Class Claims Charter Cable Is A Nightmare

ST. LOUIS (CN) – Charter Communications uses unlicensed contractors, charges for services it does not perform, and violates city codes on services it does perform, a class action claims in City Court.     Charter, a St. Louis-based cable provider, uses subcontractors who ignore city permit requirements, says named plaintiff Leigh Lamear.      Lamear claims an unlicensed subcontractor improperly installed her cable in 2003, causing numerous problems. She says Charter sent another unlicensed subcontractor to her house this year to reinstall the entire system, but she still has problems with her cable.     Lamear says Charter cable installers failed to ground the coaxial primary protection system properly; wrapped the ground wire around a water pipe; installed coaxial cable at an improper lead-in clearance; and installed coaxial cable strapped and supported by other communications systems and abandoned wires.      As a result, she says, her house no longer meets city codes, and she gets lousy cable service.      She demands an injunction and disgorgement of profits Charter received from using unlicensed subcontractors. The class is represented by James Rosemergy.

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