Comcast Cable Questions

[dfchelbay]

Hi everyone, we decided to make that phone call to the cable tv company to reduce or possibly cancel some of our service. We are with Comcast, and we currently have the triple play, which is Cable TV, Internet and home phone. We can cancel the phone all together, still need internet, but we could cut back on the tv. We currently get digital preferred. Our bill each month nearly $200.00.

I have spent this evening going over the Comcast website to see the different packages offered, and lets just say I'm nearing the level of irate at the moment with it. Comcast only gives a listing of every channel available, not the channels for each type of package you can choose from. I want to know how much basic cable costs and what channels I get with it. I'm going to wait until tomorrow to call them because if I do it now I know I'll tell them where they can shove their cable tv. I just get so pi**ed off that I have to pay them so much money per month for the privilege of being so thoroughly aggravated by them. It seems they only give information for new customers, and for the high end stuff they want to sell you.

So, my question to you all is the following:

Is there still basic cable? If so, what is its proper name now with Comcast, so I can ask for information about it. I'm wondering what the channels are for basic cable, no On Demand, No pay stations. I have found two categories called Basic Cable Limited, Basic Cable Enhanced, but apparently its a national security secret so they don't tell you what channels you get with each of these package. Anyone know what channels you get and how much do you pay. I'm looking for just stripped down cable tv. Thanks for letting me vent too.

 

[tinkercat]

When you call, be sure to mention that if you can't get the bill lower, you will have to cancel.

We have the triple play as well. We started out with an awesome deal for the 1st year, $105 a month. After that first year, the bill jumped to like $165 so I called and they put me through to their customer retention people or whatever they are called. They were able to get me to $140 a month for the triple play, which I thought was reasonable. We also get encore/starz with that package. We have 3 receivers, no DVR or anything like that.

I don't know if the packages vary from place to place, but we are in Michigan, if that helps. Once I mentioned that I'd cancel if they couldn't work with me, they were very nice and tried hard to find a price point that would please me and keep our package.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I dont have knowledge of there basic tv package, We had comcast, bill was 160 a month. We stopped everything but the internet. We use netflix and hulu. We ar very happy with it. I dont miss tv. Netflix is only 9 dollars a month. So we are saving about 105 a month. I look at it as there are so many ways to watch stuff like you normally would from the internet, so even a basic package would not be worth it to me. Hope this helps you a little bit. Jo

 

[hipchickie]

I was just doing the same thing on the comcast site, and while it is hard to find, after much poking around I was able to find what channels are on what tier

Not sure if this link will work for you
https://www.comcast.com/shop/buyflow2/productsexisting.cspx?SourcePage=Bundle&&Inflow=1
If you go 1/2 way down, it lists basic cable. Now click on "view lineup"...which as you probably already know, tells you NOTHING. But, then, click on "print your channel lineup" and it will divide the channels by package

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We recently switched our nearly $200/month cable/internet Comcast bill to DirectTV and have economy internet (ripoff) still thru comcast. Saved almost $100/month with the switch and have more channels. I have never been so happy as to drop off our cable boxes on their counter and cancel cable. The lady asked where our new forwarding address would be and I said "we are not moving" with a grin! Luckily, hubby's company pays our internet bill.

 

[dfchelbay]

I was just doing the same thing on the comcast site, and while it is hard to find, after much poking around I was able to find what channels are on what tier

Not sure if this link will work for you
https://www.comcast.com/shop/buyflow2/productsexisting.cspx?SourcePage=Bundle&&Inflow=1
If you go 1/2 way down, it lists basic cable. Now click on "view lineup"...which as you probably already know, tells you ably NOTHING. But, then, click on "print your channel lineup" and it will divide the channels by package

Thanks, I looked at your link. I can now see what channels are offered with each of the different packages (even though the drop down menu they instruct you to click on doesn't exist there). As you probably noticed too, how much each package costs is not listed...guess Comcast's prices are still top secret. But, hey, if you want all the bells and whistles they'll certainly give you the entire channel line up and exactly what is will cost you now, and at the end of the trial period. They stink.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[dfchelbay]

We recently switched our nearly $200/month cable/internet Comcast bill to DirectTV and have economy internet (ripoff) still thru comcast. Saved almost $100/month with the switch and have more channels. I have never been so happy as to drop off our cable boxes on their counter and cancel cable. The lady asked where our new forwarding address would be and I said "we are not moving" with a grin! Luckily, hubby's company pays our internet bill.

How much is your economy internet with Comcast?. Here, they charge $45.99 if you get cable tv too, otherwise its about $67.00 per month. What are they gouging you for?

 

[dfchelbay]

I was just doing the same thing on the comcast site, and while it is hard to find, after much poking around I was able to find what channels are on what tier

Not sure if this link will work for you
https://www.comcast.com/shop/buyflow2/productsexisting.cspx?SourcePage=Bundle&&Inflow=1
If you go 1/2 way down, it lists basic cable. Now click on "view lineup"...which as you probably already know, tells you NOTHING. But, then, click on "print your channel lineup" and it will divide the channels by package

BTW...forgot to mention that 1/2 down the page was absolutely nothing about basic cable. The link went to digital preferred and digital premier and nothing else. Aren't they just wonderful...

 

[Willow1213]

Instead of looking at what your current company can offer you, look at what other services might be available in your area. Take a look at Dish Network or DirecTV and AT&T Uverse or Verizon FiOS. Look for their promotional new signup offers. Then call Comcast armed with "This is what Company X can offer me. Can you match/beat it?"

Also look at billshrink.com. This website really helped me with another provider. Hope you get some great savings!

For full disclosure, I work for AT&T, but don't like talking about work stuff here. If you want any info about Uverse feel free to PM me privately.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

How much is your economy internet with Comcast?. Here, they charge $45.99 if you get cable tv too, otherwise its about $67.00 per month. What are they gouging you for?

I know that to keep the same level of internet we had with our cable package it was going to go up to $60-something to have only internet. I downgraded to economy for $40-something per month. I would like to switch to something else just to be rid of comcast...prices are ridiculous! Unfortunately, there is not currently another internet provider in my area. I am considering a wireless aircard instead. My DH as one from sprint that is $60/mth. I read an article about a less expensive one w/o contracts the other day, but can't remember which provider it was.

 

[Halbleib1]

I have called back each year that we have had the triple play and have had the price locked in for another year. The first year I called the price never went up because they still offered our package as a promotion in our area. The 2nd year it went up about 10.00 but we kept everything the same. They look at what promotions they are offering in your area at the time for the triple play with a similar line up you already have and lock you into that. I just told them that I was looking to go elsewhere and they have always worked with me.

Currently we pay around 150.00 a month for digital prefered cable with showtime. We have one HD box and one reg. box. As well as 6mb internet with powerboost up to 12mb and phone.

When I call back this time I am going to ask about getting a third box as they have been advertising with xfinity that up to three boxes are now free. We currently pay nothing for our HD box but we pay 4.95 for the other one. Which I negotiated on the price of when I called last year.

 

[dfchelbay]

I know that to keep the same level of internet we had with our cable package it was going to go up to $60-something to have only internet. I downgraded to economy for $40-something per month. I would like to switch to something else just to be rid of comcast...prices are ridiculous! Unfortunately, there is not currently another internet provider in my area. I am considering a wireless aircard instead. My DH as one from sprint that is $60/mth. I read an article about a less expensive one w/o contracts the other day, but can't remember which provider it was.

Look into the Virgin Mobil Mi-FI. Its wireless for up to five devices at once. There are no contracts either. Many on this budget board have them and like them a lot.

 

[Darcy03231]

I have a basic cable package and internet. My bill w/taxes is $113/Mo. I'm not sure what they call it, but when we switched over from analog to digital we had a two tier service and we kept all of our channels. We don't have any movie channels.

 

[antmaril]

I pay $119 a month for basic cable (digital) and internet. I do not have movie channels or DVR. On Demand is included in the basic (digital) cable.

 

[Fyrefly]

I don't think Comcast even offers expanded basic anymore. You either get that funky basic that's just your local channels + weather channel, CSPAN, etc. Or you get into 200+ digital channels.

Not really any good options for a grad student like me. Based on internet searching, it seems these shenanigans started with the digital switch. You used to be able to get expanded basic for about $30ish a month it looked like, then once the switch happened, it was change to the crazy expensive digital, or cancel.

I'm a new customer used to FiOS back home, so me and my roommate were in sticker shock on how much it cost just for economy internet! Since Comcast is the only game in town up here we had no choice. But about 90 minutes online with the chat people got me our first year on the 15 mbps speed for $25 a month, which is really good. We get Netflix and use cell phones, so the TV and phone aren't needed.

So be stubborn. Most students I know have to call each year when the bills go up and say "You have to drop mine, or you lose me," and most are successful.

 

[Shmily1]

I have digital preferred only for $78.95. I was on hold week before last for 52 minutes before getting someone on the phone to set up a service appt. He stayed 75 minutes and I still have no service on my digital box. I called again that night, was on hold 20 minutes and gave up. They need to be on the top of the sorry service list!! I wish we had other cable options here. Satellite is great except for when it storms, then you won't know if the hurricane is hitting you or not since you can't watch the weather.

 

[Kies99]

I have Comcast and pay $10.15 a month.

My bill lists it as follows:

Xfinity TV - $10.15

Basic Service - $8.40
Basic Digital Convrtr Pkg - $1.35
Fee's/Taxes - $0.40

I have a suspicion that perhaps I'm not suppossed to be getting the channels I do, but I'm not about to tell them.

HOWEVER, I get somewhere between 50-100 tv channels (all local, Disney, Discovery, History, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, yada, yada, yada) and about 30 or so digital music channels.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Hopefully this link will work for you. When I put in my address the next screen does have a working drop down box, and the choices do include Digital Economy, Digital Starter and Basic:

https://www.comcast.com/Localization/Localize.cspx?Referer=/Customers/Clu/ChannelLineup.ashx?area=0

 

[n2mm]

OK, wow! Can't believe some the prices you guys are paying. I just did the same thing as the OP. We were paying $63 a month for the middle cable package (no movie stations). We just needed to downgrade. I did find the info on the comcast website. They have basic internet available for $24.95 (but we have it through our phone service). The limited cable package is only $19.99 (so about $25 after fees added). So we dropped to that. It is the bottom of the line other than getting "rabbit ears". It has the basic 4, 5, 7, 9, PBS, CW, ION. Nothing else! My DH was in shock when I switched, but you can imagine how much time we have now since there's seldom anything on TV to watch.

So my Comcast bill dropped from $63 to $25 a month.

I did the same for my phone service -- Frontier. I was paying $113 a month for phone, long distance and internet. I dropped the long distance service and was going to drop my landline, but decided for $15 a month I would keep it awhile longer. Also when we told them that we could get internet through COMCAST for $24.95, Frontier dropped our $49.95 internet to match COMCAST.

So my Frontier (phone and internet) bill went from $113 to $50ish*.

Not quiet sure of the exact amount as I had a credit on my last bill.

So now my utilities are $100 less a month.

 

[dfchelbay]

Hopefully this link will work for you. When I put in my address the next screen does have a working drop down box, and the choices do include Digital Economy, Digital Starter and Basic:

https://www.comcast.com/Localization/Localize.cspx?Referer=/Customers/Clu/ChannelLineup.ashx?area=0

Thanks for the link...but still no drop down menu with my address. Maybe I'll make up an address in another city near my home and see if the drop down menus will appear.