(Alternately titled: “I obviously didn’t listen to my mom” and “Stranger Danger Welcome”)
I’ve been waiting for Comcast to come out for more than a week. My TV didn’t react well to the DTV switch and instead of messing with converter boxes and antennas, I buckled and signed up for basic (aka poor-man’s) cable. I asked Comcast to have the technician to call me when he arrived since my doorbell isn’t with all the others and I’d have to let him in. (Who ever designed this apartment is stupid.)
He calls me and tells me he’s outside, like I asked. At first I thought nothing of it. Okay Comcast is here, he called like I had asked and he isn’t late. I walk around my building to the “front” door to find a middle-aged man wearing jeans and a white T-shirt standing in front of the mailboxes. Now had he not called me, I would have never known he was with Comcast. He wore no identification, carried no equipment and his van was no where in sight.
So being the idiot I am, I ignore all those stranger danger lectures from my mom and invite him inside. The good news is that he must have known what he was doing because I now have cable and the invoice has Comcast’s logo on it. The bad news is that anyone could have pretended to have been this guy and I would have let him in. Bad Jenn.
I don’t understand why Comcast doesn’t enforce a company dress code of some sort. Anyone can claim to be affiliated with Comcast. I know I have a right to ask for identification, but it’s 2009. My 11-year-old cousin could make a Comcast ID. I don’t think I should have to ask for identification. You should represent the company you work for. How hard is that? The mailman has his blue shorts. Pizza delivery folks have a hat or jacket. So what Comcast? Why can’t you put your logo on something?!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
If Comcast in your area is anything like it was where I used to live (I am indentured to Charter, at the moment, as they are the only game in town where I currently live) then they hire independent contractors to do things like you needed done. Since these guys are IC’s they aren’t EMPLOYEES of Comcast and may do jobs for many different companies in the course of a day. Not very practical to have to switch shirts depending on which contract you are fulfilling…
That being said… a visible ID tag, a hat or SOMETHING shouldn’t be too much to ask.
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I always get a little nervous if I let someone in without any identification…but I’m paranoid anyway.
Britt´s last blog ..Inked
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I was going to say exactly what MsDarkstar said. They are contractors…which I think is the dumbest thing! I’m glad everything was fine, but yeah, definitely gives your little heart a few skips to think of “what if”. Yikes. I haven’t had my TV on since the switch over so I have no idea how it’s doing (already had the box). I hate it though. Wish I would splurge for cable.
sara.jane´s last blog ..Moisturizer ASAP
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This has happened to me! The cable provider I have doesn’t require their workers to wear a uniform and I never ask for ID before letting them into my house. All those lessons I learned in kindergarten have obviously not stuck too well.
Lindsay´s last blog ..Not in Kansas Anymore
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Ha ha I probably would have done the same thing – let him in without asking for ID, but being completely paranoid the entire time.
That is weird, though, that they don’t have a uniform or anything. I think Time Warner over here does…
Ari´s last blog ..San Antonio Zoo
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Hmm, my comcast guy always has on a full uniform and a van with a giant logo. suspicious, suspicious! Well, at least you got your cable.
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Yeah, mine had a full uniform. You got some guy off the street.
It’s cool though.
DShan´s last blog ..What The Who
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Kinda scary, I’d probably attempt to ask for ID, although I think when I got my comcast up and running the guy was at least wearing a comcast polo shirt or something like that.
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most likely they are not comcast employees and they are contracted out by comcast.
100% of the time these contractors are working for more than 1 company in a day and can not wear anything that would accidentally be seen by the consumer that is not for the company they are having installed.
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Maybe that’s why I’m not getting cable or internet while I”m here in Chicago haha.
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