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New Chrome Extension Automatically Negotiates With Comcast For Rate Discounts (fiercecable.com)

A technology company called Trim aims to take away the stress and displeasure associated with talking to Comcast service representatives. They have created a bot via a Google Chrome extension that negotiates with Comcast reps over the internet, seeking discounts for various services offered by the cable giant. FierceCable reports: Trim is marketing the tool in this somewhat hilarious YouTube video, which shows the subscriber, "Brian Roberts," typing his Comcast customer information (name, phone number, email, etc.) into the application. The bot takes it from there, initiating chat with a Comcast "analyst" named "Sukhwinder."

"Hi. I'm trying to lower my bill," the bot says. "I don't want to upgrade anything or change my plan at all. I just want to get the best possible rate for my area. Can you help?" As the video shows, users can engage in one of four classic video games as the chat slowly runs its course. (The Trim developers in the video choose Pong.) The bot has two settings: "autopilot," which lets you sit back and watch it negotiate for you; and manual, which lets you step in.

1 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. I'm sure Automating negioations with Comcast... by bobbied · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Will get you an automated reply which once Comcast figures out you are a bot, will immediately set you up to be charged the highest rate possible.

    Of course, all the information you provide the "bot" (Name, address, phone number, account number and anything else you offer up like a fool) will be sent to the nice company who is just trying to get you the best deal from Comcast possible (or more likely, just create a customer list of known Comcast customers so they can sell your information to interested parties.)

    Besides, Comcast, like other carriers, only offer their *best* deals to people who are leaving (turn it off! Now!) or New Customers who are shopping around and know what questions to ask. Usually the absolute best deals come with strings, like a 24 month term with an early termination fee that would make Warren Buffett weep and a *discount* only applied to the first month so they can legally advertise the too good to be true deal.

    No BOT can manage this.... Trust me.. It's a scam trying to pass itself off as a way to get around a scam.

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101