Comcast Named 'Worst Company in America'

(CANVAS STAFF REPORTS) - The competition was stiff among airlines, credit card companies and car manufacturers. But the customers have spoken, and in the end they crowned Comcast as 2010's "Worst Company in America."

The Philadelphia-based cable giant, known for its high costs, planned purchase of NBC Universal, and nonexistent customer service, bested 31 other companies to win Consumerist's dubious Golden Poo Award .

Comcast upset number-one-seeded Ticketmaster following a weekend of online voting by Consumerist.com visitors.

Comcast had recently been a perennial bridesmaid in the "unpopularity" contest, which for the past five years has recognized the worst that business has to offer.

Comcast finished as first runner-up in 2008 and 2009 to Countrywide Home Loans..

"This year it is clear that poor customer service, among other issues by Comcast really rubbed consumers the wrong way," said Meghann Marco, co-managing editor of Consumerist.com, a watchdog blog acquired by Consumer Reports in 2008.

For six weeks, voters in the bracket-style, single-elimination tournament, modeled after the NCAA basketball tournament, whittled down the 32 nominees in head-to-head match-ups .

Consumers were able to log on to Consumerist.com and participate in each round of the "Worst Company in America," as well as chime in through comments on the site.Besides Ticketmaster, Comcast's reviled rivals included Bank of America, Cash4Gold, GM, CapitalOne, and U.S. Airways.

In response to the "honor," Comcast spokeswoman Jenni Moyer told The Washington Post that the telecom firm is "working everyday to improve our customers' experiences with us." She pointed to a new Comcast "customer guarantee," as well as recent improvements to product reliability and service.

Consumerist.com plans to deliver the Golden Poo Award to Comcast's Philadelphia headquarters. Moyer did not say where the small sculpture would be displayed.