Another reason I don't miss the cable companies....

Time-Warner customers of the Wheatland,Wisconsin area who are still recovering & cleaning up from a January 7th tornado are getting astronomical bills for cable equipment destroyed in the storm!One resident,who had 5 receiver units,was billed $2000 for the equipment.Time Warner told her to take it up with homeowners insurance,who were only liable for paying the depreciated value of the 9 year old cable boxes,a fraction of the 2 grand Time Warner demanded for payment.
A company spokesperson commented that most of the customers billed had transferred or cancelled service without notifying the Time Warner that it was tornado-related?Hello?I guess they didn't know there was a tornado?Are they in another state or something?They also claimed that if customers called in and reported their situation they would have taken the equipment off their account.Yeah-if my home gets leveled by a disaster and I lose everything I own,the LAST thing on my mind or to-do list is calling the cable company.
Furthermore,I am no legal scholar but as I recall from my days as a cable customer,the "boxes" are actually LEASED by the customer from the cable provider therefore isn't it their responsibility to cover damage that is no fault of the lessee/customer?Why would a homeowners or renters policy cover an item the insured party does not legally own?Am I alone on this?LOL.
At least they plan on making it right for their customers and giving them credit,but the bills should have never been issued in the 1st place.