Empire Access warns customers not to fall for sales rep line about Spectrum buying the company
Officials at Empire Access are warning their customers that Spectrum sales reps may be using deceptive tactics to try and convince them to switch broadband and cable services.
Today, Marketing Director Bob R. VanDelinder released a video taken by a customer's front-porch video recorder that shows a man who looks like a Spectrum rep and represents himself as a Spectrum rep telling the customer that Spectrum is acquiring Empire Access.
"We thought this may be of interest since Empire Access did NOT sell to Spectrum, and has no plans of selling," VanDelinder said. "Our company is locally owned and operated, and deeply rooted in the communities we serve."
The rep tells the customer, "We just bought Empire, you know, so sooner or later you're going to be with us."
"So you're going to raise up your rates?" the customer asks in response.
"No, we're just going to get everybody switched over, so whenever you're ready. The official switch-over is March, so sooner later you'll be on board with us or you'll be on satellite. Right now we're offering you a deal to get on board with us."
VanDelinder said his company has received two complaints, both involving the same rep at a location in the Southern Tier.
The Batavian attempted to reach a spokesperson for Spectrum this afternoon and we received no response.
UPDATE 9:43 p.m.: We apparently contacted the wrong Spectrum. We just received the following statement from a Spectrum spokesperson: "The content of the video is not accurate and we’re investigating these apparent comments by the sales representative."
