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I haven't had cable since the early 90s. I got frustrated at how annoying it was to set up service with them when I'd be paying $1000+ a year to them. So I gave up trying to make it easy for them to take my money and just never signed up up when I moved. I don't miss it, and I wish all the companies involved doom and gloom.

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Same here; I think cable companies’ complacency in customer service issues isn’t receiving due consideration when discussing this “cord-cutting” trend.

When I purchased my house in 2008, I proceeded to call Comcast (intending to sign up for basic cable + Internet), set my iPhone on speakerphone, and paint the walls of my new rooms. After three nights of 30-45 minute waits with no answer, I gave up and purchased AT&T DSL.

Comcast's site mentioned self-installation, so I went out and bought a DOCSIS 3 modem that was on their supported list, plugged it in, and it told me via HTTP that it had a good signal. Then when I tried to sign up they explained to me that self-installation was not permitted for new users, and rather than just light it up, I would have to wait two weeks and stay home from work so some flunky could show up and "install" a simple device which I already knew to be working. Pissed me off so much I went with DSL, which was live via self-install a few days later.

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