Denied service due to past tenant debt

I picked up my modem Friday and installed it that very day. It worked perfectly all weekend until Monday night, it went out. 

It takes 10 calls to different numbers to even get a real person on the phone, all of which are only "technical support" and cannot help with the issue. You are then given the number to a collections department who tells you that until the past tenants debt is settled, you are not able to get service. They tell you that you can go into a retail store with your ID and lease agreement, but if the past tenant did not cancel their service before you moved in, you are accused of knowing them. 

I canceled my service. Not worth it in the slightest.