Cable/internet

[Ann Dorfman]

Hi Neighbors,

I don't know if this is an appropriate question to ask this group, but it is the type of question I'd ask a neighbor, so here goes.

I just realized that our Comcast cable/TV/phone bill has crept up to $180/month, when I called Verizon they said roughly the same plan (one HD TV set top box, 144 channels, modem and wireless router with 25 mbps internet download speed) costs $106. I am curious to know if others have changed from one provider to the other to get a better deal and if they felt the switch was worth it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Ann
dorfm...@comcast.net

[Dan Proskauer]

And here I was thinking of switching away from Verizon.  We have landline phone and internet with Verizon and the service is great, but price seems high to me.  I'm thinking of ditching the landline phone and pricing out just internet alone among competitors...

- Dan

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[tonym924]

We have Internet-only 20Mb service from Comcast for $34.99/mo (promo rate was $19.99/mo for first year), no contract.  TV is over-the-air and Roku (just the free stuff, of course you can subscribe to Netflix, HuluPlus, etc).  Phone is a pre-paid 2-year VOIP service (Phone Power), works out to about $9/mo.  Only disappointment is with the VOIP sound quality - problems with echos and sometimes one-way audio.  If we can't find a more reliable VOIP service when our two years is up, we may go to a regulated Verizon phone plan.  Though we'd be happy if they reused our perfectly functional copper line, reports are that they will install a FIOS PON even for basic local phone service.  I've heard that, in exchange for (presumably) good quality voice, sales reps will frequently hound you to upgrade to Internet and TV.

Before Comcast, we had an expensive AT&T phone plan over Verizon copper and DSL from DSL Extreme (who took over Galaxy's accounts).  Being too clever by half, I signed up with Galaxy for VOIP and ported our number.  As soon as the port occurred and AT&T was no longer using the line, Verizon turned off the copper.  I confirmed with the state DPU that Verizon is not required to keep the line active in order to support my DSL service.  At the time, the only option that was close to Comcast was Clearwire's WiMAX 5Mb service (also $19.99/mo); now that Sprint owns them, it's more expensive.  RCN 25Mb service is currently $29.99/mo., 3-way bundles start at $89.99/mo.

Tony Matt

[Julia Malakie]

I liked Ken Parker's idea of municipal wi-fi. I'm kind of where Dan Proskauer is. I hardly use my landline.

[Margaret Albright]

My experience is that if you call and talk to an agent you can usually
figure out a way to reduce the bill by taking advantage of offers or
reducing services you don't use/need.

[Janet J Sterman]

I switched to in April to RCN from Verizon. My bill includes:

Cable/Phone/Internet Package
TiVo Converter Rental,
Docsis Cable Modem Rental,
RCN Home Networking,
Docsis 50 Modem Service 50Mb/10Mb,
Basic Cable Service,
Signature Cable Service,
Unlimited Long Distance Plan,
Basic Voice Mail,
Unlimited Regional Calling,
Ultra Feature Package,
Unlimited Local Calling

My charges are $95/mo. (Taxes and fees are  $14/mo)

If you do a lot of uploading of data via the internet, this may not be the best service for you as the download speed is 50Mbps but he upload speed is 10Mbps.

janet sterman
120 church street
newton, ma 02458
janetsterman.com

phone or text at (617) 329-1360

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/westnewtonneighborhood/015001cfc204%244e575e00%24eb061a00%24%40comcast.net.

[Paul Kilduff]

My bill went up to $195 from $155 last month so I called Comcast and I was connected to the solution ext....after going round and round about being a loyal customer for years they agreed to keep me on the $155.....it is still alot to pay but there aren't alot of options. Insist on speaking to someone and don't take no for an answer....they will come down. It worked for me.....good luck

Paul Kilduff
pkildu...@aol.com

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[Theodore M. Hess Mahan]

Comcast has a reputation for truly awful customer service, as demonstrated in this recording that went viral on the internet: https://soundcloud.com/ryan-block-10/comcastic-service.

Ted Hess-Mahan

Alderman-at-Large Ward 3

871 Watertown Street

Newton, MA 02465

(508) 847-4855

thess...@newtonma.gov

When responding, please be aware that the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email may be considered a public record, and therefore cannot be kept confidential.

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From: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com <westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of 'Paul Kilduff' via West Newton Community <westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 1:58 PM
To: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [WNewton] Cable/internet

 

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[virgini...@aol.com]

I am with Verizon my bill runs almost $185.00 per month.   I have to keep my landline for business purposes.   Verizon offered me a  TEN  dollar savings , if I agreed to contract with them for two more years.   NO THANKS .  I am looking around now, too

 

 

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[Laura Gold]

Hi,
I've had Verizon and Comcast. About a year and a half ago a terrific Comcast salesman came to my door and offered a 2 year contract for $107/ month with:
- High speed internet
- Phone (free calling to US and Canada)
- Cable (many channels plus 2 years free HBO and something else)

We had been using a phone that we essentially didn't call out on due to cost, very limited TV ($12) for years, and internet for about $120/ month.

I asked the salesman what should do when the 2 years runs out and he said, switch back to Verizon.

Sent from my iPad

> On Aug 26, 2014, at 11:42 PM, Julia Malakie <juliam...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I liked Ken Parker's idea of municipal wi-fi. I'm kind of where Dan Proskauer is. I hardly use my landline.
>

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[Laura Gold]

I think if you call and start with saying you'd like to cancel your service and then state what you can get with the other service, they will do what they can to keep you. 

Sent from my iPad

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[virgini...@aol.com]

RE: threating to cancel.    I tried that,  they just offered me more channels.  They all, really do not care.    very frustrating.  Good luck

 

 

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[Dan Proskauer]

I don't have ANY channels and they have offered me TV, basically for free, over and over, but I don't want it so that won't work.  :-)

I'll let everyone know what happens.

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