Cable troubles

Setting up the new apartment I have had two very different customer service experiences from the facilities suppliers.   On ringing up ConEd, the electricity/gas supplier, they had no problem in changing over the account into my name.  Time Warner cable on the other had will do nothing until the previous tenant remembers to cancel their account or I send them a notorised copy of the lease.  Can’t they just chase up their own customers..I want to pay them moeny, I’m new, I’m voluteering to pay them but they don;t appear to want my money.