Cable bill counts tornado damage

WHEATLAND, Wis. – Having a tornado demolish her home was bad enough. But weeks later when Ann Beam received a $2,000 cable bill for destroyed equipment, she was floored.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” Beam said. “I was like, ‘What are they thinking?’ “

Time Warner Cable billed a number of Wheatland residents for equipment damaged in the Jan. 7 twister. Beam’s bill covered five cable boxes and five remote controls.

Beam’s case was simply a misunderstanding, Time Warner Cable spokeswoman Celeste Flynn said.

“We understand this is an unusual situation,” Flynn said. “All they will need to do is call, and we will take the equipment off their account.”