How to Fight Optimum

Hack customer service. If you’ve ever called or chatted customer service, you’ve probably walked away disappointed. Endless wait times, unhelpful agents and dropped connections can make the experience incredibly frustrating. But there are ways to avoid the wait and connect directly with someone at Optimum who can help you.

This option requires the least effort, but it is also the least likely to get your problem fixed. It can also result in uncomfortable experiences – some customers report aggressive encounters with agents and executives when they go around the usual customer service process but at least you are still able to fight Optimum.

Go to Small Claims Court. Your Optimum contract forbids you from suing Optimum, or their parent company Altice, in a real court, but you can still argue your case in Small Claims Court. In most states, you can sue in small claims for an amount under $5000 or $10,000, which is enough to cover most claims against Optimum. Usually Optimum will contact you to fix your problem before you have to show up in court.

Small claims is a great option if you’re willing to spend some time and effort. When you fight Optimum like this, it usually results in a positive outcome for the complaint. However, the process can be very complicated, and may require multiple trips to the county courthouse during business hours.

Arbitrate. If you want to sue Optimum for more than the small claims limit, or if you don’t want to take time off of work to show up for a court hearing, you can file a consumer arbitration against Optimum. A consumer arbitration is an informal, but binding, process that allows you to make your case in front of a neutral third party (usually a lawyer). It’s like going to court, but faster, simpler and less expensive.

Arbitration is usually just as effective as small claims court, but doesn’t require trips to the courthouse. While it can also be a complicated process if you go it alone, FairShake makes it easy and free to file many consumer arbitrations against Optimum.