like Comcast, TWC, etc., give them the middle finger and cancel your TV service. Put up a decent antenna, perhaps buy a TiVo if you want a turnkey DVR appliance with a good UI (and pay their outrageous one-time service fee), and enjoy your uncompressed HD content from all the major broadcast networks.

      I'm *still* stuck paying into the local cable monopoly to get internet access, but I'm paying them a lot less than I was before. It didn't take me long to break even on my antenna/wiring/tivo/etc costs.

  6. Seems dubious to me. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I have to question the methodology here, I doubt that one in three people have even heard of Monsanto and have any idea what they do.

    Not defending Monsanto but this smells like a targeted "survey" from a group with an agenda.

    Just my $0.02

    1. Re:Seems dubious to me. by Matheus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Ya... AC who thinks no one knows who Monsanto is sounds like a targeted "shill" trying to discredit the survey!

      Honestly Monsanto is the food industry's Comcast. They are HUGE and virtually unavoidable in that space. They produce a bunch of probably fine products (I'm FAR from Anti-GMO in my personal sentiments and IF Comcast were my ISP I'd be getting better bandwidth than I am at the moment) BUT they perform their business in the most despicable ways (Which makes it really hard to defend GMO when they are the poster-child.)

      Both organizations are severely guilty of criminally Anti-competitive activities yet the U.S. Gov't seems unwilling or able to prosecute. (Add to that list Ticketmaster/Live Nation... how the $%c& did they approve *that merger?!) so it's probably a forgone conclusion that Comcast+TWC will happen eventually if not now.

    2. Re:Seems dubious to me. by Matheus · · Score: 4, Informative

      Not sure which 'real world' you live in but nearly 100% of the people in my sphere know who Monsanto is (whether they are casually aware, blindly reactionary or truly informed about what they do aside). I don't know everyone so my own anecdotal statistics are only worth what they are BUT I'm personally aware of entire classes of people who are intimately aware of Monsanto that amount to WAY more than 1% of the U.S. at least. Numerous foreign governments have banned their products so there is a decent amount of international awareness (or at least fear of the concept/unknown).

      Roughly 1% of our country work in the Ag business and I guarantee *all of them are intimately aware of Monsanto and their dealings. (numbers not accounted for above... I don't spend much time in the Agricultural community)

      Sorry your circles are not in the know but frankly your sample seems to be a bit off from the whole.

  7. Back up your vote with your wallet by EMG+at+MU · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I know its near impossible with a few of these companies since they are oligarchies but I feel that in order to vote for one of these companies you also should make a personal pledge to avoid doing business with the companies you vote for.

    One big problem here is that on one hand people say EA is the worst company in America and then turn around and go out and buy the latest EA game. Companies will listen, but only if you affect them where it matters: the bottom line. No one at these companies gives a shit about this survey.

  8. Were number one! by nurb432 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I bet there was an office party after hearing this, as you know Comcast goes out of its way to be a PITA. It cant be by accident.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----