Letter: Had to take 200 channels just to get this one

Published 6:20 pm Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Referring to article, “We need a little Hallmark,” in the Post on Dec. 21:

I want to share my experience with those like me who want the “other Hallmark channel” with mysteries and movies but are unsure how to address this misleading advertisement. When I called my cable provider the first time, I said I wanted “that other Hallmark channel.” After a few days, I realized the same movies were on both channels.

I called back and discovered they had given me the same channel (different numbers) but same holiday movies. How did that happen? It seems my original plan with the cable company was “grandfathered in” when a new company took over and that is how I had Hallmark on channel 62. When I called and asked for the other channel on the ad, I was placed on the standard plan, which had a different channel number but would be the same shows that were on the channel I already had.

I was then told that to get the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, I would have to take the cable company’s variety package and I could not cancel the standard plan. If I canceled the package, I “would never be able to get that plan of about 50 channels back.” With the two new plans, I have access to probably about 200 channels, most of which I never care to watch — all this misunderstanding and confusion to get one channel I wanted (78).

My cable bill went from $129.14 with the old company to $158.78 with the two plans just to get the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel. Most of these have been Christmas movies I have never seen, so I am glad I have had those to watch on these long winter nights and days. But I may cancel in the spring.

— Linda Beck

Woodleaf