Comcast in trouble for more than just poor customer service and fee hikes

According to Comcast’s corporate policy, customers signing up for their service must undergo credit reporting inquiries in order to begin service, or else pay a $50 fee to have this requirement waived. Chicago resident Keith Santangelo signed up for Internet service, but told Comcast through an online chat feature on its website that he refused to provide them authorization to run his credit report. He paid the $50 fee instead. In a class-action lawsuit filed at the end of January, Santangelo says that Comcast took the money, but ran his credit report anyway, which is illegal under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. The suit accuses the cable and internet service provider of conducting credit checks on several of its subscribers that chose to pay the $50 fee in order to avoid credit checks, based on its customer service forum. The plaintiff claims that Comcast pulling his consumer report lowered his credit score. The case attorneys have stated that it’s possible that thousands of Comcast subscribers have been subject to unauthorized credit checks. It is unclear why the company would need to review customers’ credit reports in order to provide service. Comcast has declined to comment on the lawsuit. photo credit: JeepersMedia via photopin cc]]>