Wednesday, June 19, 2013 | 10:02 a.m.
Hi, (not you?) | Member Center | Sign Out
Posted: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012
comment(1)
OCALA, Fla. —
Some Ocala residents are taking on a cable company they say is forcing them to pay for services they don't use.
The homeowners of the Palm Cay community said Cablevision has threatened them with liens and foreclosure.
Some homeowners said they are still charged by Cablevision, even though they use a satellite TV company.
The cable company said it doesn't matter.
One homeowner's cable bill, which he said he hasn't paid in years, went up to $1,200 – and ended up in court Wednesday.
Leonard and Annette Gaze, residents of Palm Cay, said they have to stand up for themselves and many of their neighbors.
"They are afraid. They don't want to make waves. And they're too old to fight. So they just sit back and pay," Leonard Gaze said.
Some residents don't want it. One said she didn't like the excuse she got when her cable went out.
"The moon was in the wrong place and we lost our signal," Hill said.
She said the company told her they have a contract in the community and she has to pay forever.
When the community, for ages 55-plus, was built back in the 1980s, cable was considered one of the amenities -- homeowners had to pay for it.
But the service has changed hands over the years. The Gaze's said the old rules no longer apply and they haven't paid their bill in years, so they took the case to court with dozens of their neighbors in tow.
A letter from Cablevision's lawyers to the Gazes insists the homeowners are "contractually obligated" to pay their cable bill, whether they use the service or not.
The Gazes said too many seniors in their community have been frightened into paying.
"They're afraid their kids will inherit a problem when they die," Annette Gaze said.
The court case resumes next Monday with one last witness -- the owner of the cable company.
comment(1)
© 2013 Cox Media Group. By using this website,
you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices
.
Already have an account? Sign In
{* #registrationForm *} {* traditionalRegistration_displayName *} {* traditionalRegistration_emailAddress *} {* traditionalRegistration_password *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}Already have an account? Sign In
{* #registrationFormBlank *} {* registration_firstName *} {* registration_lastName *} {* traditionalRegistration_displayName *} {* traditionalRegistration_emailAddressBlank *} {* registration_birthday *} {* registration_gender *} {* registration_postalZip *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordBlank *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirmBlank *} {* agreeToTerms *}We have sent you a confirmation email. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account.
We look forward to seeing you frequently. Visit us and sign in to update your profile, receive the latest news and keep up to date with mobile alerts.
Don't worry, it happens. We'll send you a link to create a new password.
{* #forgotPasswordForm *} {* forgotPassword_emailAddress *}We have sent you an email with a link to change your password.
We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Your existing password has not been changed.
To sign in you must verify your email address. Fill out the form below and we'll send you an email to verify.
{* #resendVerificationForm *} {* resendVerification_emailAddress *}Check your email for a link to verify your email address.

You're Almost Done!
Select a display name and password
{* #socialRegistrationForm *} {* socialRegistration_displayName *} {* socialRegistration_emailAddress *} {* traditionalRegistration_password *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}Tell us about yourself
{* registration_firstName *} {* registration_lastName *} {* registration_postalZip *} {* registration_birthday *} {* registration_gender *} {* agreeToTerms *}