topic Re: Comcast Rant in Home

Comcast Rant

ScrapHappy — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 19:23:11 GMT

Got cable bill yesterday. Noticed it was a lot more than usual. Turns out they charged us for a problem call and someone to come to house to check our cable. I remember the Comcast guy saying it didn't seem to be any problems on the outside...with cable coming in. So the only thing he thought it may be was a small piece of cable inside. He said it's not the kind they used and replaced it. Asked my husband if he ever changed out that cable and he said no. Called and questioned the charge, representative said we will be charged if we call and they try to fix the problem via phone first (which they need, just sending a signal to TV which didn't work that's why I needed someone to come to house). Also said if the "problem is on our end (the inside cable) and not Comcast, we will be charged." Has this happened to anyone else? I've had Comcast out to the house before, switched out our cable box and gave a new remote and wasn't charged. Representative said this has been the policy for a long time now. And, by the way, problem still exists and is worse. Instead of problem on just one TV, it's on all three of our TV's.

Re: Comcast Rant

whitelinen — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 19:44:16 GMT

Ahhhh, Comcast. Bad word at our house.

It's the only cable option in our addition, they are exclusive in our community. Don't know why. So they can charge whatever they want. We can't use satellite because no reception due to large trees. Thought about going with antenna, Netflix & Hulu, but DH won't go for it. He's disabled and TV is his life.

We are being held hostage . . .

I feel your pain ScrapHappy!!

Re: Comcast Rant

KYToby — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 20:58:07 GMT

If it is an issue on your end (i.e. your !), then the charges are understandable. While I never worked for Comcast, I did work in corporate customer service for another large cable provider for years, and each truck roll costs the company money -- a lot of it -- so rolling unnecessary trucks for free only serves to drive up everyone's bill.home's wiring) or you insist someone come out without allowing them to completely troubleshoot on their end (not saying the OP did this

Re: Comcast Rant

mousiegirl — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:23:36 GMT

My pups chewed through a cable wire, and I was charged $50.00 for the replacement. So far, Comcast reception has been great, compared to AT&T. Every time I called AT&T with a problem, the same, no service, I was told someone had to come out. I refused that, and soon afterward, the problem resolved. The last time, when I was out service for a week, then had service for a few days, they it went out, that was the last straw with AT&T!

Re: Comcast Rant

Shogirl — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 21:30:03 GMT

I don't have Comcast, but the past two cable providers I've had have always had the policy of charging the customer for problems inside the house.

Re: Comcast Rant

ScrapHappy — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 23:19:02 GMT

Okay, but if it was their cable (just a cord from box) that came from them during original install and we did not change it out (like the guy suggested we had done)...why is considered a problem on our end? The problem didn't even get fixed. I'm afraid to ever call again, who knows what I will be charged next time.

Re: Comcast Rant

Kachina624 — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 23:26:58 GMT

That's pretty much all utilities work. Anything outside your property they fix and don't charge but if it's inside you get charged. I had some of those bills with my Direct TV so I signed up for an annual service plan. It has pretty much paid for itself because I can call them for anything.

Re: Comcast Rant

lolakimono — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 00:13:20 GMT

I can't really say what I think about Comcast, because I would be banned.

However, they are, IMO, the WORST utility ever. I had them because they were also exclusive to my area, but when I moved that was the first thing I changed. They would not issue me cable without having my lease faxed in because the previous tenant had not paid bills. I had to prove that I was a new tenant, despite having out of state identification and no history with the company. Then, when I made the appointment online, of course they had no record of it, so I had to reschedule (another 7 days or so) for someone to come out. When the person came out, he said that a previous employee had wired the building for FREE, so I don't know why they were reluctant to provide cable to me because of an unpaid tenant, who was not even paying in the first place!

Re: Comcast Rant

Bobby K — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 01:42:36 GMT

Unfortunately, in a lot of cities...including ours...there is only one cable company to choose from. There are no options. You are forced to go with that company. Comcast happens to be in our area. They were the only choice until ATT UVerse came along. We have Comcast ...when it works its good...and when it doesn't work ...its a nightmare. Half the time you call...you get someone in another country or city and their payments for our cable and internet service were getting so incredibly high...it felt like a car payment.We did finally call and they did transfer us to the customer loyalty dept and that saved us about $40 each month. I too wish there were more options for cable and internet service. U Verse is not an option for us since they do not carry the Hallmark channel and that is a deal breaker for us. But, ScrapHappy...I feel your pain. I'm so sorry to learn that they charged you for a service call. Luckily the problems with ours , so far, have been outside of our home. I just don't like when these big cable companies have the monopoly on certain areas and you have no choices or options at all.

Re: Comcast Rant

Writertoo — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 02:10:47 GMT

In our house, we call them Comcr*p because of their lousy service. Like others, we have only one cable company available to us, so there's no choice but to accept their lousy service.

Re: Comcast Rant

Lorik62 — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 02:36:59 GMT

I agree. Comcast has the worst customer service we've ever had to deal with.

Re: Comcast Rant

Allieoh — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 02:51:22 GMT

Comcast is the worst company I've ever dealt with. Next time I move I'll ensure I have cable options before moving. I can't list all the problems I've had with them, from techs saying they installed dvrs when they didn't to bill increases due to incorrect billing on their end... The list goes on and on. I'm stuck with them for now, but never again once I move!!!

Re: Comcast Rant

MoInVA — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 03:21:44 GMT

Comcast is Satan. I only use them for cable and that's only because they're the only service I can use here - I live in a highrise with a sun room not balcony and no Direct TV allowed. I have one TV on an antenna and get great reception, am seriously considering dropping cable.

Re: Comcast Rant

Alsee — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 04:04:48 GMT

Time Warner in SoCal charges $39.99 to program a new remote....... It's not just Comcast!

Re: Comcast Rant

Annabellethecat66 — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 04:12:24 GMT

I have a friend who changed to Direct TV, he's been miserable! Not that Comcast is any better.

I think they're all the same. I pay a chunk of money just to have Verizon land line, Verizon cell phone and Comcast cable. If I were willing to combine them I'd save a lot of money......for the first few months then the amount would slowly creep up and up and I'd be paying a chunk of money again.

Only.....I'd be locked in in that stupid 2 year contract. Oh! I get the calls from everyone, the promises.

I just say, "Thank you for calling but I'm not interested". I try not to be rude. I feel like they are trying to make a living (calling and calling and......).

They all promise the moon and stars and none of them deliver. My son-in-law is a wizard when it comes to all of that stuff.

He has a regular TV antenna. He can get just about anything he wants. You can buy the stuff at your electronics store. You just need to know how to install it. He would install it for me and has done some of the things (you'd be amazed).

However, if there is a problem, I go crazy and he can't get here right away. so, I would just as soon pay for Comcast and Verizon and Verizon and feel at least like I'm not locked in.

Re: Comcast Rant

dooBdoo — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 04:16:59 GMT

We're fortunate to have several cable companies, so the competition keeps them more interested in providing better service. Our Comcast service is really pretty good and I like the fact that there's no requirement for an "X number of years" contract.

I agree with the other comments, it's costly for them to make service calls. In all fairness, while they perform regular maintenance on the outside lines they have little control over those inside.

They do offer a monthly "service protection plan" (ours is $3.50) -- if you carry this, there's no charge for investigation and repair inside the home.

AT&T is the one with major problems here.

Re: Comcast Rant

Annabellethecat66 — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 04:18:27 GMT

They all want to lock you into a contract then they raise the bill over and over. The entire time the service goes downhill.

Re: Comcast Rant

Foggy morning — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 04:45:30 GMT

It got to the point that I could no longer deal with Comcast. I cringe at the thought of having to do that again. About a year ago I switched to Dish. It was uncertain if satellite reception would be possible due to our house being on the side of a hill covered with tall pine trees, on the side that the dish would need to point. But the installation guy was great and the reception and service has been fantastic. Love Dish. Comcast, I don't even like to talk about that. I did come back to say, that twice during the last of the period that I had Comcast, their field supervisor told me twice that if I cancelled scheduled appts that he would have work done that should fix the problem. So I cancelled but nothing was resolved. This same supervisor told me that I didn't need to call them again. I think what it came down to was that Comcast will never admit a problem (or that they can't/won't fix it) is on their end. Even if it is. That opens it up for them charging you a service charge. The problem has to be then on your end, right?

Re: Comcast Rant

gardenman — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 15:40:53 GMT

Comcast is not my favorite company. When my dad died seven years ago we called Comcast to get the name on the bill changed from his to my mom's. We just wanted to change the name on the bill from my dad's to my mom's, but she was keeping everything the same. They wouldn't change the name on the bill. To change the name they'd have to disconnect our service, bill us for the service call to disconnect the cable and $300 plus in penalties due to the package he was on that would be ended prematurely when the account was cancelled, then after being disconnected my Mom would have to call them to have them make another service call to come back out and reconnect the service and sign up for a new deal. We'd also have to send them a copy of the death certificate since he wouldn't be able to confirm the cancellation himself since he was dead and also send them proof that the person who was cancelling the service had the authority to do so. Suffice to say we're still getting the bills sent in his name instead. Changing the name on the bill should be a pretty straightforward, easy exercise, but not to Comcast.

Re: Comcast Rant

LexPex — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 15:57:58 GMT

I also have Comcast and am pretty happy with it in general. It is their policy to charge if they have to come out to your home. I understand what you are saying, however if the problem is inside they charge. Is it fair? No.

We have Verizon FIOS, Direct TV and Comcast in our area and honestly they all have their good and bad points. My oldest DD switched from Comcast to FIOS and hates FIOS.