Charter Kills Earthlink Broadband Promotion 'Loophole' Charter is killing a "loophole" that allowed customers to grab a better deal from Earthlink. For more than a decade users were able to play the two companies off of one another, thanks to conditions originally attached to the 2000 merger between AOL and Time Warner (which at that point still owned Time Warner Cable). Users at the tail end of a Time Warner Cable promotion could seamlessly switch to Earthlink broadband at a six month promotional rate for $30 per month. After that promo period, they could simply switch back to Time Warner Cable for a new promotional rate using the same connection.

Rinse, wash repeat. But Stop the Cap notes that Charter has killed the option. The move isn't a particular surprise, given that Charter has been moving away from promotions after recently acquiring Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks. In fact, many users now say they're paying more than ever for broadband courtesy of the megamerger's "synergies." With the Earthlink loophole closed, another avenue for users to get a better deal has also been closed. “My broadband bill is now double what it used to be because I cannot switch to a broadband promotion with Charter as my Earthlink promotion ends this month,” one South Carolina user tells the website. "I was paying $30 a month and now Spectrum wants to charge me $65 a month." "After Spectrum pricing took effect in my area, my bill went up $30 a month," said another Chater customer in Maine. “I was hoping to switch back to Earthlink but after placing an order with Earthlink, a representative from Charter/Spectrum called me and denied my request. It’s false competition. Since when is it okay to sign up with one company and then get a call from another telling me I am not allowed to take my business elsewhere. It’s monopoly abuse!" Of course to Charter executives, reducing broadband competition -- especially when that competition comes over a line they own -- is a good thing. Of course to Charter executives, reducing broadband competition -- especially when that competition comes over a line they own -- is a good thing.







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Most recommended from 35 comments



maartena

Elmo

Premium Member

join:2002-05-10

Orange, CA 22 recommendations maartena Premium Member Why am I not surprised..... "This merger is going to be great for customers", they said.

"The free market will ensure fair competition", they said.

"Everything is going to be alright", they said.



In the mean time, local facebook groups I am a member of are reporting skyrocketing prices with Spectrum..... many people are thinking of cutting the cord now. Dampier

Phillip M Dampier

join:2003-03-23

Rochester, NY 15 recommendations Dampier Member Synergies Is there a cream to treat "deal synergies"?



I intend to send a note to the Attorney General of New York and ask him to ponder the legitimacy of a consumer signing up for a service on Earthlink's website and having a Charter representative (another company) intercept and cancel that order.



There is nothing illegitimate about taking advantage of this offer, no more than it would be signing up for U-verse and switching to FiOS and back again. Earthlink is ostensibly an independent company and Charter has no business engaging in restraint of trade. With this change, there is no reason for Earthlink to even exist as anything other than an official reseller of Charter, not Earthlink internet access. iansltx

join:2007-02-19

Austin, TX ·Time Warner Cable

6 recommendations iansltx Member Don't forget the rate hikes! In addition to this loophole-dropping, Charter raised rates $5/mo recently. So their standard tier here is now about as expensive with "free" modem rental as TWC's tier was if you paid for their modem lease. Or, if you're comparing for owned modems, Charter is just as expensive as the old 100/10 tier, and ~$10 more than the 50/5 one.



And my 300/20 tier, which I'm holding onto for dear life because I don't want to pay $200 to get it again later, is ~$110/mo now. :|

jchambers28

Premium Member

join:2007-05-12

Alma, AR 6 recommendations jchambers28 Premium Member COX I know cox may be bad but they aren't like these ass holes glad they are owned by a family instead of greedy fucks like this. tmc8080

join:2004-04-24

Brooklyn, NY 2 recommendations tmc8080 Member screw em' CHURN! Let's see how they like $0 on their return..

More than likely, there is a telco offering at least SHITTY dsl in the area to churn to for a while. Yeah it sucks, but unless you can use another loophole. Plug the Charter discount gap with another service provider! Churn is basically the primary method to incentivize greedy companies to offer ANY kind of discount to service. HIGH upfront pricing for loyal customers is the NORM in alot of industries! Allowing yourself to be gouged is the injustice consumers have to constantly fight against..

tshirt

Premium Member

join:2004-07-11

Snohomish, WA 2 recommendations tshirt Premium Member It?s monopoly abuse! Not feeling a lot of sympathy on this one.

after being on it that long, the grandfather is probably a great-grandfather by now.

Time to put away the acoustic coupler, and the crank up phone.

not too suprising if no one offer real broadband there, if they were force to compete with that.