CABLE: The cost of doing business

Breaking up is hard to do. I moved to CdA from Lewiston in 1994. Bought a new house and proceded to establish connections with the outside world. Telephone, internet and TV were eventually bundled with Time Warner, which now is Spectrum. All was well for a number of years, although every so often I would have to negotiate discounts in the billing with Time Warner. But, they would talk to me.

My March bill from Spectrum increased $40 over the prior month. I went to talk with them, at their office on Kathleen, about the increase and was informed they can’t do anything for me. About a week or so later I received online advertising from Spectrum of a number of wonderful discounted offers. I went back to ask them if I could take advantage of their recent offers. A woman there informed me, with a dose of disdain, those discounts were only for new members, not old ones like me.

I have recently learned that a community can only have one cable company, so Spectrum has no other cable competition. My annual cost of Spectrum would have increased $480 in one year.

JANET CALLEN

Coeur d’Alene