September 7, 2007 at 11:08:55

The New Pandemic

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By David Glenn Cox (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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I figured a half an hour on hold to answer the question of why is the red light flashing was long enough. Domino’s can bring me a pizza from across town Brakeo can do half a brake job on my car and Evelyn Wood can improve my reading abilities in the same time frame.

But it’s chronic CSS, I E-mailed Direct TV to express my displeasure that in thirty minutes I had gone from a happy customer who promoted and recommended their service to unhappy and ready to go crawling back to the Cable Company. That initially it was the flashing red light but as I waited and was force-fed commercials for half an hour on hold. I thought to myself that with millions of customers I’m sure that this isn’t the first flashing damn red light. That a company that spends a hundred million dollars to put a satellite in orbit has no one readily available on staff to answer a simple question.

But here is the pinnacle of CSS this is the response, I couldn’t have made this up,

Thank you for writing. I understand that you're having technical trouble with your DIRECT TV System. I'm sorry if your concern was not fully addressed. As you indicated, your receiver doesn't turn on. A receiver very rarely dies. We can almost always get it working by checking a few connections:

1. Does your wall switch operate power to any part of the room? If so, turn on the wall switch.
2. Try power button on receiver itself.
Did receiver turn on?
YES - the problem may be with your remote
NO - some buttons are not labeled clearly. It’s OK to try every button on the receiver. Or see Front Panel to find Power button.
3. Check receiver power cord:
--Make sure it's plugged in tightly to the power outlet.
--Check the back of receiver for a detachable power cord - make sure it’s tightly connected.
4. If you use a surge protector or power strip:
Try resetting them. For help, refer to manufacturer of device.
5. Test if anything else connected to outlet works:
--For example, plug a lamp into the outlet.
--If it doesn’t work, contact an electrician to troubleshoot the outlet. If you normally use a surge protector or power strip, refer to manufacturer of device.
6. Check GFCI Outlet:
If outlet in different room is tripped, it may affect other outlets in home.
7. Try other outlet in a different room.
--Plug receiver into another wall outlet. Make sure it's a confirmed, working outlet.
If you have a surge protector or power strip, bypass them. Plug receiver directly into a wall outlet.
--Did receiver turn on?
YES - Contact an electrician to troubleshoot your outlets. If you normally use a surge protector or power strip, refer to manufacturer of device.
NO- please call us for technical assistance.

Hello Cable Company?

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I was born and raised in Chicago in a liberal Democratic home my Grandfather was a labor union organizer my Father a Democratic district committeeman my Mother was an election judge. My earliest memories were of passing out Kennedy yard signs from (more...)

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