‘No nuisance fees’

In this economy, everyone likes to save money where they can. WOW says it is attracting new customers with its ‘First Month Free’ promotion.

Stanley Wright, president and chief executive officer of WOW, told the Bermuda Sun that there are no service charges for residential customers.

“With the first month free, all they do is start paying from their second month. It’s quite a good deal because our insalllation is $85 so there is a discount there. If they get our Classic Pack, that’s a $68 savings for the first month and if they get the low-end set-top box, that’s another $10.50. That’s a savings of $163.50 in the first month.

And that savings can be greater depending on what package they get.”

He said the recent ads have helped drive customers to WOW.

“We get a pretty good response. We get quite a few customers coming in so we’re happy with what we’re seeing in terms of responses.”

Mr Wright said the latest campaign has been running since April.“We’re probably keep running this, particularly in light the economy as well. It just helps people switch if they want to switch or, if they are a first time cable customer, it gives them an opportunity to sign-up without — what would be to some people — a significant outlet of cash.”

Mr Wright added another advantage that WOW has is it does not charge for service calls.

“If we have to go to your home, we don’t charge you for the truck roll.

“We also don’t charge the customer if they decide to change their package.

“So what you’re actually paying for is what you’re actually getting. We don’t charge nuisance fees.”

Mr Wright said a little known service that WOW also offers, is it allows customers who are going to be off island for a month, to turn off their service.

“This is a way for them to reduce their expenses while they are gone. It’s a seasonally disconnect where the customer can notify us the date they’re leaving and the date they’re coming back. We turn down the service until they come back.

“It’s another way of saving. We don’t do it if they’re going away for two weeks, but if they are going away for one month, two months or longer, we do it. There are people who live in Bermuda part-time so when they’re not here they contact us and we turn the service off for the two or three months that they’re not here, and when they come back, it’s on on the day they come back. That way they can enjoy it and the billing starts up again.”

Mr Wright says there is no holding fee for the customer while the service is off.

“There is a revenue impact to us, but we look at it from the perspective that what we’re really trying to do is provide the service while at the same time not nickle-and-diming the customer.”