When John and Carol Lehman tried to get a $600 refund from Comcast for payments on a cable box they say they gave back to the company five years ago, Comcast offered them the money on one condition: sign a non-disclosure agreement.

The NDA might seem like a good tactic for avoiding the kind of bad press that has long plagued Comcast, but it didn't work—the NDA was apparently given to the customers after they had already gone to the media. 6ABC Action News in Philadelphia had the story this week. The news spot played a recording of a Comcast representative telling the Lehmans, "we will issue a $600 even credit, pending that you sign a non-disclosure agreement."

6ABC also showed the full non-disclosure agreement. We made a transcript so you can read the whole thing:

INDIVIDUAL RELEASE IN FULL OF ALL CLAIMS AND RIGHTS￼ 1. John Lehman. ("Releasor") in consideration of the sum of Six Hundred dollars ($600.00), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged for myself, my successors and assigns, of my own free will, voluntarily release and forever discharge COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, L.L.C., its subsidiaries, affiliates, their respective parents, officers, employees, agents, successors and assigns, both individually and in their official capacities with Comcast (collectively "Comcast"), of and from any and all actions or causes of actions, suits, claims, charges, complaints, contracts, agreements, promises, attorneys' fees and costs, whatsoever, in law or equity, which I, my heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, may now have or hereafter can, shall or may have for, upon, or by any reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever arising out of: Dispute for equipment charges from 2009-2015. It is understood and agreed that the payment of said amount is not to be construed as an admission of liability on the part of Comcast, but that said Payment is in compromise and settlement of my claim which is not admitted but is denied and disputed by Comcast; that this release is being given by me voluntarily and not based on any representations or statements of any kind made by Comcast or its representative, as to the merits, legal liability, or value of my claim or any other matter relating thereto. It is further understood and agreed that this release is intended to cover all actions, causes of action, claims or demands for, upon, or by reason of any damage, loss or injury, known or unknown, which may be traced either directly or indirectly to the matter referred to above, no matter how remotely it may be related to such matter. It is further understood and agreed that this release is intended to release not only all claims against Comcast but also that portion of any claim against any other person for which such other person may make claims against Comcast for contribution, indemnification, subrogation, or otherwise. It is further understood and agreed that Releasor (and Releasor's attorney, if any) will not disclose or allow to be disclosed any of the negotiations regarding this matter, or the terms, conditions, or amounts of settlement, except as may be required by law, provided, however, that Releasor may disclose this settlement to Releasor's immediate family, attorney and tax return preparer (in which event the restrictions shall apply to Releasor's immediate family, attorney and tax return preparer). I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THE FOREGOING RELEASE AND I KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE CONTENTS THEREOF. I AM SIGNING IT VOLUNTARILY AND AS MY OWN FREE ACT AND DEED.

According to 6ABC News, "The Lehmans tell us, for five years, Comcast erroneously charged them for a cable box they'd actually turned in. They say they have all their bills, five years worth, to prove it."

The station spoke to three sets of customers who say they had a difficult time getting refunds from Comcast, but they all ultimately got their money back after 6ABC got involved.

Comcast said, "We have apologized to our customers and these issues have since been resolved to their satisfaction," according to the news report.

Comcast told the news station that recent improvements, such as a measure that lets customers drop off equipment at UPS stores, will help prevent future problems like the ones spotlighted in the report.

"My advice? Ask for and keep your receipt," reporter Nydia Han said in concluding the piece.

We've asked Comcast for more information on the NDA, such as whether it represents a new policy and whether other customers are asked to sign them, and will provide an update if we get one.

UPDATE: Comcast told Ars that it was a mistake to ask the customer to sign an NDA in the case of a billing dispute. NDAs are intended for out-of-the-ordinary situations, including disputes that involve property damage, but not routine matters like refunds. Comcast said it will clarify with its employees that NDAs are not to be used in billing issues.

The customer did receive the refund, Comcast said.