4 ms·

I already have to subscribe to Comcast's "basic" cable (which is what used to be called lifeline; it has nothing my antenna doesn't, not even the History Channe

by rconti 9y ago

I already have to subscribe to Comcast's "basic" cable (which is what used to be called lifeline; it has nothing my antenna doesn't, not even the History Channel/Discovery Channel type stuff that used to be on 'basic). The reason is that they charge me less when I'm also willing to be a TV 'subscriber'. TV+Internet is cheaper than Internet alone. The cable box just sits in its cardboard box in the attic, I still use my antenna because the quality is better.

didibus 9y ago
Same for me. When I said I don't need the TV box, can you just not ship it to me, they were really confused. Said its automated so they can't not ship it. Its now in my closet still in the box.
- dawnerd 9y ago
  Frontier did that to me with their router. I run all ubiquiti gear and don't want their junk (or any fees they may charge me for "renting" it). They forced me to take it even after I refused to be paying. Year later haven't been billed for it yet. Such a waste. I have a feeling one day they'll try to use it as an excuse to bill me a lot.
- rconti 9y ago
  I've returned my Comcast cable boxes in the past, but then they just ship you a new one because they notice you don't have any equipment on your account. It doesn't cost me anything, but when I lose it and later cancel service, you can bet i'll be charged for it.
  - DoubleCribble 9y ago
    We canceled service and returned our Comcast box to the local office once a local WISP became available. A week later, a bill arrived in the mail charging us for the box. Apparently, the billing system doesn't first check the equipment return system and it took 45 minutes with Customer Service for the barely trained CS agent to figure out how to go off script and recognize the equipment was indeed already in their possession. After years of being over charged for under performing service, I can only hope for more WISPs to spring up and eat Comcast's lunch.
    - freedomben 9y ago
      It's probably wishful thinking, but I hope Elon saves us with SpaceX broadband.
- ascagnel_ 9y ago
  Request a CableCARD. They legally have to provide one, and in some cases may give you a small "customer owned equipment" credit.
vitaflo 9y ago
> TV+Internet is cheaper than Internet alone Not true. Check your bill. TV+Internet might be cheaper when only counting the base rate of TV, but when you get TV you also get tons of fees piled on. FCC fees, Local Cable Access fees, Franchise fees, Cable Box fees, Taxes, etc. It will be different depending on where you live, but when I added up all the fees it added almost $15 extra per month just for basic cable. It's still cheaper to just pay extra for internet without cable TV and get an OTA antenna.
- ForRealsies 9y ago
  Not necessarily untrue. TV+Internet is cheaper for me with my status as a current customer with Verizon FiOS.
- dp7531 9y ago
  Depends on where you are. Even with all of the fees included, I still come out cheaper with the TV+Internet bundle.
- cptskippy 9y ago
  It really depends on the market. Comcast's prices and service can very significantly based on your zip code. That's why they require you to put in a house number before they'll even let you look at plans or prices. Also, if you put in an address without Comcast service in your neighborhood you'll get very different offerings than if you use your own address.
  - doubt_me 9y ago
    Used to be 90$ ish a month for years. Then they forced us into a promotional thing that ran out. And now the bill is 150$ a month for tv+internet+landline. The option to just outright buy internet doesn't exist in their plans. Didn't give me any other options. Theifs. Liers. Con artists. I'm so fucking done with Comcast I'm building up a blueprint to help my town get community owned fiber access. Everything I keep running into says don't. It doesn't work. It costs to much. I hope it costs to much. I want Comcast to burn in hell for eternity.
Shikadi 9y ago
Just to warn people who might have a different situation, sometimes cable companies say something along the lines of "$19.99 bundle!" And in the small print it says each, so it's actually $60 for phone, internet, and TV.
ocdtrekkie 9y ago
I started this way, but I've actually upgraded the line to HD. And I got HBO for an extra $1 a month. I rarely use the actual cable box, but watch everything on the Xfinity TV website. It doesn't cost much more than subscribing to an online TV service and has a pretty good selection at the basic channel tier.
lgats 9y ago
Return the box, it's billed sperately

by rconti 9y ago

didibus 9y ago

Same for me. When I said I don't need the TV box, can you just not ship it to me, they were really confused. Said its automated so they can't not ship it. Its now in my closet still in the box.

dawnerd 9y ago
Frontier did that to me with their router. I run all ubiquiti gear and don't want their junk (or any fees they may charge me for "renting" it). They forced me to take it even after I refused to be paying. Year later haven't been billed for it yet. Such a waste. I have a feeling one day they'll try to use it as an excuse to bill me a lot.
rconti 9y ago
I've returned my Comcast cable boxes in the past, but then they just ship you a new one because they notice you don't have any equipment on your account. It doesn't cost me anything, but when I lose it and later cancel service, you can bet i'll be charged for it.
- DoubleCribble 9y ago
  We canceled service and returned our Comcast box to the local office once a local WISP became available. A week later, a bill arrived in the mail charging us for the box. Apparently, the billing system doesn't first check the equipment return system and it took 45 minutes with Customer Service for the barely trained CS agent to figure out how to go off script and recognize the equipment was indeed already in their possession. After years of being over charged for under performing service, I can only hope for more WISPs to spring up and eat Comcast's lunch.
  - freedomben 9y ago
    It's probably wishful thinking, but I hope Elon saves us with SpaceX broadband.
ascagnel_ 9y ago
Request a CableCARD. They legally have to provide one, and in some cases may give you a small "customer owned equipment" credit.

vitaflo 9y ago

> TV+Internet is cheaper than Internet alone Not true. Check your bill. TV+Internet might be cheaper when only counting the base rate of TV, but when you get TV you also get tons of fees piled on. FCC fees, Local Cable Access fees, Franchise fees, Cable Box fees, Taxes, etc. It will be different depending on where you live, but when I added up all the fees it added almost $15 extra per month just for basic cable. It's still cheaper to just pay extra for internet without cable TV and get an OTA antenna.

ForRealsies 9y ago
Not necessarily untrue. TV+Internet is cheaper for me with my status as a current customer with Verizon FiOS.
dp7531 9y ago
Depends on where you are. Even with all of the fees included, I still come out cheaper with the TV+Internet bundle.
cptskippy 9y ago
It really depends on the market. Comcast's prices and service can very significantly based on your zip code. That's why they require you to put in a house number before they'll even let you look at plans or prices. Also, if you put in an address without Comcast service in your neighborhood you'll get very different offerings than if you use your own address.
- doubt_me 9y ago
  Used to be 90$ ish a month for years. Then they forced us into a promotional thing that ran out. And now the bill is 150$ a month for tv+internet+landline. The option to just outright buy internet doesn't exist in their plans. Didn't give me any other options. Theifs. Liers. Con artists. I'm so fucking done with Comcast I'm building up a blueprint to help my town get community owned fiber access. Everything I keep running into says don't. It doesn't work. It costs to much. I hope it costs to much. I want Comcast to burn in hell for eternity.

Shikadi 9y ago

Just to warn people who might have a different situation, sometimes cable companies say something along the lines of "$19.99 bundle!" And in the small print it says each, so it's actually $60 for phone, internet, and TV.

ocdtrekkie 9y ago

I started this way, but I've actually upgraded the line to HD. And I got HBO for an extra $1 a month. I rarely use the actual cable box, but watch everything on the Xfinity TV website. It doesn't cost much more than subscribing to an online TV service and has a pretty good selection at the basic channel tier.

lgats 9y ago

Return the box, it's billed sperately