ComCast Triple Play, Reached my first year

[HolliePoppins]

That is really odd. We had some changes due to Starz as well. My husband and I have a guilty pleasure... spartacus. I love seeing Lucy Lawless! Anyway, we had been receiving it for free apparently - and that promo is up. We had to call dish and add it. Arg! Was very irritating.

I love that show. So sad about Andy Whitfield though.

 

[Kellydelly]

Comcast's willingness to negotiate is entirely dependent upon the quality of the local competition. In my rural area, where there are no other cable companies available, they will not negotiate at all. If I lived 20 miles south in suburbia where there are 3 competing cable companies I could keep introductory pricing indefinitely (my mom has kept her $99 rate for 4 years now - if we hadn't cancelled we'd have been paying $40 more than her each month for fewer channels).

Not working for this MI native . I called Comcast to try and get them to drop my bill last month when I noticed it had creeped over $140 and the most they would drop it was $8, which I think was for the two extra cable boxes we have (Comcast doubled the rental rate for them when I wasn't paying attention). I tried to get rid of HBO and Starz too and was told they are free so that wouldn't help my bill at all (I thought that was a promotion that had probably ended and was now jacking up my bill). There are other options like AT&T, Wowway, and DirectTV, but I hate actually quitting a service and having guys come out here to mess with my house and set up the modems and stuff. I went from Comcast to Wow, and now back to Comcast again.

 

[lobmcf]

I've been paying Comcast $156 for 4 years now for 1 TV (no HDR, no premium channels, no DVR) and internet. I found out recently that a coworker of mine has 3 TVs (2 with HDR and DVR, w/HBO and Cinemax) and internet and was paying $120.

I called and they lowered my bill to $128 a month and gave me HBO and Cinemax. I don't care about those channels at all, and since I don't have an HDTV, I can't access them live - I can only utilize the onDemand stuff, which is OK... nothing spectacular.

I'm dreading May when I have to call and re-negotiate.

 

[andrews_dad]

OP here. Will try to retention line. Has anyone ever had greater success by going to a local ComCast storefront and speak to a live local person?

 

[Swimalie]

. Comcast rep told my friend that they are not lowering prices to keep customers, but if you cancel and go to another provider even for one day, they will take you back as a new customer.

I've been told by a few Comcast people on the phone that you have to leave for 6 months in order to get their new customer pricing. Since I'm about to leave and go to Verizon (which is $30 a month cheaper and locked in at that price for 2 years) I might find out how much they are willing to keep me on.

 

[kim929]

I called cox cable to see if I could get a better deal when my package was up. Fios was giving a 300.00 gc with a 2 yr subscription which was cheaper and more channels then what I was paying. Cox didn't really care. they wouldn't give me a better price. They did offer a package that was 50.00 more then what Fios had and they were so excited to tell me that if I signed with them for another year I would get 25.00 credit on my bill.... gee thanks
I went with Fios.

 

[poohguys]

Hi All. I just wanted to say keep trying! DH called again tonight and after speaking to 1 rep and 3 supervisors he got them to lower our rate back down to $99. We are returning the HD box to save more money. We never really watch the HD (better for some channels, not really noticable on others). We are also looking in to getting our own modem, but I just read on another thread that we may need to keep theirs because of the phone.

 

[Swimalie]

We are also looking in to getting our own modem, but I just read on another thread that we may need to keep theirs because of the phone.

I just posted about this on another thread. We have phone through them as well and, you are right, you can't buy the modems that cover phone and internet, unfortunately.

 

[de8212]

I posted eaerlier that my plan was up in April and that I'd heard Comcast was not as willing to give out the "plans" as they have in the past.

Well, to my surprise I looked at my bill today and it showed a $15 increase. So I called and talked with a representative. She immediately told me to hold on and she was going to see if I qualified for any other plans. Long story short she came back and gave me another year at ~$2 less than what I am paying now. And she gave me HBO free for a year. I don't even care about HBO but it's free. Also, I asked her if I could get a newer model DVR (mine is ~3 years old and I'm sure they've got updated models). She said she'll have one UPS'ed to me at no charge and if it's a newer one I can take mine down to the local store to return or she'll send a pre paid label.

So, I'm gonna stick it out with them for a while until the fiber cable is finished being installed in the county (should be soon) and hope I can get FIOS or something else.
She did mention they have alot of new changes coming soon and that they are partnering with Verizon????

BTW I didn't ask for retentions, I just went through the phone thing and chose to add/delete a service.

 

[SYDCOLEMOM]

I realized yesterday that our bill had increased to $165 a Month for Cable/Intrnet/HD/DVR . I had my husband call and see what they could do. We would really consider canceling if they couldnt lower the rate. We have lots of other choices in our area. We kept the same package and services and they lowered it to $79.99 plus $7 for the DVR - so our new total per month is $86.99!!! Thats a big difference !! keep calling till you get the answer you want. They have the ability to negotiate.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You can (buy the phone/modem modem). The website has information what modems you can buy that will work with your Comcast service.

This one is sold at Best Buy. Only. It's $150 - but you can buy it.

 

[buzz5985]

Seems like the cable companies are not willing to do much to keep their customers like they used to. I was with RCN for 15 years and every time I called they lowered my "new rate" to something I was willing to pay. This year despite 3 phones and an e-mail they wouldn't budge so I switched to Comcast. Luckily we have Comcast, RCN and Verizon here so a number of options. Comcast rep told my friend that they are not lowering prices to keep customers, but if you cancel and go to another provider even for one day, they will take you back as a new customer.

I have the same choices. Just received our RCN bill, we went from 130 - 165. No upgrade in service, etc. (phone/internet/cable(HBO/SHO/Starz)) DH called no luck in lowering the bill. We have done this for years and years. Looks like the cable companies are putting their foot down!!!!

I am calling Monday and cutting service.

Janis

 

[Missy29]

Call again. Don't threaten to leave (unless you're serious). We're adults, they're adults.

If the first person says there's nothing they can do, or that anybody else you talk to will just tell you the same thing, thank them and call back later. There IS hope! I got a "too bad, so sad" response when I was out of work. I called back a couple of days later and got a really helpful person (no, I don't remember the name, and it was a bit ago).

They may not have as many offers, but they've got something.

This! My dh works for Comcast, not at the call center but installs. He says sometimes you will get a person at the call center that's in a good mood and will help you out and sometimes you won't. It usually does not help to tell them you are going to cancel, especially if you cant get another cable provider in your area,so I would just be polite and just call back and try again, you may get lucky, good luck!

 

[arthuruscg]

Even if you don't have Fios in your area, you might be able to use the VZ wireless 4g modem/ hotspot for your internet, Direct TV and VZ regular phone service.

It might help to have the prices in front of you, when you need to talk to the Comcrap phone rep.

Unfortunately where I live doesn't have 4g or even good 3g coverage so I can't cut the Comcrap cord yet.

 

[Swimalie]

You can (buy the phone/modem modem). The website has information what modems you can buy that will work with your Comcast service.

This one is sold at Best Buy. Only. It's $150 - but you can buy it.

Which model is sold at Best Buy? My husband said he searched for all the ones that we could use and buy and none were sold commercially. We don't shop at Best Buy so we wouldn't know which ones they have.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I hate Best Buy but if there's a Comcast kiosk in there, the rep will be able to tell you which model. Don't buy something just because it's $149.99

Okay, my eyes aren't working well, but the one I have that I rent has a sticker that says ARRIS, then in smaller type I think the model is TM602G/CT.

 

[Swimalie]

I hate Best Buy but if there's a Comcast kiosk in there, the rep will be able to tell you which model. Don't buy something just because it's $149.99

Okay, my eyes aren't working well, but the one I have that I rent has a sticker that says ARRIS, then in smaller type I think the model is TM602G/CT.

Thank you! I will go check it out soon.

 

[andrews_dad]

bumping this thread. really getting tired of paying 168 a month for triple play with no premium channels other than stars which i dont watch and never wanted but have been told it will cost me MORE to not have it included. complaining about comcast at a bday party this weekend and someone told me they were able to call and get down to a intro rate by saying they were considering direct tv. when i try i get the run around. unfortunately if I switch from comcast I need to have my fancy remote system reprogrammed to the tune of $90 an hour labor by a 3rd party company... the whole system was already installed when i bought the home....

 

[kaytieeldr]

When you call, are you choosing "I want to disconnect my service" from the menu? That should get you somewhere.

 

[Anne34]

Please keep us updated on how this plays out. We have Comcast too and my DH calls often to see if there are any specials/promos out there that we qualify for. Usually there aren't. We've tried to lower our bill a few times but they never, ever budge. If you figure how to crack them, let me know your secret. Good luck!

we have tried to lower our bill multiple times, but have always been told we have to best available rates. Same with dropping phone -- it will cost us more if we drop it. Our rate went up $30 again last month. We are now paying $170 for triple play -- NO DVR, No extra channels, just 1 extra converter box. Sucks cause we don't have any other option here. No AT & T -- just direct tv which we don't want.