Comcast cable bill out of control

Spindrifter · 10-06-2008, 06:11 AM

Cable tv and internet prices are out of control. My Comcast bill went up from $90.46 to a whopping $133.17! I have cable internet and what they call the premium package. Basically extended basic cable and the Encore channel.
I called 6 months ago and they said they could rework my package and get it back under a $100. I called this morning to see what the deal was and they said that was just a temporary rate and it had expired

The guy who reworked the deal DIDN'T say it was temporary

. I'm about fed up with their rates. What's the cheapest option now? There has got to be a better way.....

Paul Nicholls

crazyinoregon · 10-06-2008, 06:17 AM

yeah i never trust those sneaky package deals.....hopefully your not locked in to that rate with threats of huge penalties if you switch. here on the coast we have one cable tv network and they know it. I went with dish sat tv and they have pretty much stayed the same price. good luck

husker · 10-06-2008, 06:23 AM

cable & sat are about the same price. i myself will just never do business with comcast so i have DTV.

my bill this month is about $72....i have no movie channels or extra sports channels.

Fishingfanatic · 10-06-2008, 06:30 AM

Verizon FIOS

Spindrifter · 10-06-2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by husker

cable & sat are about the same price. i myself will just never do business with comcast so i have DTV.

my bill this month is about $72....i have no movie channels or extra sports channels.

How do you get your internet?

Keeper · 10-06-2008, 06:48 AM

We shut down DirecTV in April when our package hit $65. We then bought two converter boxes and an antenna for $57. We have local channels plus three OPB channels and an extra $65 in our pocket each month.

Internet = Verizon DSL at $37.95 a month. We have had it for over five years and I just can't bring myself to change something that works this well!

Uncle ted · 10-06-2008, 06:52 AM

comcast has now also set a limit on how much bandwidth you can use as well

Uglygreen · 10-06-2008, 07:20 AM

Phone... check out a product called magicjack... works well with DSL and I paid $40 for the hardware and $50 for 5 (yes five) years of local and long distance phone service. Comcast got kicked off the Brad island a couple years ago. It wasn't very comcastic for me. Dish network for sat tv, $55 for basic plus HD plus FSN was the cheapest I found a year ago.

- Brad

WaterDog · 10-06-2008, 07:22 AM

What I have found is the $65/$79/$99 "deals" both comcast or fios are offereing for the tv/net/phone is limited in time. Once you get through your contract (1 or 2 years depending), then the bill goes to their regular price which is around $135/mo.

They get you cheap at first then you will pay.

Chrome Bumper · 10-06-2008, 07:33 AM

Ours went up wen we no longer qualified for the special itroductory price special customer rate.

Wifey called them and asked why we were not 'special' any more, since we always pay our bill, and negotiated another year at a reduced rate.

Spindrifter · 10-06-2008, 07:38 AM

I just called customer retention, and the only option was slowing the internet connection from 6mb to 4mb (doubt I'll notice).Saved $18 month. The next lower TV package was just channels 1-72 witn no movie channels, digital music etc. for another $15 savings.
We opted for the slower internet for now and that will get the bill to about $99 a month. Still seems ridiculous

ryleysmom · 10-06-2008, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spindrifter

How do you get your internet?

I cant stand comcast anymore. they are on there way out my door.. Their prices are to high, their customer service has declined and I have been a loyal customer almost 20 years.. And Im about to flush them.
Matter of fact I was just looking at the DTV and Sattelite options last night. Just trying to figure out the internet deal. Dont want a land line or dial up..

GarySt · 10-06-2008, 08:44 AM

We swiched from Comcast bundle to a Qwest bundle about a month ago because we couldn't stand the prices with Comcast anymore. Qwest did save us money, about $35 a month. I tried working with Comcast to lower the monthy bill as I really didn't have an issue with their service, but they weren't willing to knock it down to where Qwest was, so GOODBYE Comcast. I was amazed that they were so willing to give a customer away. Oh well, that's the way it is today you have to find the best deal and keep switching services if that's what it takes. Customer service, as with most businesses, isn't quite what it used to be.

Roperguy · 10-06-2008, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle ted

comcast has now also set a limit on how much bandwidth you can use as well

you would have to be sending some serious spam or downloading movies and music an awful lot to exceed their bandwidth limits though.

husker · 10-06-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spindrifter

How do you get your internet?

verizon fios....$36

husker · 10-06-2008, 09:02 AM

i also no longer have a land line.

djb · 10-06-2008, 09:14 AM

Spindrifter, At 133.00, I imagine you have digital phone as well. When the guy reworked your rate, he probably gave you the latest deal that comcast is offering wich is usually a 3-6 month promotion. Even though the promotions they offer are for new customers, they are still generous enough to give it to existing customers when asked. When my latest promotion expires, I find out what the new promotion is and then I call Comcast and ask for it. I think that it is generous of them to discount their current customers rates. If you think about it, name one other utility type company that will do the same. I have Comcast internet,tv, voice at home and internet, tv, voice for my business. I think their service is great. I pay about 130 for my home service with extended channels and two phone lines and 130 for my business service with two phone lines.

Pinecone · 10-06-2008, 09:16 AM

We don't watch much TV, so we've got the cheapest cable you can get. It's the basic plan that has local channels, discovery, versus, and a bunch of other stuff we don't watch. We just got it cause the reception from our rabbit ears didn't work well. I think we pay about 9 bucks a month. And our internet is the old DSL from verizon, we got it when they had a $15 a month for as long as you have the service promotion, so we still have it. (although they've been pressuring fios on us pretty hard, I'm sure we'll eventually get phased out...) I don't remember what we pay for phone, but we just have local, we just use a calling card for any long distance calls, which isn't very often. So our cable, internet and phone bill is all under 50 bucks a month! Sure, we don't have many channels and our internet isn't the fastest, but it's cheap and works for us!

-Joseph

Dan Grbavac · 10-06-2008, 09:55 AM

Call the company and ask for the special program guy and tell him they are not competitive and they will deal.

12pulls · 10-06-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinecone

We don't watch much TV, so we've got the cheapest cable you can get. It's the basic plan that has local channels, discovery, versus, and a bunch of other stuff we don't watch. We just got it cause the reception from our rabbit ears didn't work well. I think we pay about 9 bucks a month. And our internet is the old DSL from verizon, we got it when they had a $15 a month for as long as you have the service promotion, so we still have it. (although they've been pressuring fios on us pretty hard, I'm sure we'll eventually get phased out...) I don't remember what we pay for phone, but we just have local, we just use a calling card for any long distance calls, which isn't very often. So our cable, internet and phone bill is all under 50 bucks a month! Sure, we don't have many channels and our internet isn't the fastest, but it's cheap and works for us!

-Joseph

Same thing we did. The "antenna service" meets our needs for under $9. Our Verizon DSL went up from $14 to $20 this summer but I kept it, it serves the purpose. I would think in this dropping economy that they might be willing to adjust rather than to lose a customer.

BarroomHero · 10-06-2008, 10:06 AM

This thread should get sent to Comcrap. Not only is there service horrible and prices outrageous, they now have a monopoly on the Portland Trailblazers, and Oregon Ducks. Negotiations have been in the works for over a year now to strike a deal with satellite but ive heard it from an insider that the satellite providers have had enough of dealing with "the brains" of Comcast.

Rant over.

wthr4d · 10-06-2008, 10:11 AM

Qwest DSL 1.5Mbps for $35/ month and no landline or cable. I use bitTorrent for the few shows I do want to watch. Sure its slower than cable but I do my downloads at night when Im sleeping and dont notice it.

paul

JustCallMeDave · 10-06-2008, 10:14 AM

You were able to unbundle the phone line from DSL?

Smoked Salmon · 10-06-2008, 10:25 AM

Wasn't the deregulation of the industry supposed to create competition and drive down prices? I dropped Directv when they hit $45, which was 50% than when I started with them. Just antenna and converter box for this family, but there isn't much of anything to watch on the tube anyhow. Anything interesting we get through Netflix.

Spindrifter · 10-06-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by husker

verizon fios....$36

Hmmm....Here are their current prices
http://www22.verizon.com/content/con...and+prices.htm

Cheapest is $42.99 mo with a phone line, otherwise it is $47.99. I pay $24.99 for 4mb now anyway. The cable tv is my main complaint @ $75 a month.

Nomad_Greg · 10-06-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustCallMeDave

You were able to unbundle the phone line from DSL?

I know verizon and even centurytel will do this for you, but they add a small surcharge to your line.

Call and ask about it, they don't advertise it for the obvious reason they want people to think they still need to pay for a phone line.

ColdSteel · 10-06-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarroomHero

This thread should get sent to Comcrap. Not only is there service horrible and prices outrageous, they now have a monopoly on the Portland Trailblazers, and Oregon Ducks. Negotiations have been in the works for over a year now to strike a deal with satellite but ive heard it from an insider that the satellite providers have had enough of dealing with "the brains" of Comcast.

Rant over.

I was about to bring this up. If you are fan of the Trail Blazers or Ducks and want to see their games you will need comcast or verizon cable. They are not available on any other systems. I pay $52/month for basic cable. If comcast works out a deal with one of the satelite provoders to carry their new northwest sports stations I will make the switch. Until then I will keep letting comcast reem me.

AB23 · 10-06-2008, 02:37 PM

Ive had problems with comcast in the past aswell.... But I went back to them and got the internet,phone and cable for $99 a month. Hasnt changed yet but I assume it will.

Uncle ted · 10-06-2008, 06:10 PM

no i don't send spam lol. and i don't download movies or songs. BUT i do have 2 teenage kids and we all use youtube a lot and the kids are on that myspace thing and we do a bunch of online gaming so you would be surprised at how much bandwidth 4 computers use. it is just upsetting that i pay the amount of money i do to them and have them limit how much i can use it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roperguy

you would have to be sending some serious spam or downloading movies and music an awful lot to exceed their bandwidth limits though.

Seefood Man · 10-07-2008, 05:24 AM

I to would like to drop my land lines. I have a toll free number through Verizon, can I still keep the number and forward it to my cell?

wthr4d · 10-07-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustCallMeDave

You were able to unbundle the phone line from DSL?

Yep! They call it "dry loop DSL service" and it can happen in most areas now.

* some limitations apply, not available in all areas, commonly available in urban areas with newer construction.

Paul

ET · 10-07-2008, 11:35 AM

I pay Comcast $57.17 per month(including taxes) for internet. That's as much as they will squeeze from me.

I put a large antenna in my attic along with a signal booster and now I receive all the FREE HDTV signals in the Portland area. ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX & 4 PBS stations. The picture quality is awesome and did I mention it is FREE! If there is some program on a cable station that I just have to see, I go to my neighbors house. That happens about twice a year.

If everyone would just start dropping the cable and satellite TV and go to an antenna, we'd soon see prices drop dramatically. Once you switch to an antenna, you rarely even miss the other channels.

Next, I dropped my home phone. We have cell phones anyway... Haven't missed my home phone at all.

AB23 · 10-07-2008, 11:45 AM

I was disappointed when I found out comcast put a cap. But to be honest there is no way I could use that much bandwidth. I mean even if people did download movies and music it would have to be TONS to go over the limit.

Reel_Big_Fish · 10-07-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ET

If everyone would just start dropping the cable and satellite TV and go to an antenna, we'd soon see prices drop dramatically. Once you switch to an antenna, you rarely even miss the other channels.

Isn't that what is going to change come February???

Smoked Salmon · 10-07-2008, 01:26 PM

I have a cap on my internet (Hughes) which has been exceeded twice. The first time was when I lost my hard drive and had to re-install Lose-dows and all the security updates for it and Office. The second time was some flash advertisements being developed by a visiting friend. It does happen, and not necessarily by downloading music and video.

jfa686 · 10-07-2008, 02:47 PM

it's like an ex...there is an adjustment period...but when you look back you wonder why the heck you put up with'em for as long as you did...I say TO THE CURB!!!! there is so much more out there

ET · 10-07-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reel_Big_Fish

Isn't that what is going to change come February???

No, come February all of the old analog signals are finally going to be dropped. The old TVs running off antennas won't receive a signal anymore unless they get a converter.

What will continue to be sent over the air are the beautiful digital signals I'm enjoying now.

Hook up an old-fashioned antenna to your brand new HDTV.... you'll be amazed by the picture quality... Tell Comcast to shove it.

baitsauce · 10-08-2008, 10:58 AM

My wife got me Directv, with NFL Sunday ticket, NASCAR hotpass and DVR’s in both the living and bedrooms. (All in HD.)

It's really cool to watch 6 NFL games all at once. It's not as crazy as it sounds. Or to listen to the different driver's chatter during a NASCAR race. Yes, that remote gets a workout on Sundays when we are not fishing......

But this time of year we don't watch to much TV.

The DVR’s have changed our viewing habits tremendously. We watch what we want when we want to watch. Then it’s really neat to zoom through the commercials. The ad executives will hate to hear this, but it’s possible to watch an hour long show (like my favorite, The Unit) in about 40 minutes.

For internet we have Qwest high speed internet. It does a fine job.

All this stuff is bundled together and she pays the bill. So I have no idea what we are paying a month.

I will NEVER go back to Comcast. After taking a look my folks and sister switched. They also will never go back to Comcast.

The only drawback is the local (Eugene) channels are not carried in HD off of the satellite yet. So if there is a network show we want to watch (in HD) we simply get it off the air. However, it seems to me the resolution off the air is just a tiny bit better than what comes off the satellite. Has anyone else noticed this or is it just me?

Just my

BornToFish360 · 10-08-2008, 04:06 PM

Ok so Couple things i guess. Yes comcast does limit your bandwith but that has never changed we have always limited bandwith. Things like myspace youtube and ifish and gaming online you will never reach the set width for your speed trust me i game about 5 hrs after work and watch youtube and myspace download itunes all day while i am working and never have reached the bandwith max. Also comcast is about the only company that has the most lenient grace period out of all the competition out there you could literally wait 46 days to pay your bill and you wont get a late fee. Though not saying you ever miss a bill that far but its nice to have that. Also us giving customer back to back discounts is really fair not ever company is going to do that. Like another guy said on here try going to a utilitie company and tell them to lower your rates cause you dont agree. Like i tell most people and i know i am going to get some people that will spiet(sp) me for this. Cable is a luxory if you dont like the bill or its to high then lower what you have to what you can afford. We try to help everyone out as far as price goes but cant give you back to back to back promos there has to be sometimes were prices have to be paid. If you have questions on your bill pm me and ill see what i can do to help.

Btf360

Bird Dog · 10-09-2008, 09:42 AM

To show the other side a little, when you sign up for comcast they tell you that you are getting a promo rate. That rate is good for a specific period of time, and after that your rates will go to the standard rate. So why is everyone so mad? Thay aren't hiding anything.

I have the bundle, and just eliminating Verizon saved me money as our phone bill was over $70 a month. And they don't offer DSL in my area. And I've had to contact Comcast customer service and it was just fine. And when our rates expired they worked us down a little from the standard rates which they really didn't need to. And the cable/internet/phone hasn't had any issues yet that I didn't cause.

And I don't work for them.

My folks have DTV and every time it gets stormy the reception goes in and out.

I am Bird Dog and I approve this message.

Joe C · 10-09-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baitsauce

The only drawback is the local (Eugene) channels are not carried in HD off of the satellite yet. So if there is a network show we want to watch (in HD) we simply get it off the air. However, it seems to me the resolution off the air is just a tiny bit better than what comes off the satellite. Has anyone else noticed this or is it just me?

reception off the air will always be the best quality option as it is coming directly from the source. cable companies and satellites all need to retransmit it with their own bandwidth constrictions.

amazing that the free option is the best quality too.

And I'm with ya. nothin beats direct tv with the hd dvr and sunday ticket.

I'm still watching games from sunday.

JJsboat · 10-09-2008, 10:16 AM

We dropped comcrap a year and a half ago. Had the bundle package,
it is expensive.
We do not have a home phone either, have cell phones.

I just got the cards to the converter boxes, have been on rabbit ears going to purchase those boxes in the next couple of weeks. We get:
2,6,8,10,12,32,49 and will get more with the box, is enough for us.
Channel 2 is the weak channel but may improve with the box, will be curious to see.
I am glad to not give comcrap our money anymore.
We are usually in bed by 10:00 every night.
Do like some of the new prime time shows. As far as football and NASCAR
we just support our local sports bar if there is one we really want to watch!
As far as internet, have it at the office all day. The son has done better in school not having it at home!
We made the choice to save the expense.

Smoked Salmon · 10-09-2008, 10:23 AM

I get 2,6,8,10,12 with my antenna, 8, 10, 12 and some higher ones with the converter box.
So, no ABC or CBS for me after the improvement to HD.

PGJPJ · 10-09-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJsboat

As far as internet, have it at the office all day.

LOL... Aren't you supposed to be "working" at the office all day?

OH, gotta go. The boss is walking by.

TheRogue · 10-09-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

To show the other side a little, when you sign up for comcast they tell you that you are getting a promo rate. That rate is good for a specific period of time, and after that your rates will go to the standard rate. So why is everyone so mad? Thay aren't hiding anything.

I have the bundle, and just eliminating Verizon saved me money as our phone bill was over $70 a month. And they don't offer DSL in my area. And I've had to contact Comcast customer service and it was just fine. And when our rates expired they worked us down a little from the standard rates which they really didn't need to. And the cable/internet/phone hasn't had any issues yet that I didn't cause.

And I don't work for them.

What he said.

TR