08-31-2012, 12:18 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 835
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTI
"mafia-like?" Seems to me that I subscribe to a service, choose features based on my habits and budget . . . does your cable company threaten to burn your house down if you want to go terrestrial or sat?  |
Right, as if threats of property damage is the only criteria for being a mafia. 
How about price fixing and other racketeering acts against entire communities? Does that count as mafia-like behaviors? If so the SC is about to weigh in. Current class action suit about to go before the SC for alleged over charging and monopolistic billing practices
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/25/us-usa-court-comcast-idUSBRE85O11A20120625
Attempting to manipulate the law to strong-arm individuals in an attempt to circumvent class action status:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/22/us-comcast-arbitration-idUSBRE87L01O20120822
Refusing to honor a penalty contract, something they impose daily upon their customers, circumstances permitting:
http://abbottlawfirm.com/blog/2012/08/15/comcast-loses-1-7-million-in-case-luckily/
Attempting to impose use restrictions on broadband to try to restrict the use of Netflix, Hulu and other on-demand services by attempting to re-define what “the internet” is:
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-21/comcast-invents-its-own-private-internet
I looked through some cases in California. There were more than I cared to read. A few included patent violations, intellectual property rights violations, a wide variety of employment standards violations, and on and on. I suspect that if one were to go state by state, there would be perhaps thousands of cases against Comcast for as many reasons. 
http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=Comcast+Corporation&state=california&page=2
Edit: I came across these 2 gems after my post.
Comcast (and Time Warner) didn’t destroy the records of former customers including ssn, credit card information, etc., and didn’t send out annual privacy notices,
Time Warner Cable & Comcast Sued for Violating Ex-Customers’ Privacy | Stop the Cap!
Comcast settles Oregon late fee class-action suit for $23 million
Comcast improperly charged late fees to its Oregon cable TV customers.
Comcast settles Oregon late fee class-action suit for $23 million | OregonLive.com
Comcast appears to have learned from Al Capone and other professional thugs and has employed attorneys more effectively than the best organized criminals of the past.
I guess this amounts to good business practice in the 21st century? 
Last edited by link; 08-31-2012 at 04:12 PM.
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