Why do I have to be stuck with Comcast as the only cable provider in my city?

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

So my Comcast bill runs me just over $100 a month. That includes TV (I have basically every channel possible except porn), HD, DVR, and hi speed internet.

I just looked at my bill today, and it's over $200. I call them up to see why it's $100 more than usual.

It turns out they are charging me for "internet usage last month that I didn't pay for". I told her "Internet service is part of my bundle that I have been paying for for the past year".

So she tells me that I haven't been charged for internet service, that the $100 I pay is the going rate for just the TV. I tell her I've been paying this rate for a year, so have I not been getting charged for an internet for a year? She proceeds to tell me that must be the case and that my normal monthly rate should be $140.

So for a year, apparently, I haven't been charged properly, and now I am getting charged for their mistakes.

This isn't the first time they have done something like this to me. The last time was when they charged me $30 to my bill to have someone come out and fix my internet service that went out on their end.

I would absolutely love to cancel my service with them, but unfortunately the only other TV providers in the city are Dish Network and DirecTV (the latter of which I would much prefer), but I can't have satellite at my apartment complex.

So my choices are either to deal with Comcast and their idiocy, or to go without TV and internet period.

 

[Tyrinus]

Get DSL and Netflix. Problems solved.

 

[BeserkerHilf]

if they're raping you like so, i'd consider dropping some of those extra channels, especially since showtime ain't worth dick.

 

[SuperFerret]

I swear, if they do this to me, I'll be on the news.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

if they're raping you like so, i'd consider dropping some of those extra channels, especially since showtime ain't worth dick.

I've already been considering dropping some of my channels, since I never watch the movie channels, period. I just DVR'd Juno and watched it today, and outside of that, I think I've watched the movie channels about 3 other times in the past year.

Really, I just don't have time to sit down and watch movies that often, and when I do, they usually aren't showing a movie I want to watch, so I just pop in X-Men: The Last Stand

But dropping some movie channels unfortunately won't take care of the problem of them charging me for their mistakes.

 

[AndThePickles]

Even if you drop some of the premium channels, Comcast is still expensive. Granted, it WILL help. But my "bundle" cost is still well over $100 per month, and they also just raised their rates. And this is without any movie channel aside from Encore, HD, or DVR, for me.

 

[SuperFerret]

I've just got basic cable, none of those extra channels. I don't really need them, as I only really watch Animal Planet, and I got the internet also. My bill should be around $100, but I haven't gotten the first bill yet.

 

[BeserkerHilf]

so you think

 

[Colossal Spoons]

if they're raping you like so, i'd consider dropping some of those extra channels, especially since showtime ain't worth dick.

Shame, it used to be too

 

[Majic Walrus]

Switch to Dish Network. You'll be able to get the same things that you have with Comcast for less. Low introductory rates (after 2/1) and coming in the spring... HD DVR Set Top Box with integrated SlingBox technology.

It's the way to go.

 

[terry78]

Comcast is all I get here in this part of the country. I ain't trying to do Dish or whatever.

 

[Showtime]

So my Comcast bill runs me just over $100 a month. That includes TV (I have basically every channel possible except porn), HD, DVR, and hi speed internet.

I just looked at my bill today, and it's over $200. I call them up to see why it's $100 more than usual.

It turns out they are charging me for "internet usage last month that I didn't pay for". I told her "Internet service is part of my bundle that I have been paying for for the past year".

So she tells me that I haven't been charged for internet service, that the $100 I pay is the going rate for just the TV. I tell her I've been paying this rate for a year, so have I not been getting charged for an internet for a year? She proceeds to tell me that must be the case and that my normal monthly rate should be $140.

So for a year, apparently, I haven't been charged properly, and now I am getting charged for their mistakes.

This isn't the first time they have done something like this to me. The last time was when they charged me $30 to my bill to have someone come out and fix my internet service that went out on their end.

I would absolutely love to cancel my service with them, but unfortunately the only other TV providers in the city are Dish Network and DirecTV (the latter of which I would much prefer), but I can't have satellite at my apartment complex.

So my choices are either to deal with Comcast and their idiocy, or to go without TV and internet period.

I can't believe they are charging you retroactively? That is absurd. I have the triple play package or something of that nature. Internet, Phone, Cable and I pay $149.99. That includes HD & DVR, HBO, Encore, and Stars, nationwide long distance, so on and so forth. For a while I had DVR and they weren't charging me, for about 6 months. They found out but didn't charge me retroactively.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Switch to Dish Network. You'll be able to get the same things that you have with Comcast for less. Low introductory rates (after 2/1) and coming in the spring... HD DVR Set Top Box with integrated SlingBox technology.

It's the way to go.

I can't have dish at my apartments, otherwise I would have had DirecTV a long time ago.

 

[SuBe]

Why do I have to be stuck with Comcast as the only cable provider in my city?

Government.

 

[KALEL114]

So my Comcast bill runs me just over $100 a month. That includes TV (I have basically every channel possible except porn), HD, DVR, and hi speed internet.

I just looked at my bill today, and it's over $200. I call them up to see why it's $100 more than usual.

It turns out they are charging me for "internet usage last month that I didn't pay for". I told her "Internet service is part of my bundle that I have been paying for for the past year".

So she tells me that I haven't been charged for internet service, that the $100 I pay is the going rate for just the TV. I tell her I've been paying this rate for a year, so have I not been getting charged for an internet for a year? She proceeds to tell me that must be the case and that my normal monthly rate should be $140.

So for a year, apparently, I haven't been charged properly, and now I am getting charged for their mistakes.

This isn't the first time they have done something like this to me. The last time was when they charged me $30 to my bill to have someone come out and fix my internet service that went out on their end.

I would absolutely love to cancel my service with them, but unfortunately the only other TV providers in the city are Dish Network and DirecTV (the latter of which I would much prefer), but I can't have satellite at my apartment complex.

So my choices are either to deal with Comcast and their idiocy, or to go without TV and internet period.

I feel your pain. I was stuck for the longest time with them. They changed to Time Warner Cable about a year ago over here. Since you can't get satellite, you might just have to wait for AT&T or Verizon to come to your area. I switched to AT&T as soon as it became available and love it.

 

[Majic Walrus]

I can't have dish at my apartments, otherwise I would have had DirecTV a long time ago.

Most places that say that they don't allow a dish installation actually have no legal backing for that. See: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

It basically states that balconies, patios or any area within the exclusive usage of a rental tennant can have a dish installed as long as the DBS provider uses a non-penetrating mount of some sort (pole, tripod, etc). Most apartments fall into that category but to do anything with it you'd have to bring this up to your landlord. He might say, "Well gee I didn't know." or he might be a real *****e about it, you never know.

 

[Darthphere]

Move.