Will someone please step up and compete with Comcast?

Where would my life be without HBO, high-speed Internet and the ability to record shows I miss on DVR?

I am on the verge of finding out, as I look to boycott the monopolistically lazy practices of Comcast and other too-big-work-efficiently companies.

I received a bill from Comcast the other week asserting that my account was delinquent, insinuating I was irresponsible and a burden upon the operations of our free-market economy and the shareholders of Comcast.

Worried and surprised, I jogged my memory to make sure I had not forgotten to pay my Comcast bill last month. Surely, I remember parking at the new Comcast office in town and walking in and paying my bill in person.

However, I thought, maybe I was confused— surely this huge corporation with all of its employees and information systems could not be wrong.

I then used my Comcast high-speed Internet to log onto my online banking site to make sure I had, in fact, written them a check in full before the end of September. Low and behold, I had written Comcast a check, No. 288, on Sept. 27. Relieved, I was not having delusions regarding my bill-paying and memorization abilities — I saw Comcast had indeed cashed check 288 on Sept. 30.

After this, I did what any annoyed individual would: I called Comcast’s 1-800 number. Upon five minutes of automated touch dial communication with Hal’s grandchild, I was not allowed to speak to an account representative. I was told my account was past due and I could either pay it using the automated system over the phone or pay a $4.95 fee to speak with a representative.

How appropriate. I pay a company $4.95 to have the opportunity to speak about its accounting error. Disgusted and stressed, I thought, “What now? I am not paying the $4.95, nor am I paying something for which I have already paid.”

I knew I could not get off work to go to the local Comcast office, and football practice went until after their closing time. Luckily, I was able to use Comcast’s live chat function—on my Comcast high-speed Internet, of course. I spoke with Britannia, who was cyber-nice and said she would hand the information on to her supervisor and the issue would be fixed. The Comcast chatter even took my cell phone number so I could be contacted once the issue was resolved.

As of this writing, that was almost 24 hours ago, and Comcast’s labeling of me as delinquent remains. Anyone who reads my column knows I am pro-business and private sector. However, there are instances in our economy when firms have too much power. Utilities and communication companies stand out.

Can I boycott Comcast and still live my “normal” life? No. Where else can I get my Internet and digital cable? (Cable is definitely preferable to satellite from my experience.)

Competition is lacking in many of the utility sectors. Hopefully in the future, wireless and satellite technology will improve to provide land-line-based behemoths like Comcast with competition forcing them to put customers first.

Competition forces firms to offer better products with better service and lower prices.

Comcast: You better be happy I am addicted to Facebook and HBO, because if someone else could offer me access to these products, I would eagerly switch service.

Richardson’s column runs each Wednesday. He is a teacher at Floyd T. Binns Middle School.