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5 Unretumed cable boxes can carry heavy charges ■ CABLE Continued from page 1 located on Devine Street and on Greystone Boulevard. Problems arise when students move from their apartments and don’t know they must call to disconnect their cable service. A customer can be billed for service up to 60 days before the service is terminated. If students fail to pay and turn in equipment within 120 days, both Some students view the policies of cable companies as unfair. “I think $600 is a ridiculous cost for a cable box,” second-year print journalism student Elizabeth Benfield said. “I think that they would have the right to charge you for it — there should be a warning and then a fine, but I don’t think it should be that enormous or severe.” Other students doubt whether the policy works for student customers. “No 20-year-old is going to read service anu equipment charges will end up on their credit reports. When students return the cable box, the equipment charge is dropped but the service charge remains. “No 20-year-old is going to read the policy. They just want to see TV.” TRAVIS DINKINS FIRST-YEAR LAW STUDENT time. me pemey, msi-yeoi law student Travis Dinkins said. “They just want to see TV.” Third-year criminal justice student Stephanie George said she thinks fees are justified if the company warns the students ahead of “We aren’t interested in When students move and charging students for equipment; neglect to make a call for l we simply would like them to disconnection, the result is that return their equipment after they someone else may benefit from the are done using it,” said Craig service the students are charged Thompson, vice president and for. general manager of Time Warner “I think the responsibility is the Cable. customers,” third-year theatre student Emily Linstrom said. “They should be aware that they are leaving behind a valuable service if they don’t call to cancel their cable. Someone else could take advantage of it.” As long as credit holders make minimum monthly payments, the charges don’t make a big impact on future credit ratings. However, for many college students, making a $200 a month minimum payment can be a backbreaker. “I think college students have a hard time paying their bills in the first place,” Benfield said. “Credit card companies like students because they make more money when they don’t pay their bills, and most college students don’t pay their bills on time.” Poor credit ratings can interfere with a student’s prospects. Even when the charge is eventually paid off, the initial recording of the charge remains on the credit report for seven years. As a result, students who have had this charge could have difficulty in getting a loan for a car or house in the future. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocbiews@gwm.sc.edu Want to write for News? Call 777-7726. No experience necessary. Need Help: If work, family or other challenges have stalled your research, here's haw we can help: • Clarifying the method section • Assisting with survey design • Selecting appropriate statistics • Entering and analyzing data • Creating APA tables and figures • Reporting the result • Explaining the statistical output ; Why risk delaying your graduation plot • statist! sc “gamecock! jate K25. Substance-free 9/18 vs. SO. FIOMDA Si£U,.h 9/25 vs. 1ROY STATE Entertainment. Must 10/9 VS. MISSISSIPPI studert !»U 10/30 vs. TENNESSEE 11/6 vs. ARKANSAS A cB3 cC) D cE A B gCd cDd cE A B C D cE A cB) C cDD cE A Bj C D cE f *"1 It's stress management. It's knowledge. It's an art. It's a reproduction. *"* A B cCd cDd cE A B C D cE A B C D cE A B C 0 cE A B C D E What do you see? Every day, The New York Times helps you see the world around you in whole new ways. Pick up your copy of The Times today. And to subscribe at a very special student rate of more than 50% off, call 1-888-NYT-C0LL and mention media code S84AJ. Or visit nytimes.com/student. THE NEW YORK TIMES. INSPIRING THOUGHT. DAILY. SJlje £fe\ir j3ork $iute$ knowledge network. INSPIRING THOUGHT i - i i