Community Chat

[Love to read]

We had a terrible time with Spectrum.  We scheduled three appointments with them and  they never showed up to any of them.  When I spoke to customer service I was told that they couldn't find our house - which has been here since 1978 and which they had no trouble finding twice when they came out to install everything initially.  The technician never called or contacted us in any way.  We live in the country, just outside of a small town, and contacted AT & T to come out.  We planned to use them instead of Spectrum. The technicians got everything hooked up in the house and then discovered that the line which needed to be hooked up from the street ended about half a mile down the road and we actually weren't in an area to receive AT & T.  You would think that the company would know if they could install in your area or not!  We finally dropped Spectrum cable but had to keep interenet from them as they are the only ones available for us.  We have a local antenna so we can watch the main networks and a Firestick w. Amazon Prime which allows us to watch a bunch of stuff.  I'm also considering SLING so that we can get some of the more interesting cable channels.

[northiie57]

someone has to pay for Ellen's commercials   totally rediculas....Spectrum has their own rules....cannot just get internet services with them unless you get a bundle

[ALRATIBA]

@Love to read 

Spectrum is the absolute pits!  I have friends who live in apartment buildings where that's their only option ... every single one of them would opt out if they could.

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@Love to read wrote:

We had a terrible time with Spectrum.  We scheduled three appointments with them and  they never showed up to any of them.  When I spoke to customer service I was told that they couldn't find our house - which has been here since 1978 and which they had no trouble finding twice when they came out to install everything initially.  The technician never called or contacted us in any way.  We live in the country, just outside of a small town, and contacted AT & T to come out.  We planned to use them instead of Spectrum. The technicians got everything hooked up in the house and then discovered that the line which needed to be hooked up from the street ended about half a mile down the road and we actually weren't in an area to receive AT & T.  You would think that the company would know if they could install in your area or not!  We finally dropped Spectrum cable but had to keep interenet from them as they are the only ones available for us.  We have a local antenna so we can watch the main networks and a Firestick w. Amazon Prime which allows us to watch a bunch of stuff.  I'm also considering SLING so that we can get some of the more interesting cable channels.

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[wildcat fan]

@Spurt I appreciate your detailed explanations 😊

I understand there can be inflation over time, but when it comes to technology costs tend to decrease.  We bought a large TV a couple of months ago for about $400.  Years ago we bought a heavier smaller screen TV for about $1000.  We can access technology like never before.  Yet, the cost of cable keeps rising.  That makes sense that what's happening is the companies are holding out with package deals.  

We keep laughing at the cost, though.  How much did it cost a viewer to watch a syndicated show like The Brady Bunch back in the 70s?  It costs so much more to watch it today on cable and there are no costs like paying the writers, actors, etc.  They must be making a fortune. 

[Deree]

Spectrum screwed around with us long enough so we went to antenna a couple of years ago.  Best thing we ever did.  I thought at the time I'd add Netflix or SlingTV but don't even need that.  I will pay to stream Showtime while Billions is on.

You can file a complaint with the FCC or even your State Attorney General's office.

[CelticCrafter]

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@caroln242 wrote:

Just got my cable bill from Spectrum.  It went up over $10.00 a month!  I called customer service and was told it was an across the board increase and some states went up over $30.00.   I kind of lost it and told them what great timing they had, increasing everyone's bill when so many people getting laid off and we have nothing to do except stay home and watch TV.  Said thank you so much and hung up.  I was afraid to say anything else...might regret it.  Wish I could report them for price gouging.

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How much over $10?  To $11 or $14?

I'm not sure I'd call it price gouging.

[caroln242]

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I've already had someone criticize me for saying price gouging.  Here was my response.

@CelticCrafter wrote:

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@caroln242 wrote:

Just got my cable bill from Spectrum.  It went up over $10.00 a month!  I called customer service and was told it was an across the board increase and some states went up over $30.00.   I kind of lost it and told them what great timing they had, increasing everyone's bill when so many people getting laid off and we have nothing to do except stay home and watch TV.  Said thank you so much and hung up.  I was afraid to say anything else...might regret it.  Wish I could report them for price gouging.

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How much over $10?  To $11 or $14?

I'm not sure I'd call it price gouging.

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You don't think $10.00 to $30.00 a month increase is price gouging?  With one of us being on social security and the other laid off due to factory closing, and having to stay in the house with only TV as entertainment, yes I think it's very poor timing and gouging.  Unlimited funds are a thing of the past for me and hubby, unfortunately.  I'm glad you don't have to worry about it.

@BeautyLvr wrote:

Mine increases same time each year.  Yes, an increase with anything now isn't fun but "price gouging"??  For $10.00?

Why are people trying to make me feel unreasonable and/or stupid for complaining about this?  Spectrum has had their hand in my pocket for years, nickel and diming me to death.  This last price increase just put me over the edge. I guess some people just think feeling ripped off isn't cause for grievance.  Sorry if my whining upset you.

[Anonymous032819]

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@caroln242 wrote:

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I've already had someone criticize me for saying price gouging.  Here was my response.

@CelticCrafter wrote:

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@caroln242 wrote:

Just got my cable bill from Spectrum.  It went up over $10.00 a month!  I called customer service and was told it was an across the board increase and some states went up over $30.00.   I kind of lost it and told them what great timing they had, increasing everyone's bill when so many people getting laid off and we have nothing to do except stay home and watch TV.  Said thank you so much and hung up.  I was afraid to say anything else...might regret it.  Wish I could report them for price gouging.

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How much over $10?  To $11 or $14?

I'm not sure I'd call it price gouging.

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You don't think $10.00 to $30.00 a month increase is price gouging?  With one of us being on social security and the other laid off due to factory closing, and having to stay in the house with only TV as entertainment, yes I think it's very poor timing and gouging.  Unlimited funds are a thing of the past for me and hubby, unfortunately.  I'm glad you don't have to worry about it.

@BeautyLvr wrote:

Mine increases same time each year.  Yes, an increase with anything now isn't fun but "price gouging"??  For $10.00?

Why are people trying to make me feel unreasonable and/or stupid for complaining about this?  Spectrum has had their hand in my pocket for years, nickel and diming me to death.  This last price increase just put me over the edge. I guess some people just think feeling ripped off isn't cause for grievance.  Sorry if my whining upset you.

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@caroln242 

You are not stupid or are being unreasonable for being upset over rising costs of cable.

A lot of people are struggling financially.

Maybe call you cable company's account retention department, and tell them that you can't afford the monthly bill, and are going to have to cancel your subscription.

They might be willing to work with you.

It's worth a shot.

[RedTop]

Satellite TV is also quite expensive, but is our #1 form of entertainment. As a 20 year customer, I call every year and ask for a discount, which is usually $30-50 a month for one year.

[wismiss]

I just had Spectrum installed.   I like to watch the Inspiration Channel, Food Network, HGTV, DIY, and a few others.  In order to get all of them I would have had to buy the silver package.  I kept asking the rep, "Can you do any better on price?"  After about the third time, he told me I could buy the Basic Package and for an extra $10 a month, add on what they call "Tier 1".  The Tier 1 package had the DIY and a couple of the other channels I wanted and I did not have to buy the silver package.  I saved about $15 a month doing it this way.  But, they won't tell you about this unless you keep asking if they ca do better on the price.