Clock/Timer Being Manipulated

Any clock changes are due to lag, lag compensation, or disconnects. The server updates clients after each move and only the server keeps the official clocks.

Regarding your other point, if you feel someone is using disallowed resources, you should report them. https://support.chess.com/article/209-how-do-i-report-someone

Absolutely 100% is possible and is happening.  The only catch is, they don't know your last move.  By making the server think they are having connection problems (as simple as unplugging an ethernet cable or switching off wifi), they can "pause" after their move for up to 15 seconds.  Once they have decided your most likely response and placed their move in response to it, they reconnect, download your move, and their move is instantly uploaded with a fraction of a second off their clock despite you waiting 5-15 seconds for their response.  I have video of a 1 minute/side game that took over 6 minutes.  The other player "made" 72 moves in only 42 seconds according to the chess.com server.

@Martin_Stahl 
I just don't understand how you're able to deal with people who literally ask the same question that has been answered, and will be answered in the same exact manner. 

Maybe that's why you're the moderator!

@ruedisjp Bingo! That is exactly what they are doing. And either chess.com and martin are too stupid to realize it or they are just denying it because they dont have a solution to the problem. Either way it is a big problem.

I know how the site chess clock works. The server tracks it and the algorithm also only allows a certain amount of lag. So something like a lag switch only impacts the person using it and only causes time loss on their clocks. Theoretically someone would get a minimal amount of extra thinking time, if they were under the allowed lag, but that's it.

By the way this method they are using has been a trick used in multiplayer video games since forever. So you guys denying it just makes you look ridiculous.

It works on a game like that, not here. 

When you make a move, the client code sends that and the server calculates the time taken, updates your clock and the opponent's clock, sends the move and updated clock times to the opponent.

That player can do anything they want in regards to lag. When their move gets sent to the server, it removes the allowed lag from the time taken, counts all the rest against that player's clock, then sends the move and corrected clock times to you.  You don't lose any time due to your opponent's lag.

If the opponent is using a lag switch when it's not their turn, it does nothing.

@Martin_Stahl you may be the most patient person I’ve seen. Its almost funny from an outside perspective, but must be frustrating for you when people ignore what you’ve explained 10 times and accuse you of lying on chess.com’s behalf.

Ok but what happens when someone yanks there connection? How does the server handle that? It probably doesnt count that disconnected time as lag. Meanwhile dude is making 10 premoves or whatever on the client and reconnects. All the premoves get sent out in one go. How does it count the lag then? Does he get time back for every move that he premoved?

Then they are disconnected and if they connect before the site counts the game as abandoned, they can move and all the time offline, excluding the allowed lag, counts against their clock.

Premoves are all cached client side and get sent one at a time after receiving the opponent's previous move, if the move is still legal. That's one reason they can take longer than 0.1 second (with higher lag or disconnects) and why all queued premoves can be flushed with a refresh or cancelled with a right click.

my opponent played white, made his first move and his clock went back to 5:00 while mine went down down 13 seconds. his rank was higher than mine and obviously didn't want to be beaten which i almost did on our second game when all of a sudden the clock run out on me ... and he was the one taking a lot of time with his moves. not cheating? chess.com's fault?

Chess haiku are a thing.

The first Pawn advances.

The first shot is fired

at the first Pawn.

Traditional Japanese haiku, yes.

Gendai-Haiku... no.

Spamming for points tends to get your point-count reset to zero by the Admins.

How else should they discourage spamming?

Please don't spam

In my experience, the clock depends very much on where in the house I am. Downstairs toilet? I'll probably lose on time.