On Tuesday, Nov. 23,2004 I e-mailed the gm@beld.com, to date I have received no reply. I did this after viewing his presentation on cable, Comcast Cable. In summation I simply stated the reasons for our defection, a year ago, and that our decision was neither an easy nor favorable one for us. Deciding factor, bottom line expense. Did we want to defect, no. At the time we needed high speed internet. Were we put out that our home town, our citizen owned, cable/internet company could not afford us better rates, yes. We are not hard core users, we wanted only a minimum of hours. The $300 savings represented so much that we felt we had no choice. Our first choice would have been to support our 'own company'. We felt Beld took the decision out of our hands; we could always pay more, but for at least one year we could pay less.
Is it wrong for phone providers, department stores, credit companies, etc. to offer promotions to new customers and not their present clients? I don't feel Comcast is doing anything different. I think it wrong that the Atty.Gen.'s office and our Police Chief were asked to intervene.
As I stated to Mr. Bottiggi, I am a tough sell because I feel for a town owned utility our rates are not as low as they should or could be. Since we are not your 'sophisticated' cable and internet user, we feel we are subsidizing those that are. Products offered are geared for my children's generation but, I feel Beld has turned their back on those of us in midlife or older who need a solid basic at a reasonable price. I would not expect a commercial company to furnish such a product however, I think that a public company would put itself out to do so.
As to the flyer we received, I asked Mr.Bottiggi if it said we could not come back to Beld at yrs. end or if it meant that our rates would be higher, he has not answered my questions. What a shame that a town entity, and the town's administrative arm, has pursued this route over an act of free enterprise. I invite your opinions for I am very curious as to how others feel about this issue.
By lin porter
Is it wrong for phone providers, department stores, credit companies, etc. to offer promotions to new customers and not their present clients? I don't feel Comcast is doing anything different. I think it wrong that the Atty.Gen.'s office and our Police Chief were asked to intervene.
As I stated to Mr. Bottiggi, I am a tough sell because I feel for a town owned utility our rates are not as low as they should or could be. Since we are not your 'sophisticated' cable and internet user, we feel we are subsidizing those that are. Products offered are geared for my children's generation but, I feel Beld has turned their back on those of us in midlife or older who need a solid basic at a reasonable price. I would not expect a commercial company to furnish such a product however, I think that a public company would put itself out to do so.
As to the flyer we received, I asked Mr.Bottiggi if it said we could not come back to Beld at yrs. end or if it meant that our rates would be higher, he has not answered my questions. What a shame that a town entity, and the town's administrative arm, has pursued this route over an act of free enterprise. I invite your opinions for I am very curious as to how others feel about this issue.
By lin porter
