Breaking point
After decades of dealing with Comcast, I've finally had enough. We use them here at Blog Central for TV, the internet, and a landline. Every year, like clockwork, the bill goes up, with no advance warning, and I have to spend an hour on the phone with someone in a third-world country to get it down somewhat. This year, over three months, the bill jumped by 22 percent. The people at Comcast tell me there's no way to break the cycle. Then they try to sell me cell phone service.
I suspect that changing is going to be a big hassle, but I'm beyond tired of these people. What are my other options? I'm wondering if any of my readers could fill me in on what they do to be connected. Suggestions? And do let me know if your other providers also play the game of the annual increase. Life is too short for that.
Turn off the boob tube. That is a great option. You won't miss it.
ReplyDeleteI cut the cord 3 years ago and use Xfinity for phone, internet, and streaming services-I bundled all services and use auto-pay. $40/mo for unlimited talk/text/data for phone, their services use the same cell towers as Verizon and I've had no connectivity issues at all . I don't miss Comcast one bit. All services have been more than satisfactory. Call and ask when they have special offers to switch services. Highly recommend.
ReplyDeleteXfinity is Comcast.
DeleteI did the same and am happy with it.
DeleteComcast is the parent company, and Xfinity is Comcast’s brand for TV, internet, and home phone services. Xfinity = Comcast.
DeleteTry Mint Mobile. $15 a month for a cell phone. If you get that, you can have an unlimited WiFi plan in your home for $30 a month. Prices don't include taxes but are still pretty cheap. Plus I don't think they've raised their rates in years if ever.
ReplyDeleteA lot of this depends on how much TV you want. If Verizon is your cell phone provider, they will cut you a deal on home internet + YouTubeTV. I wouldn't mess with anything AT&T or DirecTV. I personally have Xfinity just for internet and Verizon for the rest, since I can't get FiOS at my house. You can lock in a rate for 2yrs (sometimes 3) but there's no getting around the regular price increases without reupping that contract.
ReplyDeleteSee if Ziply Fiber is available in your neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteWe abandoned Comcast about a year ago for Quantum Fiber. After the fiber was installed in the neighborhood, they were offering 940Mb Internet for $35/month via door to door sales staff. We added a mid-level DirecTV Streaming package for $114.99/month (now $123.99), mostly so we could get Root Sports, which Comcast had moved to a higher cost tier. We also moved the landline to Ooma for $8/month (plus the one time ~$99 cost for an Ooma box to interface with the Internet). The fiber speed is probably more than we need, but that’s fine.
ReplyDeleteAs frustrating as it was, I viewed the annual rising renewal rates as a challenge. I like to argue and would point out I was a 20+ year customer (true), couldn't afford the increase, ( in my mind, I couldn't), was newly retired and on a "fixed" income, (well, its fixed high enough for me to survive) and would have to see what the "Dish" guy was offering: "DISH" the secret word of the day! They folded quicker than a cheap suitcase every time you say DISH and would then offer me a one year fixed rate as I previously had. They always have a promotional rate, ask for it.
ReplyDeleteThrough it all, though , I cut the cord and only use them for internet at $65 month and stream TV with youtube . Net net, I am not saving any more money, but I sure as hell have a lot fewer headaches.
A local internet company
ReplyDeletewww.stephouse.net/
Worth saying that YouTubeTV is far and away the best streaming app if you’re keeping TV.
ReplyDeleteVerizon. 50 a month and you can stream easily. If i add it all up, its less than Comcast. Most of all, I just had to plug it in, and when i called the one time i had a question i immediately connected with someone who politely pointed out what i was doing wrong!
ReplyDeleteI switched back and forth from Xfinity to Ziply fiber about every three years. Now that none of them have a contract I might just do it once a year. We just switched to T-Mobile from ATT in December and we are trialing their wifi (along with current Xfinity plan).
ReplyDeleteI used to do the same thing with cable and Direct TV. Once Direct TV lost the Sunday Ticket I switched to streaming only through ROKU devices (I hear Apple TV is solid also). You can get a full cable-like experience through YouTube TV if you want and just add the other premium channels a la carte.
At some point I realized that bundling wasn't saving me any money, it was just a way to keep me from shopping for other service providers.
AppleTV is available on Roku boxes.
DeleteI was a Sprint user and got forced into switching to TMobile. WORST. PHONE. SERVICE. EVER. I was stuck with them for two years -- I had to walk down to the end of the block to make a call without wifi calling (like when you call PGE to report an outage). Their support ppl and management are completely clueless. You pay for NO SERVICE! TMobile...just say NO!!!!!
Thanks for the reminder to get on the blower and beg for a lower price. My mom is still around at 100, so need to keep the landline even though she has a cell phone and is actually is pretty good at it.
ReplyDeleteHere in the Free City of Canby, we have our own cooperative telephone company that provides a 1Gig fiber line to every home for a hundred-ish bucks a month. You can get slower speeds and pay less. I get 250MB for like $80. Local customer service, local repair techs. It's nice. Same with the local power cooperative. Don't get me started on the weekly trash service.
ReplyDeleteI was a loyal Verizon customer for well over a decade. I made the switch to Visible a few months ago. $20 for unlimited talk, text, and data. If you want screaming-fast mobile data, run everything through a VPN.
Anyway, that's what's worked for me.